1/48 Revell F4U-5 Corsair

Glenview NAS

by Mark L. Rossmann

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History: F4U-5 is post WWII aircraft, differing from the F4U-4 by use of a redesigned engine mount, by pushing the mount on the frame further forward resulting in a longer cowling area. Along with moving larger air intakes to the right and left side of the cowlings becoming the most distinctive features of this aircraft. The -5 was successfully used by the Marine and Navy air wings in Korea in the fighter-bomber role, armed with 4 20mm cannon, along with bombs and HVAR’s. The F4U-5N differed from the -5 via a radar radome installed in the right wing, gun flash suppressors for the four 20 mm cannon, autopilot to reduce pilot fatigue, exhaust suppressors and an extra radio antenna.  Many -5 variants served other countries air forces into 1970’s as well as the U.S. into the 60’s, assigned to Naval Air Stations.  Total production of -5 Corsairs was 223.

 

Construction: This is a 1/48 Revell kit built OOB, with pictures and letters used for paint and assembly instructions. This is close to a beginners model, since no real modifications or fixes had to be made.

Click on images below to see larger images

  

  

Painting: Used Testors Deep Sea Blue and Flat Black spray paints, with an undercoating of Testors Silver spray applied first.

 

Decals: From Pro-Modeler kit #5980, NAS Glenview. Decals adhered fine, using Solve Set to snug them down. I usually spray a gloss coat on before decaling, but it did not seem to need it. My hunch was correct, no problems with the decals. I finished off the model with Testors Dull Coat.

 

Conclusion: The kit was excellent and had no build problems. Decals for this kit were very nice, allowing you to build a 1954 Navy version from the USS Franklin Roosevelt and a VMA-212 Marine version at Yonpo Air Base in South Korea, circa late 1950.

 

References:  Kit Instructions. (Would appreciate any further information on this or other NAS Corsairs. Information on the WEB was hard to come by. Don’t know if this is an accurate depiction of such aircraft).

Mark

Photos and text © by Mark L. Rossmann