Euro Decals 1/48 Vought Corsair Collection 1/48
By Jacob Russell
This new decal sheet covers the Vought F4U-1/1A Corsair, from the F4U-1 and its Royal Navy and Royal New Zealand Air Force counterpart the Corsair Mk. I/II. This sheet caters to both the early F4U-1 with "Birdcage" (framed) canopy and the later F4U-1A with the blown canopy. The F4U-1/1A was powered by the twin-row 18 cylinder Pratt & Whitney R-2800-8 or -8W radial engine, pushing a 13 feet diameter, 3-bladed Hamilton-Standard propeller. The armament consisted of six .50 caliber machine guns located in the wings.
There are 7 different decal options on the sheet; 2 for the FU-1 and for the Corsair FU-1A with the longer tailwheel and bubble canopy. They include:
"307," NZ5272/NZ5307, F4U-1A of No. 1 Servicing Unit, RNZAF. based at Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, October 1944. This striking aircraft featured an Overall ANA 623 forward fuselage (to the rear canopy edge) with the rear fuselage in ANA 607 Sea Blue and ANA 608 Intermediate Blue over ANA 601 Insignia White.
"590," Bu.No. 17590, F4U-1, Capt. A.R. Conant of VMF-215 "The Fighting Corsairs," US Marine Corps, based at Torokina Air Base, Bougainville, January 1944. This early Corsair was finished in M485 Blue Grey over ANA 602 Light Grey. The lower inner wing was Light Grey and the outer wings were painted Light Grey.
"SSII/Sally," F4-1A of Service Squadron 11, Marine Aircraft Group, US Marine Corps, based at Espiritu Santos, Vanuatu Island, New Hebrides, 1945. This Corsair was painted Silver Dope overall with a Black anti-glare panel.
"Q * BH2," JS479 of Naval Aircraft Squadron, Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm, based at RNAS Ballyhalbert, Mid 1945. This Brewster-built Corsair I was painted ANA 607 Sea Blue/ANA 608 Intermediate Sea Blue over Insignia White with the previous aircraft codes overpainted with ANA 623 Sea Blue.
"White 13," Bu.No. 02130, "13 Viva!," 2nd Lt. Ken Walsh of VMF-124 "Wild Aces," US Marine Corps, based at Henderson Field, Guadalcana, May 28, 1943. This F4U-1 Wildcat was painted -485 Blue Grey over ANA 602 Light Grey. The outer wings are Blue Grey.
"Red P54," Corsair Mk.Il, JJT260, of 757 Naval Operations Training Unit, Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm based at Puttalam, Ceylon, July 1944. Extra Dark Sea Grey/Dark Slate Grey over Sky Type S.
"White K99/103," Bu.No. 17965, F4U-1A Corsair of VMF 115, "Joes Jokers," US Marine Corps, May 1944. ANA 607 Sea Blue and ANA 608 Intermediate Blue over Insignia White.
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The decals are crammed together on a large single sheet; you'll have "fun" cutting them out. They are crisply printed, the colors are vibrant and all are in register. This is a great decal sheet, with 7 cool options. I recommend this sheet and would like to thank Fantasy Printshop for the review sample. My sincere apologies to Fantasy Printshop for the delay in completing this review.
References
F4U Corsair In Detail & Scale, Volume 55, Part One: XF4U through F2G, Aircraft Number by Bert Kinzey, Squadron/Signal Publications, 1998
Notes
ANA stands for "Army-Navy Aeronautica," and refers to aircraft finishes and military procurement. The ANA system was established in 1943