This is #24 in the Osprey Modelling series and concentrates on the F4U Corsair. It has all the basics of the series including an introduction the covers a short history and a variant chart. This is followed by a section on all the kits that are available as of the publication date. While this does leave out models from Frog, Heller and Monogram (to name a few), these kits are generally older ones and not readily available or are not up to current standards. At the end of the book is a listing of books and web sites that have Corsair content.

Of course the meat of the book are build reviews. Most of these are done by the author, with a couple by other modelers. I found it interesting that on some of the author's builds, they were actually finished (as in painted and weathered) by others. I imagine that this is as much due to time constraints as anything, but to me, this is a tad unusual.

One of the differences between this book and a previously reviewed book by this author on the P-47 is that this one contains examples from all the major scales. In my opinion, this is the way books like this should be done. Providing additional material on a publisher's web site is nice, but it is much more preferable to have a good sampling provided in the book itself. I don't know about you, but when I use a reference while building a model, I prefer to have a paper one.

Anyway, there are seven different builds in this book. All of them are Intermediate level or higher, using various amounts of aftermarket bits to complete the project. Even if one cannot currently reproduce these efforts, it does give one something to shoot for.

1. A master's level conversion of the Trumpeter 1/32 F4U-1D into a Birdcage F4U-1 using the Cutting Edge conversion set as the basis.

2. A 1/72 Tamiya F4U-1D in VF-17 markings; an intermediate level build

3. A Fleet Air Arm 1/48 Corsair II using the Hobbycraft kit, an advanced build

4. Moving on to Tamiya's 1/48 offering, an El Salvadoran FG-1D, also an advanced build.

5. Staying with Tamiya, a conversion to an F4U-4 using CMK's conversion set, another advanced build.

6. Sliding back into 1/72 a build using the High Planes F4U-5N, an intermediate construct, though those who have built High Planes kits may consider it advanced!

7. The final build is another intermediate challenge using the Hasegawa 1/48 F4U-7 to do a French version as used during the Suez operation.

In all, any one of us would be quite pleased to be able to produce these models as they are all very nicely done. All of them use aftermarket parts to some extent and I have to guess that this is pretty much the way things are done in our hobby nowadays. There isn't an article in this edition that does not provide some technique or insight that won't be useful to modelers of all skill levels. They also provide excellent incentive to try a few techniques that may be new to the reader.

Overall, another fine modeling book from the Osprey folks and one that is useful to builders of all levels.

September 2005

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