Tamiya 1:48 Vought F4U-1/2 Birdcage Corsair

The kit proposed by Tamiya company includes a plastic model kit of American assault aircraft in 1:48 scale.

By the end of 1941, the United States Navy reported the need for a night fighter equipped with a radar. It was decided that new F4U-1 Corsair planes would be adapted for the new project. The night fighter was equipped with a radar, mounted in the dome on the right wing. This forced the armament reduction to 5 Browning 12.7 mm. In the end, due to the high demand for front squadrons for standard Corsair, only 34 machines (32 factories, 2 fronts) were manufactured or reprocessed. They served in squadrons stationed on USS Enterprise and USS Interpid aircraft carriers. These were the first units of this type in the US fleet to gain valuable experience and further work on this type of machine.

The Tamiya kit allows building the American F4U-1/2 Bird Cage Corsair aircraft. The model can be built as a classic fighter or night fighter. The box contains 3 frames with elements of the model, frame with transparent elements (straight or convex cabins) and decals (allow reconstruction of the 17th Fighter Squadron, 213 Marine Corps Squadron, or 532th Marine Corps Squadron).

Plastic parts should be cut out of frames, fit together and glued according to the assembly instruction. You should paint the whole model using modeling paints according to the proposed paint scheme in the instruction. It is important to remember that some plastic parts require painting before gluing. In the end, it is needed to apply decals according to markings or graphics in instruction.

Paints proposed by the manufacturer for the best effect:

Plane:

• Tamiya sprays: AS-8, AS-19, AS-20 (naval colors)
• Tamiya XF-18, XF-2, XF-19 (Corps color)
• Tamiya XF-56 (exhaust)
• Tamiya XF-1 (wheels, cockpit elements, engine components)
• Tamiya XF-3 + XF-5 (cockpit, 2: 1 ratio)
• Tamiya X-18 (propeller, cockpit elements, engine components)
• Tamiya X-11 (shade of the chassis)
• Tamiya X-10 (engine parts)
• Tamiya XF-58 (bombs)

Pilot:

• Tamiya XF-57 (uniform, pilot)
• Tamiya XF-4 (vest)
• Tamiya XF-55 (belts, gloves)
• Tamiya XF-15 (skin)
• Tamiya XF-64 (shoes)
• Tamiya X-18 (goggles)

Set contains:

• The assembly instruction.
• Frames with plastic parts.
• Decals.
• Transparent plastic elements.

Kit does NOT contain paints and glue.

Here are the basic tools and materials you need:

• Pilers for cutting plastic parts.
• Modeling penknife.
• File or sandpaper.
• Cement for plastic models.
• Brush or airbrush.
• Modeling paints.

If you are not sure of any accessories or colors of paints you need for your model kit, please ask us, we will be glad to help you.