1/32 Revell F4U-1A Corsair NZ5286

[dewobz]

I had the great pleasure of meeting 90 year old Allan Emett and his son Brenton (who is "Brenton" on here) over the weekend. Allan flew Corsairs for 19 & 26 Squadrons in '44 & '45. I got to see Allan's Log Book and I am building a 1/32 Revell F4U-1A Corsair for them as NZ5286, depicted on operations with 26 Sqn from April '45, for which our only reference photo so far is this one from Rukuhuia


NZ5286 at Rukuhia. (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

I've entered "Corsair Pile" on the search engine on here and can't seem to bring it up.
I am wondering if anyone has or knows of a photo of NZ5286 on operations?
I would assume the aircraft was USN 4 tone camouflage scheme? There are a lot of dark areas in the photo including the gear doors and drop tank - these could be shadow of course - but I detect some Insignia White remains on the tail end.
Of particular interest to me is (what I see as) the lighter hue or colour on the entire cowl ring? I have heard of some Corsairs having Yellow Cowl rings at the end of the war. Would NZ5286 qualify as possibly having this while with 26 Squadron at Piva from April '45?
Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Revell's 1989 kitset, basic almost to the point of stylization, presents a scratch-build detailing challenge and I have taken up the gauntlet especially where the cockpit is concerned, it being most visible, although Brenton & I have agreed to leave the raised panel lines, wheelwells and such like as per the OOB kitset. The cockpit gets a Trumpeter seat, belts, Oxygen bottle, levers etc and sidewall detail -


Revell F4U NZ5286 BUILD 3 003 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


Revell F4U NZ5286 BUILD 3 004 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


Revell F4U NZ5286 BUILD 3 016 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


Revell F4U NZ5286 BUILD 3 014 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

And I've made the best I can of Revell's slightly odd shaped engine -


Revell F4U NZ5286 BUILD 3 010 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

While the unused Trumpeter cowl flaps from 2 previous builds provided stylized actuators to enhance the view of the partially opened flaps -


Revell F4U NZ5286 BUILD 3 013 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

I'm thrilled to be building another commissioned model for the son of a veteran - like myself - and honoured to also be doing so for the very man who flew the aircraft in World War 2.
Once again, any information on NZ5286 will be greatly appreciated.
Regards,
Wally.

[baz62]

Here you go: rnzaf.proboards.com/thread/17597/corsair-pile

[Dave Homewood]

All the popular 'Pile' threads are in the Popular Aviation Preservation Threads board now Wally
rnzaf.proboards.com/board/39/time-popular-aviation-preservation-threads

They were all moved in there to make them easier to find as before they kept getting pushed down into the archives as new threads came along...

[Bruce]

I dunno about 4 tone.... going by that pic of 286 at Rukuhia, its overall sea blue. There doesnt appear to be any trace of lighter colours around the cowl, undersides or forward fuselage at all. Old photos arent conclusive, especially of a semi-derelict aircraft at Rukuhia, but I would say its dark blue over all..

[dewobz]

Thanks for that Bruce. I find your comment very interesting, NZ5286 being a relatively early RNZAF Corsair. It seems to be the commonly held belief that, loosely speaking, the F4U-1A's were USN 4 tone and the F4U-1D's were all-over Sea Blue, starting at about NZ5397. There appear to be some exceptions, notably NZ5307, leastwise after the 5307/5272 rebuild - the front half being all-over Sea Blue.
My question is, do you think the earlier Gloss Sea Blue examples were delivered that way or is it possible they were field repaints?
Another photo we looked at for this build is this one of 5321, 323, 325 & 326 lined up (at Bougainville I think?) -


NZ5321 NZ5323 NZ5325 NZ5326 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

I find this photo incredibly interesting for several reasons -
1] All-over Sea Blue on 321 & 323. Is this evidence of field repaints? The paint certainly looks fresh to me. Also, NZ5323 is supposed to be the Corsair named "Joan" but unless the name is only on the starboard side its not "Joan" any longer.
2] 325 & 326 appear to have names on them. According to The Corsair Pile 326's name here is "Judy". Yet NZ5326 is well photographed in the "formation over Guadalcanal" photos - taken earlier I believe - with 315 and 307. 326 does not appear to be named in these other photos.
I believe some white is evident at the back of NZ5286 in the Rukuhuia photo which leads to another possibility, a partial repaint. There certainly seems to be some evidence of Corsairs having their entire cowlings (and perhaps more) repainted in Sea Blue.
I really appreciate your input and hope for more comments. I'd like to get a really good feel for this aircraft before I paint it for Allan & Brenton.
Many Thanks
Wally.

[Brenton]

Hi Wally,
fantastic job so far, boy meeting you was well worth while.
I think the paint choice could prove to be one of if not the hardest part of the exercise. So I should say what I think and then hopefully others can chime in with their opinions. You must bear in mind that I don't pretend to know for sure but I would like to think we've got what information there is available so please everyone voice your opinions one way or the other.
First of all... Allan ( my dad ) remembers the planes as been darkish blue. When he saw the photos of the model that you posted Wally he said " doesn't look to bad just the way ( color ) it is already." Of coarse this doesn't prove anything either because it was a long time ago now. When I brought a RC Kittyhawk I planned on painting it in a livery to at least represent one that he had flown (FOTU 2 ). Just like in this case. I asked him what they looked like and he said they were painted in a greenish brown camouflage scheme. I looked on the net for an example and opened up a whole new fascinating world right here on WoNZ. I found out the model I had was an 'n' type and no they were most definitely not all painted in camouflage. I was excited to discover that the very last P40 he had flown was not only an 'n' but that it was NZ3202....Gloria Lyons !! I said are you aware that you flew Gloria Lyons ?
" No" he said.
"But you must be " I said "it would have had Japanese flags painted all over it."
His reply ? " Oh I didn't worry about what it looked like. Just get in and fly ! "
So this brings us back to photos.
I think the planes would have been repainted by the ground crew when they could if they needed tidying up. That photo you have just posted shows planes flown by 26 Sqn. ALL four planes shown are in Allan's log book. They were delivered to the same place from the same place as NZ5286 only one month latter. That's pretty much how 26 Sqn would have looked IMO. April 1945.
There's another photo worth it's weight in gold as well. I saw it here on Wallys RNZAF F4U-1(A) Corsair - NZ5315 thread.
Ossie Hawkins was a member of 26 Sqn and so was NZ5315 although Allan never flew it.

At first I thought the photo showed a well worn Corsair. But is it ? I think maybe it's just that the photo is well worn or faded. Not the same thing. Anyhow...this is the best photo I know of for 26 Sqn and if NZ3286 is made to look something like NZ5315 ( a plane only one month younger) then that would be near enough IMO. Going by this photo the underside is a light color but I can't see any clear evidence that it still has the full 4 tone scheme. my guess is it's more the traditional RAF, Commonwealth like scheme. Dark on top and light below. Something more like this but outer wings dark underneath.


So once again.....this is only my guess. I don't know. Please tell me and Wally your opinions so he can give it his best shot. Have fun. Thanks.


Brenton.

[dewobz]

Hi Brenton, excellent and cogent comments, thank you.
I hope we hear from more experts because I know there are some folks on here with much more experience and research behind them than I have.
To respond to your main point as I see it, over the years I have also considered the possibility of an all-over Blue or Blue Grey only on the upper surfaces, mainly because several kitsets, AM decal sets and some diecast models represent RNZAF Corsairs this way, notably the old Airfix 1/72nd Corsair, SkyModels Decals version of NZ5277 and the oft seen diecasts of the same aircraft (one of which, like SkyModels, has yellow rings around all the roundels). They have or specify Blue-Grey or Light Grey uppers, Intermediate Blue outer lower wings and White underside of fuselage & stablizers.
In my humble opinion there are two possible ways this 'scheme' has come about -
1] IT EXISTED as a result of damage repair. NZ5277 was severely damaged and returned to service. The entire uppers may have been repainted and I think they were in USN Blue-Grey, prone to fading, which weathered over time to a light blue-grey.
2] IT DIDN'T EXIST and is a mistaken assumption based on B&W photos of severely faded 4 tone scheme uppers, which, as Ventura Decals points out in notes for NZ5255 'C' (Donald Duck), "the NS Sea Blue has faded to a blue-grey barely discernable from the Intermediate Blue and lighter than the roundel blue" or WTTE
Of course both 1] & 2] may be true in that there may be examples of both types
Add to this the fact that cowlings, cowl rings and panels got replaced or repainted. One Corsair was apparently rebuild using parts from 3 or 4 other aircraft.
I personally think NZ5315 was a faded US 4 tone scheme (like NZ5255) with a cowl ring from a different aircraft. Bear in mind that some Corsairs only had a thin area of Intermediate Blue across the cowling (or it may have been repainted).
I consider the graphic art of NZ5307 you've posted, though nicely executed, to be just plain incorrect. After the rebuild it's front end was all-over Sea Blue. The only question is, was it delivered that way or repainted (and when)?
Finally, the more I look at the Rukuhuia photo of NZ5286 the more I think it may have been a field repaint in all-over Sea Blue (probably NS Sea Blue ... notes in a Classic Warbirds explains this) and that the white I clearly see on the starboard front gear cover and the very tail of the aircraft is the old Insignia White showing again.
So a cool way to paint it might be as all-over Sea Blue (repaint) with some hints of the underneath colours through wear-and-tear?
All commentary welcome. This is a kind of X-Factor model painting exercise ...!?
Wally.

[alanw]

Hi Wally,

The F4U-1 paint conundrum will always exist I think, as we have no diffinitive
notes to go by (eg someone took the time to actually record the various paint fading schemes
issues during WWII).

There are things we can know for certainty:

The aircraft you are building certainly would have started life at the Vought factory
in the then standard Non Specular Sea Blue/Intermediate Blue/Insignia White with
Semi Specular Blue on the upper wings and vertical stabilizers.

The RNZAF were not the only users, to have fading a problem for this scheme, as you can
see of this photo of a USN F4U-1 Corsair

www.asisbiz.com/il2/Corsairs/F4U-Corsair/images/USN-Bureau-No-18075-Vought-F4U-1A-Corsair-VMF-222-White-075-over-Bougainville-1944-01.jpg

Hence the move to paint all later models of F4U-1/FG-1 in overall GSB(Gloss Sea Blue), as it was more
resistant to wear and tear.

By the time the RNZAF received its initial groups of F4U-1's of which your model is, the use of
the Non Specular M-485 Blue Grey had ceased to exist. That it might be found in un-used cans
in some USN/MAG Quarter Masters store in the Pacific Islands, is unlikely.
The RNZAF being attached to the USN during WWII, meant that generally the RNZAF SU's had access
to USN/MAG stores also. As we know in a perfect world that would be fine, and our SU personel
became quite proficient in scrounging the USN/MAG aircraft dumps, even the jungle for parts etc.

If you look at this photo of a group of RNZAF F4U-1's attached to 26 SU 1945 (same SU as your
model), you can see that NZ5326 has quite a faded paint scheme (as do the other two aircraft),
but you can see the slightly darker definition of the NSSB just under the rear of the windscreen.
Looking at NZ5315 the NSSB appears to be the same colour as the NS Int Blue.

upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/88/F4U-1_Corsairs_of_26_Squadron_RNZAF_in_flight_1945.jpeg/800px-F4U-1_Corsairs_of_26_Squadron_RNZAF_in_flight_1945.jpeg



Given that the 4 Tone Scheme was prone to fading, of the scant Colour photos one can find of
aircraft in that scheme, in a book titled "Golden Wings" (USN/USMC aircraft 1941-45), there is
a photo of a USN PB4Y-2 (USN version of B24 Liberator)the 4 tone is quite faded, and the only
reason you know its a 4 tone scheme, is that you can see the demarcation line of the NSSB.
If it were a BW photo you probably would assume it was all one colour.

The other thing to consider, is that (as I understand it) that ANA 608 Intermediate Sea Blue, was
a mix of ANA 607 NSSB and ANA 601 Insignia White, the NSSB and NS White were to be blended together so that the vertical surfaces had the approximate tone of Intermediate Blue. Actual Intermediate Blue paint was recommended to be applied in the procedure for larger aircraft but which procedure was to be used was optional rather than mandatory.
Base pigments for NSSB and ANA 623 were identical but whereas NSSB was matched to swatch rather than by formula ANA 623 specified the ratio of black, white and blue as 9/26/11 by weight of pigment.
(the italics are from a quote by a gent very expreienced in WWII Paints)

This would explain in some sense why the faded NSSSB and NSIB appeared the same.

Hope that helps

Alan

[Dave Homewood]

I think you mean NZ5315 and NZ5326 there Alan.

[alanw]

Jul 6, 2013 18:02:56 GMT 12 Dave Homewood said:

I think you mean NZ5315 and NZ5326 there Alan.

Thanks Dave, I should have read my post more carefully instead of rushing through it

Have edited it to read correctly

Regards

Alan

[dewobz]

Hi Alan, thanks so much for your response. Would you be kind enough to spell out for me the answers to (or your understanding of) the following questions - (I do apologize if I haven't picked them up from your post) -
1) Could NZ5286 have had a field repaint in all-over GSB (or NSSB)? [The reason I say NSSB is that Robert Montgomery in Classic Warbirds concludes the wartime all-over Sea Blue paint jobs were mostly NSSB and, if glossy, it was the result of a additional clear gloss lacquer coat - I don't really want to debate that here - the field repaint question is the pertinent one)
2) Could the cowl ring have been painted yellow while the aircraft was operational? I know there's a photo of NZ5420 where the entire cowl appears to be yellow.
3) While with 26 Sqn in 1945 do you know what colour the spinner was? In the photo it looks silver to me.
Many Thanks
Wally.

[dewobz]

With the attachment of wings, horizontal stablizers, motor, cowling and undercarriage, NZ5286 is assembled and ready to paint. I guess I may just have to call it as I see it, in consultation with Brenton and Allan. A Sea Blue field repaint is of most interest to me and seems to coincide with what Allan remembers.


Revell F4U BUILD 5 007 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


Revell F4U BUILD 5 011 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

With that decision pending I scratch built a representative Brewster bomb rack mostly from Trumpeter F4U-1D wing pylon & rocket parts.


Revell F4U BUILD 5 017 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

Any input into the camouflage decision is still much appreciated.
Cheers
Wally.

[alanw]

Jul 7, 2013 13:31:09 GMT 12 dewobz said:

Hi Alan, thanks so much for your response. Would you be kind enough to spell out for me the answers to (or your understanding of) the following questions - (I do apologize if I haven't picked them up from your post) -
1) Could NZ5286 have had a field repaint in all-over GSB (or NSSB)? [The reason I say NSSB is that Robert Montgomery in Classic Warbirds concludes the wartime all-over Sea Blue paint jobs were mostly NSSB and, if glossy, it was the result of a additional clear gloss lacquer coat - I don't really want to debate that here - the field repaint question is the pertinent one)
2) Could the cowl ring have been painted yellow while the aircraft was operational? I know there's a photo of NZ5420 where the entire cowl appears to be yellow.
3) While with 26 Sqn in 1945 do you know what colour the spinner was? In the photo it looks silver to me.
Many Thanks
Wally.

1) Could NZ5286 have had a field repaint in all-over GSB (or NSSB)?

ANA 623 Glossy Sea Blue became the USN paint of choice after 1943 (though you would
still see 4 tone soldier on till wars end).
Early RNZAF F4U-1's were received in 4 tone (both 1A's and early deliveries of 1D's)
and later models including FG-1's in ANA 623 GSB.
As mentioned in my earlier post the RNZAF being attached to the USN, the RNZAF SU's
would have access to USN paint supply etc.

Could the RNZAF SU's repaint an F4U-1a in GSB- I don't see why not, again as the USN
moved to standardise it's aircraft colour, the likely hood of finding NSSB or Int Blue
probably became less and less in the Quartermaster store, especially in the islands.
(though having said that, the FG-1's destined for J Force, had NSSB paint applied over
the Pacific Roundels, and that was in 1945/46).

GSB USN/USMC F4U/FG-1D's were given paint jobs in field.
Brand new F4U-1D;s/FG-1Ds started life with Zinc Chromate Green in the wheel well/
gear doors inners, either silver/light grey undercart, and either silver or GSB hubs.
After a major service (and if the paint job warranted it) the aircraft were re-sprayed
and this included the wheel wells/gear door inners/undercart/hubs GSB.

The issue with NSSB and Gloss lacquer -I don't think so, for one, the additional weight
of the NSSB and Gloss Lacquer would surely impenge on speed/performance (not to mention
a nightmare to apply).
The term Glossy Sea Blue means just that, it was a Gloss paint, therefore more able
to with stand the rigours of carrier life and to a point life on an Island coral airstrip.

2) Could the cowl ring have been painted yellow while the aircraft was
operational? I know there's a photo of NZ5420 where the entire cowl appears to be yellow.

Absolutely! There are photos of either USN/USMC F4U's with white or yellow painted
cowl rings, VF-84, VMF-321.
In the book "Golden Wings" I quoted in previous post, there is a photo of VMF-321
F4U's at Iwo Jima with either White/Yellow cowl rings.
As I mentoned previously, RNZAF SU personel became quite adept to scrounging aircraft
junk yards, or even the surriunding jungle environs.
When fighting a war, when most aircraft lives were measured in days/weeks, an RNZAF F4U with
a "Previously Used" White/yellow cowl ring wouldn't warrant too much grief I'd expect.

3) While with 26 Sqn in 1945 do you know what colour the spinner was?
In the photo it looks silver to me.

It's very possible that it may have a silver/Natural Aluminum spinner

Hope that helps Wally?

Regards

Alan

[dewobz]

Thanks heaps Alan. We have resolved to do an all-over Sea Blue repaint with a lighter blue, replacement cowling, probably in very weathered 3 tone colours. In places on NZ5286 where there is wear-and-tear the original 4 tone colours may show through chips and scruffs, as I believe is the case with the starboard front gear door in the Rukuhuia photo. Something different again but I hope historically possible.
I'll post pictures in due course. Thanks again.
Cheers
Wally.

[dewobz]

Update. We eventually split the difference regards the cowl ring and opted for a replacement 3 tone ring to account for the lighter colour apparent in the Rukuhuia photo. So NZ5286 has a moderately weathered Sea Blue repaint scheme with considerable chipping and scuffing where the previous colours show through especially underneath and on the tailplane & rudder (previously Intermediate Blue) -


CA Hudson BUILD 5, Corsair 045 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


CA Hudson BUILD 5, Corsair 036 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


CA Hudson BUILD 5, Corsair 034 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

An attempt to use darker Roodecals RNZAF roundels failed, the ancient decals kinda dissolved, so Ventura roundels and various codes (mostly Techmod) have been applied -


CA Hudson BUILD 7, DECAL 32nd Corsair 005 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


CA Hudson BUILD 7, DECAL 32nd Corsair 007 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

Note those prominent rivets! And I've added the odd detail like enclosure release handles -


CA Hudson BUILD 7, DECAL 32nd Corsair 016 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

Some more work yet to be done but Allan and Brenton's Corsair is progressing quite well
Cheers,
Wally.

[flyjoe180]

Nice work Wally.

[dewobz]

Thanks Flyjoe. Hey, I like your Avatar. Is that a Biggles meets Don Quixote type thing? Tilting at Windmills, so to speak.
Anyhow, I "stencilized" the cowling codes on NZ5286 using paint over the second gloss coat, then applied a final matt finish using Testor's Dullcote aerosol spray. Some last details, aerial wire, wingtip lights etc etc and RNZAF F4U-1A Corsair NZ5286 is ready for inspection - as flown by Allan Emett on 3 occasions with 26 Squadron during 1945 -


Revell Corsair NZ5286 FINISHED V1 025 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


Revell Corsair NZ5286 FINISHED V1 006 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


Revell Corsair NZ5286 FINISHED V1 004 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


Revell Corsair NZ5286 FINISHED V1 024 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


Revell Corsair NZ5286 FINISHED V1 028 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


Revell Corsair NZ5286 FINISHED V1 010 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


Revell Corsair NZ5286 FINISHED V1 014 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr


Revell Corsair NZ5286 FINISHED V1 015 (Medium) by Wally Hicks, on Flickr

Thanks for looking in.
Wally.

[flyjoe180]

Wonderfully done Wally, it looks fantastic.

My avatar: no it's not Biggles meets Don Quixote. It's 'Sir Percy Ware-Armitage', the villainous character seen along with his servant 'Courtney' from the film 'Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines'.

[Dave Homewood]

Better knowns as Terry-Thomas, the wonderful British character actor who made a living playing cads and bounders.

[Brenton]

Thank you so much Wally, I think dads expecting to be able to climb in and take-off !

See you again SOON.

Brenton.