Tamiya 1:48 F4U-1D Corsair with Moto-Tug - Part 1

 I've recently finished my longest project, lasting over 5 months. I've got to admit the project while fun and rewarding was also exhausting, and so I was looking for something fairly easy to build. 

I built the Tamiya 1:48 Bird Cage Corsair a few years ago and I had a lot of fun building that one. I've wanted to build another, but to build it with the wings folded. Plus the inclusion of this Moto-Tug, I couldn't resist picking up this model.

Tamiya released 4 different Corsair models (not including the motorized F4U-1A, which is basically the same as the standard kit). This version of the model was the last to be released and featured a new sprue with wing rockets, and a new pilot looking back. It features 3 markings from the USS Franklin, USS Hancock, and USS Wasp.

This kit was first released in 2002 and is now 21 years old, and it's still a really great kit. I'm going to make some modifications to this model, especially in the cockpit since the canopy will be posed open.

My first step is to add some extra wires beneath each of these side boxes. I drilled small holes just deep enough for the wires to sit but was careful that I didn't drill through the side wall.

I used 0.2mm magnet wire and super glued these into the openings. 

After the glue had dried I bent the wires forward, the extra wire would be hidden behind the instrument panel.

The throttle section is pretty flat to the side of the interior. On the real Corsair, this section is quite large and stands out quite a bit. Plus a few of the controls are missing.

I took some tape and placed it over the throttle. Then I took a Gundam marker and carefully traced the outline I needed. I then cut out the tape using the inner oval section of tape as a guide.

I stacked several small pieces of spare Evergreen Styrene I had laying around my desk. Once these were glued together I placed the tape on top and carefully sanded the excess plastic away until I had the correct shape.

It took me two tries to get this small piece built up properly, but I'm really pleased with this result. It looks a lot better than before, and now I can add the new levers.

I made the handles out of some very thin and flexible styrene. I then took canopy glue and dabbed it to the ends of the handles. This dab of glue would dry into a nice sphere. It's hard to see it in this picture as the glue is clear, but once it's painted it will compliment the rest of the interior. 

I also found a picture of a -1A Corsair that had a small placard panel. I have a set of Mike Grant 1:48 Cockpit Detail decals, and included in the set are random placards, I thought this would be a nice extra detail to add.

I painted the cockpit with Mr. Color 351 Zinc- Chromate. The wires were then painted white. I also like to paint the buttons with a dark grey, this helps them stand out from the rest of the panel.

I painted the throttle section Tamiya XF-1 Flat Black, and Mr. Color 8 Silver for the handles. Now that there is paint added it's a lot easier to see the ends that were made out of the canopy glue. After all of the interior details were painted I sprayed a coat of Mr. Color 46 Clear to seal in and protect the paint for the washes I'd be adding next.

For the black side consoles and front instrument panel, I applied Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color Grey. This will break up the monotony of all black and help the small details pop out against the darker surfaces.

I applied Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color Dark Brown to the green sections. These Tamiya washes are enamel based, and can easily be applied over Acrylic and Lacquer based paint. I usually leave these washes to dry for about 24 hours as they are easier to manipulate once they have really dried out. 

Removing the excess wash is easy with Tamiya Enamel Thinner (the blue cap). I'll normally use a cotton bud dipped in the thinner to remove the excess paint, but in this case I used a stiff brush and slowly dabbed away at the paint. This is a late war Corsair, so I didn't add any chipping, and I wanted to keep it fairly clean and not really dirty like some of the land based Corsairs. Most of the panel wash was kept around the raised details, this will also help highlight these details once the pilot is installed.

I sprayed the parts with Mr. Color 182 Flat Clear, and then I was able to assemble the parts. I really love how those brown and grey washes really show off the details. The cockpit sections were then fitted into the side of the fuselage, beginning with the rear section, and then carefully fitting in the section with the instrument panel and control column.

I'm really glad I went through and built those new throttle controls, as it's a lot more accurate looking. Next, I'll glue the fuselage halves together and then I can begin adding more details to the engine.

To be continued...

Last trip into Model Baron Hobbies

 I had a chance to go into town today, and I thought I'd go one last time into Model Baron Hobbies before it closes on the 28th. 

I was really hoping to get one last kit from the shop to find one more treasure. There was one kit that I was mulling over, but I just couldn't bring myself to buy it. 

Instead, I brought home this, and some of my older viewers might remember this kit. It's the MENG He 177 Greif.  I was asked years ago to build this for the shop and I did. I asked the owner what he was going to do with it and he let me take it home. So in a way, I did bring home one last treasure from Model Baron.

Model Baron is closing!

One of the most asked questions I get asked on my channel is "where did you get that model?". Honestly, you'd be surprised how often I get this question. And the answer is simple, Model Baron Hobbies in Lethbridge.

Sadly Model Baron Hobbies is closing its doors next month. This has been my model store for well over 20 years. The shop owner is an awesome guy who has been keeping the shelves stocked with the latest kits. He's even special ordered many products for me that you've seen demonstrated on the channel, and this blog. 

I was really sad going into Model Baron for what could be my last trip but also knowing that the store will be closing. I have to admit I didn't want to go to the store, saying goodbye was going to be difficult for me. But I have to also admit, I'm excited for the owner as he's venturing into retirement and keeping Model Baron opened in a smaller capacity, which I've dubbed "Mobile Baron Hobbies".

I was really grateful to the owner for allowing me to take these pictures of the shop. Please keep in mind that the shelves look a bit barren it's just because of the discount sale that's been going on. Before this, you had to spend a lot of time in the shop carefully looking over everything.

The Model Baron Hobbies sign that I painted in 2020 when they moved to this new location.

The store's "guard dog" Bella, who is fueled mostly by hugs and Timbits. She's a big sweetie!

Blue Squadron X-Wing Blue Paint tests!

 As I mentioned in my previous posting on Blue 2, the Blue X-Wings were replaced with Red in Star Wars A New Hope. However, a few pictures of the original Blue Leader studio model still survive. Blue Leader was repainted into Wedge Antillies X-wing Red 2 later on.

I still want to build my Blue 2 model and later on a Blue Leader to add to my collection of X-wings. However, I've had a terrible time figuring out what exact blue was used for these X-wings. In the movie Rogue One, they are quite inconsistent in their color. At times it's a very bright medium blue and other times it's quite a dark navy blue. 

Original Blue Leader X-wing. 

I wanted to use the new Archive-X paints, which are designed to replicate the Star Wars color pallete as close as possible to the colors ILM used while creating models for the film. Sadly the real colors are no longer produced so I went to see what Archive-X had for paints. 

They produce Enamel and Acrylic paints, however, their Acrylics are Latex based, or similar to Vallejo Air paints. And I really don't like using these types of paints, I find them difficult to spray on consistently and without the needle getting dried paint. So I opted to try, with the help of a few of my modeling friends to find what I could mix as a proper Blue Squadron color.

Blue Leader showing several shades of  blue down the fuselage

but still being a lot brighter than the original 1976 model.

I started with a paint test of Tamiya XF-8 Flat Blue, and this color looks okay, but it's still too bright. So my next idea was to darken it with XF-27 Sea Blue, at around a 50-50 mix. 

I started with 6 drops of XF-8, and then I began adding the 6 drops of XF-27. But when I got to 3 drops I realized the XF-27 was going to be too dark and overpower the Flat Blue so I mixed the paint and sprayed it on my test spoon. 

In the end, it's actually not a bad color, and I think if you were building a studio scale Blue Leader this would look really nice. But for my smaller scale models, and in this case, 1:144th scale, I'll need this to be a bit brighter.

I decided since the XF-27 was so overpowering I'd only add one drop to the mix this time. So again 6 drops of XF-8 and one XF-27. And I think that this is a really close color for the Rogue One X-wings!

It's still got that bright blue tone of XF-8, but that drop of XF-27 really brought the color down to the level I wanted. Of course, the next step will be to build the model and then paint it on, but as far as I'm concerned this is the color I will be using and possibly using on the Bandai 1:144 U-wing, assuming that they use the same color as the X-wings?

Every year there are a few new paint companies on the market that all the modelers have to invest in. Some are good and others are... lacking. I still love using Tamyia acrylics as they are really easy to airbrush and they mix together really well. The XF-8 I used during these test was old, and so that's why there are "bits" in the paint tests. So when I am finally able to paint my X-wings I'm going to be using brand new paints for this. 

I do feel sort of bad about doing this as I really wanted to try these new Archive-X paints, but as I mentioned I find Acrylic-Latex paints too frustrating, and I'm not that interested in using Enamels anymore. But I'm glad I was able to find a good mix for these subjects. Now I have no excuse, I'm finally able to build Blue 2... once I finally finish all my other modeling projects!

And a special thanks to Greg and Blake for their help with this project.

Blue 2 X-wing Reference Pictures

With the release of Rogue One audiences and long time Star Wars fans were treated to what was one extinct Blue Squadron. Originally ILM painted the X-wings in A New Hope blue. However, this color didn't work against the blue screens they were filming against and was subsequently changed to the Red Squadron we all know today. 

With all the information on the internet today, I'm surprised that finding proper pictures of Blue Squadron X-wings is a difficult task. I've wanted to build Blue 2 for a while now and I couldn't find much of anything on this X-wing. So these are images I managed to capture of Blue 2 from the film.

Blue 2 wing, just as the shields went up.

Blue 2 making an attack on a Star Destroyer. It seems that some of Blue 2's markings were similar to Blue Leader/Blue1. However, the stripe down the hull is broken up in a similar style to Luke's Red 5 X-wing. Also noting that Blue 2 carries an R5 astromech droid.

The other side of the fuselage features 3 blue sections.

It appears that the main colors on this X-wing are Blue, Light Grey, and Yellow Tan panel sections. The engines look pretty clean and only painted a light grey.  In the original series the X-wings were painted with many different colors, it seems that Blue Squadron is kept to these three main colors.

I'm going to keep searching the film and internet for more pictures of Blue 2. I still haven't quite identified the color of the R5 unit, though I suspect it was white with red highlights as seen in ANH. But based on one picture it also looks silver?
 

Update

I found these other pictures, they are from earlier in the film, and I found a continuity error. This is Blue 2, and Blue Leader is in the X-wing behind it. The scene follows Blue 2 heading towards the shield opening, and then the camera focuses on Blue Leader. Both X-wings pass through the shield gate before it's closed. After it's closed 2 X-wings crash into the shield and then Blue 2 pulls up narrowly missing a similar fate. 

Also I'm more convinced now that the astromech is a standard R5 unit in the same markings at the ones seen in A New Hope.