I just received this from American Science & Surplus. Knowing how few and far between you see 1/48th aircraft I thought that I'd pass it along. I called them to ask whether the wings could be modeled in the up position. They cannot. FWIW. Here is the link
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Thanks Bob, I just ordered 2 for my soon to be Airport.
Actually, 1/48th aircraft scale models are much more plentiful than 1:48 cars, trucks and military equipment. Tamiya and Hasegawa, to name a few have wonderful 1:48 aircraft. Add to that newcomers like Eduard from the Czech Republic and Kinetic and you get many more choices than we can ever attempt to build. Most helicopter models come in 1:48 which would be easier to find a place for in our layouts. Making airports in O'scale takes up way too much real estate than many of us can offer, unless we want something sub-scale like the old Plasticville offering.
Whistling death! K-line model.
Yep, 1/48 is a very popular scale for model planes, both in kits and diecast. Plenty of options there!
Just an FYI, if you're building the kit, be sure you put the right insignia on the side. The red stripe through the national insignia in the first post photo is post-WW2 and was used in Korea or postwar reserves.
The national insignia on the sides and wings during WW2 didn't have the red stripe.
Most model kits will have WW2 markings in the decal sheet, though.
This shows the difference well. the near Corsair is painted in WW2 (late 1943-45) markings and the far one shows Korean-war markings, which would be perfect for that 'transitional' period so many people liked modeling on layouts:
Note the paint job on the WW2 painted one is different, too...
I'm not an aircraft modeler, but I really like the early warbirds -- P38, P47, P51d, F4u, F80, F86, B25, B17, B29 Saber. I've seen quite a few of them in 1/48 in model kits and diecast (fewer). From time to time I think about adding a formation to the club layout to "escort" the XB29 we have mounted on the ceiling. The other thought was having a that formation chasing a UFO (a few of those kits were around in roughtly 1/48 as well).
Trainman2001 posted:Actually, 1/48th aircraft scale models are much more plentiful than 1:48 cars, trucks and military equipment. Tamiya and Hasegawa, to name a few have wonderful 1:48 aircraft. Add to that newcomers like Eduard from the Czech Republic and Kinetic and you get many more choices than we can ever attempt to build. Most helicopter models come in 1:48 which would be easier to find a place for in our layouts. Making airports in O'scale takes up way too much real estate than many of us can offer, unless we want something sub-scale like the old Plasticville offering.
This man tells the truth. 
There's a whole industry that caters to 1/48 scale aircraft modelers. I used to be one of them.
P51, Excellent photo! A couple of other things to point out in addition to the differing insignia: These are 2 different models of the Corsair. The 799 (near) is likely an F4U-1D, or FG-1D. The 3 bladed prop and Malcom hood canopy are tell-tales. The 210 (rear) is a later model F4U-4 with a 2100hp engine. (Water/methanol injection could push this number considerably higher.) The increased hp required the 4 bladed prop. The 3 bladed versions seem to be the more common survivors these days.
The picture below was taken several years ago at Reading WWII Weekend. Both are the -1D variant.
Chris
LVHR
Chris, I decided not to go too deep into variants, because I'm far too often accused of being a rivet counter as it is...
FYI, here I am next to an amazing restoration of one...
Back around the time, and just after, I turned into one of the dreaded "teens", I built models of WWII aircraft, me favoring the P-38 for the AAF (my brother the P-51....too bad his slight color blindness did not let him be a pilot in his time in the USAF), and we both liked the Corsair for the Navy. I remember the Corsair kits from way back then as having four bladed props, which in my mind then, made them look more aggressive. For my era, I would, with the room, have Wacos and maybe a Curtiss barn-stormer.
OK, I stand corrected. I guess I always looked in all the wrong places. Then I was probably looking for a less popular aircraft; the Grumman S2-F. I flew as Aircrew in these and would always look in hobby shops for one.
For a while Tamiya offered a 1/48 in their so-called Prop-Action line which had a motor. If animation is your thing, here's an example of what can be done - adding synchronized sound and lights...just like our trains.
"I'm far too often accused of being a rivet counter as it is..."
Yes, I get that too at times! But variation is a part of life I enjoy.
That's a good shot of you and the plane. I agree: Very well done! And you can have fun counting rivets....
Chris
LVHR
Wow - That animated Corsair is terrific! Need to add smoke and complete the effect 
Funny this topic came up. I had bought the Warhawk and the Corsair quite some time ago with the mindset that it would be a project that my son and I would do together some day. Well, that day never arrived and he is now 31 and married. So, I went ahead on a whim and started putting them together last month. I enjoyed it so much that I bought the Mustang and the Thunderbolt to boot. I had an uncle who flew the P-40 and then the P-47 in World War II and had been shot down several times. His flight jacket now resides in the Cincinnati Union Terminal in the Museum there. I went up to the Air Force Museum up at Wright Patterson in Dayton two weekends ago to see all of these Warbirds. If you ever are in that area, it is a must see.....and free. Here are the models (all 1:48), not greatly done, but they will find a place on the layout somewhere. P51, if you have not been to Wright Pat, it would be worth a stop. They are opening a new hangar this June. I am not sure you can see everything in a day.
Rick
This was a $4.99 model I purchased at "Ollie's" a few years back. I put it on a platform, with a sheet of aluminum flashing over it something like a hanger. I put an DC electric motor under it & powered it with a rubber band. This was wired to a door bell switch that the kids activated. This was one of the favorite accessories on the 2014 layout.
The sound is actually from the rubber band & motor. No sound effects added!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIDAIN7dDkk
I used a piece of coat hanger as the rod to spin the prop.
JD Williams is a retired Lt Col, and a good friend of mine.
If suspending a 1/48 in-flight as shown earlier, perhaps the suspension wires can run DC to run a motor and some electronics. Using flickering LEDs like from Tealight candles often re-purposed for firebox glow in steamers, I'm imagining a strafing run at a Lionel exploding boxcar. I don't think Corsairs were used for train strafing targets of opportunity after bomber escort duty in Europe...but here's a 1/48 Mustang unleashing the same Browning .50 calibers...
There was a Corsair model, either Monogram or Revell/Monogram with folding wings.
One of the larger carrier based airplanes was the Grumman TBF Avenger, a torpedo bomber. It had a gun turret and interesting folding wings, that twisted and bent back along the fuselage for carrier storage. Monogram also did this model.
There appears to be a fair supply of this stuff available in model kits either on E-bay or available as current production. Picture a Monogram model. Also part of the WWII war effort, Grumman, F6F Hellcat, and F4F Wildcat. Curtiss, SB2C Helldiver. These models were done by Monogram or Monogram/Revell. It's been a long, long, time but I believe they all had folding wings. A quick search all appear to be 1/48. The Corsair was the only one that could equal, or out perform the Japanese Zero.
MY GOD how I love that strafing P-51 and the engine turning. Wish I had the time to devote to building something like that! But then again, it wouldn't work on the layout...
It's interesting to note that Monogram had done a P51 model in clear plastic. A real challenge for a 12 year old kid. 54 years ago with glue on all fingers.
Mike, it was the Revell which is the one I put together. It said that it was rated for 10 year olds. I don't think that means it was rated for 65 year olds. It was a difficult build for me and I ended up just gluing the wing section down. It was a very humbling experience. :-)
Rick
Ranger Rick posted:
Rick
Cool! 
Used to love making these models as a boy in the 70's and reading their history. Glad my father, a veteran, got me into it.
Who knows, maybe again some day.
3 years ago I bought 1/48 models of the P38, 39, 40, 47, 51, 61, the F4u with folding wings, SBD, B25 and A26. They're all available as Revell kits. Looking to do a few more. I have the F6F Hellcat and a couple Korean era jets on my list. Revell has the F84 Thunderjet and F86 Sabre. Revell also has the B17 and B24.
This thread takes me back! My Dad was in the hospital for 5 months from wounds while flying bombers in Korea! He built plane after plane, some bombers but mostly fighters! I asked him about that and he said he always wanted to be a fighter pilot but ended up being a bomber pilot! I built a lot of them as a kid! Wish I knew what happened to his and mine! Nice thread, I'm enjoying it!
Play Trains
I was thinking the same bring me back memories of my father in law. He was a flight engineer on a BLIMP. Weird to somebody like me . A grunt.
But I remember when I was young he had models like these guys are showing hanging all over his garage that he had built.
He was WW 2 and Korea Vet. Also retired from the Air Force Reserves.
I know zip about air craft really, but on my FANTASY airport I put these die cast models. They are from Smithsonian and 1/48.
F4U Corsair, P40 Warhawk, and P47 Thunderbolt.
Only on the layout because of him. All the rest are helicopters , that's what my son fly's. They are fantasy models as well.
Larry
Bob, Nice subject to read about.
Ranger Rick posted:P51, if you have not been to Wright Pat, it would be worth a stop. They are opening a new hangar this June. I am not sure you can see everything in a day.
Rick,
Yep, been there a couple of times but not in the past few years. The WW2 hangar used to be maddening as it was so flipping dark in there and you couldn't get good photos.
I've actually seen most of the big aviation museums in the US and quite a few in Europe.
I'm on a lifetime quest to see every single B-17 above the surface of the oceans still in existence. there's one in South America I'll probably never get to see as it's so closed off to the world, but that's my goal. I'm, awfully close, too.
Done my share of flights in various war birds, too, including a P-51 (of course), several trainer and liason types, B-17, B-24, B-25 among several other types...
Here are some random shots I've taken over the years. Any with a Jeep in them is my own 1944 Willys MB Jeep...
P51, you should add a few planes to your layout, hanging from mid air. I really enjoyed reading your website. You really did a great job! Thanks for sharing
Here is my Corsair. Just a little too big for the Layout. It's an FMS RC 55" Corsair. The original was a Korean War version, but I repainted it into a WWII version. However the 4 blade propeller and chin on the cowl give it away to the experts.
TrainJunkie posted:P51, you should add a few planes to your layout, hanging from mid air.
A few people have suggested that as my layout takes place when a massive airborne formation of C47s with paratroopers and towing Waco combat gliders went over that valley. My dad, who was 7 at the time, still clearly recalls seeing what I now know was the 101st Airborne Division doing a training exercise.
That said, I've decided to have NO figures in moving poses as it always bugged me to see trains moving but not people. Even all wheeled vehicles will be in parked positions.
With that concept, a airplane caught motionless in the air wouldn't work for me.
I have, however, thought of modeling a crash-landed plane. One of those Waco gliders would be best but nobody makes a kit of one in O scale...
It's all a moot point as I dont have much free space on my layout for that anyway.
Great thread,
Thank you, to all who participated
Mike CT.
I have been building 1/48 planes for years. I recently built the Corsair for a second time, the first being about 50 some years ago as a kid. You basically get the same model today. I have learned to put small 3.5v dc motors in my planes with an on/off button for kids to push ( adults may also push). I am excited about adding lights to a model along with the motor, as someone mentioned in the thread above. I suspect that a kit similar to the light kits 1/48 cars would work. Attached is my last build. 
It's great to see us railroad modelers dabbling in scale plastic kits too. I just like building stuff! Right now I'm building stuff for my layout, but every time I go into Scale Reproductions Inc., (my LHS), I end up drooling over the plastic stuff that's on the market now. It's the golden age of plastic modeling. With the development of 3D prototyping, CNC machining of molds and slide molding, every kit that comes out is better than the last. SRI has one of the best plastic model arrays that I've ever seen. Since most LHS's are disappearing, having a local one that's so well equipped is something I really value. I even checked out the hobby shop situation before moving here over 6 years ago, and was really happy to find SRI. I've spent lots of $$$ and only buy online when I can't get it locally.
Ron045 posted:Here is my Corsair. Just a little too big for the Layout. It's an FMS RC 55" Corsair. The original was a Korean War version, but I repainted it into a WWII version. However the 4 blade propeller and chin on the cowl give it away to the experts.
Ah, the "Jolly Rogers", ...numbers indicate Lt(jg) Ira Kepfords' Corsair..........nice model!
Just received my order today for my 2 Corsair's, and go figure I get one Corsair and one Blue Angels F11F-1 Tiger. Don't take me wrong I love the Blue Angels.
If I had won that lottery, I would have bought something like that, and that's about the odds of that happened.
Trainman2001 posted:If I had won that lottery, I would have bought something like that, and that's about the odds of that happened.
You probably would live longer the way you are without one.
Back when you could get your hands on a WW2 fighter and not be uber rich to do so, plenty of people killed themselves learning to fly them. I can't count the number of stories I've heard of pilots back in the 60s and 70s with only some Cessna time (or no flight training at all) and enough money to buy a fighter, hopping into a Mustang and saying, "How tough can this be?" Then, a week later, there's a charred black spot in a cornfield at the end of a grass runway, some twist fragments of metal and tiny little chunks of body parts which is all that remains of the plane and pilot, all because he had too much plane and not enough experience.
Don't forget, the young men who had been trained to fly these things in WW2 used to crash them all the time during WW2 while learning to fly them. You'll find fragments of fighters buried in the ground near any of the training fields from WW2 if you look hard enough.
I grew up near the abandoned remains of a WW2 fighter training base and have spent several years researching the field for a book I know I'll never write, and have found numerous stories of these pilots doing downright silly things for which they paid with their lives (or, if they were lucky, just their flying careers and made into infantrymen).
p51 posted:Trainman2001 posted:If I had won that lottery, I would have bought something like that, and that's about the odds of that happened.
You probably would live longer the way you are without one.
Back when you could get your hands on a WW2 fighter and not be uber rich to do so, plenty of people killed themselves learning to fly them. I can't count the number of stories I've heard of pilots back in the 60s and 70s with only some Cessna time (or no flight training at all) and enough money to buy a fighter, hopping into a Mustang and saying, "How tough can this be?" Then, a week later, there's a charred black spot in a cornfield at the end of a grass runway, some twist fragments of metal and tiny little chunks of body parts which is all that remains of the plane and pilot, all because he had too much plane and not enough experience.
Don't forget, the young men who had been trained to fly these things in WW2 used to crash them all the time during WW2 while learning to fly them. You'll find fragments of fighters buried in the ground near any of the training fields from WW2 if you look hard enough.
Yes, accidents in WWII aircraft were epidemic. I just finished reading Unbroken, and it was stated in the book that during WWII, in the air corps, 35,946 personnel died in non-battle situations, the vast majority of them in accidental crashes. Some 15,000 airmen died in accidental crashes stateside! A report issued by the AAF surgeon general suggests that in the Fifteenth Air Force, between November 1, 1943, and May 25, 1945, 70 percent of men listed as killed in action died in operational aircraft accidents, not as a result of enemy action.
Check here for CT Corsair information.
Hobby Master and others also make finished WWII 1/48 models which are extremely nice, including various versions of the Corsair, all diecast. I have a number of these and others made by Franklin Mint and Carousel, among others.
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