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1/72 Vought XF4U-6/XAU-1 Corsair Prototype


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Hello again.

 

Lately, I've working on some bucket list type projects, some perhaps more interesting than others.  This time, I was looking to build a Vought AU-1 Corsair, as it is one of the last two Corsair types that I plan on building, to complete my own collection.  As the actual build is mechanically almost exactly the same as my earlier F4U-5N detailed build, I will forgo repeating all the details, and give you a link to that build, instead: F4U-5N Last Propeller USN ACE?

 

There are a few detail differences between that build and this, and I will try to provide a little information in that regard also, but because of the above-mentioned "duplication" of work, this won't really be a "build thread", but more of an "information thread". And, while there will be a few photos of the finished model, this also more than a real "RFI thread" -- maybe we need a new category...🙂

 

Briefly, the AU-1 was based on a desire by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marines for a better ground attack aircraft, since during the Korean War, we discovered that prop aircraft were better suited for this role than the then current crop of jets.  The Navy started out by taking a Vought F4U-5N, BuNo 124665 and creating what would originally be designated as the XF4U-6, which featured among other things, a new engine, removing the high-altitude supercharger, and adding more armor and armament.  At that time, the Navy became enamored

with the "Attack" designation, and soon, the effort was renamed the "A" (for attack) "U" (for Vought) with "1" as the model number, and of course, since it was a prototype, we have to have an "X", hence "XAU-1".  I don't know whether there were many other differences between this prototype and the later AU-1 models, but a lot more useful information can be found on the internet, if you are interested, starting HERE

 

I started with the old tried and true Italeri F4U-7 kit, which has the parts for the AU-1 as well.  Despite the fact that it's nose cowl/engine area has been criticized, it is workable:

 

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However, it was because of this criticism, that a firm called Hi-Tech made a nice conversion set, which adds a boat-load of detail:

 

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As I was not originally going to do any thread on this kit (after all, it's basically a basic AU-1), after finding photos of the XAU-1 prototype, I decided to back-track and post this.  That explains why the bucket seat, cowl flaps, and trim tab actuator rods are all cut out of the PE fret shown!

 

Anyway, more detail on the included items are shown below:

 

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Top-to-bottom, left-to-right, these items are (top row): wing flaps, underbelly weapons pylons; (second row): vac canopy, metal "paddle-style" prop blades, resin cockpit, and F4U-7 style cowl, which needs to have the lower chin inlet filled and sanded down for the AU-1 variant (basically and F4U-4 cowl without the chin scoop).  Next row, the rudder, 10 new wing pylons, the tail-wheel well, and thick/thin tires -- as always, the Navy craft of the era used thin tires for carrier use, thicker tires for land use.  Since the AU-1 was used on land (I think the tail hooks were also omitted), the thicker ones are needed here.  Lastly, the detailed PE fret, sans the afore-mentioned items.  A lot of detail is included for the landing gear, all of which is a bear to figure out (see F4U-5N build, linked above).

 

One last thing here, these Hi-Tech kits are scarce  as hen's teeth, and getting more so.  If you are a 1/72 scale Corsair fan and one of these goes by, grab it!  I've owned three, built two, and the last one I found on-line was a painful $42.00 US.  It is worth every penny!

Of course, all these problems would vanish, if anyone made a stat-of-the-art new kit, but I'm afraid they are going to F4 and F-15 us to death instead -- all of which is good, but, hey, kit makers, spread the love!

 

Now, I guess it's time to show you what the real thing looks like:

 

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Under the horizontal stabilizer in the last pic above, it appears that they just left the original F4U-5N, and NAVY marking alone, so that's what I did, using the kit decals, and modifying them with needed tiny white numbers from a Gold Medal Models 1/350 WW2 USN Aircraft Markings Sheet (Korean War, 1947 to present) sheet. As far as I know, they still make this sheet and are available on-line or by direct mail, Gold Medal Models, PO Box 670, Lopez, WA 98261,USA.

 

At least, I hope they still make them, as they are the perfect size, thickness and font for 1/72 USN blue aircraft.  Thank you, ship modelers everywhere!

 

Perhaps I should note that I jumped on this particular scheme, because 1) I needed an AU-1, and 2), it's a prototype -- a two-for-one opportunity!

 

One last thing before showing the finished product.  The "TEXT" and "XAU-1" were hand-painted, and vary from standard USN stencil specs, especially the "E", "S", and "U".  I'll let you figure out how they vary, but they do.  So, I had to load up the USN Stencil font into my ancient version of Photoshop, and make the needed modifications by hand, a pixel at a time.  Then, I had to reverse the colors to end up with white letters, and massage the blue background color to match as closely as I could the True North Gloss Sea Blue that I used on the model.  After a few tries, trying to compare to color on a computer screen to the painted color, I decided "close enough" and quit there. As with my XB-40 build decals a new years back, I had to slightly feather the edge of the decal after they were applied on the model, with a slight over-paint of the decal edges, which also hides the white edge of the decal paper.  I only have access to an Epson Ink-Jet printer, so that's the way it goes.  To rant just a bit more -- IF ANY PRINTER MANFACTURER  would just give us an inexpensive modern version of the Alps printer, all would be well.

 

In any event, for your edification, as well as possible use, here are my versions, which are free to use for anyone, for any non-commercial use.  First, one you can play with, if needed, and second, the actual 1/72 scale image I used:

 

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Even though the bottom image seems large for 1/72, it is a 350 DPI, rather than the usual 72 DPI used to display on computer screens (I think).  In my case, the dark blue background was still a shade lighter than the paint on the model.  See if you can tell the difference, after my touch-ups, on the real models below:

 

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Because my home-made decals are painted on "thickish" white decal paper alone, they appear a little darker than the white of the star.  I could have backet them up by applying white deal paper first, and then my actual decal over the top.  I did not do so, because that would have made the decals even more thick, so I considered this the lesser of two evils.  Or, I could just blame it on the guy who painter the real aircraft, and say he used cheap paint...

 

Anyway, that's what the model looks like.  Not perfect, but as always, much better than the "one I had before", and I'm glad to add it to the collection.  Perhaps I should have titled it "And Now For Something Only Slightly Different"?

 

Thanks for looking,

 

Ed

 

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Sorry guys, all the detail stuff was already shown, over on the F4U-5N build.  For this XAU-1, this is all you're gonna get! However, I hope you can add yur own to the collection.  All of the mods needed can be done by any fairly skilled modeler, starting with the Italeri kit, or possibly the Revell F4U-4 kit.  Fill the chin intake, lower the side outlets a bit if using the Revell kit.. etc.

 

However, and detail questions gladly answered.

 

Ed

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