In Box Review of Otaki 1/48th Scale
U.S. Chance Vought F4U-1 "Corsair" Fighter
Kit no. OT2-27
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Copyright 1985
Available two places from Japan in the Micro Ace brand 2000 release kit no. A336 or one place in Poland in the Academy brand 1999 release kit no. 2147.
I paid a whopping $3.99 for this kit back in the 80's at a local hobby shop that went out of business.
By Ray Mehlberger
OUT OF PRODUCTION
Copyright 1985
Available two places from Japan in the Micro Ace brand 2000 release kit no. A336 or one place in Poland in the Academy brand 1999 release kit no. 2147.
I paid a whopping $3.99 for this kit back in the 80's at a local hobby shop that went out of business.
HISTORY:
The Vought F4U Corsair is an American fighter aircraft that saw service primarily in World War II and the Korean War.
Designed and initially manufactured by Chance Vought, the Corsair was soon in great demand; additional production contracts were given to Goodyear, whose Corsairs were designated FG, and Brewster, designated F3A.
The Corsair was designed and operated as a carrier-based aircraft, and entered service in large numbers with the U.S. Navy in late 1944 and early 1945. It quickly became one of the most capable carrier-based fighter-bombers of World War II.
Some Japanese pilots regarded it as the most formidable American fighter of World War II, and its naval aviators achieved an 11:1 kill ratio.
Yet early problems with carrier landings and logistics allowed it to be eclipsed as the dominant carrier-based fighter by the Grumman F6F Hellcat, powered by the same Double Wasp engine first flown on the Corsair's first prototype in 1940.
Instead, the Corsair came to and retained prominence in its area of greatest deployment: land-based use by the U.S. Marines.
The Corsair served almost exclusively as a fighter-bomber throughout the Korean War and during the French colonial wars in Indochina and Algeria.
In addition to its use by the U.S. and British, the Corsair was also used by the Royal New Zealand Air Force, French Naval Aviation, and other air forces until the 1960s.
From the first prototype delivery to the U.S. Navy in 1940, to final delivery in 1953 to the French, 12,571 F4U Corsairs were manufactured[8] in 16 separate models. Its 1942-53 production run was the longest of any U.S. piston-engined fighter.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Carrier-based fighter-bomber
National origin: United States
Manufacturer: Chance Vought
First flight: 29 May 1940
Introduction to service: 28 December 1942
Retired: 1953 (United States), 1979 (Honduras)
Primary users: U. S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, Royal Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force
Produced: 1942–53
Number built: 12,571
Variants: Goodyear F2G Corsair
The Vought F4U Corsair is an American fighter aircraft that saw service primarily in World War II and the Korean War.
Designed and initially manufactured by Chance Vought, the Corsair was soon in great demand; additional production contracts were given to Goodyear, whose Corsairs were designated FG, and Brewster, designated F3A.
The Corsair was designed and operated as a carrier-based aircraft, and entered service in large numbers with the U.S. Navy in late 1944 and early 1945. It quickly became one of the most capable carrier-based fighter-bombers of World War II.
Some Japanese pilots regarded it as the most formidable American fighter of World War II, and its naval aviators achieved an 11:1 kill ratio.
Yet early problems with carrier landings and logistics allowed it to be eclipsed as the dominant carrier-based fighter by the Grumman F6F Hellcat, powered by the same Double Wasp engine first flown on the Corsair's first prototype in 1940.
Instead, the Corsair came to and retained prominence in its area of greatest deployment: land-based use by the U.S. Marines.
The Corsair served almost exclusively as a fighter-bomber throughout the Korean War and during the French colonial wars in Indochina and Algeria.
In addition to its use by the U.S. and British, the Corsair was also used by the Royal New Zealand Air Force, French Naval Aviation, and other air forces until the 1960s.
From the first prototype delivery to the U.S. Navy in 1940, to final delivery in 1953 to the French, 12,571 F4U Corsairs were manufactured[8] in 16 separate models. Its 1942-53 production run was the longest of any U.S. piston-engined fighter.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Role: Carrier-based fighter-bomber
National origin: United States
Manufacturer: Chance Vought
First flight: 29 May 1940
Introduction to service: 28 December 1942
Retired: 1953 (United States), 1979 (Honduras)
Primary users: U. S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, Royal Navy, Royal New Zealand Air Force
Produced: 1942–53
Number built: 12,571
Variants: Goodyear F2G Corsair
THE KIT:
Otaki is a prolific model company based in Tokyo, Japan.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
Parts fit the box tight in all 4 directions.
The box art shows 2 "Corsairs" flying over a dark column of smoke.
Both are sea-blue over a white under-carraige, with intermediate-blue sides and the lower outer wing halves.
The "Corsair" in the foreground has a white number 122 on the side of the cowling.
The "Corsair" behind it has a white 18 on the side of the cowling. However, on the cover art this plane has U.S. wing and fuselage markings, but on the painting and markings guides it has New Zealand markings.
One side panel has two color side views of "Corsairs". One is no. 122 from the cover art. It further shows that this aircraft has 100 white bombing mission markings under the cockpit.
Otaki is a prolific model company based in Tokyo, Japan.
This kit came in a shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box.
Parts fit the box tight in all 4 directions.
The box art shows 2 "Corsairs" flying over a dark column of smoke.
Both are sea-blue over a white under-carraige, with intermediate-blue sides and the lower outer wing halves.
The "Corsair" in the foreground has a white number 122 on the side of the cowling.
The "Corsair" behind it has a white 18 on the side of the cowling. However, on the cover art this plane has U.S. wing and fuselage markings, but on the painting and markings guides it has New Zealand markings.
One side panel has two color side views of "Corsairs". One is no. 122 from the cover art. It further shows that this aircraft has 100 white bombing mission markings under the cockpit.
The other side view is of a British "Corsair" that is in the same color pattern as 122. It has a fuselage code of white 8 roundel L and a tri-color fin flash.
Kit was made in Japan.
Kit was made in Japan.
The other side panel shows 5 color box- arts of other aircraft kits that Otaki manufactures: a Spitfire Mk.8, a German Bf-109G-6, a German Fw-190A-8, a Curtiss P-40E and a P-51D Mustang.
No scales or kit numbers are shown. I assume these are all to 1/48th scale ?
No scales or kit numbers are shown. I assume these are all to 1/48th scale ?
WHAT'S IN THE BOX:
This kit contains 3 pale-gray trees, a clear canopy and decal sheet in 2 sealed clear cello bags and 2 instructions.
The main instructions is all in English and consist of a single-sheet that is folded in the center to create 4 pages in 12" x 8 1/2" page format. Folded a second time to fit the box.
Page 1 is the painting and marking guide.
Shown are 2 top views, 1 bottom view and 3 side views of "Corsair".
There is a top and bottom views of the box art subject, no. 122 (already described above)
Next is the New Zealand "Corsair". It is in the same colors as no. 122. It has a white no. 18 on the side of the cowling and high on the rudder. Under the elevators on the fuselage sides is black no. NZ5218.
The next 2-view shows the top and sides of the British "Corsair" Mk. 11 illustrated on the side panel with white fuselage code 8 roundel L. However, here it is in a wave-pattern of extra-dark sea-gray and dark slate-gray over a light-gray under-carraige.
This kit contains 3 pale-gray trees, a clear canopy and decal sheet in 2 sealed clear cello bags and 2 instructions.
The main instructions is all in English and consist of a single-sheet that is folded in the center to create 4 pages in 12" x 8 1/2" page format. Folded a second time to fit the box.
Page 1 is the painting and marking guide.
Shown are 2 top views, 1 bottom view and 3 side views of "Corsair".
There is a top and bottom views of the box art subject, no. 122 (already described above)
Next is the New Zealand "Corsair". It is in the same colors as no. 122. It has a white no. 18 on the side of the cowling and high on the rudder. Under the elevators on the fuselage sides is black no. NZ5218.
The next 2-view shows the top and sides of the British "Corsair" Mk. 11 illustrated on the side panel with white fuselage code 8 roundel L. However, here it is in a wave-pattern of extra-dark sea-gray and dark slate-gray over a light-gray under-carraige.
Pages 2 to the top of page 4 give a grand total of 13 assembly steps.
The bottom of page 4 has the parts- trees illustrations.
The second instruction sheet is a full color painting and marking guide. It is printed on one side on slick-coated paper. Shown are side profiles of "Corsairs" numbers 122 and 8 roundel L. However, 8 roundel L is again shown here in the same color pattern as no. 122.
The bottom of page 4 has the parts- trees illustrations.
The second instruction sheet is a full color painting and marking guide. It is printed on one side on slick-coated paper. Shown are side profiles of "Corsairs" numbers 122 and 8 roundel L. However, 8 roundel L is again shown here in the same color pattern as no. 122.
Trees are alphabetized.
Pale-gray letter A tree holds: the fuselage and elevators (4 parts)
Pale-gray letter A tree holds: the fuselage and elevators (4 parts)
Pale-gray letter B tree holds: the wings (3 parts)
Pale-gray letter C tree holds: cowling, propeller, spinner, landing-gear legs, main wheels, doors, tail wheel with arrester hook attached, standing pilot figure, drop tank, dashboard, bulkhead, air intakes, cockpit floor etc. (45 parts)
The clear part is the cockpit canopy (1 part)
The decal sheet completes the kit's contents.
Detail is engraved. There is no seated pilot figure. Flaps are all molded solid.
Recommended.
Recommended.