Cutting Edge Modelworks

1/48 F4U-4 Corsair  Pt. 2 decal sheet

Product # CED48268 for $8.99

Product Article by Steve Bamford on July 26 2004

 

 

 

This new decal sheet from Cutting Edge Modelworks includes markings for four 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 VMA-332 off the USS Bairoko (CVE-115) on the Yellow Sea (off Korea) in July 1953.  This particular Corsair is a USMC Corsair painted overall Glossy Sea blue FS 15042.  Markings include a very unique combination of a white band around the engine cowling with large red polka dots.  To apply these you first paint the white band….then the red dots are applied as one strip over the white band.  The tail has large white letters ‘MR’ and on the side of the fuselage is a large white #’16’ followed by a red and white US national insignia and the word ‘MARINES’ with ‘VMA-332’ below it.  On the fuselage below the tail is the F4U-4 MARINES 62969’.  

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 fourth plane is a F4U-4 Corsair of VA-14 'Tophatters' aboard the USS Leyte (CVS-32) flown by LCDR Lou Burke (commander of VA-14) in September 1949. This plane was painted in overall glossy sea Blue FS 15042.  The tail had a big white ‘T’ on the rudder and a yellow 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 '401' 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  '401T' on the other wing. On the side of the fuselage a red and blue national insignia and the '401'.  Nose art includes a black tophat on a solid white circle directly in front and below the windscreen.

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 some of 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