discussion My first Aircraft. F4U-1A corsair

[Guest]

Done some more on this puppy, and finding that these Revell kits require some extensive sanding.


I've been using a needle file, and some nail files (cheapskate I know!) which have worked fine on some of my previous models, but the plastic on this kit is very brittle. So I've bought a few bits off John at the shop including some bespoke sanding fingers, which I think will help me on this.


Now you'll have to excuse me, as I have forgotten my iPad every single time I went into the garage!


So I have made the fuselage, and also the front undercarriage and wheels, and begun the main wing assembly.


This kit incorporates the folding wing system, rather than solid wings, but I have to say it's INCREDIBLY flimsy.


It uses one single attachment, and really doesn't offer a great deal of support. I've tried and tried to make it stronger, but there's not a great deal of room to build up some epoxy.


So this afternoon I said bugger it, and glued the outer wing assy to the main wing structure.


It's not a problem for me as I'm going to display it as static with wings down anyway.


So tomorrow, I'll try remember my iPad and take some photos!

 

[Guest]

One pic, I'm afraid, I'm hurting this evening, and dont want to be in the cold, sorry!


View attachment 123117


View attachment 236008

 

[Guest]

Brave man I don't do planes any more as I'm crap at them (stick to what you can do is my moto) take my hat off to anyone who builds them.

 

[Guest]

Brave man I don't do planes any more as I'm crap at them (stick to what you can do is my moto) take my hat off to anyone who builds them.

Says the man who can build some awesome fiddly bloody ships!


If you're taking your hat off to anyone doing planes, then I'll take everything off to you for your builds.....


Err.....hang on......


I just re read that......


I don't mean it how it sounds!!

 

[yak face]

Looking nice dave , im really enjoying watching this come together , its making me want to get another one and make it in the FAA scheme , cheers tony

 

[Guest]

All taking a bit more time than it should at the moment, the wings were flimsy, so I removed them and used epoxy, made some stays and glued it all back together again.


The fuselage wasn't too bad but the wing parts have big gaps, which I've filled now, problem is, this model is raised detail, and it's a struggle not to loose some of that detail when sanding.


So for Take 2 it's sitting there looks exactly like the last picture, drying again!

 

[Guest]

Become dissappinted in this kit, the first aeroplane build I've done.


The fuselage and wings are on, and the gaps were terrible in some places, and I've had to use epoxy to hold the wing assy to the fuselage, not something I'd expect.


The main contention for my disappointment is the detailing being raised.


I've had to sand the front nose area, where it was a poor fit, and used some filler, but the exhaust outlets were very thin raised areas and they're gone, along with a lot of the panel lines and rivets.


Now I've primed it, the detail is even less prominent,


It's kits like these that make you dismayed, and I have to reprimand myself, telling myself to not push it to one side, but to persevere. Sadly, the finished model will. It have a lot of the detail it should have.

 

[Guest]

Dave I feel your pain! The first aircraft kit I built was also a Revell kit, their 1/48 F-14 Black Tomcat.


It too had terrible fit problems & raised panel lines etc that disappeared after all the sanding & filling that was necessary.


But I learnt a lot from it, not least to do research before impulsively hitting the bid button on eBay!


After this one, try an Airfix new tool, either their 1/72 Typhoon 1b or Mustang P51-D. Both kits are a joy to build!

 

[Guest]

I know how you feel with back pain, I am limited to how long I can sit and do model making, as I have four prolapsed disc's had a Laminectomy at the age of 22 as I was paralyzed and this has lead to arthritis of the hips and spine and no feeling in my left leg, and I'm on a major concoction of drugs, but I am determined to make my first model after a 40+ years break..

 

[rickoshea52]

After this one, try an Airfix new tool, either their 1/72 Typhoon 1b or Mustang P51-D. Both kits are a joy to build!

I definately agree with Patrick, the new tool Airfix kits are a pleasure to build and the smaller ones are fairly cheap considering the quality on offer. The Typhoon, Lightning and Zero are great to build but there's plenty more to choose from.

 

[Guest]

Yeah, mine was a Revell 1/32 P51, a proper dog of a kit...

 

[Guest]

I might go that route, thanks guys for the tips.


I'm still going to persevere with this kit, I've got some high speed epoxy, to hold these wings on, as standard cement although holds the plastic, there's very little plastic to weld and the wings are too heavy to cope. So, I've used this epoxy resin glue, and have bonded everything together hopefully permanently, and I may even make some proper exhaust ports from Milliput.

 

[Guest]

Sorry to hear of your bad experience with this kit. It looks like the same one I build in the '70s. I was a major amateur builder back then (not much better now!) and didn't know the difference between a good kit and a bad, but remember the fit being atrocious on this one.


After a few bad experiences with aircraft kits, I vowed never to build them again. In my recent foray back into modelling, however, I have discovered that kit manufacturing has improved a bunch. I built an older Pro-Modeler P-51 in 1/48, just to get my feet wet. Horrible... but I expected it going in. After that I got the Hobby Boss Ta-152 C-1 R/14 in 1/48. Stellar kit! Seams almost not existent. Fit was perfect. Detail outstanding.


After that I got the Revell 1/32 Bf-109 G 10. It was tooled in 2013, and I can tell. I am working on it now and am very happy with it.


So, why all of that ramble? Here's why... don't give up. Build this kit for the experience, and then try a more modern manufactured kit. If you like 1/32 scale (which I am finding I do) try one of the new Revell kits. They are great kits in fit and finish, and very reasonably priced. Once you start working on one I think you will enjoy it immensely, especially after coming off a kit that isn't going as well for you.

 

[Guest]

How do you know what the age of the kits are? This one I bought from John at the shop two weeks ago.

 

[Guest]

How do you know what the age of the kits are? This one I bought from John at the shop two weeks ago.

Scalemates is a good website to check Dave. If the kit is on there database, they'll show it's history, including re-boxes, new parts or decals.


They also have links to reviews of the kit, if they exist.


Just looked at your kit ...it's from 1970!!


https://www.scalemates.com/kits/177872-revell-04781-vought-f4u-1d-corsair

 

[Guest]

I agree about the new Airfix kits the 1:48 hurricane MK1 I am working is far superior to the ones I used to work on over 40+ years ago. This is the first kit I'm building on my return.

 

[Dave Jay]

Dave, keep going, the experience is worth it, even if the corsair doesn't get to the finish line, you would have gleaned some new skills from it. Definitely look at scalemates site, it will save you from some bad purchases.


The revell 1/32 Messerschmitt 109G is a really nice fitting kit with a good choice of aftermarket decals, also the 1/32 Spitfire MkII is a corker too but avoid the Spitfire Mk24 it's an old Matchbox re box, it has some fit issues which could lead to some early test flights!


Maybe you could step down a scale and go for 1/48 scale subjects, the Airfix new toolings are cracking and Tamiya 1/48 are fantastic, some are knocking on now but by god are they great kits, you could almost pour the paint and glue in to box, close the lid, give the box a shake and out would come a great model!


There was a time that I would exclusively build Tamiya stuff because of the failings of the kits from other manufacturers but now revell, Airfix etc are up there with the best, just check the reviews.

 

[Guest]

I know how you feel I built a revell p51 when I opened the box it said on one edge of the sprue ICM that was a dog of a build you have to know what exactly you are buying I tend to stick to tamiya if I can I do a lot of research before I purchase


Roger

 

[Guest]

Scalemates is a good website to check Dave. If the kit is on there database, they'll show it's history, including re-boxes, new parts or decals.
They also have links to reviews of the kit, if they exist.


Just looked at your kit ...it's from 1970!!


https://www.scalemates.com/kits/177872-revell-04781-vought-f4u-1d-corsair

I looks at the link, my kit says 2014 release date. The 1970 kit is nothing like mine.

 

[Guest]

As I said I don't build planes I'm cr-p at them, with regard to the raised panel lines I think people usually put masking tape alongside them to prevent removing them whilst sanding I know it's late now but perhaps you can use it on your next build.