Small Scale Military Headquarters

The new BBI VMF-115 looks great! (as seen on BatCat) Much better choice than their copy of a modern airshow bird. I believe the markings/version/ordnance combination are all pretty much spot on with this release.

I'm glad they didn't try a Korean war paint job, which would've been a mismatch.

JimBob

The Corsair does look good (especially the checkered cowling) but I still like the S1 release better, even if that one was a fictitious airshow scheme...

JimBob55 wrote:The new BBI VMF-115 looks great! (as seen on BatCat) Much better choice than their copy of a modern airshow bird. I believe the markings/version/ordnance combination are all pretty much spot on with this release.

I'm glad they didn't try a Korean war paint job, which would've been a mismatch.

JimBob

Um.... That is definately a Korean War scheme. Somehow, they took out the red stripes from the national insignia that was shown in previous photos. Either way, it's wholely incorrect. I'm a stickler on that sort of thing. When 21st pulled out the Korean war scheme, I slammed it then and I'm condemning it now. Why do an F4U-4B scheme on a -1D? Sorry for going off, but there are a ton of correct schemes for the plane. Why dumb it down? At least there is no pretention with the S1 airshow scheme.....


EDIT......

It's another airshow scheme

http://warbirdregistry.org/corsairregis ... 8303-5.jpg

-Ski

i wonder if they read all the flak about doing korean markings on an early corsair and decided to take the red stripes out from the national insignia to make it look more world war two-ish...lol. I guess the average toy buying dufas will never know the difference and it's an attractive scheme. But wholey inaccurate...

It's really a shame. They've got a beautiful model there; it would be nice to do it justice with some historically correct schemes.

I'm sooo confused... Good call on the confused paint scheme...just another airshow bird with no basis in reality.

I found that VMF-115 flew in both WW2 and Korea:

I found this profile in my Squadron "Corsair in Action" book":

This is close to the model, MUCH closer than the Korean War VMF-115 aircraft...

...In my search online for a Korean War VMF-115, I came up with not a F4U, but the F9F Panther! (globalsecurity.org, and confirmed by the Naval Historical Center's Korean War squadron order of battle) VMF-115 started flying the F9F in 1949.

OOOPS!

I agree, there are SO many good paint schemes for the F4U-1A or -1D Corsair. It would even be accurate in 1950's Naval or Marine Reserve paint.

JimBob

aferguson wrote:i wonder if they read all the flak about doing korean markings on an early corsair and decided to take the red stripes out from the national insignia to make it look more world war two-ish...lol. I guess the average toy buying dufas will never know the difference and it's an attractive scheme. But wholey inaccurate...

It's really a shame. They've got a beautiful model there; it would be nice to do it justice with some historically correct schemes.

Andrew, you should be able to see the photo of the Corsair now. It's an airshow scheme through and through, without the red stripes....

-Ski

I was planning on getting a bbi corsair so Im definly gonna get this one . To bad I have to wait for to appear on ebay since its to risk to order from a US company (custom fees and sales tax which is 25% in Sweden)

I gather everyone is aware that all of BBI aircraft issues are "showplanes".
The "Korean" Corsair is SO wrong for an actual aircraft. The P-51s suffer less but the paint schemes on the models do NOT really correspond to the actual aircraft. Course, the "other problem", neither Cripes a Mighty or Hurry Home were late "Ds". They were early "Ds" (or late "Bs" - 51 addicts get into all kinds of discissions on this) - the early "Ds" did NOT have the fin strake leading to the vertical stabilzer. Now, if BBI would have used the last aircraft Preddy flew when he was shot down on Christmas Day by our own troops, they could have used the late "D" but would have to change the squadron codes to PE-P and serial number 44-14906 - the name was "Cripes a"Mighty" with no number in the name.

Some of the 21C photos of their issue shows a P-51 K (its the PROP) and the only score made in a K was "Kit" Carson in G4-C serial # 44-11622 with the name "Nooky Booky IV". Course, the main type used in Korea was the K.

So be happy with what you get cause nobody else is going to make them.
Its called "kit bash" to get it right - if you want it right.
Least that's the opinion of an Old Man.

yes the P-51Ks had Aero Product hollow steel props like 21st prototype
but by time Korean war came most P-51D/Ks were retro fitted with uncuffed Hamilton Standard props like the P-51Hs
the A P props had round tips and H S square tips most P-51s flying today have uncuffed H S because they are easier to maintain and TBO hours are longer.

I'm disappointed in the BBI authenticity. the worst example is the P-51 Old Crow that carries the name on one side of the nose when it should be on both sides. This is such an obvious error it makes me wonder how much research was done.

i talked to Jack Roush last year, he owns the Old Crow airshow P-51D plus another P-51D i can't think of its name right now. but anyway he told me he was restoring a P-51B that would be painted in the first Old Crow scheme. maybe one of the 1/18 model companys can go see it and make us a 1/18 Old Crow P-51B and get it right

mr. roush's other p-51 is Gentleman Jim. last i heard, he sold his old crow as he'll have the b model in old crow markings.

http://cebudanderson.com/jackgentlemanjim.htm

the b model is very close to being complete. might make a few air show appearances this summer.

http://cebudanderson.com/jackroushp51b.htm

brian

Wow! That is going to be a beautiful P-51B. I can't wait to see it fly.

Excellent! I love the Malcolm hood idea! Looking at the photos, what % do you think is original???? It looks like a new build for Pete's sake!

-Ski

TRU, Novi, MI, has 4 BBI F4Us (and 4 Old Crows). What I loved was the Corsairs have the Civil Registration # NX 6006 (?) under the horizontal stabilizer - which kinda says its a showbird. So hats off to BBI for having a very authentic scheme of some "intelligent" owner's idea of a historic bird. And, the idea of an off white belly with a total semi sea blue non gloss top is really interesting.

BBI has the neatest F4U - so why do they do this ?
Needess to say - I didn't buy either.
Got 16 so I'm getting kinda picky.

Can you even begin to imagine what a project like that costs? Anyone seen any figures on what it would take to completely rebuild a plane like that?

The Old Man wrote:TRU, Novi, MI, has 4 BBI F4Us (and 4 Old Crows). What I loved was the Corsairs have the Civil Registration # NX 6006 (?) under the horizontal stabilizer - which kinda says its a showbird. So hats off to BBI for having a very authentic scheme of some "intelligent" owner's idea of a historic bird. And, the idea of an off white belly with a total semi sea blue non gloss top is really interesting.

BBI has the neatest F4U - so why do they do this ?
Needess to say - I didn't buy either.
Got 16 so I'm getting kinda picky.

LOL!!! They even included the reg #???? That is hilarious!!

-Ski

Thats funny when Trumpeteer (a model company based in China) made there F4-U they also made an "airshow" machine. I wonder where thier concepts come from or what is thier philosophy on historical accuracy.

I know it was brought up elsewhere that licensing of personal paint schemes can cost money. But, Admiral and 21st have no problems belting out accurate schemes. There may be some private agreements with airshow circuits or the aircraft owners themselves that is causing this sort of anomoly. You figure that the owners can afford the aircraft, so what is $10,000 for a run of their paint scheme? Gets you thinking though....


-Ski