Kiwi-Birdie

[PetrOs]

Hello

I'd like to present you my new model. Its a New Zealand Corsair (F4U-1A, S/N NZ5255) at Bougainville in July 44. This particular Aircraft was delivered in early 44, and was assigned to the No.4 Servicing unit, which provided the aircraft to a number of squadrons in Solomon Area (all new Zealand aircraft belonged not to a squadron but to a servicing unit, which cared for their maintenance and loaned aircraft to the squadrons for the missions. Main reason for this system was apparently the lack of qualified mechanics to equip over 30 active squadrons..). In june 44 this aircraft was spotted with the No.15 sqdn, in july it was seen by the No.18 when it switched its P-40 to Corsairs, and later with the No.21. My diorama is showing it with the No.18 in july, at a 5-min readiness duty.

But, why a Russian model maker in Germany would build a New Zealand Aircraft? Well, at my dealer's aftermarket decals crate I located a sheet of Ventura publishing decals for the RNZAF Corsairs, and got an idea that I have never seen a non-american colored Corsair at the german excibitions...So I thought I'll go for it. As I had an Academy F4U-1D kit at my stash, I used it. Converting it to a -1A was easy. Both kit (instruments, stencils) and Ventura decals (markings) were used and gave me no problems. As the original aircraft had no visible paint chipping but had extremely faded colors, I gave it no chips and tried a new technique for me for the fading, overspraying it with a semitransparent coat of light gray. Afterwards I converted a Picture frame into a base, using plaster, model railroad grass, some 1/35 crates and a shovel, barrels from the alanger's soviet ground crew, and 3 figures. The mechanic who is sitting in the shadow with a sandwich and a beer (chopped Plus model 1/35 beer bottle) is white metal figure from Hecker&Goros, the pilot in shorts is from Tamiya Brewster Buffalo, and another pilot is from Preiser USAAF crew.

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I'll be happy to hear your comments

[Stephen]

That's a terrific diorama and the aircraft is nicely weathered as well.

Stephen

[Tedfellows]

Fantastic little scene mate, brilliant job!! Well done

[Mike in Aotearoa]

Kia Ora from New Zealand

Your Corsair is looking very well done, the weathering on it looks very good and I really like the posing of the figures, especially the guy sitting underneath the tailplane grabbing a bit to eat.

My only comment would be that there's possibly a bit much grass - in the islands where this was based the strips there consisted of crushed coral (easily simulated with crushed kitty-litter) and a few palm trees! But that's just me being picky!

It's always good to see Kiwi aircraft on the forums, and your's is a fine piece of work. Kapai!

Kia Ora,

Mike in Aotearoa

[PetrOs]

Thanks guys!

Kia Ora from New Zealand

Your Corsair is looking very well done, the weathering on it looks very good and I really like the posing of the figures, especially the guy sitting underneath the tailplane grabbing a bit to eat.

My only comment would be that there's possibly a bit much grass - in the islands where this was based the strips there consisted of crushed coral (easily simulated with crushed kitty-litter) and a few palm trees! But that's just me being picky!

It's always good to see Kiwi aircraft on the forums, and your's is a fine piece of work. Kapai!

Kia Ora,

Mike in Aotearoa

I guess I have the first New Zealand Corsair in Germany - never encountered one in the excibitions.

The grass - well, I have never been in that region.. Even if I would like to do some wreck diving near Guadalcanal some day Would notice about that for the future.

I tried to orientate myself on the few color photos available of Bougainville, and on the 4th from the top photo at http://rnzaf.hobbyvista.com/donserv.html which I interpreted as dirt with vegetation patches.

The next aircraft to come will be the I-16 Type 28 (upgunned type 24), flown by my great-granddad in summer 41..

[Angels49]

Great looking combo.........Corsair and Dio...congrats..

[Glenn R]

Excellent model, I'm glad to see someone else using a coat of thinned grey for weathering. If you ever do a desert based aircraft, try a coat of thinned light stone for the weathering.

Glenn

[Mike in Aotearoa]

Thanks guys!

I guess I have the first New Zealand Corsair in Germany - never encountered one in the excibitions.

Kia Ora... yup, you don't see too many of them built; I guess not too many people know about them. But good on you for doing it, it's good to see Kiwi aircraft being modelled in Europe!

Cheers,

Mike

[AnonymousDFB1]

Very nice, nicely finished plane and the dio just finishes the whole thing of nicely. Luv the guy having hi lunch, nice touch.

[Mentalguru]

great stuff- I adore a good diorama

[Peter Marshall]

Now that is nice - I have a soft spot for RNZAF Corsairs, as when I lived in Christchurch my dad was friends with someone who flew with 18 Sqdn ( so may have flown that aircraft ).

The interesting thing that always stuck in my mind was that he never liked the Corsair, preferring the P-40. He admitted that the Corsair was a better aircraft, but the P-40 was better to fly in the conditions they were operating in, particularly for Ground attack missions.

[PetrOs]

Now that is nice - I have a soft spot for RNZAF Corsairs, as when I lived in Christchurch my dad was friends with someone who flew with 18 Sqdn ( so may have flown that aircraft ).

The interesting thing that always stuck in my mind was that he never liked the Corsair, preferring the P-40. He admitted that the Corsair was a better aircraft, but the P-40 was better to fly in the conditions they were operating in, particularly for Ground attack missions.

Thats interesting! Would have never imagined that someone preferred a P-40 to a Corsair!

A RNZAF or RAAF P-40 is also planned by me to be done some time later.

[justplanecrazy]

I guess I have the first New Zealand Corsair in Germany - never encountered one in the excibitions.

Kia Ora... yup, you don't see too many of them built; I guess not too many people know about them. But good on you for doing it, it's good to see Kiwi aircraft being modelled in Europe!

Cheers,

Mike

Hi Mike you know I have a few! Great Corsair PetrOs, who if I may ask was your Grandad?

Nick

[PetrOs]

Great Corsair PetrOs, who if I may ask was your Grandad?

Nick

My greatgranddad was a Soviet Navy pilot, serving with the 5th IAP KBF (Fighter Regiment Baltic Fleet), later renamed to 3rd Guard IAP KBF, being a squadron's political officer. He flew an I-16 in june-september 41, and later a MiG-3, scoring 1 individual and 13 in group. In April 42 his luck ended, and he lost 4 aircraft in one day (crash landing with dead engine, engine failure on takeoff, bail out due to jammed ailerons, and bailed out, or better, blown out of exploding aicraft) and by the last action got 14 7.92mm bullet injuries. Somehow he was thrown out of exploding aircraft and his parachute opened... he was lucky to land 10 meters in front of a hospital's bunker, so he was rescued. He was injured too badly to fly, but after a year in hospital he returned to his regiment as a non-flying political officer, also acting as a teacher for young pilots, finishing the war in a rank of Captain 2nd Grade (=Lt.Colonel) in Koenigsberg.