Cutting Edge Decals

1/48 Limited Edition F4U-4 Corsairs

Stock Number: 48267, 48268, 48269

Reviewed By Jack Bruno, #25313
Every now and then, we modelers suffer from the humdrum effect of building the same thing over and over again, especially when we have a passion for a particular subject.  One of my favorites is the F4U Corsair and to be honest, there's not much out there except the same ole stuff.  Cutting Edge has come to the rescue again on the heels of the Trumpeter 1/32 release of the F4U-4 Corsair.

The subjects I have for review today are the scaled down 1/48 versions designed for the Hasegawa and Academy F4U-4 Corsairs.  All three sheets of this Special Limited Edition provide markings for nine aircraft from a variety of periods.

  1. Sheet #1 (CED48267) offers three aircraft.
    1. The first is a F4U-4B, white 22, from Marine unit VMF-214, K-3 (Pohang) Korea, 1953.
    2. The next aircraft is a F4U-4B, F-96995 from the "Football War," Honduras, 1969.  This aircraft is white 614 in small numerals on the cowl and attracts your eye with powder blue and white national insignia on the rudder and wing tips.  Something different is always a plus in my book.
    3. Subject #3 is a F4U-4 white 202 from VF-713 off the USS Antietam, January 1950.  Easily, the most colorful of this lot.
  2. On to sheet #2 (CED48268) which features four aircraft.
    1. The first subject is an F4U-4B, white 16, from VMA-332 off the USS Bairoko, Yellow Sea off Korea, July 1953.  It's very striking with the white stripe and red dots around the center of the cowl.  Aircraft #2 and #3 have a history together.
    2. #2 is an F4U-4 from VF-32, USS Leyte and piloted by Ensign Jesse Brown, the first black naval aviator.
    3. Aircraft #3 is flown by LTJG Thomas Hudner.  LTJG Hudner was awarded the Medal of Honor for crash landing his Corsair near the downed Corsair of Ensign Brown and attempting to free him from his wrecked aircraft.  This heroic event was performed near Chosin Reservoir, North Korea, Dec. 4 1950.  Brown was posthumously awarded the Flying Cross.  Any one of these aircraft would be an exciting addition to your collection.
    4. The last aircraft in this set is white 401, the mount of LCDR Lou Burke, CO or VA-14 "Tophatters," September, 1949.  This is a very striking aircraft with the large white "T" with the yellow tip on the tail and yellow prop hub.
  3. The third and last sheet of the set is CED48269, Part 3.
    1. This set features the only gray aircraft in the set.  It is black 5 from the naval training unit from Olathe, Kansas in March of 1956.  It's all decked out in glossy sea blue trim with non-specular light gull gray and glossy insignia white.  Very nice and pretty!
    2. The last subject, white 301, is an F4U-4B from the USS Princeton, 1950, off North Korea and flown by CMDR John "TEX" O'Neill of VF-113.  This aircraft has a variety of markings and a score board on the right side!

This is another welcome set from Cutting Edge Decals which continues to bring modelers subject matter that makes our hearts go pidder patter.  Every sheet is on register and has outstanding color.  The reference sheets are also of top quality and decal placement would be no problem.  These sets are highly recommended.  Thanks to Cutting Edge Decals and John Noack for the review samples.  Cheers and Happy Modeling!!!

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