fündekals 1/72 F4U Corsair Decals
By Matt Bittner
While the 1/48 version of the fundekals Corsair decal sheet has been out for some time, just recently they scaled it to 1/72. This is a masterful piece of work, one that should be tracked down. In my opinion, fundekals has the best decal instructions of all the aftermarket decal producers, bar none.
Each aircraft not only includes a four-view color profile but also a page – at least – of supporting photographs and text. The following aircraft are covered:
- F4U-1A BuNo 17740, Maj Pappy Boyington, VMF-214, Vella La Vella, December 1943
- F4U-1A BuNo 17833, Maj Marion Carl, VMF-223, Torokina, Bougainville, December 1943
- F4U-1A BuNo 17883, Maj Gregory Boyington and Capt Donald Sldrich, VMF-214 and VMF-215, Vella La Vella, December 1943 – January 1944
- F4U-1A, BuNo 17991, Maj Marion Carl, VMF-223, Torokina, Bougainville, December 1943
- F4U-1A, BuNo 50042, Lt B.J Holmes and Lt J.J. O'Connell, VMF-321, Guam, August – December 1944
- F4U-1A BuNo 50165, Lt R.S.T. Marsh and Capt G.T. Doster, VMF-321, Guam, August – November 1944
- F4U-1D, BuNo 50417, 1st Lt William W. Eldridge, Jr., VMF-441, Yontan Airfield Okinawa, 15 April 1945
- FG-1D, BuNo 88056, Lt Col Donald K. Yost, Commander, VMF-351, USS Cape Gloucester, Okinawa area, July – August 1945
- F4U-1D BuNo 82732, VMF-512, USS Gilbert Islands (CVE-107), Okinawa area, July – August 1945
- Corsair Mk.II (Vought F4U-1A) JT427, Maj Ronald Hay, Royal Marines Commander, 47th Naval Fighter Wing, HMS Victorious, October 1944
- Corsair Mk.II JT383, Sub Lt Leslie Durno, 1834 Squadron, HMS Victorious, October 1944
- Corsair Mk.III (Brewster F3A-1A) JS706, 1836 Squadron, Fleet Air Arm, HMS Victorious, October 1944
Not only is there excellent coverage of each aircraft within the instructions, but there are also extra pages devoted to general aspects of not only the Corsair itself but also squadron-specific information.
For example, there's a section on Corsair antennas that basically brings to light some new information on how some of the aerial wires went from the rudder post to the wing's pitot tube. Plus, there were different configurations on one of the aerials that went to the radio mast, or not. Two of the aircraft portrayed had aerial wires that went from the rudder post direct into the fuselage, bypassing the antenna mast.
In addition there's a section of the instructions that shows new evidence that when the order came down to outline the "stars-and-bars" in the field, the actual camouflage paints were used instead of the technically correct "insignia blue". There is evidence that field modifications based on the orders had personnel outline the insignia using Intermediate Blue when the insignia crossed Dark Sea Blue, and vice-versa, outlining the insignia using Dark Sea Blue with that insignia was on Intermediate Blue areas. Fascinating!
Another section in the instructions is on how the Corsairs weathered while on the Solomon islands, something most modelers consider important. These paragraphs alone demonstrate how comprehensive fundekal instructions are, and how they are definitely the best in the business. In addition, it also shows why it's best fundekals make their instructions digital downloads instead of including them with the release of their decals. Adding all this physical paper to the release would no doubt increase the cost, possibly doubling it.
If the F4U Corsair does anything for you then I feel you really must track down this sheet. The decals are top notch (in register with excellent colors) and the instructions are the best you'll find from a decal manufacturer (although they're in digital-only format). Plus, with the more general information provided in these instructions will go a long way to improving any model of the Vought F4U Corsair.
Huge, huge thanks to fündekals for providing this sheet for review.