Hobby Master Vought F4U Corsair USN VF-17 Bird Cage Diecast Model - Scale 1:48

 The engine was so massive and produced so much energy that a Hamilton Standard 13 feet 4 inch propeller, the largest of WWII, was required. The F4U was the first American fighter aircraft to exceed 400 MPH. The Corsair was referred to by the Japanese as “Whistling Death” and became a legend in its own time. This aircraft was one of the most distinctive designs with it bent wings making it an icon.

The USN received the first F4U-1 on July 31, 1942. Immediately there were a few problems observed, the Bird Cage canopy restricted the pilot’s visibility; the aircraft would bounce when landing and could cause the arrestor hook to miss the cable. The long nose greatly reduced forward visibility for carrier deck maneuvering. The long nose earned the Corsair the nicknames “Hose Nose”, “Hog and “Bent Wing Widow Maker”.

The decision was made to assign the Corsair to the land based Marines with 2 USN squadrons: VF-12 and later VF17 keeping them. Specifications for the Vought F4U-1A

Total Aircraft Manufactured - 12,571 of 24 variants
Manufactured By – Vought and under license by Goodyear and Brewster Crew – 1 pilot
Dimensions Length – 33 ft 4in (10.1 m) Wingspan – 41 ft 0 in (12.5 m) Height – 16 ft 1 in (4.9 m)
Performance Powerplant – 1 x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-8W radial engine producing 2,250 HP (1,678 kW)
Maximum Speed – 425 mph (369 kn / 684 kph)
Service Ceiling – 36,900 ft (11,200 m) Rate of Climb – 3,180 ft/min (16.2 m/s) Range – 1,015 mi (882 nm / 1,633 km)
Weight Empty – 8,982 lb (4,073 kg) Loaded – 14,000 lb (6,300 kg)
Armament Guns 6 x 0.50 in (12.7 mm) AN/M2 Browning Machine guns with 400 rounds per gun for 4 and 375 rounds per gun for two.
Rockets – 4 x 5 in. (12.7 cm) High Velocity Aircraft Rockets And/or Bombs – 2,000 lbs. (910 kg)