Cutting Edge Modelworks

1/32 F4U-4 Corsair Part 1 decal sheet

Product # CED32008 for $8.99

Product Article by Steve Bamford on July 15 2004

 

 

 

This new decal sheet from Cutting Edge Modelworks includes markings for three different 1/32 F4U-4 Corsair's.  The recommended kits for these decals is the 1/32 Trumpeter F4U-4 kit. 

The first aircraft is a F4U-4B Corsair #F-96995 from the ‘Football War’ (Soccer War) flying with the Honduras air force in 1969.  This aircraft was painted in overall glossy sea Blue FS 15042.  The tail has blue and white horizontal stripes (similar to the Honduran flag) with a blue star on the middle white stripe.  The wing tips also had blue and white stripes.  There is a small white number ‘614’ on the side of the engine cowling and a small white ‘F-96995’ on the side of the rear fuselage as well as a small white number of ‘F4U-4 96995’ on the lower tail under the horizontal flying surfaces.

The second aircraft is a F4U-4 Corsair of VF-32 aboard the USS Leyte (CVS-32) flown by ENS Jesse L. Brown.  He is special for many reasons, two of which are the fact he was the first African American Naval Aviator and he was also posthumously awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for the mission when his Corsair was shot down near the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea on Dec 4 1950.  His fellow pilot LT Hudner won the Medal of Honor when he crash landed his Corsair on an enemy mountaintop next to his flight leader ENS Jesse Brown Corsair to try to free ENS Jesse Brown form the wreckage of his crashed corsair.  ENS Jesse Brown’s Corsair was painted in overall glossy sea Blue FS 15042.  The tail had a big white ‘K’ on the rudder and a white tip on the tail.  The underside of the wings has a red and blue national insignia on one wing and  the word 'NAVY' in white text on the other wing and a small 'K' on each of the main landing gear doors.  On the top side of the wings are a red and blue national insignia on one wing and the text  '205K'  of '203K' on the other wing.  It is uncertain if ENS Jesse Brown was flying 203 or 217 on the fateful day of his final mission....former squadron members recall different modex #'s for his last mission.  Markings for both aircraft are included.  On the side of the fuselage a red and blue national insignia and the word 'NAVY' in large white text with 'VF 32' below it.

The third plane is a F4U-4 Corsair of VF-32 aboard the USS Leyte (CVS-32) flown by LTJG Thomas J Hudner near the Chosin Reservoir in North Korea on Dec 4 1950.  LTJG Thomas J Hudner crash landed his Corsair on an enemy mountaintop in an attempt to save ENS Jesse L. Brown from his crashed Corsair.  LTJG Thomas J Hudner received the Medal of Honor for his actions on that day.  This plane was painted in overall glossy sea Blue FS 15042.  The tail had a big white ‘K’ on the rudder and a white tip on the tail.  The underside of the wings has a red and blue national insignia on one wing and  the word 'NAVY' in white text on the other wing and a small 'K' on each of the main landing gear doors.  On the top side of the wings are a red and blue national insignia on one wing and the text  '205K' on the other wing. On the side of the fuselage a red and blue national insignia and the word 'NAVY' in large white text with 'VF 32' below it.

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 variety of paint schemes with heroic stories is both interesting and intriguing and feeds my love of history.  
The instructions are clear and includes 3 view drawings 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 F4U-4 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