This particular RNZAF F4U is a very popular plane for modelers worldwide - the original serial was only in RNZAF service for a couple of weeks before being badly damaged.
After some time it was “spliced” with the front fuselage of another badly damaged plane - NZ5307, and subsequently had a 2-tone paint job - the weathered blue of 5272 for the rear, and the relatively new blue of 5307 in front!
The official serial was then NZ5307 with “307” on the rudder - but 5272 remained on the fuselage too, as can be seen in photos of the aircraft but is easier to see on this completed model:
The kit is 1/48 Tamiya -
You will notice immediately that DF does seem to try to give us this paint scheme - but it’s not done well - there is not nearly enough contrast between the 2 sections, and the official serial “307” is missing:
The big fubars are 2-fold:
1/ The RNZAF never operated cannon armed F4’s - they operated 336 F4U-1’s (after the war usually designated F4U-1A), 41 F4U-1Ds, and 60 FG-1Ds - all with 6 x .50’s.
and
2/ not only have they given a New Zealand operated a/c to a USAAF squadron, but to a squadron that never operated F4’s!! AFAIK the USAAF 8th Fighter Sqn - the “Black Sheep” - had P-40’s, P-38’s and P-47’s!
They managed to get a couple of other little things right - the arrestor hook is removed, and there is a modified welded tail wheel extension to raise hte tail a few inches - thus lowering the nose for taxying -
(in this photo you can also see the “5272” on the lower fuselage - partially obscured by the open access panel)
You can find info about RNZAF serial corsairs here - NZDF-Serials Corsair
