Though there were more Japanese planes shot down by the Hellcat than any other navy plane of WWII, it is the Corsair that seems to get all the kits built by modelers. Go to an invitational show and you will see at least one Corsair on the tables. Not sure just what the attraction is. Perhaps the gull wings, or maybe the big hog-nosed stance of the plane. Whatever it is, the Corsair has gotten a lot more press than the more successful Hellcat.

Superscale has a very nice decal sheet that portrays four different Corsairs; three Marine and a lone Navy birds; an early 'birdcage' and three -1As with the larger canopy.

The first plane is our Navy -1A from VF-17. This is the mount of Navy ace Ira Kepford and has a nice scoreboard of kills on the side. As with the other -1A Corsairs, it is in the tri-color camouflage scheme.

Next to the right is 'Lulubelle' of 'Pappy' Boyington. This -1A was probably not flown by Boyington. Often for a photo op, the prettiest plane around was brought out and had the pilot's name and kill markings placed on it. Many feel that this is the case with this particular plane.

The lone 'birdcage' Corsair is the one with some nice nose art and called 'Marine's Dream'. The plane is in the earlier scheme of blue-grey upper and medium grey undersides.

Finally, George Hollowell's F4U-1A with all the mission marks and kill markings on the side from VMF-111. All four of these Corsair's were land based and probably did not have the arrestor hooks , even though they are shown in the drawings.

Though no kit is suggested, I would think that the Tamiya and Otaki F4Us would be the best bet.

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