F4U-I Corsair Conversion
for Trumpeter Model Kit

Montex Model Club, 1/32 scale

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

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For the uninitiated, Montex Plastic Model Club is a Polish company that provides complete resin kits as well as painting masks to replicate aircraft markings.

The latest addition to their Super Mask range is a special edition in that it combines both resin parts and masking sets to enable you to produce an F4U-1 “Birdcage” Corsair in 1/32 scale.

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The set comprises nine resin parts and mask sets to enable you to produce either one of two marking options for United States Marine Corps machines.

The resin parts comprise:

• A “turtledeck” with scalloped backlights in mid grey resin,

• A rear bulkhead that incorporates the head armour in mid grey resin.

• A clear resin windscreen,

• A clear resin sliding canopy

• A clear resin gun sight glass

• A clear resin belly window

• Two clear resin backlights

The intended kit for the conversion is the 1/32 scale Trumpeter Vought F4U-1D Corsair (kit number 02221).  Strangely, Montex provide no instructions with the conversion but then again, if you purchase it you would at least have some idea of what will be involved!  Some form of instruction would have been nice though!

The grey resin that Montex uses is easy to work with, cuts and sands easily and is fairly supple and won’t break by just looking at it!   The grey resin parts in my sample are flawless. 

I have not seen clear resin parts from Montex before.  The ones provided with this conversion do have some minor blemishes as a well as a single pin hole that is thankfully on at a canopy frame so can be filled.  Hopefully the other minor blemishes will disappear after a dip in Future.  If not it will mean some careful sanding and polishing!  For what it’s worth, these parts will be far easier to work with than vacuform ones as far as I am concerned.

The masks are reasonably comprehensive in that you are provided with both bordered and non-bordered national insignia, modex and a comprehensive set of canopy masks for both the inside and outside of the canopy.

The two marking options are:

• F4U-1 of VMF-124 flown by Lieutenant Bill Crowe in April of 1943 in non specular blue grey over non specular light grey, and

• F4U-1 of VMF-225 flown by Major John Embrey in November 1943 in the tricolour scheme of dark blue and intermediate blue over white.

Be aware that the markings are provided in the “mask” format which requires you to first paint the colour of the marking on your model and then apply the mask to the painted area and then pant over the mask with the next colour.  This method has its pluses and minuses but it does provide you with excellent results once you master the process.

The resin parts and the masks are all packed in separate zip-loc bags which are all packed into a cardboard mailing box.

This is an easy conversion that will provide you with an early warrior from the Solomon’s Islands campaign.

Thanks to Darek from Montex for the sample

Montex Masks and Models are available from their website

Review Text Copyright © 2010 by Rodger Kelly
Page Created 15 January, 2010
Last updated 18 January, 2010

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