This build is Tamiya's 1/48 F4U-1A Corsair kit, built oob with some minor detailing here and there. This first couple of posts will show a few photos from the build, followed by later posts of the finished aircraft. The build served mostly as a test bed for me to try a couple of different variations of the hairspray technique. The plane is much more heavily weathered then I normally do as reference photos showed Corsairs that flew from coral strip in the Solomons displayed a lot of chipped paint feom the coral dust. Overall the build turned out ok and I may develop a Pacific island based diorama with PSP and a palm tree to display it on in the future.

Ernest

I only added a seatbuilt and a few knobs/levers to the cockpit and detailed the engine slightly by adding an ignition harness.

Following are some shots of the model as I prepared it for, and then executed the chipping and scuffing. The final two photos show the Corsair after decaling and after I had added fading, highlights and shadows to the airframe.

Ok, now that I have pulled my head from my fourth point of contact as we paratroopers say, following will be two post of the finished model. Overall it was a relaxing build that turned out fairly well.

Ernest

The final set of pictures.

Ernest,
Well done.

You certainly achieved your goal of a operational looking F4U-1A. The tri color paint scheme shows a most reasonable and realistic amount of weathering. Coupled with your restrained use of the hairspray technique, your Corsair certainly has that "used but not abused" look to it.
Joel

Nice reasonably done chipping. One disconnect. The chipping on the left wing ends abruptly at the national insignia. Also, red paint fades quickly in the sun and I would expect to see a lighter shade of red on the upper surface surround and on the upper half of the fuselage insignia.