Special Hobby

Kit Number 72071

1/72 F2G-1/2 Super Corsair

Reviewed By Jim Bates, #36213

I was both excited and nervous at the announcement of this kit. Excited that it might be all new and correct, and nervous that it might be a rebox of the AvUsk kit. Thankfully it is all new and almost up the expected standard of Special Hobby. (The only thing missing is the injection canopy, but you do get two vac canopies.) Here are the sprues:

Nice molding and surface detail. They got the fabric wings right!  About the only thing to note with the plastic is that you need to decide which version you are doing as the F2G-1 only had four wing guns. The F2G-1 also had a slightly different tail gear arrangement as it had no arrest hook. The kit captures this difference. I am also really happy to see the one piece prop. There is a nice bag of resin for the cockpit (correct), wheels, wheel wells, intakes (they got them right!), rocket racks and exhausts (each a separate piece - that will be fun), and the engine. Unfortunately, Special Hobby got it wrong and did an engine with two rows of eight cylinders. It should be four rows of seven cylinders. The Engines and Things R-4360 may fit with some trimming. I know the big prop covers the engine, but as this is the distinguishing feature of the F2G series, I wish they got it right.

The decal options and photo etch:

The three options are the white and blue checkered cowl XF2G-1 that Don Armstrong crashed here in Akron during testing, a generic F2G-1 from NATC, and the yellow and blue checkered cowl F2G-2. No racers. Bummer!  The photo etech is the usual, with a photo film instrument panel.

Overall I am very excited about this kit. Finally, a correct F2G!  Special Hobby has corrected almost everything wrong with the USK kit. Pity about the engine, though. I hope we see another issue with racer decals. Highly recommended.

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