F4U7 Inline Corsair RNZAF service 1945The Corsair was in 1942 proving itself in US Navy service. It was powerful, it was fast and it was troublesome. It was subject to “bounce” on landing during sea trials. The US Navy was disappointed in it’s deck landing trials onboard it’s carriers. It was assigned to the Royal Navy and the US Marines or it operated ashore in US Navy units.
In 1942, Chance Vought proposed an inline powered version to the USAAF. The USAAF wasn’t interested in what it saw as a discarded US Navy design. However, the US Marine Corps was intrigued at the possibilities. The Allison engine, equipped with a turbo charger was substantially faster that the standard radial engined version. So they ordered 100 of the aircraft. However, it’s development was troubled. The aircraft was found to be a handful. The US Marine Corps refused delivery of the aircraft in 1944 when they were deemed sufficiently well developed for deployment.
The Royal New Zealand Air Force was seeking a new fighter at that point. Having been using P-40 Kittyhawks, they had fallen somewhat behind the rest of the world. They wanted to carry the war forward against the Japanese. The F4U7 Corsair repesented a intriguing leap forward and it was cheap as well. Offered the aircraft at little more than a P-40 in price, they took it with alacrity.
The F4U7 was ideal. It used a similar engine to what the RNZAF was used to and with a turbosupercharger as well, with which was deemed to offer superior performance. With a top speed of over 450mph at altitude it made it the fastest aircraft in the Pacific region.
The KitBased on a drawing by ysi_maniac:
The model consists of a Revel F4U1 kit, coupled with a resin P-38 nose. The decals came from Knightflyer. Painted in Tamiya Acylics with a hairy stick.
