A Unique Aircraft
The Corsair was originally developed by the American company Vought in response to a February 1938 request for proposal for a carrier fighter aircraft by the U.S. Navy. Designed to surpass even land-based fighters, it featured a 2,000hp engine and massive 4-metre propeller and – most memorably – a unique inverted gull wing. This first version of the Corsair (which means “pirate”) was nicknamed “birdcage” because of the large frame sections used in its canopy structure. Thrown into front-line action from February 1943 onwards, the aircraft took part in the U.S. military’s counter-offensive which was based in the Solomon Islands; it was mainly used by the U.S. Marine Corps and used an advantage in speed and armour over the Japanese Zero fighter to prove a valuable weapon in the arsenal of the U.S. military.

About the Model

• Plastic model assembly kit of the F4U-1 Corsair
• 1/32 scale
• Fuselage length: 318mm, Wingspan: 390mm
• Features faithful recreations of fuselage, unique inverted gull wing and large propeller, and more
• Inverted gull wing can be assembled in folded or extended position as the modeller chooses; details on the inside of the fold joint are also captured accurately
•  Choose between up or down elevators and flaps
• Two-part engine cowls can be removed from the model, even after completion
• Select retracted or deployed main landing gears and tail wheel
• Includes two figures depicting the pilot, one seated and one standing
• Comes with 3 sets of markings to depict U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps aircraft
• The set includes a full-colour, 12-page booklet detailing the history of the Corsair line of aircraft