Vought XF4U-1 - completed

Which engine I had to use? 

By the way: this picture shows the prototype before the crash (prop with pointed blades). 

Cowling thinned on the inside, cylinder heads shortened a bit: Metalic Details’ R-2800 fits 🙂 

Correct position inside the cowling: reduction gear about 2 mm outside.  

 

Gun tubes added.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outer flaps lengthened. Ready for creating rib & fabric structure via Mr Color 1000 primer.  

 

 

 

 

Shortened ailerons with the two steps. Three hinges. In the middle on the upper side is a large u-shaped notch for the link rod. Smaller trim tab, slightly out of the centerline. New research results: the trim tab is here not 100% correct so I reworded them.  

Note that the aileron don’t have a straight leading edge. They are two steps.  

 

Fabric & visible rib structure of the prototype restored after scribing new panels. The sprayed structure have the same “character” as kits surface. 🙂🙂🙂 

 

 

From left to right; floating bag housing, ammo compartment, gun compartment.  

 

Reworked wing root inlets 

 

 

0,2 mm thick PVC ready for thermoforming over a toaster.  

Teardrop shaped window in the more forward position than with the production machines.  

Basis material ready for shaping and installing.  

The clear part for the new window is glued in. It looks still bad… However, it is not yet finished. 🙂 

Clear part sanded, polished and windows masked.  

Clear cover and green bulb installed on the inner side. 

Approach light on left side only.  

Red bulb 

New research results (thx Hanno🙂): the ailerons were covered with fabric. 11 ribs, 10 “fields”.  

Repositioned trim tab: corrected 2. Time.  

DIY stitching roller. 

 

No step cutout in the left inner flap.  

New research results: gun opening in the wing leading edge is not in the center of the leading edge but in the center of the chord.  

Outer flap (lengthened) temporarily installed for determining the correct size and position of the support arms. The large rectangular “block” (installed only on production machines) will be removed.  

 

Enough room between upper edge of the wing and the flap for additional “narrow flap” (left on production machines).  

Moveable panels on the underside completed. In the middle a small cutout for the actuator rod for the narrow upper “flap” is well visible.  

 

 

Wing and inner & middle flaps prepared for correct installation.  

 

Flaps in position (1st step). Few additional details coming at next.  

For better strength & cleanliness I glued together the middle and inner flap after positioning. 

 

 

Screws on the hinges added. 

Actuator rods for the flaps added.  

New research results: arms for the actuator rods are installed on top of the flaps (not on the side).  

 

The prototype had different reinforcement structure on the door inside compared with the production machines.  

 

 

 

 

“Additional” flaps in place.  

0,4 mm thick plastic (bended in hot water) ready for dividing into 4 mm wide stripes.  

The visible edge will be thinned BEFORE separating from the rest.  

 

 

Each part is reinforced with 2 or 3 stripes.  

Wheel dish thinned down for opening the areas between the 8 spokes. Formerly thickness 2,6 mm. New thickness 1,6 mm. 4 pieces of 1,5x1 mm rod added.  

 

Two additional inspections panels/ gearbox housings on the XR-2800 

 

 

…very unusual colors for a R-2800…🙂 

The prototype had very thin ignition cables in comparison with the production engines.  

XR-2800 completed. 

 

 

After applying 1500 Mr Color‘s filler I airbrushed the color & gloss - optimated basic coat (50 % chrome yellow and 50 % gull grey). 

 

Prop with wide blades („after the crash“) ready minus HamStan logos.  

 

Main coat finished. As usual in the last years I don’t use pure chrome yellow but mix them with light grey. 80% H188, 20% H129 and a little bit Revell’s Mattplus produced exactly the color and shine that I wished. 

 

 

Prop completed. Tips painted additional with Future to level out the different shininess of the three stripes.  

I left the rest of the DYI made antiskid matte (MH-53). Fortunately it was enough for all 4 parts.  

Excellent roundels from generic sheet (Aeromaster) in 4 positions.  

 

 

 

The windscreen section moved about 11 mm forward.  

 

Cut out is too deep. Additional small plastic stripe for the correct level.  

Upper edge of the windshield = upper edge of the hood. 🙂 

Gaps between stripes and fuselage filled with more plastic and CA (my favorite filler).  

Prototypes canopy was longer (about 3 mm in 1:48) and has straight edge. Because of that I sanded the kit part on the rear side and glued 2 pieces 1,5 mm thick plastic.  

 

 

Deeper hood in comparison with the production machines.  

Second stripe on the inside (upper stringer) 

The prototype had a different instrument panel layout. 0,35 mm holes for knobs an switches (Anyz models) are well visible.  

 

Because of the different position and angle of the cockpit opening (trapezoid and not rectangular) there was a unique sliding rails configuration.  

 

 

Both sides before modification.  

Modified Aires’ cockpit for the F4U-1.  

Two additional black boxes very forward. Aft part of the console closed.  

Map case changed from right to left side. Other levers on the side except trim wheel removed.  

Scratch build new “narrow” instrument panel. Knobs by Anyz Models are well visible (Thanks Tom!!!!!!). 🙂 

The complete interior area in aluminum dope or aluminum in the typical USN pre war manner.  

Cockpit completed include lower instrument panel and harness.  

 

 

 

Very unusual for such type of airplane (prototype): no shoulder harness.  

Fuselage behind the cockpit: I had the most respect for this task. Surprisingly, it worked very well without problems.  

New engraved recessed rail for the aft canopy “roller”.  

 

Elongated base for the deeper elevator.  

 

Smaller opening for the tail wheel 

Small ones: automatically operated trimm tabs (aerodynamic balance). Large ones: manually operated trimm tabs.  

Enlarged elevators (white plastic stripes).  

Different tail wheel opening. The arresting hook was deployed separately through the opening at the end of the fuselage and was a separate part (like F4F, F6F or TBF). 

Reworked aero balance area of the rudder (larger).  

A piece of isolation from brown electric cable = leather upholstery.  

One of the last hurdles is taken: canopy glued with CA in place without mess. 🙂 

 

 

 

Ready for paint.  

The prototype had an another tail wheel configuration.  

The wheel is a dish of 3,2 mm round rod.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Seam between fuselage and wings cleaned without serious damage of the finished areas.  

 

The last hurdle is taken: connection of the fuselage and wing is done without mess. 🙂 

Cowling in place glued with classic plastic glue. For better adjustment I added to the resin engine a 13 mm dish of 0,4 mm plastic.  

Reworked exhaust tubes of 2,4 mm plastic tube because the kit parts are to small and not deep enough.  

Any details here and there.  

 

Landing gear completed.  

 

 

Landing gear in place without mess. “Solide Arbeitsvorbereitung” was worth. 🙂 

4 Actuators made of 0,4 mm wire in place.  

2 springs for each leg made of 0,2 mm wire.  

Flaps in place.  

 

„Tiefzieh-Tatort“ 🙂 

 

 

Installation of the sliding hood. The most important maxime is “take you time”. 

In comparison with the original: Roger! 

Masking and airbrushing at next. Inner structure brushed already with metallic grey.  

 

 

Courtesy Vought.  

 

 

Sliding hood painted and in place: completed minus pitot & antenna wire.  

 

I’m not really satisfied with the together puzzled numbers especially XF4U-1…🙁. Bacause of that I printed the decals new.