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Model Forum / General / Models / October 2003Initial impressions: Trumpeter 1/32 scale F4U-1D Corsair
I saw this kit today for the first time at one of my local hobby shops and had a chance to pen the box and look at the parts. Overall, it seems to be nicely molded, though the fabric surfaces and stringers are a bit overdone, as seems to be a Trumpeter trademark; the surface scribing looks quite fine and petite, however. It has a reasonably detailed cockpit with separate sidewall framing that you need to glue on. The disappointment in the cockpit area is the floor. The kit has the rudder pedal troughs depicted reasonably well but they only sit a short distance above a flat floor that is incorrect for the F4U1. I suspect the easiest fix would be to not use the flat floor piece at all and construct a curved faux lower fuselage from thin plastic with plastruct ribbing glued to it. It shouldn't be all that difficult and it could extend up under the side panels and be virtually undetectable. I don't know why Trumpeter did it this way. It would have been just as easy to make that piece curved with a little bit of ribbing detail that to make it flat. Go figure. External stores are underwing rockets (I don't remember if there were 4 or 5 per wing) two bombs and two drop tanks for the underwing pylons. There are two rubber tires and what looks like nice clear glazing parts in a separate box with a couple small rods and photo etched fret. The control surfaces are separate but, in the instructions they call the ailerons flaps and the flaps ailerons.....sigh! As I said, the flaps are separate pieces. However, by looking at the instructions, it appears there are only parts to mount them to the wing in the retracted position; if that's the case, why make them separate??? Since I was only able to look at the parts trees in the plastic bags, I can make no judgment as to fit or overall accuracy but it looks like it will build up into a nice representation of an F4U1-D. At the same time, it seems there is some room for the aftermarket guys to do some detail parts. I was tempted to buy it (it was the last one they had in the store) but I decided to hold out for the F4U-4 release. "The world would be a much simpler place if every one could pick and choose their obligations, but we can't and we shouldn't." Major Charles W. Whittlesey > I saw this kit today for the first time at one of my local hobby shops and had > a chance to pen the box and look at the parts. Overall, it seems to be nicely [quoted text clipped - 27 lines] > to buy it (it was the last one they had in the store) but I decided to hold out > for the F4U-4 release. I'm a Corsair virgin. Can you please offer some info as to what would be visually different enough btwn the two versions to wait for a specific version release? thx - Craig The -4 has a different cowling (intake at the bottom to give it a "chin" & deeper, lower forward fuselage contour. It also has a 4 blade prop. Cockpit layout's different too. No framework at the top of the canopy & a few other smaller changes. > The -4 has a different cowling (intake at the bottom to give it a "chin" > & deeper, lower forward fuselage contour. It also has a 4 blade prop. > Cockpit layout's different too. No framework at the top of the canopy & > a few other smaller changes. I wish they had included a -1A style framed canopy in the kit so you could have the option...guess that's one for those aftermarket folks. Planning to try all of the stuff I'd originally bought for my Revell kit, unless Eduard beats me to it with some kit-specific etch.  Signature- Rufus Arrgghh, so ye've never been pillaged then, matey.... Arrgghh, where's me buccanneers? RobG (the Aussie pirate one) Craig <crw59@earthlink.net> wrote in message > I'm a Corsair virgin..... On my buccannhead...... Yuk Yuk,,,,couldn't pass it up, sorry. I did buy one - posted my impressions a bit ago...yes, all of the surfaces are actually hinged using those etched parts; Trumpeter wants you to use a metalsmithing technique (upsetting the ends of short pieces of wire) to pin the hinges. I may opt to use small brass nuts/bolts instead. The wing folds work too, I think. Here's a re-post of my original, with some comparisions to my Revell one: Ok, folks...I picked mine up today and (through the drooling) have spent a short bit of time looking it over. As I type, I have both my Revell and Trumpeter kits splayed out on my bed...here's what I think: 1) Yes - the Trumpeter kit wins. But it's not without faults - the most notable being the overdone fabric areas that I've read about elswhere. As suggested, some sanding will cure them. 2) All of the flying surfaces, including he flaps and wingfolds, are hinged using etched parts and brass rod. One of the more challenging things in the instruction is how they want you to secure the hinge plates by upsetting the ends of a VERY short length of brass rod...this is a metalsmithing technique that I'm not even sure I want to emply my jewelers skills on for a model...we'll see. I may opt for tiny brass nuts and bolts instead - they'd look great. 3) While the tail wheel and arrestng hook are both retractable and articulated (including the actuation cylinder for the hook) the main gear are fixed in place...sort of strange engineering, IMO. One nice thing about the mains is that the way they go together you can set the amount of compression in the oleos if you care to. 4) Clear cowling...ok...and yes, the cowl flaps do look a bit "toothy", but so do the ones on the Revell kit. I plan to dress them up, anyway. 5) Decals - one of the included schemes is for a bona-fide CAF plane! 6) The cockpit looks great - I plan to use the Eduard set I bought for my Revell one unless Eduard does one specifically for this kit, but for the most part the Trumpeter cockpit is a HUGE improvement over the Revell kit. 7) The kit engine looks great - a bit of wiring and home made extras will easily dress it up into something fine. So...what do I do with my Revell kit now?..funny, but I'm not quite ready to dump it...I mean, I must have $120 worth of aftermarket goodies in that Revell box. Oh...wait...I can move them to the Trumpeter box...guess I'm gonna build a Trumpeter Birdcage Corsair. And it's gonna look GOOD! Keep 'em coming, Trumpter. Signature- Rufus > I saw this kit today for the first time at one of my local hobby shops and had > a chance to pen the box and look at the parts. Overall, it seems to be nicely [quoted text clipped - 31 lines] > and choose their obligations, but we can't and we shouldn't." > Major Charles W. Whittlesey > So...what do I do with my Revell kit now?..funny, but I'm not quite > ready to dump it...I mean, I must have $120 worth of aftermarket goodies [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Keep 'em coming, Trumpter. Well, I started mine today and after spending some time with the Verlinden resin set and the Eduard photoetch set, they will work on this kit. The verlinden fuselage bottom(no floor), fits very nicely to the kit rear bulkead that the seat attaches to. Even though the kit part is molded to be attached to the kit floor part, the curve of the resin part works well and no other adjustment is necessary to the kit part. The kit instrument panel works with the Eduard photoetch instrument panel with minor adjustment. You will need to cut the bottom of the kit part instrument panel "legs" because it should not reach all the way down to the resin floor.The Verlinden sidewalls can't be used because the top angle of the parts do not follow the kit cockpit angle. But, the kit sidewalls work with the Verlinden parts attached to them. You will need to cut off the bottom set of ribs to nestle against the Verlinden resin "floor". The fit of the fuselage is great and I'm looking to continue the build. Hope this helps. Rich IPMS #11470 > So...what do I do with my Revell kit now?..funny, but I'm not quite > ready to dump it...I mean, I must have $120 worth of aftermarket goodies [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > Keep 'em coming, Trumpter. I forgot to mention that I had an old F4U-1A canopy from the Revell kit and it looks like it will easily replace the kit part which doesn't include the braces. Fill in the bomb and rocket support holes and it should build into a respectable -1A. Rich IPMS #11470 >>So...what do I do with my Revell kit now?..funny, but I'm not quite >>ready to dump it...I mean, I must have $120 worth of aftermarket goodies [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > Rich > IPMS #11470 Good to hear - I hadn't tried that yet. Was also considereing buying the -1A vac canopy from Squadron, but I'm still pretty convinced I want to turn mine into a Birdcage...with a bit more work. Signature- Rufus |
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