Cutting Edge Modelworks

1/48 F4U-4 Corsair Part 3 decal sheet

Product # CED48269 for $8.99

Product Article by Steve Bamford on July 27 2004

 

 

 

This new decal sheet from Cutting Edge Modelworks includes markings for two different 1/48 F4U-4 Corsairs.  The recommended kits for these decals is either the 1/48 Hasegawa F4U-4 or the Academy F4U-4 kit.  One thing to remember if the F4U-4B has two 20mm cannons in each wing instead of three 50 cal. machine guns of the F4U-4.

The first aircraft is a F4U-4B corsair with the Naval Reserve Training Unit in Olathe, Kansas in March in 1956.  This particular Corsair is a US Navy Corsair painted overall Non-Specular Light Gull Gray (FS 36440) on top and Glossy Insignia White (FS 37880) with Glossy Sea blue (FS 15042) on the underside.  There is a flat black anti-glare panel over the whole top of the engine cowling.  Markings include a large black #5 on the forward side of the engine cowling.  The rudder is blue and the tail has large white letter ‘K’ and on the side of the fuselage is a large red and white US national with the large letter “NAVY” and below that the word ‘OLATHE’.  On the fuselage below the tail is the ‘F4U-4 97286’.  One stand-out feature of the paint scheme is the orange fuselage band near the tail.  This band was prone to paint fading, so modellers will have to keep this fact in mind when they build this paint scheme.  The Navy Reserve aircraft were kept in very good shape.    

The second aircraft is a F4U-4B corsair “Commander John ‘Tex’ O’Neil” with VF-113 off the USS Princeton in 1950.  This particular Corsair is a US Navy Corsair painted overall Glossy Sea blue FS 15042.  Markings include a light blue tip on the tail.  

On both sides of the tail has large white letter ‘V’ and on both sides of the fuselage is a large white #’301’ followed by a red and white US national.  On both sides of the fuselage below the tail is the F4U-4 NAVY and the BuNo????’….one problem here is the BuNo is unknown, so a full set of numbers is included and you’ll have to figure out the BuNo on your own.  

Unique markings and artwork on the left side include “CDR. TEX O’NEIL” on the left side of the engine cowling in front of the cockpit above the wing.  Directly below the windscreen is artwork of a red honey bee hive with a bee with it’s stinger extended and the yellow text ‘STINGER’ on the lower part of the red hive. 

Next to that is the text “LITTLE LADY”.  Unique markings and artwork on the right side includes the white text “JIM BARBER” below the canopy on the fuselage.  Directly below the windscreen is artwork of a red honey bee hive with a bee with it’s stinger extended and the yellow text ‘STINGER’ on the lower part of the red hive.  The standout thing is the mission markings on the right side of the fuselage in front of the cockpit….there are a total of  112 mission markings represented as little white bombs.  On both sides of the engine cowling at the very front are the numbers ‘301’ in small text.  

The decals were flawlessly printed and in perfect registration and the clear carrier film is trimmed very close to the crisply printed colored areas. 

The instructions are clear and include 3 views of one aircraft and 4 view drawings of the second aircraft and an extra page of text instructions is included with a small bit of info about both the planes as well as helpful tips for decal application. 

A very nice decal sheet and highly recommended for all the Corsair and USMC and USN builders.

Click on images below to see larger images of the instruction sheets

I would like to thank Cutting Edge Modelworks for providing me with this review sample.

Steve

Photos and text © by Steve Bamford