F4U-1A Close-Up Cockpit Pictures Needed

[rwright142]

I'm hitting a brick wall... I just cannot find any close-up pictures of the F4U-1A cockpit.

I have received the KD431 book and it has some good cockpit pictures but nothing close-up.

I compared the KD431 pictures with the F4I-1D pictures I have and there are enough differences between them to 'bother' me. I know I'm probably overly critical but I want my cockpit to be as accurate as I can make it. I have even contacted the Vought National Archives to purchase some copies of microfilm.. Geez... I'm too anal huh? hahaha

I've also contacted the Planes of Fame museum in Chino, CA and am awaiting a response...

I'm building this to honor WWII Corsair pilot Lt. JG Jim Streig. He was in the Jolly Rogers squadron VF-17 and flew F4U-1A #3.

So, if anyone can help I'd GREATLY appreciate it.

Edited August 31, 2007 by rwright142

[rwright142]

I found a picture of a cockpit of the F4U-1A Corsair. On the left side panel close to the instrument panel there appears to be 12 circuit breakers (see attached picture). I am trying to read the labels but cannot read them all. Here is what I think they read. Does anyone have the definitive answer?

Top row: I cannot read these

----------------------------------------------------------------------

GUN CAMERA__________RIGHT__WING__GUNS

___?????_________OUTBOARD____CENTER____INBOARD

----------------------------------------------------------------------

GUN CAMERA__________LEFT__WING__GUNS

___MOTOR_________OUTBOARD____CENTER____INBOARD

Edited September 2, 2007 by rwright142

[rwright142]

I've decided to go with this style panel.

Does anyone know what color the "GUNS" switch safety color is?

Here's how my F4U-1A cockpit is at the present time:

Edited January 8, 2008 by rwright142

[CorsairMan]

Wow... what scale is this?

[rwright142]

Sorry for the delay in replying. This is a 1/6 scale radio controlled plane project.

I still haven't found pictures of that 'perfect' F4U-1A cockpit to use as my model.

I'm not finding anything definitive to answer these questions for the F4U-1A #3 flown by Jim Streig with the Jolly Rogers VF-17:

Eyebrow switch panels

- Where 2 panels present in the -1A?

- What switches are present?

- Is there a gun sight light dimmer switch there or in the left console switch panel?

Left Console

- Was there a dive brake?

- Was there a manual bomb release?

Instrument Panel

- Is it the same as the -1D?

- Did it have antenna masts or just the whip?

I may end up guessing on what should be in the plane. I am modeling the plane as it was in Feb '44 so it potentially may have had several field mods added.

If anyone can help, thanks in advance!

Edited August 24, 2008 by rwright142

[Scooby]

MDC make a Fleet Air Arm cockpit, you may want to take a look at that set. The radio panel was he big difference if I recall correctly. The sidewalls were considerably different and don't forget the sutton harness.

[rwright142]

Yes, the FAA were quite different.

So, unless I get some responses saying I am absolutely wrong then I will go with this for my F4U-1A build:

- 1 eyebrow panel (left of gunsight) with switches for gun camera, master arm, guns (outboard-center-inboard), gunsight light, and gunsight dimmer pot

- manual bomb arm and release lever on port console at the rear (shown on 1st picture below)

- Whip antenna only - no masts

- This left panel:

- This right panel:

- This instrument panel:

What do you all think?

Edited August 24, 2008 by rwright142

[don f]

Eyebrow switch panels

Q: Where 2 panels present in the -1A?

A: No. The gun switch box on the left side instrument cowl only.

Q: What switches are present?

A: In order from left to right - GUN CHARGE ON-OFF; MASTER ARM'T -- OFF; GUNS - OUTBOARD CENTER INBOARD OFF; GUN SIGHT - LIGHT OFF ALT; GUN SIGHT LIGHT DIM <----> BRIGHT (Rheostat knob)

Q: Is there a gun sight light dimmer switch there or in the left console switch panel?

A: See above.

Left Console

Q: Was there a dive brake?

A: Yes. The shift type dive brake control was the same control as used for the alighting (landing) gear. The control handle was moved over to the slot labeled OFF DIVE BRAKE ON.

Q: Was there a manual bomb release?

A: Yes. The manual bomb release was located on the lower left instrument panel. Same selector dial was used for release of the centerline fuel tank. The bomb could not be dropped "safe". Take note that F4U-1 and early model F4U-1A aircraft were not configured to carry a centerline fuel tank or a bomb.

Instrument Panel

Q: Is it the same as the -1D?

A: No. Different arrangement and number of instruments and the sub-panels were not the same.

Q: Did it have antenna masts or just the whip?

A: The F4U-1A had antenna masts. Use of them could vary with the radio equipment installed.

The image that you posted of the left side panel with the labels for bomb arming and release is for an F4U-1. The F4U-1A's capable of such carriage and the F4U-1D both had the centerline bomb release rotary switch on the lower left intrument panel.

The CG image that you posted of the main instrument panel does not exactly match the instrument layout of the F4U-1A or the F4U-1D as shown in the Pilot's Manuals.

Your model of the left side of the F4U-1A cockpit is mssing, along with the circuit breakers on the panel, the second CO2 bottle. One bottle was for emergency extension of the alighting gear. The other was for vapor dilution of the outer wing fuel tanks.

The image that you posted of the right side of the cockpit appears to be of an F4U-1. The F4U-1A radio receiver box mounted on the right side of the cockpit wall did not look like the one in the image. The oxygen bottle at the rear of the panel is also not installed. This bottle was painted apple green, not yellow as often seen in models.

Don

P.S. - Sources are the Pilot's Manuals for the F4U-1 through F4U-1D and published images. The best and most reliable can be found in the Detail Scale books and the Morris's "Corsair KD431: The Time Capsule Fighter." There are some excellent DVD's of the period USN training films.

[rwright142]

Thank you for the quick and detailed response. I have many sources like you noted but the confusing thing is that in the case of the Pilot's Handbook it says it's for a F4U-1, -1D, etc but shows the 1D instrument panel (bomb switch box).

So I will go with these:

- 1 left side eyebrow switch panel with the following:

GUN CHARGE ON-OFF; MASTER ARM'T -- OFF; GUNS - OUTBOARD CENTER INBOARD OFF; GUN SIGHT - LIGHT OFF ALT; GUN SIGHT LIGHT DIM <----> BRIGHT (Rheostat knob). I will need to research the left console switch panel because I found one but it has the rheostat on it.

- Dive brake

- In the picture showing the bomb arm/release lever, are you saying it was not in the 1A? If not, how did they drop the centerline bomb/tank? Was it just with the selector switch on the instrument panel?

My research shows the Corsair I'm modeling (#3) did not have antenna masts as in this picture of a flight off of Bouganville in March 1944:

I have the KD-431 book and even though it is a FG-1A there are 2 brow switch panels and so many other differences that I put the book down almost as quickly as I picked it up.

The good news is that I found an early F4U Pilots handbook:

Cockpit Forward

Right Console:

Left Console:

Main Instrument Panel:

I have many DVDs too and they are helpful but lack the closeup detailed pictures I need. For example, in the left console picture above, I need to be able to read the labels of the breakers in the panel.

Do I still need the bomb arm/release lever or is only the switch on the instrument panel needed?

Thanks again for your help!

Edited August 24, 2008 by rwright142

[don f]

Thank you for the quick and detailed response. I have many sources like you noted but the confusing thing is that in the case of the Pilot's Handbook it says it's for a F4U-1, -1D, etc but shows the 1D instrument panel (bomb switch box).

Q: In the picture showing the bomb arm/release lever, are you saying it was not in the 1A? If not, how did they drop the centerline bomb/tank? Was it just with the selector switch on the instrument panel?

A: The centerline bomb or fuel tank was manual release only for both the F4U-1A and F4U-1D. The F4U-1D had the capablility for electrical or manual release of bombs or fuel tanks from the center section pylons. The F4U-1D manual release was mounted on the left console next to the seat. Similar to the location of the release in the F4U-1. The F4U-1D release control was shaped different and had two thick wire loops, one for each pylon. Ref, "Pilot's Handbook of Flight Operating Instructions", AN 01-45HA-1, dated 15 Mar 45, covering USN models F4U-1 through F4U-1D.

Comment: "My research shows the Corsair I'm modeling (#3) did not have antenna masts as in this picture of a flight off of Bouganville in March 1944:" If you model the aircraft in the image there are no visible antenna masts on #3. The Structural Repair Manual for the F4U-1 Corsair shows that the antenna mast forward of the cockpit was readily removeable. Same applies to the mast aft of the cockpit. There are published, earlier images of #3 with a mast antenna behind the cockpit. The antenna wires were often routed from the top of the rudder (or from the leading edge of the vertical stabilizer) to the lead-in aft of the cockpit on the right side and from the rudder (or vertical stabilizer) to the leading, outboard edge of the right horizontal stabilizer. A whip antenna was installed on the spine aft of the fuselage. It is not clear if the retractable AT-5 antenna, on the underside of the rear fuselage for the AN/ARR-2 set was retained. The control for this antenna was mounted just above the receiver boxes on the right side just below the sill (F4U-1A & F4U-1D). Take note that #3 was one of the first of the F4U-1A aircraft as were all of the original VF-17 Corsairs sent overseas for their first tour. These aircraft, with the exception of the "raised cockpit", were more like the earlier F4U-1 birdcage Corsairs, with the all around cowl flaps. See images of "Big Hog" early in VF-17's first tour.

Comment: "I have the KD-431 book and even though it is a FG-1A there are 2 brow switch panels and so many other differences that I put the book down almost as quickly as I picked it up." The cockpit images of this aircraft like many of the findings are puzzles. The right side bomb control box clearly has toggle switches for bomb release but no bomb arming switch. Why two selector switches for an aircraft that has no center section pylons and retains the instrument panel rotary switch for bomb or fuel tank release. The left side control box is not the one usually shown in USN aircraft. The aluminum handle with the balck switch below the flap selector handle appears to be similar in location and function as the rocket release switch in the rocket equipped F4U-1D's, yet the rocket selector box is not installed on the right side wall near the instrument panel. A "SELECTOR DIMMER" is mounted in its place. And the aircraft is likely equivalent to a USN FG-1A. Other reearchers have commented on early F4U-1D's delivered to the RNZAF that had the wiring for the wing rocket pylons but the pylons were not installed. I agree that with your reluctance to use this as a reference for a USN F4U-1A. It was constructed to suit a British order.

Another curious fact, the layout of the main instrument panel of KD-431 is identical to that shown in the F4U-1D "Dash 1".

Don

Edited August 24, 2008 by don f

[rwright142]

Thanks for your input. I need to look for more pictures of #3. I know I'm going overboard with these details, but that's just me. I have even thought about having the wings fold...

[rwright142]

Well I may have struck gold! I received an email from a daughter-in-law of Jim Strieg who flew Corsair #3 with the Jolly Rogers VF-17 in WWII. She said they have many items from Jim's service and asked what I was looking for. I am hoping they have a copy of his flight logs, or maybe he kept a diary or has some personal pictures, letters etc. that they will share. I have my fingers crossed. It would be a fitting tribute to display them with the plane in his honor.

Edited August 27, 2008 by rwright142

[don f]

Well I may have struck gold! I received an email from a daughter-in-law of Jim Strieg who flew Corsair #3 with the Jolly Rogers VF-17 in WWII. She said they have many items from Jim's service and asked what I was looking for. I am hoping they have a copy of his flight logs, or maybe he kept a diary or has some personal pictures, letters etc. that they will share. I have my fingers crossed. It would be a fitting tribute to display them with the plane in his honor.

Please keep us posted regarding this. Here's a link to the 1/72 Tamiya F4U-1D that I built as an F4U-1A #3.

Building the Tamiya F4U-1D as an F4U-1A

Don

[rwright142]

Please keep us posted regarding this. Here's a link to the 1/72 Tamiya F4U-1D that I built as an F4U-1A #3.

Building the Tamiya F4U-1D as an F4U-1A

Don

Will do. I saw that newsletter and contacted the editor. A few months ago he replied with Don Fenton's email address but I have not received a response yet.