Tamiya F4U-1D Corsair: Update: 2/1019

[1to1scale]

Excellent work! Perfect cockpit!

[Peterpools]

THE CORSAIR

UPDATE:11/24/18: FUSELAGE & THE BIG P&W

 

Creeping along a a snails pace, I finally finished enough work to post a long overdue update. The front office was finished, adding all the remaining details as per the kits instructions as well the rear interior of the fuselage for the tailwheel assembly. My apologies for not taking a few photos of the finished cockpit but I was on a role and plain old forgot. The fuselage was buttoned up, the firewall and exhausts were painted and added, as well as the remaining exterior parts specific for the '1D' were added.

On to the BIG P&W Radial. Tamiya's representation is outstanding, excellent fit and sure looked mighty good. A lot of time was devoted to painting the individual parts; both by air brush and by brush. I stayed the course and followed the instructions' painting guide for the most part but went my own way for the the cylinders, which were air brushed with Mr Metal Color Stainless as it looked so good and then following up with two light pin washes of Tamiya Black Panel Line Wash to pop the details and bring out the metallic look.

I decided to wire up the P&W Radial and it was an adventure to say the least. Tons of time and a modest amount of frustration and thank goodness the wiring was done. I worked from a few photos to get close to the ignition order sequence and repeated the pattern for each cylinder. When done, the leads were painted a brownish color, looking close to the photos and surely good enough for me.

The crankcase was built up as per the introductions and following the painting guide, I used Tamiya XF66 Gray: close but way too flat. A few light coats of Alcad Semi Matt darkened the gray nicely and added the missing metallic feel. A black pin wash was used on the crankcase to pick out some of the details.

Test fitting the engine to the fuselage went well and the fit looks good. Everything from the firewall forward is just being test fitted and nothing is actually glued into place – that's how tight Tamiya's part fit is and it's very important to remove the paint from parts surfaces that will glued or there will be trouble in paradise a bit down the road. I'll weather up the exhausts after the Corsair is painted, which seems to be the easiest way to go and how I went about it on my Corsair Birdcage build. The tailplanes are just being test fitted as well and so far: you just can't beat Tamiya for fit, detail and the joy of building.

Up next. The center wing section and gear.

Thanks for checking in

Peter

 

 

[Wumm]

Your patience and persistence is paying off Peter. That engine really came up a treat!

Steve

[GazzaS]

That engine looks sweet, Peter.  Between you and Tamiya, flawless.

 

Gaz

[kahunaminor]

Bravo Peter, bravo!

So nice and a great result on the engine.

 

Regards,

[JohnB]

Excellent Peter (as usual)!

[BlrwestSiR]

Fantastic work Peter. What size drill bit did you use for wiring the engine? 

Carl

[Mikester]

Top notch work, Peter!

[Daywalker]

Excellent work Peter, I remember wiring the P&W being the most challenging part of the model for me as well, always a breath of relief when that part is done.

 

Oh, that AND filling all of the seams (ICK )...

[Grunhertz]

Cracking work Peter 

[Bomber_County]

Oh my Peter that P&W is stunning...........congrats 

What wire / lead diameter for the ignition leads did you use?

[DocRob]

Nice engine Peter, very clean and subtle work. On my Corsair built I used liquid mask for the exhausts and removed it after painting the fuselage.

Cheers Rob

[Peterpools]

Thanks Steve

The P&W was a bit of a struggle and required more days then it should have but putting the assembly down when my patience was worn thin, turned out to be the best way of getting it done.

Peter

[Peterpools]

Thanks Gaz

All the credit goes to Papa Tamiya, as my contibution was following the instructions and knowing when ti call it a day, when my frustration level was reached with wiring. The old motto: tomorrow is another day with fresh nerves.

Peter

[Peterpools]

Thanks Kent, very much appreciated

Peter

 

[Peterpools]

Thanks John

I just keep one eye on the instructions and one eye on your last Corsair build and not only does this technique keep me on the straight and narrow but keeps the juices flowing.

Peter 

[Peterpools]

Carl

Much appreciated. I’ll have to measure (I check tonight) the bit as I keep each one in a pinvice, ready for use and normally just select the needed bit by eye.  

Peter

[Peterpools]

Thanks Mike

just nice to be making steady progress, no matter how slow.

Peter

[Peterpools]

Thanks Frank

Wiring up the big radial sure was a test of nerves and right with you for sure. The front cylinders weren’t too bad but the back row: what a nightmare! Just as I was finishing, I finally figured out a not to frustrating procedure.

Peter

 

[Peterpools]

Thanks Frank

Wiring up the big radial sure was a test of nerves and right with you for sure. The front cylinders weren’t too bad but the back row: what a nightmare! Just as I was finishing, I finally figured out a not to frustrating procedure.

Peter

 

[Peterpools]

Thanks Grunz

Nothing like a Tamiya build to keep me at the bench. So far except for a bit of testy engine wiring - she has been all fun and what modeling is all about for me.

Peter

[Peterpools]

Thanks Phil, much appreciated.

i’ll check the wire size when I’m home tonight

Peter

[Peterpools]

Rob, much appreciated and then you for the tip - I’ll do some tinkering as I have a bottle of liquid mask right on the bench.

Peter

[Guest DannyVM]

Lovely progress Peter. Cockpit is just spot on, and engine, oh boy that thing seem's to come alive when i look at it.

[Peterpools]

Thanks Danny, much appreciated. 

Peter