The Models
I’ll start with the Testors F4U-1A. The F4U-1A was a variant of the original F4U-1 with an improved “bubble” type hood canopy instead of the F4U-1’s “birdcage”. This kit is actually marketed as an F4U-1D by Testors and has a 1945 F4U-1D scheme as well as decals for two F4U-1A’s (Pappy Boyington’s and Tommy Blackburn’s Big Hog). I decided on the Big Hog because I like the pirate flag on the cowling. When I built the kit, I had to cut off the molded on pylons on the bottom of the wing because the 1A did not have them.  

The F4U-1A kit had no cockpit, just a smooth area where I could glue the head of the pilot.  I thought about putting in a resin cockpit, but figured it would involve too much cutting, and since the canopy is molded closed, there wouldn't be much to see, so I painted the pilot head, and I painted the plastic area zinc chromate, and glued the pilot head to it, then glued the canopy on.  The Testors kit, which I got as a birthday present, as I read it, is a repop of the 50's era Hawk Corsair kit, and has a mix of raised and recessed detail.  The wing airscoops are just plastic sunken areas.I painted those black.  Most of the work I did was with finishing, painting, and decaling..back when I did this Corsair I was only learning how to use the airbrush, and this was the first model I successfully airbrushed.  I used Tamiya smoke to brush on exhaust stains, and later added some pastel powder.  I used Model Master Acryl dark blue and intermediate blue for the finish..I only was able to successfully airbrush with those paints when I did not thin them or if I thinned them with only a drop or 2 of Testors airbrush thinner.  I used aluminum paint to add some chips and also did the engine face in steel..and I painted the wingtip lights aluminum then brushed over them with Tamiya clear red and green.  I sprayed Testors Metalizer on the bird..in fact I sprayed a few coats, let it dry to the touch, then put the decals on.  That was a mistake..I should have let the metalizer dry at least 24 hours because the decals silvered in some areas.  But I didn't know how to correct it, so I left it as it was.then sprayed dullcote on to the bird.  At first, I thought I'd screwed up because the decals started to shrink and wrinkle.  Then the decals came back to normal..and all was right again.I finished adding on the landing gear, prop, and other bits and the bird was ready for my shelf.

All this was done in the spring of 2002.    Fast forward to the fall.  I decided to do the French F4U-7 because I liked the combination of gloss sea blue and the yellow/black Suez stripes.  Also, my IPMS Salt Lake City chapter was doing French night.  So I got cracking on that kit, and it was a good build.  I don't know how accurate it is, but it certainly looks the part.  Yes, this Italeri kit does have a cockpit, and I painted the 'pit in
zinc chromate..it has a better engine and airscoops too..I built the fuselage and wings/stabilizers..and this time I brushed gloss dark sea blue on the bird because it was too cold and wet to airbrush outdoors.  Then I masked off the striped areas with Tamiya paint, brushed Future to seal the demarcation lines, then brushed the areas flat yellow, needing several coats to complete.  Then I brushed on the black stripes..did the navigation lights, added antennae.put on decals straight onto the a/c because most of it was gloss already and the decals looked fine.  I added a French blue-type color for the spinner, put on the prop, put on the landing gear, added the rockets.added pastel chalks and tempera along with scale black streaks for the exhausts.voila, a French Corsair.  (And thank you Fancherello and Stef for your help!)

I hope you all enjoyed my "bent wing birds".  

Happy Modeling!