The F4U-5 was the ultimate Navy development of the Corsair series as a fleet defense fighter. The first prototype took to the skies December 21, 1945. It differed from previous Corsairs by having an even longer nose, a raised cockpit, and all-metal wings. Powered by a Pratt and Whitney R-2800-32W providing 2,450 h.p., the F4U-5 was the fastest piston-engine aircraft to ever operate from a USN aircraft carrier: 462 mph at 31,400 ft. The F4U-5N radar-equipped night fighter first went to war with VMF(N)-513, "The Flying Nightmares," in 1950. The aircraft first provided night close air support for the First Marine Division during the breakout from the Chosin Reservoir in November-December 1950. F4U-5N and -5NL Corsair night fighters were used extensively to attack enemy supply lines, including truck convoys and trains, as well as interdicting night attack aircraft such as the Polikarpov Po-2 "Bedcheck Charlies", which were used to harass United Nations forces at night. The F4Us often operated with the help of C-47 'flare ships' which dropped hundreds of 1,000,000 candlepower magnesium flares to illuminate the targets. For many operations, detachments of U.S. Navy F4U-5Ns were posted to shore bases. The leader of one such unit, Lieutenant Guy Bordelon of VC-3 Det D (Detachment D), off the USS Princeton, become the Navy's only ace in the war, in addition to being the only American ace in Korea that used a piston engined aircraft. Bordelon, nicknamed "Lucky Pierre", was credited with three Lavochkin La-9s or La-11s and two Yakolev Yak-18s between 29 June and 16/17 July 1952. Navy and Marine Corsairs were credited with a total of 12 enemy aircraft in all. 214 F4U-5N and 101 winterized F4U-5NL Corsairs were produced between 1946 and 1949.

Of course, 1/700 scale models of the Corsair have been previously offered by several companies as part of their aircraft carrier kits. But this is the first model ever offered in 1/700 scale of the F4U-5N/-5NL variant that feature the radome on the leading edge of the starboard wing and an ordnance sprue of rockets to boot! While photography of these little gems is a challenge for our equipment and limited skills, check out the well proportioned model including the long-nosed fuselage with detailed canopy, engine cowling and tail assembly; the distinctive gull wings with control surfaces complete with four 20mm cannon and radome, landing gear including a tiny tail wheel and the sprue of 5 inch HVAR rockets!

Although the surfaces are not perfectly smooth (3D printing is done in layers), the plastic used can be sanded and painted much the same way you would handle resin or styrene.

NOTE: While we currently maintain limited inventories of most items, some items may be "printed on demand", which usually requires 10-15 business days from order to shipment.