Catch22
Major
F4U-1 (Corsair Mk I) UNDER CONSTRUCTION
The Chance-Vought F4U-1 was the first of 6 numbered production versions of the F4U Corsair. Despite there being F4U-1s through F4U-7s, the F4U-3 never entered production, and there were really 4 major versions of the F4U-1; the original F4U-1, the -1A, the -1C and the -1D. This portion of the guide will deal ONLY with the F4U-1, and F4U-2, as they are basically identical, and not the -1A through -1D.
Visual Characteristics
The main visual characteristics of the F4U-1 were, of course the "birdcage" style canopy with the cutout windows, the lack of wing spoiler on the leading edge of the right wing. One other difference, that is easily missed, is that the tail wheel mount on the -1 is actually shorter than that of the -1A and onward.
There were 2 styles of "birdcage" canopy on the F4U-1; the early style had a completely flat top, while the later style had a bulge directly above the seat, so the pilot could raise his seat higher to help visibility.
Early and late canopies.(Corsair in Action)
Painting
Early F4U-1s had the then standard Blue Gray upper surfaces, as well as the bottoms of the wings outboard of the fold, and very light gray lower surfaces (mix gull gray and white for modeling purposes). They also had the 2nd incarnation of the US Star roundel, without the red dot or bars, though in the field bars were added to some planes. Later F4U-1s had the now famous three-toned scheme, with the upper surfaces in Dark Sea Blue, middle section and lower wing surfaces in Medium Blue and the lower surfaces in White. Some of these still had the "sans bars" roundel, but partway into production the new roundel with bars and red surround were starting to be applied. British Corsair Mk Is were painted Dark Sea Gray and Dark Slate Gray on the upper surfaces, and Sky on the lower surfaces.
This F4U-1 has the early scheme with the stars and bars. You can see that the red surround has been painted over.
This F4U-1 has the late style paint scheme and stars and bars, and has the red surround painted out.
All above profiles from Aircraft illustration
A rare scheme: A refurbished F4U-1 in Jacksonville in OTU-4, in 1945 (Corsair in Action)
F4U-2
Visual Characteristics
The F4U-2 was the first and only WWII night-fighter Corsair to see service. These were basically F4U-1s, but had a radome on the starboard wing, longer exhaust ports to cover the flash, and one less gun (the outboard .50) in the right wing to equalize weight. The gun port for that particular gun was simply faired over.
You can clearly see the extended exhaust stacks in this photo. All above photos from Corsair in Action.
Painting
The F4U-2 followed the same standard painting conventions as the F4U-1, with some being the 2-tone scheme, and others being the 3-tone scheme. Some of the 3-tone schemed F4U-2s had the medium blue painted over with Black or Dark Sea Blue. The tip of the radome was also painted white.
The Chance-Vought F4U-1 was the first of 6 numbered production versions of the F4U Corsair. Despite there being F4U-1s through F4U-7s, the F4U-3 never entered production, and there were really 4 major versions of the F4U-1; the original F4U-1, the -1A, the -1C and the -1D. This portion of the guide will deal ONLY with the F4U-1, and F4U-2, as they are basically identical, and not the -1A through -1D.
Visual Characteristics
The main visual characteristics of the F4U-1 were, of course the "birdcage" style canopy with the cutout windows, the lack of wing spoiler on the leading edge of the right wing. One other difference, that is easily missed, is that the tail wheel mount on the -1 is actually shorter than that of the -1A and onward.
There were 2 styles of "birdcage" canopy on the F4U-1; the early style had a completely flat top, while the later style had a bulge directly above the seat, so the pilot could raise his seat higher to help visibility.
Early and late canopies.(Corsair in Action)
Painting
Early F4U-1s had the then standard Blue Gray upper surfaces, as well as the bottoms of the wings outboard of the fold, and very light gray lower surfaces (mix gull gray and white for modeling purposes). They also had the 2nd incarnation of the US Star roundel, without the red dot or bars, though in the field bars were added to some planes. Later F4U-1s had the now famous three-toned scheme, with the upper surfaces in Dark Sea Blue, middle section and lower wing surfaces in Medium Blue and the lower surfaces in White. Some of these still had the "sans bars" roundel, but partway into production the new roundel with bars and red surround were starting to be applied. British Corsair Mk Is were painted Dark Sea Gray and Dark Slate Gray on the upper surfaces, and Sky on the lower surfaces.
This F4U-1 has the early scheme with the stars and bars. You can see that the red surround has been painted over.
This F4U-1 has the late style paint scheme and stars and bars, and has the red surround painted out.
All above profiles from Aircraft illustration
A rare scheme: A refurbished F4U-1 in Jacksonville in OTU-4, in 1945 (Corsair in Action)
F4U-2
Visual Characteristics
The F4U-2 was the first and only WWII night-fighter Corsair to see service. These were basically F4U-1s, but had a radome on the starboard wing, longer exhaust ports to cover the flash, and one less gun (the outboard .50) in the right wing to equalize weight. The gun port for that particular gun was simply faired over.
You can clearly see the extended exhaust stacks in this photo. All above photos from Corsair in Action.
Painting
The F4U-2 followed the same standard painting conventions as the F4U-1, with some being the 2-tone scheme, and others being the 3-tone scheme. Some of the 3-tone schemed F4U-2s had the medium blue painted over with Black or Dark Sea Blue. The tip of the radome was also painted white.
