Revell 1/72 F4U 1A

[Guest]

This was a Christmas present, and I had high hopes for it - new mould, etc.


However, when you open the box, you are greeted with crisply moulded sprues in shiny white plastic. WHITE? This must be the worst possible colour to use - I struggle to make out any detail.


Even worse, when bits are fitted, there is no shadow or contrast on the seams, so you have to rely on fingernail feel to judge if the joins are smooth.


Having said that, it all went together well enough, apart from the engine cowl. It's an over-complex four piece construction, that needs filing to fit. The radiator flaps are a separate ring - open or closed, the main cowl is in two halves with a nose piece to fit on the end. I should have assembled the whole thing separately, but I fitted the pieces to the kit in stages.


Again, the colour of the plastic made it hard to judge the fit, and it's only now I've given it a coat of primer I can see how bad it looks.


I know a better modeller than me would have made a much better job, but I'm tempted to give up on this. I can't see how I can retrieve it with filling and filing.


I should have got the Academy version.

[ATTACH]107955.IPB[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]107956.IPB[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]107957.IPB[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]107958.IPB[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]107959.IPB[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]107960.IPB[/ATTACH]

[papa 695]

Nice work so far Tony.


What type of glue do you use ? If you use the brush on type like Tamiya extra thin try putting a drop of paint in the glue then when it dries you will be able to see the seams

[flyjoe180]

Tony, firstly that doesn't look too bad in the photos. I'd read review son this kit and they were not all favourable for some of the reasons you have encountered. White is a shocking colour for a kit to be moulded in; as Ian says you can drop some paint into the extra thin cement to help see the seams. Or you can prime the main parts prior to construction. But it does look like it has some nice detail on it, and it is generally quite accurate in size and shape. Persevere, the hard part is done I reckon. I can vouch that the Academy F4U-1 looks a nice kit as I have it in my stash, but it does have a few issues too. It is also very affordable. Could be worse, check the old Airfix offering!

[Guest]

Thanks for the encouragement guys and the tip about the glue. I do use the Mr Cement S liquid glue for major parts.


I persevered and did some filing around the cowling joins, and it looks better now. A bit more filler and sanding in the gaps that the primer has revealed and I can give it another light prime on the front end. I suppose they made the kit seams mirror the panel joins on the real thing.


All in all it is a nicely detailed kit, so I'm feeling less hacked off with it.