1/72 VMF-124 F4U-1 Corsair

[georgerutherford1861]

First of all, my apologies, as this model ended up being a bit of a mish-mash.

It started as a Nobi 1/100 F4U-1A Corsair in Pappy Boyington's colors. Doing a bit of research, I wanted an earlier, perhaps less famous, version of the plane. So, I repainted it from the later 3 color paint scheme to the earlier 2 color scheme and rescaled it to 1/72.

I also wanted to try my hand at an earlier greenhouse canopy version. Only after my first failed attempt to make a greenhouse canopy did I discover Hawkman67's great greenhouse canopy F4U-1 Reluctant Dragon available here in the downloads section. So, I borrowed his canopy which worked great. Had I discovered his model earlier I could have skipped straight to it and saved myself some time with most of the repaint, but that is how life goes sometimes.

I also drew my own propeller blades, as the earlier version seemed a bit undersized. If anyone wants it, let me know and I will upload it.

So, in the end this is a VMF-124 Corsair, the earliest Marine squadron to see combat with the Corsair in the Solomons. According to Michael J. Claringbould's Pacific Profiles Volume 4 on Corsairs in the Solomons Theatre, this plane would have been serving with the squadron in August 1943 at Munda, from a segment of video film taken at that location at that time. The original plane number of 14 would have been painted in black under the canopy. This was later painted over and repainted in white near the fuselage star. I did my best to indicate an incomplete paint-over of the original number.

Doug

[Rata]

Turned out real nice Doug. The earlier Navy/Marine camo colours have their own appeal and on your model look particularly good.

[Don Boose]

This looks great to me, Doug! Looks like a Corsair!

And I enjoyed the saga of your research and hybredization of parts. The Clarinbould books are a great resource.

Don

[georgerutherford1861]

Don,

I do like them. Sometimes the choices are dizzying. At some point I am going to do one of Boyington's F4U-1as, but one that he actually flew in combat, not just for publicity shots.

I love seeing how the size of these aircraft compare to each other. The Corsair looks like a monster next to the Wildcat and the Zero.

Then of course I'll need more later ku Zeros to array against them, more New Guinea aircraft, the list goes on, and always with another Claringbould book to offer more bright ideas.

Doug