1/32 Tamiya F4U-1a Corsair - Boyington 17740

[jkim]

So weird seeing that jumo in US navy colors. 3:1 that's thinner:paint right? And not paint:thinner? I just got mine in the other day and haven't got to spray them yet I was going to start with the same ratio I use for Tamiya.

The AK Real Colors behave very similarly to Tamiya acrylics. I've been using a 3:1 thinner to paint ratio and that can be varied depending on what you want to do and what your spray style is.

Luftwaffe in blue? FWIW... the new bottle of RLM83 by AK that I received is BLUE.

[speedgraflex]

I am still thinking about the previous cockpit painting posts, for what it is worth! The best. Truly. I devoted part of my morning to finding Corsair builds worthy of reading—looking for traps, snares, inspiration. I read one from 2018 on the WWII model forum that was interesting, but you saw it, so it would not be news to you. However, what did interest me with the Corsair modeler in question concerns organization. How do you keep track and handle placement of so many sprues with this kit? Eventually I will buy a kit with a lotta parts—

I think the new AK paint looks brilliant! How sturdy is the paint when cured? How amazing to see on a Jumo. Clint is right about that. I would like your review of RLM colors, too. I keep thinking the best RLM colors are in the Gunze line up. Their RLM65, for example. Sorry that is slightly off topic.

The AK looks more grey overall.



The Gunze “N-56” looks more blue overall.



I look forward to your detailing of the pilot figure as well as the parachute very very very much!

[jkim]

Thanks Bruce! Comparing colors from a birdcage Corsair would be inappropriate since they were not painted in the same colors that I'll be using on this build. Of interest would be color photos of Corsairs in the three-color scheme, ideally F4U-1a's. I found these on a thread over at Britmodeller but I can't vouch for their authenticity... the first two look colorized to me.









The AK Intermediate Blue is definitely more grey than the Acrysion N-56 and more in line with my perception of what the color is supposed to look like. Anyone have a good color photo of the three-color scheme?

[speedgraflex]

Apologies for my mistake, John. Forgive me!



I will keep sniffing! The truffles are there! First, though I must take a course in identifying Corsair types.

[jkim]

That's the right type there, I believe! The 1a has the raised seat and semi-bubble canopy but with the canopy frame along the top. Note the tail... that's probably the Intermediate Blue I'm shooting for.

[jkim]

The cockpit on this thing is nowhere near completion. I'm stalled out on the central cockpit assembly... keep pondering "glue then paint" or "paint then glue". It'll be a slow, methodical combination of both approaches as I'm too lazy to be systematic about it. I've got other things on my plate too so I can't devote 100% of my mental capacity to the task at hand.

A few hours at the bench and I pushed myself to assemble the HGW seatbelts. I pity ya'll who are brave enough to tackle these intricate sets in the smaller 1/48 scale... no thank you! These weren't too difficult but still took about three hours of work to get them together. I've read that giving them a wash will bring out some stitching detail so I think I'll give that a try after I attach them to the seat and give them a clear coat.

[Floki]

Them belts are well worth the time you spent building them, just can't get that look with PE belts

[speedgraflex]

I agree with Clint. Those gains are hard won, but worth it, John. Your internal debate is one that I relate to—I think everyone relates to this—do I paint each part or paint the assemblage? The discipline with painting individual parts versus group painting is very real. I also wonder or worry about how the glue will react, not part to part but invariably with overflows / gravity it is hard to contain glue when it wishes to run. I also believe it to be a good sign when there is a pondering moment for several options to consider. From what I have seen your approach will yield amazing results. This will, I feel, be a fantastic experience for you and lead to moments of both contemplation (current state) and revelation (yet to come).

[jkim]

The way the cockpit construction is engineered makes that choice difficult. Not that it’s badly engineered... far from that... it’s just more complex than I’m used to. The good thing is that I don’t have to fight with parts fit. The hype of how well Tamiya kits go together is real.

[LyleW]