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

[speedgraflex]

Does this help?

At the same time that the Navy ordered the deletion of Indian Red, Vought proposed a "yellow-zinc-chromate-only" primer. If the metal was Alclad, one coat of yellow zinc chromate would do the job. If the metal was any other alloy, the manufacturers would apply one coat of yellow zinc chromate, stamp it with the words "1st Coat" in black ink, then apply a second coat of YELLOW zinc chromate. The words "1st coat" would show through the translucent second coat, proving that there were two coats. This went into effect during the summer of '43. (Note that the first production "-1As" were delivered in the middle of August.) In short, Vought, Brewster, and Goodyear (VBG) did not use Interior Green as a primer coat. - Dana Bell

[jkim]

Yes! That is very helpful... thank you! So I'm guessing there was a ZC layer(s) between the white and bare metal so I'll take that into account when it come time to paint the wells.

I've glued the outer wings together and installed the lenses for the various lights on the wing. These will be masked off.

[Medicman71]

The landing gear look incredible!!

[jkim]

Thank you Medic!

I'm still stuck on the center wing assembly including the wheel wells. I DID find out that the closed landing gear doors will make perfect masks for the wheel wells when it comes time to paint. Amazing fit on those!


A couple of views of the area that I'm stalled on. I've fit the landing gear doors into place.



There is wiring to be added, of which some I want to connect to those door actuating rods that you see. I normally like to attaching any wiring before painting. But the wheel wells would be much easier to paint and weather before assembly. I can't install the wiring before the wheel wells are assembled. So these thoughts keep rotating in my head, over and over again.

[KennyX]

The gear bays and all that wiring and whatnot is definitely worth pausing for some extra consideration. And you’re doing great so far! I can’t think of any reason why not to put some extra thought into it. No great model was ever ruined by putting more thought into the next move. Take as much time as you need and then “Lay on, MacDuff.” :-)

[speedgraflex]

I made this awhile back based directly on the manual—I’m sure there are much better explanations available online, however I took this on from a fellow builder’s perspective as “What would I do to simplify this mess of garden hoses under here?” So I simplified based on three systems (there are four actually and I don’t know why but it was one valve and I eliminated it). Three systems, struts and actuators. The nomenclatures are correct to the early type.



I kept debating whether I should toss this here but I know what you mean about wanting to do a good job and make it look the business. You got this.

[KSaarni]

I am amazed, how big similarities Tamiyas 1/32 has with it's little brother/sister 1/48.

All in all an excellent kit in both scales and an outstanding build so far John !

- Kari

[jkim]

Thanks for the looking in on this build! Especially for that neat drawing of the strut hydraulics, Bruce! Although I'm not going to replicate reality in that particular way, every bit of information helps!

Although it is out of order from the kit instructions, I've been working on the outer wings and avoiding work on the inner wings. The wing tips have been glued into place as well as the clear lenses for all of the lights. I used Montex masks and Tamiya tape to mask the clear parts.



This is why you have to be careful with Montex masks...



After applying the masks, a couple of the Montex masks on curved surfaces lifted overnight. This isn't the first time I've experienced this with the black vinyl masks that Montex uses for clear parts. They work fine on flat surfaces but have a tendency to lift on curved parts. So buyer beware. I used the Montex masks to cut my own from more reliable Tamiya tape.



I've painted the interiors of the wing joint even though this build won't have folded wings. Different colors since 740 had what appears to be a replacement wing from an older Corsair. So one is Intermediate Blue and the other is Blue Grey.

[Floki]

Glad to see you making progress John. I do the same thing a lot, paint areas that I know will never be seen unless broke, but in the end I know it's there.

[speedgraflex]

Beautiful!