Royal Navy / FAA Corsairs

[texaxile]

Hi,
I'm currently cutting my modelling teeth on a Revell 1/72 Corsair, which is not going too well actually. As a result it's piqued my interest and I've had a quick glance at the history of the aircraft and was surprised to see it was actually the Fleet air Arm which ironed out a few of the problems it had, and we also developed the "curved approach" to the Carrier. I found this article :http://www.avalanchepress.com/F4U_corsair_at_war2.php and noticed that they were deployed on HMS Illustrious - a Carrier that my Grandfather served on for a short while during WW2.

Does anyone know where I might find more about the operational history of the Corsairs that were deployed on HMS Illustrious?, better still, maybe a book that gives some first hand experience from a British pilot who may have flown one during their career?. I've watched the "battlestations" doco this afternoon - most interesting and the US Pilots offer nothing but praise for the beast.

Lastly, I read in the online article that one was credited with shooting down a MIG. Impressive stuff.

[Eric Mc]

A quick Amazon search throws up these books.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=se...

Scale model websites are also pretty good for finding out information on the operational history of aircraft.

I've got the ancient FROG Corsair to build, which also features an RN example.

[Yertis]

First of all you need to read Carrier Pilot, by Norman Hanson. Re-reading your post it's exactly what' you're looking for. Highly entertaining too.

Not sure what carrier this is – maybe Illustrious or Colossus – but here's my uncle with 'his' Corsairs.

Edited by Yertis on Sunday 28th January 17:09

[Mr E]

Yertis said:

First of all you need to read Carrier Pilot, by Norman Hanson.

I have just read this, and it’s excellent.

[wolfracesonic]

This is an excellent resource for WWII British carrier operations, not specifically Corsairs but plenty to whet your appetite British armoured carriers It may have been linked by somebody on here before, not sure.

[Dr Jekyll]

I've just been reading up on the Corsair, impressive longevity. In production until 1953, used in Korea and the Suez crisis, last saw air to air combat in 1969. Did Cavalier ever consider refurbishing them like Mustangs?

[texaxile]

Thanks for the replies Gents, most helpful. I will be ordering the book off Ebay or amazon very soon, and a nice period pic there Yertis. I'm also trawling through the armoured carrier website as I type.

Eric, the Revell kit is dire, ill fitting pieces and I still have parts on the spar that there are no instructions for. Also the paint does not apply as well as the Airfix kit, (I'm not even sure what colours to paint it in). You are right as well, as i'm in the very early stages of modelling, each one thus far has attracted my interest as to the operational history of the plane and squadron in question. The Corsair being of particular interest due to the HMS Illustrious connection. I believe it was you to whom I have spoken in the past on here about the differing RAF roundels which again, is relevant to the Corsair during its tenure with the FAA.

[Eric Mc]

The FROG kit I will be attempting dates from 1972 - so no doubt will have some fit issues. It doesn't have much in the way of interior detail and no wheel well detail at all. I plan to finish it as a New Zealand one.

Revell have produced a number of 1/72 Corsairs over the years. There is an old 1960s vintage one - which may be the one you are building. There is a much more modern one too, dating from 1994 - which is actually an Italeri moulding. I would expect the latter one is quite nice.

The Matchbox Corsair was basic but quite nice. It's a later version with the four blade prop.

Hasegawa do a very nice early "bird cage" version.

[Ginetta G15 Girl]

It's also worth pointing out that FAA Corsairs had shortened wingtips compared to the US ones owing to the lower deckheads of the British carriers.

[aeropilot]

texaxile said:

Lastly, I read in the online article that one was credited with shooting down a MIG. Impressive stuff.

Indeed, although the Corsair pilot was shot down moments later by other MiG's.

[Neonblau]

Ginetta G15 Girl said:

It's also worth pointing out that FAA Corsairs had shortened wingtips compared to the US ones owing to the lower deckheads of the British carriers.

This also had the effect of improving the sink rate making carrier landings less problematic.

[100SRV]

Hello,
interesting thread - love Corsairs!

You might find this of interest:
http://www.carrierbuilders.net/gallery/20050417_FA...

[aeropilot]

I have one of these prints hanging up on the wall in the lounge........



Signed by one distinguished USN Corsair 'Ace' and four USMC Corsair 'Aces', two of which were awarded the MOH.

[LotusOmega375D]

Eric Mc said:

The FROG kit I will be attempting dates from 1972 - so no doubt will have some fit issues.

Will it still be manageable? I remember my Dad buying a large scale Douglas Skyraider kit in the 1970s (I think Revell). It sat unopened for many years on top of my wardrobe, until he eventually got round to starting it. The entire kit had gone brittle and was basically impossible to assemble. He just had to bin it, which was a great shame as he had completed some lovely big planes in the past (Monogram B-52, Revell Luftwaffe Phantom).

[Ayahuasca]

Article on the last Corsair dogfight.

https://www.airspacemag.com/history-of-flight/last...

Took place in 1969 in a border war between Honduras and El Salvador, Corsairs fought other Corsairs and Mustangs.

[aeropilot]

LotusOmega375D said:

Eric Mc said:

The FROG kit I will be attempting dates from 1972 - so no doubt will have some fit issues.

Will it still be manageable? I remember my Dad buying a large scale Douglas Skyraider kit in the 1970s (I think Revell). It sat unopened for many years on top of my wardrobe, until he eventually got round to starting it. The entire kit had gone brittle and was basically impossible to assemble. He just had to bin it, which was a great shame as he had completed some lovely big planes in the past (Monogram B-52, Revell Luftwaffe Phantom).

The value in old kits now, is collecting unmade.

I had a load of old Frog kits from the early 70's that I had bought as a teenager, and never got around to making, and finally sold to collector about 5 years ago, for quite a few quid. They will likely never be made.
There are usually much better current options than a Frog kit if you actually want to build a model these days.
Its no different to Corgi/Dinky cars that sit in boxes, never opened and never played with by a child.

[LotusOmega375D]

aeropilot said:

The value in old kits now, is collecting unmade.

That post got me reaching up to the shelf behind where I am sitting now. I have 3 different unassembled mid-engined Renault 5 Turbo models up there (a 1/43 Heller road car, a 1/24 Tamiya road car and a 1/24 Tamiya works rally car). They seem to be the modelling equivalent of barn finds, as I just got a face full of dust when I just took them down for a look!

I doubt they're worth any more than I paid for them.

[Eric Mc]

LotusOmega375D said:

Will it still be manageable? I remember my Dad buying a large scale Douglas Skyraider kit in the 1970s (I think Revell). It sat unopened for many years on top of my wardrobe, until he eventually got round to starting it. The entire kit had gone brittle and was basically impossible to assemble. He just had to bin it, which was a great shame as he had completed some lovely big planes in the past (Monogram B-52, Revell Luftwaffe Phantom).

It won't be a problem. I build 40 plus year old models all the time. Not that long ago I built a 1974 vintage FROG Typhoon.



And a 1972 era Vampire -

[Eric Mc]

LotusOmega375D said:

That post got me reaching up to the shelf behind where I am sitting now. I have 3 different unassembled mid-engined Renault 5 Turbo models up there (a 1/43 Heller road car, a 1/24 Tamiya road car and a 1/24 Tamiya works rally car). They seem to be the modelling equivalent of barn finds, as I just got a face full of dust when I just took them down for a look!

I doubt they're worth any more than I paid for them.

I love building these old kits. They are more basic than their modern counterparts and sometimes they are unique in that no one else has ever produced a particular aircraft. Matchbox in particular had a unique range of subjects.

With a modern set of decals they can hold their own.

[dr_gn]

Eric Mc said:

Revell have produced a number of 1/72 Corsairs over the years. There is an old 1960s vintage one - which may be the one you are building. There is a much more modern one too, dating from 1994 - which is actually an Italeri moulding. I would expect the latter one is quite nice.

The latest 1:72 Revell Corsair was a new tool in 2014. My guess is the o/p has bought an older version as a starter set.