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

[speedgraflex]

Wow! That’s a beautiful photo, but to my eyes the Tamiya leg is quite compressed. Maybe the aircraft has a load out or fuel pod attached to it as well. As far I know those Corsairs stood awful tall, but I understand that Tamiya really studied this aircraft and your time to make adjustments if necessary has passed.



Important! John look at how darn real your work looks. Sincerely.

[jkim]

Yes, too late for me to change. But if anyone is wanting to address this issue, I guess it IS possible. When I put the legs together, I commented that since the metal rod didn't go all the way through, the leg, I felt the leg was still a bit weak.


Theoretically, you COULD glue the legs together without the metal rod and then do some sawing and drilling and put in longer piece of metal rod, strengthening the leg AND extending it.

Separating the oleo scissors would be trickier. They are two-piece but split into vertical halves, not horizontal.

Part of me is relieved that I don't have that choice.

[speedgraflex]

I think that is a superb option but your reason for not taking that on is clear!

[jkim]

I think that is a superb option but your reason for not taking that on is clear!

Ever since Black 1 broke during shipment, I've been very conscious of making sure my glue seams are as strong as possible, especially along major structural joints. I welded the landing gear leg halves pretty thoroughly with Tamiya Extra Thin, squeezing out a little bead of excess sprue goo along the joint. So I don't want to mess with any modifications at this stage.

I'm in the process of painting the other components of the landing gear legs so I should have an update later tonight.

[Floki]

After looking at all the photo evidence you provided you are correct in going with blue for the hub color. Chances are Tamiya probably was going off a aircraft that had no hydrologic pressure left but still you think someone higher up would have caught something like that. Either way your paint and weathering of them is top notch John.

[speedgraflex]

Nightly build reports are amazing. You are doing incredible work, John.

[jkim]

Thanks guys! Alright... the legs have been painted and fully assembled.



The gear doors have been painted but not yet weathered on the outward side.

[speedgraflex]

That is beautiful work, John! Everything looks of a piece—banged up, but maintained. The contrast between the powdery feel or the matte powdery feel of factory paint with the oily feel of the greased joints or moving parts is wonderful!

[KSaarni]

Wonderful John, wonderful !

- Kari

[mostrich]

Those legs...