1/48 Hobby Craft FG-1D Corsair

by Bill Lachance

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This Corsair was used by El Salvador during the 1969 "Soccer War" that erupted with Hondouras over the outcome of a soccer (or football in non-US countries) match. The conflict lasted only about 100 hours, and there was no definate "winner." The aircraft used were surplus American warbirds, purchased after WW II.

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I built this kit mostly out of the box, adding only Eduard photoetched belts, along with bombs & shackles from a Hasegawa Mustang. The markings are from Hobby Craft's "Coin" Corsair edition. The decals were old and of poor quality. They shattered on removal from the backing sheet, and flaked when I ran a sharp #11 blade over the panel lines. Care and touchup with paint saved them.

For the camouflage colors, I used Gunze acrylic SEA Light Gray and Dark Green, along with Model Master enamel RAF Interior Green and Middlestone. These colors were sprayed freehand using a Badger 150 airbrush. I used Model Master enamel Interior Green for the cockpit and wheel wells. The landing gear legs and engine are various shades of Alcad II. I added some minor paint chipping with an aluminum colored pencil, and dirt and stains with pastels.

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I built this aircraft for a customer as part of a more involved project. I will be building three more from the "Soccer War," two Corsairs and a Mustang. It is an interesting part of history, and familiar aircraft look very different in the schemes that were used. A fully-loaded, camouflaged Corsair certainly looks unique!

Bill

Visit my website to see other models of mine, I also build models on commission.  http://www.pix.prettyneatinc.com/

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Photos and text © by Bill Lachance