F4U-1A Corsair- 9/30 - DONE!

[doogsatx/]

Those markings do look pretty slick - you're tempting me to pull out one of my -1As...

[wing_nut]

Thanks a lot fellas. I have to admit this is a cool scheme with some real wow factor. I keep thinking of how big a job it would be to splice 2 aircraft together like that. I'd like to know if it was done in a forward or rear area. I would think the ground crew would have their hands full keeping the line birds just that.

[wing_nut]

Don't know yet but it sure as hell feels like it.

As I am sure you've noticed I've been following doogs steps using new techniques to me. Really wanted them to work cuz i had grand ideas for the down the road stuff.

Soapy water and salt went fine.



Spray of dirty grey that turned out to be darker than I had hoped. 1st though was to soften it with an all over filter of buff or some other dusty color.





The white bars were to splotchy and I attempt to blend the filter and it's like I hit it with sulfuric acid.



Confidence is shattered.

[doogsatx/]

For future reference it's best to go light over the decals (or ideally use paint masks) since this can happen.

That said, think you've got a prime candidate for a field touch-up...

[doogsatx/]

For some inspiration, may I present my Ki-84. I had salted and was doing the salt weathering thing when I accidentally slopped the thinned paint out of the airbrush and onto the starboard wing hinomaru.



Had to completely repaint...



Ultimately, the thing cleaned up at the two contests I participate in.

[JimD]

That's unfortunate, but I think it's completely withing your skill set to get it straightened out. Maybe worse case scenario is stripping the decals off and getting a new sheet?

The couple of write-ups I've read on the salt thing has suggested enamels over some for of acrylic clear between layers so you can wipe it away if it's too heavy over decals.

This is why I'm really nervous about doing the salt thing...seems like a very fine line between looking good and total a totally weird looking.

[wing_nut]

Doogs thanks so much for the ideas and most important the inspection to tackle it and fix it. I've been thinking I have 2 options that seem pretty doable, now that my heart is again beating at a normal rate and i can use words that have more than 4 letters. Well, 3 options now that I've seen your Ki-84 and the salted white part look exactly like my white bit.

Option 1 is to mask and repaint the white bar and salt just that spot so it all looks the same again.

Option 2 The sheet has 4 more markngs for the fuselage hat are the exact some size, just not with the yellow ring. Since these are so thin I can cut out the white bars and double up the layers. Then salt like in option one. I could do them all but I don't have that option for the wings and i would have to do the whiter ring in the center to not look weird.

Option 3 make masks and paint all the white bars and rings white.

I am liking 1 or 2 since as I said seeing you Ki 84 it actually kinda works.

Jimmy, a new sheet is actually option 4 and we will just have to wait and see. I like doing the filters in acrylics so it's not affected by the oil dot part. lesson learned to think ahead for things that need to be masked or use an enamel filter and seal with an acrylic clear coat.

[Deleted]

Seeing this makes me want to dive back into my Corsair build, but just can't get motivated to.

[wbill76]

I'm sure you'll come up with a workable fix Marc! Don't give up the ship just yet.

[JimD]

Jun 8, 2015 10:39:04 GMT -5 doogsatx said:
.....I accidentally slopped the thinned paint out of the airbrush...

Can't even describe how comforting it is to know I'm not the only one to have done that.

[Leon]

Sounds like you have some good options Marc! You'll get fixed just fine.

[wing_nut]

Once your pals calm you down and give you hope things aren't as bad as they look. i went with option 2 and you can even see the 2nd layer of decal. Still stark white for the moment.



It has already been mentioned that sometime the research can be a PITA but every now and then you pick up an interesting tidbit. Goodyear stated to make forged tail wheel extensions lifting the tail 6" which lowered the thrust line 11.5 degrees Hmmm... This sounds familiar. Did I already mention this? Whatever, this time there's pictures. This improved the pilots view when taxiing. Because of a delay in production they made about 1000 welded steel box extension. I wish I could say i noticed this is the bone yard photo but someone else noticed it and brought it to my attention.






A litle bit of scratching from plastic card...

[Leon]

Nice work on the extention Marc!

[John Everett]

Good save with the decal! I know nothing about the tailwheel modification. So that's looks good to me as well.

[deafpanzer]

Catching up here... dig the markings ALOT! You are hitting home run on this...

[wbill76]

That's why it's always good to wait before reacting and making a possible disaster into a reality! Nice save on the marking and the tail wheel extension looks like it came in the box.

[JimD]

See we knew you could do it. Great recovery on the decal and good work on the gear strut.

[Tojo72]

Nice recovery,still looking good.

[wing_nut]

Thanks for all the comments fella. Glad y'all are lining it so far.

I've been informed that apparently the NZ Corsairs didn't have the tail hook. Besides the fact the the pilots generally were not carrier landing rated.. er... No carriers

[sabre]

Hey Wing-Nut just came across an article and a newspaper clipping about this Corsair which explains where it was repaired. Also added some interesting photos you may not of seen, like the one of it flying in formation and the last photo was very interesting.

Source - War Thunder

A wide variety of colour schemes existed for RNZAF Corsairs operating in the Pacific theatre. In fact, finding a photo of 4 RNZAF F4U's all wearing the same markings is a very difficult exercise.

But the strangest livery of all was worn for a few months at the end of 1944 by NZ-5307.

NZ-5272 was shipped from USA on 04 April 1944 aboard "USS Rudyard Bay". It was assembled in Espiritu Santo and on strength with Unit 60 on 01 May 1944. She was issued to No.15 Fighter Squadron, Espiritu Santo on 18 May 1944 with the code number "72".

She crashed during night flying exercise at Henderson Field on 01 June 1944 when the undercarriage collapsed on landing severely damaging the wings and engine. The pilot, SGT W. Thomson was uninjured in the accident.

NZ-5307 arrived from the USA on 26 April 1944 aboard "USS Table Rock". She too was assembled in Espiritu Santo by Unit 60 in May 1944. Issued to No.14 Fighter Squadron, she was sent to Guadalcanal on 13 June 1944. In her first weeks on the front line she received extensive tail damage and was to be written off.

But thrifty and resourceful maintenance engineers at the Servicing Unit came up with a plan. They mated the undamaged front of 5307 with the intact tail section of 72. The result is as you see here. The Glossy Sea Blue wings, rudder and front fuselage contrasting with the faded 4-tone fin, tailplane, canopy and rear fuselage.

The hybrid aircraft was operational again by October 1944 with No.18 Squadron. Three months later she received a repaint and was sent to No.21 Squadron

Despite her doubly bad start, in her new form she survived the war intact.

To verify that information I did a check on ADF -Serials

Photos for illustration purposes only - Link









Aviation in Florianapolis



I thought this was an interesting photo but I'm not sure if it is the same plane though.



I tried to repost this as it seemed to have been lost but when I went to submit a new post my old one appeared and my new one had disappeared which was very strange. Looks like the problems with posting have not been resolved yet.

Also I just checked the links which haven't been working for me for over a week now, sorry about that but every time I add a link it just opens up the page you are posting on. Anyway after trying to fix this for the sixth time it decided to behave itself and work.

[wing_nut]

Hi Sabre

The info on that site pretty much jives with what I've gotten from a Kiwi site where I've been asking questions.

[deafpanzer]

One thing I love about this thread... plenty of historical stuff and pictures! Keep up with the great work my friends!

[sabre]

Do you think that last photo is the same plane wing-nut ?. Looking at it closer it could just a be a shadow casted by a tree, although the sun seems to be shining off the side of it.

[wing_nut]

Sabre... There are 2 thing that point to it not being the NZ5272/5307 that I am doing. The fin flash on he tail in the photo you posted is straight up and down. On NZ5272 it's at an angle. The underside of the engine cowl, and it looks like the landing gar door too, is white while NZ5307, the front half donor, was overall gloss sea blue.

[Rick]

Commend you for staying with it thru all your trials and tribulations. One thing is for sure, your build is going thru as much change as the real subject did back in '44. Keep at it!
Rick

[BezoulaBuilds]

Love the scheme on this. I may shamelessly borrow this for my 1a.

[wing_nut]

Thanks a lot guys. I can't wait to be able to get back to this. And no shame at all in borrowing the scheme. That's what I did

The good news is I am VERY busy. Business is good just now.

The bad news is I am VERY busy. Can't find time to work on my commitments much less this little birdie.

[wing_nut]

Not much of an update but since it's the 1st time this has been touched in nearly 3 months... I'll take it!

The landing gear is finished and dirtied up and ready to stick in the wells. There really isn't that much left to do in the big scheme of things. Maybe another year

Started washing the gear doors to and repainted the prop spinner NMF since the yellow was for a different scheme from the original plan.

[Leon]

Nice to see some progress being made Marc! Landing gear is looking good.

[wing_nut]

Thanks Leon. It feels good to get back to it.