FROG F243 Chance Vought Corsair F4U-1D

Frog: 1:72 scale He 111 and Corsair

AS we close for press we've received— but not assembled—two new Frog releases, a Heinkel He 111- H1, with optional markings and armament for the H6, and a Corsair F4U-ID. The He 111 differs from the Airfix version and depicts a Battle of Britain machine in its HI form. It looks fine on a 'dry run' and the parts fit well together. The Corsair, at first sight, duplicates the other Corsairs available but this one wins by being really flush and smooth, just like the real thing, rather than peppered with rivets. It comes with imaginative markings too, for the RNZAF. or 1842 Sqn FAA in 1945. This appears to be a very accurate model. The He 111 costs 80p plus 15p postage, and the Corsair is 21 p plus 5p postage. Jones Bros of Chiswick hold stocks and sent our samples.
C.O.E.

Airfix magazine 1972-06 Vol.13 No.10

NEW AND IN VIEW

Although we had no information other than that generally released to the public on new items from Frog, our local stockist has recently received supplies of their latest releases, the Heinkel III H1/H6 and Chance Vought Corsair F4U-1D.

We purchased one of each to see what was what and the result is rather mixed feelings.

Taking the Corsair first this is one of the 21p. packet series like the Hellcat, moulded in grey plastic and with the card assembly instructions and colouring details. Dimensionally and 'shapewise' the kit checks out well and is quite accurate.. . the purist will shave one or two slivers here and there to get it just so, but it is fairly good except for a fair bit of flash. When I open Frogs more recent offerings I have a distinct impression that the job was started by someone who knew what he was doing and was really interested, but finally finished up with the all too often met, couldn't care less bod, who wanted to finish it before finishing time on Friday. Surface detail is nicely scribed, but Frog's trade mark of clumsy, thick trailing edges once again is there. The method of splitting the mould for the wing top and bottom should give a knife sharp T/E like the Japs obtain, but instead we get the thick edge and compound it with a horrid gap as gap between the wings and control surfaces. It would just about be possible to trap your foot in the gap scaled to full size). Rather than mould a wing root integral with the fuselage Frog have tried to produce a complex compound curve at the wing end to match the fuselage - it almost comes off, but the effort was too much and the result is the slot for the stbd. wing has to be re-cut and the whole wing realigned, otherwise it sits lower on the fuselage than the port wing. I found the best way to handle this problem was to attach the port wing to the fus, strap it to a flat length of wood with dihedral/anhedral set correctly, and fit the stbd wing strapping this down also with correct setting. A little twisting and the fus could be set to dry mounted with the fin truly vertical. The result needs a fair amount of fille. The tail plane is similary mis-set and needs realigning.

The transfers are good standard, but will cause controversy with the darker shade or the Pacific theatre blue. This was correct on a fresh painted aircraft but paint rapidly weathered so if you wish to finish the model as well-weathered use faded decals from another source. I do rather question the dark outline on the decals as I consider this should be the same shade of blue as the roundal.

The IPMS magazine, JUNE 1972. Vol. 9 No. 6

Model Enthusiast
A pair of "standards" from Frog

One of the more remarkable aspects of the modelling scene is the fact that, despite the proliferation of kits of World War IPs "standards", some of the true immortals of that conflict are still represented by only one kit, or by kits that are so inaccurate that they are simply not worth purchasing.

Frog's other "standard" is a l/72nd scale kit of the F4U Corsair which makes up into a really good, accurate, and finely-detailed model which is easy to assemble providing some care is taken with the wing root joint. Decals are provided for a Corsair IV of No 1842 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm, and for an F4U-1D of the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and the usual excellent colour scheme drawing is provided. It is certainly good value at its UK price of 21p, and our only reservation is engendered by doubts concerning a sizeable market for a l/72nd kit of this aircraft, as most modellers who want to include this war-plane in their collections will surely have already made it. After all, there have been so many kits of the Corsair available for so long.

Air Enthusiast 1972-08 Vol3 No2

Modelling world
New Frog kits

A VERY happy event for modellers has recently taken place with the first releases of new kits from Frog after its troubles. Although I have harshly criticised certain aspects of individual Frog kits, as well as given praise where due, I for one would have been extremely sorry if the name of Frog had disappeared from the shelves of our model shops. Frog was the pioneer of the plastic kit, with its far-sighted pre-war Penguin series, and its demise would have been a tragedy. Frog has always deserved praise for its choice of kit subjects, which in the past have included many interesting, if possibly less-popular subjects instead of concentrating only on "dead-cert" commercial lines. These have included such kits as the Wyvern, Tupolev SB-2, Vimy, Vampire FB5, Southern Cross (Fokker FVII-3m), Ta-152, etc, which were not likely to have been produced by the majority of manufacturers. Frog has shown commendable courage in some of its kit subjects and I hope that modellers will give it the support it deserves. On the other side of the coin I hope that Frog will continue to produce kits of the more unusual aviation subjects as well as the more commercial types, and ensure the accuracy and moulding quality of its kits.

Frog's second release is another kit of the Chance Vought Corsair F4U-1D (the World War II naval fighter, not to be confused with the present day Corsair II). To me, it is a pity that kit manufacturers continually bring out new kits of aircraft types that are already well catered for by excellent existing models. I am all for replacing an existing kit of dubious quality by one of high accuracy and improved standards and to adding a new kit of some type that has been neglected in the past. There are a number of well-known types that are still only represented in 1/72 scale by largely inaccurate and indifferent quality kits, and replacement of these would be welcomed by modellers. Even such types as the Fw190A, Spitfire, Hurricane, Wellington, Junkers Ju88, and Mosquito have yet to be produced accurately in 1 /72 scale, and there are still many other well-known aircraft that could be the subject of additional kits. There have been so many cases where several manufacturers have produced a kit of some well-known type—even the same mark— and for another manufacturer to release yet another kit of the same type. Frog's Corsair is at least the third kit of the type in 1/72 scale and all are of the F4U-1D version. To be fair, if Frog felt it was necessary to add the Corsair to its range there was little else it could do but choose this version again. The earlier "flat top" type would have been nice to have, but commercially probably less attractive.

All this said and done, Frog's Corsair is an outstanding kit and probably the best in most respects of any Corsair produced so far. The moulding is clean and the fit of parts good. Many of the smaller components are beautifully reproduced and delicate—many in fact requiring care not to break them when removing from the sprue. This model scores over other kits of this fighter particularly in jespect of radiator detailing, main undercarriage units and wheels, and the tail whee1/ arrester hook assembly, all of which look very convincing. The general outline is accurate. Care must be exercised in setting the correct wing dihedral.

Transfers are provided for two aircraft— a Corsair IV of 1842 Squadron operating from HMS Formidable in July 1945, and a F4U-1 D Corsair of 2 Support Unit Wing of the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1945.

Cost of this excellent kit is 21 p.

Aircraft Illustrated 1972-08

NEW TO YOU?
New aircraft releases reviewed by 'SCALE MODELS' staff, show new kits of popular subjects

TWO NEW FROG kits have been released by ROVEX/TRIANG, these are the F4U Corsair (W.W.2) and the Heinkel He.111 H-1 -H-6. Taking the Corsair first, this is an excellent kit, and is up to the usual FROG standard as regards refined surface detail. No carriage bolt heads on this one! The engine is a finely detailed moulding, as are the wheel hubs and tailwheel hook assembly. There are, however, other points that need a little attention to make the model even more accurate. The first point concerns the dihedral, which when compared with three views and photographs sags woefully shallow when viewed from the front. This is easily corrected by removing slivers off the wing root upper surface (Parts 3 and 4). Control surfaces are fabric covered on the full-size, and FROG made this rather too obvious by large depressions between ribs. The model looks far better if they are sanded flat and rib positions scored in afterwards. The canopy is well moulded and fits fairly well, though a small amount of filler will not become amiss.

Cowling cooling fins could also come in for attention by the purist, but apart from these remarks, FROG's Corsair is very acceptable and is one of the better 1/72nd scale kits available of this well-known aircraft.

Excellent decal sheet (as always) gives a choice of markings for a Mk. IV of 842 Sqn. H.M.S. Formidable 1942 and a F4U-1D of the R.N.Z.A.F. 1945, the wing walks also provided in decal form. The model could even be further enhanced by cutting wings at fold breaks and cemented at the folded position with appropriate detailing of the wing roots. The Corsair sells at a very modest 21 p. A well-preserved example can be examined by those who seek the last word in perfection at the Fleet Air Arm Museum, Yeovilton.

Scale Models No.36 1972 SEPTEMBER Vol.3. No.09

MODEL ENTHUSIAST
This month's colour subject

The "Bent-winged Bird", the "Sweetheart of Okinawa"; whatever the appellation unofficially bestowed on the Chance Vought F4U Corsair by the US forces in the Pacific Theatre, agreement was almost universal that it was an extraordinarily effective warplane. Operating from airstrips on Guadalcanal and the Solomon Islands, the US Marine Corps forged the Corsair into a superlative air superiority weapon which played a major role in turning the tide of air combat permanently in favour of the Allies. Understandably, this aircraft has always been a firm favourite among modellers and if its popularity can be adjudged by the number of kits that have been offered over the years — nearly a score to a variety of scales — then the Corsair can undoubtedly be numbered among the 'top ten'.

To 1/72nd scale, or thereabouts, there have been eight or nine versions of which several remain current if not necessarily readily available. Not all represent the same version of the fighter, so it is not really practicable to pick an overall "best", although we tend to favour Lesney's "Matchbox" offering of an F4U-4, which is also the latest to be released. Frog provides a very good F4U-1D which is rather better than the more elderly offerings of the same sub-type from Airfix and Revell, and also worth having — if it can be found — is Hawk's Marine Corps AU-1, originally issued as an F4U-1D but later modified as the only post-WW II variant to 1/72nd scale. Two Japanese kits that came close to 1/72nd were the Midori F4U-1D (1/69th) and the Fujimi F4U-4 (1/70th), the latter being a very good kit for its time. Hobbytime, in the USA, has listed an F4U-5N, but we have never seen an example of this kit and can offer no information concerning its quality or availability.

Air Enthusiast 1976-11 vol.11 no.05

NOVO Toys Ltd

MKI «Gorizont»

NEW KITS and MODELS
Return of the Corsair

Seventy-second scale model makers will welcome the return of the Hawk Corsair and Dauntless models on to the market. These two most excellent kits have not been generally available for the last year and our samples were taken from a batch imported by B.M.W. Models of Wimbledon.

Although both the Corsair and the Dauntless have been reviewed in these columns before we would just like to mention a few things that come to mind when making them up again. Naturally we couldn't make either without a few modifications, as to have exactly the same types in any collection just won't do! Having collected a few references it was therefore decided to make up the Corsair into a Royal Navy Mk. II by clipping the wings, adding a pitot tube to the port wing, placing the radio aerial behind the cockpit and changing the markings. The Dauntless was also transferred into R.N. markings but here the reference material was rather scanty as only nine were taken on Fleet Air Arm strength by January, 1945. Camouflage for these aircraft followed the normal schemes in force at the time and the serial we used for the Dauntless was JS997.

For those who have not had the pleasure of building either of these models we can assure you that the standard of the plastic and the way in which the various parts fit together is excellent. There are 37 parts in the Corsair kit and 26 in the Dauntless. The cost of each kit is 9s. 11d. Both are to 1/72 scale.

Airfix magazine August 1962 Vol.3 No.3

PLASTICS REVIEW
By J. Goulding, A. Gee and Aeromodeller Staff

Scale accuracy aside, Airfix's Corsair goes together well and paints up nicely. From a builders' point of view there is nothing to choose between it and the Revell counterpart although the quality of the mouldings from Revell do have a slight edge over Airfix. Now that one can visit the R.N. Museum at Yeovilton and examine the ex-Cranfield Corsair to admire its flush rivetted drag-free surfaces, the embellishmnts on this Airfix kit cry out for removal in the interests of accuracy. Nevertheless we like the kit as one to "get to work on" and good value at 2|-.

AeroModeller 1964-09

MODEL TALK
W. R. MATTHEWS
NEW RELEASES FROM AIRFIX

Progressing from the First to the Second World War, we come to the latest Airfix releases covering this period...

Airfix's other Second World War offering is the Chance Vought Corsair, and in view pf the number of kits of this fighter already on the market, yet another F4U-1D may seem superfluous, particularly so as, while quite acceptable, the Airfix kit is by no means devoid of faults. The cowling would seem to be too angular, the canopy is fitted in a very peculiar fashion which simply does not look right, and the vertical tail surfaces are too large. The kit also has its good features, such as the undercarriage and the very sharp wing trailing edges, and is undoubtedly good value at two shillings in the United Kingdom, but we cannot help but harbour the thought that Airfix would have been wiser to have selected G rum man's Hellcat if they wanted to offer an American naval fighter!

RAF Flying Review September, 1964, Vol. XX, No. 1

Trade Notes

Of the new kits just realeased for Christmas trade, many are in the plastic ranges...

Airfix have opened up their series C "Skyking" range with a Boeing 707 to 1/144th scale at 6s., matching the series A, Caravelle and series B, Comet and Vanguard. The 707 is neatly packed in a new look style box for Airfix and transfers are for a BOAC aircraft as equipped with Conway engines. In the 1/72nd 2s. range, latest is the Yak-9 Soviet Fighter of World War II.

Revell are proceeding fast with their 1/72nd range of 2s. 11d. World War II Fighters, the very latest being the Curtiss P40E Kittyhawk, Me 262 jet fighter and Chance-Vought Corsair, all with moving canopies, pilots and undercarriages which can be made in the up or down position. The Revell range now totals 12 W.W II types, and as a special Christmas offer, a pack of six is arranged as a gift set at 17s. 6d., including the Spitfire II, Me 109, P-47 Thunderbolt, F.W.190, Hurricane and Zero.

AeroModeller 1963-12

TRADE NOTES

Other accolades must go to Revell for their 39 part 'Corsair,' just a shade over-scale though very well detailed and obviously the result of a lot of research, a'so their 38 part 'Warhawk,' complete with 112 Sqdn "Shark's mouth" markings to make it a R.A.F. Kittyhawk la of the Desert Air Force. Sliding hoods on each of these models tend to be bulky, but 1/72nd scale limits are restrictive here, and the enlarged scale runners, etc., are unavoidable.

Revell Corsair with sliding hood and specially good fabric covering representation at 2/11d.

AeroModeller 1964-02

OVER THE COUNTER 1963

A name new to this country, is Kookaburra Models whose first product, the Kawasaki Swallow scale stunter, is now available.

Most British manufacturers have been active in producing high quality " smaller " kits too, and the plastic " solid " has seen something of a revival. Both Airfix and Frog have been rapidly expanding their established ranges of 1/72nd scale kits and it has been nice to notice not only the accuracy of these models, but also their originality. We have, it seems, at last come to the end of the long run of Spitfires and Hurricanes which, good though they often were, did much to over-swamp the plastic kit market in the past. Airfix also opened an American factory, so great is the U.S. demand for their kits.

Revell have now joined the 1/72nd scale camp, after many years in exile in the " odd scale " world. Their three latest products, the Kittyhawk, M.E. 262 and Corsair, are first-class and again get away from the over-modelled prototypes.

There has been much more, of course, and looking back there is no doubt that, as we said at the beginning, " 1963 has been a bumper year." May 1964 be even bumpier or is it bumperer, or perhaps bumperier ? Anyway you know what we mean. Here's to 1964!

NEW THIS MONTH

Gamages 1963-1964 Model Book costs only is. and contains in its 130 pages a wonderful selection of model goods, from aircraft, to cars, trains and science kits. It is not just a catalogue, for you will find in it a host of interesting and useful facts, relating to both model and " full size " activities and pursuits. For those who live too far away to visit Gamages' magnificent store, their Model Book provides the reader with the next best thing, for a very modest outlay.

The boxes of the current Revell 1/72nd scale aircraft series, feature excellent full colour paintings on the lids. Revell have now reproduced these paintings in book form, undei the title " History of Flight-Fighters of World War II." Each painting is used to illustrate the stories of the aircraft they depict, which are authoritatively written by air historian Bruce Robertson. You can obtain a copy by sending in six box ends from any of the Revell 2s. 11d. aircraft range, together with the form enclosed in the boxes and sixpence to cover handling charges.

Latest Airfix production is that infrequently modelled prototype, the Russian Yak-9D of World War 2. The kit costs 2S., and will make an interesting addition to any plastics' collection. We will comment fuither on this kit in the next issue.

Model aircraft, December 1963

OVER THE COUNTER 1963

Revell have now joined the 1/72nd scale camp, after many years in exile in the " odd scale " world. Their three latest products, the Kittyhawk, M.E. 262 and Corsair, are first-class and again get away from the over-modelled prototypes.

NEW THIS MONTH

The boxes of the current Revell 1/72nd scale aircraft series, feature excellent full colour paintings on the lids. Revell have now reproduced these paintings in book form, undei the title " History of Flight-Fighters of World War II." Each painting is used to illustrate the stories of the aircraft they depict, which are authoritatively written by air historian Bruce Robertson. You can obtain a copy by sending in six box ends from any of the Revell 2s. 11d. aircraft range, together with the form enclosed in the boxes and sixpence to cover handling charges.

Model aircraft, December 1963

OVER THE COUNTER

The two latest Revell 1/72 scale fighter kits are for the Messerschmitt 262 and Vought F4U Corsair. Both kits are quite excellent and amongst the best of the dozen prototypes in the series. Rivet detail on the 262 is first class and the component parts " click " together with remarkable precision. The outline of both machines is perhaps the most accurate yet seen of these prototypes, which will enhance any collection.

The usual good value expected from Airfix, this 3s. kit of the F104G (picture in our heading) is the first of the new aircraft to be marketed in a very attractive box. An abundance of parts, is typified by dual sets of transfers, i.e. R.C.A.F. or C.A.F., and a choice of rockets or tip tanks. An accumulation of slight misfits results from the fuselage being made up from numerous pieces, the final assembly requiring far more filing and blending than should be necessary. However, the finished model is a pleasing replica and well worth the effort. One of the many good points is that no one can grumble about blunt trailing edges!

Model aircraft, January 1964

MODEL TALK
W. R. MATTHEWS
CORSAIR AND SWALLOW

Revell's most recent kits to 1/72nd scale depict types which will already have found their places in many collections but which, owing to their places in the history of the air war, will always be popular—the F4U-1D Corsair and the Me 262A-ia Schwalbe, or Swallow. The Corsair is exceptionally well-made and outstanding value for money. The component parts are beautifully pressed, absolutely free from flash, and fit together with extreme precision, no trimming or adjustment of any kind being called for. A sliding cockpit canopy is incorporated, but we wonder if such an embellishment is worthwhile on so small a model as this, despite the fact that it functions well enough. Owing to the necessary thickness of the plastic of the canopy, it must stand proud of the fuselage in order to slide, and this must affect its shape adversely.

The Me 262A-1a Schwalbe is, if anything, even better than the Corsair, and the tit of the parts is truly astonishing—in this respect, we have seen few better models, irrespective of price! However, the remarks applied to the canopy of the Corsair are also applicable to the sideways-hinging hood of the Messerschmitt, reducing outline accuracy. The real perfectionist will probably prefer to cement the canopy sections together and trim them to the correct shape. The only other fault that can be found with the Schwalbe from Revell is the fact that all three outer wheel hubs are the same size, whereas the nosewheel tyre is, of course, appreciably smaller than those of the mainwheels. Incidentally, an outstanding feature of this kit is the really beautiful rivet detailing which, in our view, sets the standard by which future kits will be judged.

RAF Flying Review December, 1963, Vol. XIX, No. 4

NEW TO YOU ?

SINCE OUR announcements of Trade Fair kits last month, some have started to trickle through already, like the Corsair A7D from MATCHBOX (see page 279 this month). More Matchbox goodies have since arrived, the Me Bf109E, and an earlier Corsair, an F4U4 of the U.S.M.C.

There are many 1/72nd versions of this aircraft, and the Matchbox kit, if a few things are corrected, stands up as one of the better reproductions of this machine.

Moulded in dark and light blue plastic the kit embodies fine engraved detail, and this is much better than the earlier attempts, though the use of this to emulate fabric covering on the wings is a mistake, the toolmaker would have done better to use the same technique as on the rudder.

The kit assembles easily but like the other Corsair the cockpit area is neglected, only a bulkhead and seat being provided. We built up a floor and instrument panel from plastic card, added a new seat and harness from adhesive tape just to fill the space. Interior is Humbrol Chromate Green.

The model contains a few anomalies. For a start (although unimportant) the instruction sheet shows a three-bladed airscrew, where in reality it should be a four-blader (as provided), four wing guns are included but the box art and other references show six internally mounted guns, so the wing should be assembled and the slots filled with putty. Radio antennae is not included for the forward fuselage, although this is shown on box art and photos of the full size, but stretched sprue can easily cure this.

There are few parts, but this Corsair really looks the part, although other items such as u/c doors may need replacing, and also the rather crude arrestor hook.

The undercarriage, wheels especially, is well detailed and the power-plant likewise, and thin trailing edges are some of the kit's good points.

Decals are colourful and provide a choice of markings, although the small 8 for the cowling of the VMF-211 version was missing from our sheet.

The blue portion is best cut away from the insignia and the stars and bars applied to the blue finish of the aircraft. Decals are rather thin, i.e. the blue tends to show through the white areas somewhat.

But don't be too put off by our remarks, the faults we mentioned are of that not too important kind that doubtless the manufacturer will correct in future production runs. The Corsair is reasonably priced at 26p in the UK and is available now.

Scale Models, 1974 Май том 5 No.56

MODEL ENTHUSIAST
A pair of standards

Recent additions to the fast-growing Lesney 1/72nd scale Matchbox Series One kits are the Messerschmitt Bf 109E and Chance Vought F4U-4 Corsair which come within the "standard" category and thus possess no real novelty value. Nevertheless, they do have considerable merit, not least of which is their very reasonable retail price of 24p in the UK. ..

The Chance Vought F4U-4 Corsair is another good choice of sub-type for, although there are F4U-1Ds to 1/72nd scale available from Airfix, Revell and Frog, plus a hard-to-get AU-1 from Hawk, the only previous F4U-4 was from Fujimi and that was actually to 1/70th scale. The wing-to-fuselage joint of the F4U-4 is not so well arranged as that of the companion Bf 109E, for it is necessary to make what amounts almost to a butt joint into a recess in the curved surface of the fuselage and, with the inverted gull form of the Corsair's wings, this is no easy task and could conceivably result in some decidedly odd front elevations! The engraved surface details are much too deeply etched and the cockpit interior is seriously lacking in detail, a fact which the very large and clear canopy reveals all too clearly. The component parts are moulded in two shades of blue, and provided that the schemes covered by the very nice decal sheet are followed, painting in overall midnite blue should present no problems. Both aircraft depicted are postwar and both are from US Marine Corps units, the more colourful being a training squadron, VMFT-20, the other being VMF-211. All in all, an acceptable kit making up into a pleasing model, but watch those wings!
F J HENDERSON

Air Enthusiast 1974-07 vol.07 no.01