Six new caged birds from Barracuda Studios are just about to fly…

Barracuda Studios have given us six new reasons to build your stashed Birdcage Corsair with their new decal sheet in three scales shipping in a few days. Let’s take a look at them with some piccies of the originals to get you pumped up!

Barracuda studios new Birdcage Corsairs in three scales 

BC32130 F4U-1 Birdcage Corsairs Part 1

Six schemes in each release:

1/72 -$10.95

1/48 - $12.95

and 1/32 scales $14.95

Available from Barracuda Studios Website -  Shipping starts early next week.

Barracuda Studios is proud to announce a new decal sheet in 1/72, 1/48 and 1/32 scales for the F4U-1 Birdcage Corsair.

This sheet has been in development for quite a long time. A lot of new research has revealed some interesting new details on some of the better known paint schemes. We have worked closely with some well-known Corsair experts and have spent many hours scrutinizing the original photos and discussing scheme specifications and field painting practices and anomalies. 

F4U-1 Corsair. Bu. No 02576. "Marines Dream" VMF-222. Pilot varied day to day. Bougainville on December 11th,1943. Edwin Lawrence Olander claimed a zero kill in this aircraft on 17 October 1943. Total score 5 kills, 4 probables.

 “Marines Dream” has been the subject of decals before, but they have been incomplete, lacking the interesting markings on the starboard fuselage. 

This was her demise - an interesting dio opportunity!

The island girl pinup artwork on the cowling is also revealed to be a darkly tanned native girl, not a caucasian girl as has been depicted before. Comparisons of flesh tones of salvage crew members standing next to the pinup artwork show her skin to be considerably darker, although we do provide a fair skinned version for those who don't agree.

“Ramblin Wreck”, in its field applied 3 tone scheme, is interesting in that it sports the noseart on the engine cowling panel taken from Marine's Dream after it was scrapped. (as seen above)

F4U-1 Corsair. Bu no. unknown. “Tojo Eats Shit!” VMF-222. Pilot unknown. Munda Airfield, New Georgia. Solomon Islands. Painted in Blue Gray (FS35189) over Light Gray (FS36440). Extremely heavily stained, faded, worn and patched.

“White 126”, with its rude "Tojo Eats Shit!" inscription, is one of the filthiest Corsairs ever, and has returned from the earlier (and now discontinued) BarracudaCals Corsairs Part 1 sheet, along with Ken Walsh's “VIVA!” These two are new to 1/32nd scale.

F4U-1 Birdcage Corsair. Bu no. 02310. “VIVA!” VMF-124. Flown by 2nd Lt Kenneth Ambrose Walsh. Henderson Field, Guadalcanal 28 May 1943. Walsh became the first Corsair ace on 13 May 1943 when he shot down 3 Zekes and damaged a 4th.

F4U-1 Corsair. Bu no. 03821 "White 485" OTU VF-4. Flown by pilots in their final phase of training before joining the Fleet. NAS Jacksonville, Florida February 1945. Returned from service in the South Pacific after later versions of the Corsair reached the war zone.

F4U-1 Corsair. Bu No. "Dangerous Dan - EightBall" VMF-213. Pilot varied day to day. Guadalcanal. Solomon Islands. June,1943. Painted in Blue Gray (FS35189) over Light Gray (FS36440), with moderate dirt, wear and staining and wing root chipping.

 Rounding out the sheet are a first ever complete depiction of Dangerous Dan's 8 Ball and the stunning Jacksonville Florida based Birdcage trainer resplendent in overall Glossy Sea Blue finish.

Detailed painting notes and fully rendered profiles are included. A link to a forthcoming blog pages featuring photos of the original aircraft and more in depth discussion of the schemes will be found on the product pages.

Barracuda are very excited about this new sheet. With great F4U-1 kits available in all 3 scales from Tamiya, we hope to see plenty of build-ups of these interesting subjects.

Also of note Barracuda studios have thanked Jim Sullivan, Dana Bell, Kerry Carlyle, Dave Hansen and Allan Peters for their invaluable help in researching these aircraft.

These new sheets are now available now to jazz up your birdcage Corsair at the Barracuda Website