Hobby Master Archive

Vought was commissioned to develop a night fighter variant of the F4U-1 and working with other companies managed to come up with the necessary radar needed for night operations. A total of 32 F4U-1s were converted to the new F4U-2 Night Fighter at the Naval Aircraft factory while 2 were completed on Kwajalein Atoll. As for the number of Japanese aircraft destroyed by these night fighters, it was low but the existence of these aircraft made the Japanese Air Force stop their night time bombing raids.

F4U-2 Corsair 02624 belonged to VMF(N)-532 Black 212 named “Midnite Cocktail” was assigned to Lt. Caniff but was flown by several pilots. On April 1, 1944 Capt. Howard Bollman was piloting this aircraft when several G4M Bettys from Saipan were encountered by Bollman and two other Corsairs from VFM(N)-532. The 3 Bettys were all shot down and Black 212 received a kill marking on its nose. Later in 1944 the Americans captured Saipan and used the airfield to advance toward the Japanese homeland.

Specifications for the Vought F4U-1A Corsair The F4U-2 was the night variant equipped with radar Total Aircraft Manufactured - 12,571 of 24 variants Manufactured By - Vought and under license by Goodyear and Brewster Crew - 1 pilot Dimensions Length - 33 ft 4in (10.1 m) Wingspan - 41 ft 0 in (12.5 m) Height - 16 ft 1 in (4.9 m)

Performance Powerplant - 1 x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-8W radial engine producing 2,250 HP (1,678 kW) Maximum Speed - 425 mph (369 kn / 684 kph) Service Ceiling - 36,900 ft (11,200 m) Rate of Climb - 3,180 ft/min (16.2 m/s) Range - 1,015 mi (882 nm / 1,633 km)

Weight Empty - 8,982 lb (4,073 kg) Loaded - 14,000 lb (6,300 kg)

Armament Guns 6 x 0.50 in (12.7 mm) AN/M2 Browning Machine guns with 400 rounds per gun for 4 and 375 rounds per gun for two. Rockets - 4 x 5 in. (12.7 cm) High Velocity Aircraft Rockets And/or Bombs - 2,000 lbs. (910 kg)

1/48 scale pre-finished. Straight wing section can be removed and replaced with a section that makes it look like the wings are folded, no hinges. Die-cast metal with a minimum of plastic. Professionally painted. All markings pad applied for superb results. Canopy slides open. Comes with a pilot that can be removed. Comes with display stand. Option to easily remove the landing gear and cover the openings with doors. Extremely sought after by collectors.

Hobby Master 1/48 Air Power Series HA8220 F4U-2 Corsair “Midnite Cocktail” VMF(N)-532, USMC, Saipan, July 1944

THIS SHOWS HOW THE WINGS GO FROM FOLDED TO EXTENDED