In Box of Revell 1/32nd Scale
U.S. Corsair F4U-1 Fighter
Kit no. H-278
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 1970
Kit is available in the 1989 re-boxing kit no. 04781 at either 1001 Hobbies for $30.99 or at Sprue Bros for $29.49 and at 11 sites overseas on the web.
By Ray Mehlberger
Copyright 1970
Kit is available in the 1989 re-boxing kit no. 04781 at either 1001 Hobbies for $30.99 or at Sprue Bros for $29.49 and at 11 sites overseas on the web.
HISTORY:
The F4U-1 Corsair began its spectacular career on May 29, 1940, when the first of over 7,000 “bent winged birds” made its maiden flight. The performance of the new fighter was astounding! Early test flights revealed a top speed in excess of 400 mph, making it the fastest American fighter in the sky.
By the end of WWII, the Corsair had proven itself to be the finest carrier-based fighter of the war. Its performance even exceeded that of the famed P-51 Mustang in many respects.
The most distinctive feature of the Corsair was its inserted gull wing. Power for the F4U was provided by a Pratt & Whitney R-2800 eighteen cylinder engine, the most powerful engine available at the time. Coupled to this was the largest propeller yet used on a fighter.
To provide sufficient clearance between the propeller tips and the ground, the unique wing shape was chosen. It also permitted the use of a shorter, stronger landing gear suitable for carrier operations.
In service, the Corsair quickly proved to be an excellent fighter. Corsairs shot down 2,140 enemy aircraft and lost only 189 of their own kind during three years of combat. To Allied soldiers, she became known as the “Okinawa Sweetheart”, but the Japanese feared here as the “Whistling Death”.
The first squadron to receive the gull-winged fighter was the Marine Corps VMF-122. Four months later, in January 1943, the U.S. Navy’s first Corsair squadron was declared combat ready. However, due to the plane’s long nose, forward visibility was severely restricted making carrier landings difficult. As a result, the Navy’s first operational F4U squadron was land-based.
The British Fleet air arm began flying the Corsair in June 1943. But although the British were successful in their carrier operations it wasn’t until April of 1944 that the U.S. Navy accepted the Corsair for carrier service. The F4U-3A was the first improved model of the Corsair.
The cockpit canopy was bulged upward to provide better visibility for the pilot. This version is the type depicted by this Revell model. The “Jolly Roger” emblem on the cowling is the squadron marking of the U.S. Navy’s VF-17, the first unit to receive the new F4U-1A.
The particular airplane reproduced by the model represents the Corsair flown by the American Ace, Lt. Ira Kepford, whose final tally recorded the end of seventeen Japanese aircraft. Lt. Kepford was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his skill in the big Corsair.
VF-17 has been called the greatest fighter squadron in the history of the U.S. Navy. No less than twelve aces filled the ranks of this unit. In 79 days of combat, VF-17 had eliminated 154 planes from the Japanese inventory. During its fighting career the Corsair ran up a notable kill-to-loss ratio of 11.3 to 1, that is, for every Corsair that was lost in combat, the enemy lost over 11 of their own planes.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Wingspan: 40 feet, 11 inches (folded – 17 feet)
Length: 33 feet, 4 inches
Powerplant: One Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Twin Wasp 18-cylinder, double-row radial engine rated at 2,000 hp.
Performance: Maximum speed – 415 mph at 20,000 feet, service ceiling – 37,000 feet.
Armament: Six 50 cal. Browning MG 53-2 machine guns.
The F4U-1 Corsair began its spectacular career on May 29, 1940, when the first of over 7,000 “bent winged birds” made its maiden flight. The performance of the new fighter was astounding! Early test flights revealed a top speed in excess of 400 mph, making it the fastest American fighter in the sky.
By the end of WWII, the Corsair had proven itself to be the finest carrier-based fighter of the war. Its performance even exceeded that of the famed P-51 Mustang in many respects.
The most distinctive feature of the Corsair was its inserted gull wing. Power for the F4U was provided by a Pratt & Whitney R-2800 eighteen cylinder engine, the most powerful engine available at the time. Coupled to this was the largest propeller yet used on a fighter.
To provide sufficient clearance between the propeller tips and the ground, the unique wing shape was chosen. It also permitted the use of a shorter, stronger landing gear suitable for carrier operations.
In service, the Corsair quickly proved to be an excellent fighter. Corsairs shot down 2,140 enemy aircraft and lost only 189 of their own kind during three years of combat. To Allied soldiers, she became known as the “Okinawa Sweetheart”, but the Japanese feared here as the “Whistling Death”.
The first squadron to receive the gull-winged fighter was the Marine Corps VMF-122. Four months later, in January 1943, the U.S. Navy’s first Corsair squadron was declared combat ready. However, due to the plane’s long nose, forward visibility was severely restricted making carrier landings difficult. As a result, the Navy’s first operational F4U squadron was land-based.
The British Fleet air arm began flying the Corsair in June 1943. But although the British were successful in their carrier operations it wasn’t until April of 1944 that the U.S. Navy accepted the Corsair for carrier service. The F4U-3A was the first improved model of the Corsair.
The cockpit canopy was bulged upward to provide better visibility for the pilot. This version is the type depicted by this Revell model. The “Jolly Roger” emblem on the cowling is the squadron marking of the U.S. Navy’s VF-17, the first unit to receive the new F4U-1A.
The particular airplane reproduced by the model represents the Corsair flown by the American Ace, Lt. Ira Kepford, whose final tally recorded the end of seventeen Japanese aircraft. Lt. Kepford was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his skill in the big Corsair.
VF-17 has been called the greatest fighter squadron in the history of the U.S. Navy. No less than twelve aces filled the ranks of this unit. In 79 days of combat, VF-17 had eliminated 154 planes from the Japanese inventory. During its fighting career the Corsair ran up a notable kill-to-loss ratio of 11.3 to 1, that is, for every Corsair that was lost in combat, the enemy lost over 11 of their own planes.
SPECIFICATIONS:
Wingspan: 40 feet, 11 inches (folded – 17 feet)
Length: 33 feet, 4 inches
Powerplant: One Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Twin Wasp 18-cylinder, double-row radial engine rated at 2,000 hp.
Performance: Maximum speed – 415 mph at 20,000 feet, service ceiling – 37,000 feet.
Armament: Six 50 cal. Browning MG 53-2 machine guns.
THE KIT:
Revell is an old prolific model company based in Venice, CA. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a large shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. The box art shows 1 Corsairs flying above invasion barges that are passing through explosions.
Both corsairs are overall dark Navy-blue, with a white star and bars underneath their right wings.
The Corsair in the foreground is the mount of Lt. Ira Kepford. It further shows a white star and bars on the sides of its fuselage followed by a large white 29 and 16 Japanese kill marks under the cockpit. On the sides of the nose there is a “Jolly Roger” black flag with a skull and cross-bones on it.
The top of the box says the kit contains a ready to assemble plastic model of one of the most feared fighters in the Pacific during WWII, “The Sweetheart of Okinawa”, fuselage length of the finished kit is 12 ½” and the wingspan is 15 ¼”.
One side panel begins with a small color repeat of the box art, followed by a one paragraph history of the Corsair and a color illustration of the accurately detailed instrument panel and the detailed Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engine with removable cowl. Features of the kit are listed as being: folding wings, clear lights, fully detailed cockpit with sliding canopy, pilot figure in authentic flight gear, optional position landing gear, movable wheels and propeller and official U.S. Navy markings.
Under this is Revell’s address in Venice, CA and the copyright date for the kit of 1970.
Revell is an old prolific model company based in Venice, CA. They manufacture all manner of model subjects in the popular scales.
This kit comes in a large shrink-wrapped tray and lid type box. The box art shows 1 Corsairs flying above invasion barges that are passing through explosions.
Both corsairs are overall dark Navy-blue, with a white star and bars underneath their right wings.
The Corsair in the foreground is the mount of Lt. Ira Kepford. It further shows a white star and bars on the sides of its fuselage followed by a large white 29 and 16 Japanese kill marks under the cockpit. On the sides of the nose there is a “Jolly Roger” black flag with a skull and cross-bones on it.
The top of the box says the kit contains a ready to assemble plastic model of one of the most feared fighters in the Pacific during WWII, “The Sweetheart of Okinawa”, fuselage length of the finished kit is 12 ½” and the wingspan is 15 ¼”.
One side panel begins with a small color repeat of the box art, followed by a one paragraph history of the Corsair and a color illustration of the accurately detailed instrument panel and the detailed Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engine with removable cowl. Features of the kit are listed as being: folding wings, clear lights, fully detailed cockpit with sliding canopy, pilot figure in authentic flight gear, optional position landing gear, movable wheels and propeller and official U.S. Navy markings.
Under this is Revell’s address in Venice, CA and the copyright date for the kit of 1970.
The other side panel has the box arts of four 1/32nd models made by Revell. They are the North American P-51B, Republic P-47D, Messerschmitt Bf-109G "Gustav" and a Lockheed P-38J Lightning.
WHAT’S IN THE BOX:
This kit holds 4 dark Navy-blue trees and a clear tree that are loose and not cello bagged, the decal sheet, instructions and a membership application blank to use to join Revell’s Modeler’s Club. Bad move Revell for not bagging things!!
The instructions consist of a un-bound booklet of 8 pages in 8 ½” x 11” page format, folded to fit the box.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, over the history and specifications of the Corsair.
Page 2 says that before you begin, to get your tools ready! Showing illustrations of 5 tools and general instructions.
The bottom of page 2 trough to page 8 gives a total of 8 assembly steps, with assembly no. 8 being the marking and painting guide as well as the assembly of the radio antenna and cockpit transparantcies and a warning to not glue the wing fold joints if you want to leave them foldable.
The first dark Navy-blue tree holds: the lower wing halves, cockpit floor, bulkhead with seat attached and the dashboard (8 parts)
This kit holds 4 dark Navy-blue trees and a clear tree that are loose and not cello bagged, the decal sheet, instructions and a membership application blank to use to join Revell’s Modeler’s Club. Bad move Revell for not bagging things!!
The instructions consist of a un-bound booklet of 8 pages in 8 ½” x 11” page format, folded to fit the box.
Page 1 begins with a black and white repeat of the box art, over the history and specifications of the Corsair.
Page 2 says that before you begin, to get your tools ready! Showing illustrations of 5 tools and general instructions.
The bottom of page 2 trough to page 8 gives a total of 8 assembly steps, with assembly no. 8 being the marking and painting guide as well as the assembly of the radio antenna and cockpit transparantcies and a warning to not glue the wing fold joints if you want to leave them foldable.
The first dark Navy-blue tree holds: the lower wing halves, cockpit floor, bulkhead with seat attached and the dashboard (8 parts)
The second dark Navy-blue tree holds: a fuselage half, elevator halves, main wheels, arrestor hook, landing gear legs and the pilot figure (divided into front and halve) (15 parts)
The third dark Navy-blue tree holds: the other fuselage half, elevator halves, struts, wing fold area inner walls, main gear compartment doors etc. (12 parts)
The fourth dark Navy-blue tree holds: the engine parts, propeller, other main gear doors, upper wing halves, antenna, air intakes, wing hinges, cowling etc. (25 parts)
The clear tree holds the canopy windows (2 parts)
The decal sheet and the Revell Modelers Club application card completes the kit's contents.
Detail is both raised and engraved. Flaps are all molded solid.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.