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Dana Bell
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Aircraft Pictorial, No. 7: F4U-1 Corsair Vol. 1 Paperback – Unabridged, January 1, 2014

by Dana Bell (Author)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 51 ratings
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F4U-1 Corsair - Part 1 by Dana Bell . Classic Warships Publishing Publication October 2014 ISBN #978-0-9857149-7-0 . There are many fine books describing the original "Birdcage" Corsair, but once again the Aircraft Pictorial Series has turned up new documentation explaining this amazing aircraft. Using the varied holdings of the National Archives and the National Air and Space Museum, Dana Bell presents a fresh interpretation of the F4U-1's history and technology. The book - the truth behind the 1943 decision to remove Corsairs from US Navy aircraft carriers - the story behind the unofficial "-1A" designation - a completely new explanation of the camouflage schemes carried by early Corsairs - the first explanation of the Molins six-shooter flare launcher - the first images of VF-17's external drop tanks - the five tail wheel struts used by Corsairs - the standard radios and antenna variations - the strange – but standard – canopy and turtledeck variations - the Westinghouse 19A jet engine experiments - the parallel-development of the Brewster F3A-1 and Goodyear FG-1 - serial number lists with production changes - the story of the British Corsair Mark I - dozens of never-before-published photos . A second volume will cover the raised cockpit versions of the -1 the "-1A," -1C, and -1D.
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  1. Print length
    72 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Classic Warships Publishing
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 2014
  5. ISBN-10
    0985714972
  6. ISBN-13
    978-0985714970
  7. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01FIY7O74
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Classic Warships Publishing; First Edition (January 1, 2014)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 72 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0985714972
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0985714970
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.8 ounces
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 51 ratings

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Dana Bell

Dana Bell

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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
51 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the detail drawings a great aid and appreciate the good pictures of early Corsair development. They also appreciate the valuable information about the F4U-1 Cors airship.

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LayoutPhoto historyContent
5 customers mention "Layout"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the detail drawings a great aid, and the black and white and color photos illustrate the plane's uniqueness.

"...So while the detail drawings are a great aid, I want to see photos of the actual wartime aircraft...." Read more

"...Complete with technical drawings from the archives, detail photos, drawings, analysis of the paint schemes and the how's and why's...." Read more

"...Comprehensive and thoughtfully laid out.You MUST have this book, you NEED this in your library." Read more

"Excellent material for the serious buff or model maker. Some of the best research and photos on the F4U-1 Corsair." Read more

5 customers mention "Photo history"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book has good pictures of the early Corsair development. They also say the detail photos are worth mentioning.

"...The detail photos are also worth to mention." Read more

"The "book" had some good pictures of early Corsair development...." Read more

"Good photo history of the first production models of the corsair." Read more

"This is an excellent book about the early Corsair." Read more

4 customers mention "Content"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's content valuable and interesting. They also mention that it provides unknown details about the F4U-1 Corsair.

"...This is a fascinating work on the development of the 'birdcage' F4U - you will undoubtedly see pictures of thing that challenge what you thought you..." Read more

"...Large photos - obviously - and scholarly information. This is one of those series you'll want to collect all of them...." Read more

"...amount of research provides many previously unknown details and valuable information about the F4U-1 Corsair...." Read more

"Outstanding book with quite a lot of new information for me on early versions. The detail photos are also worth to mention." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

The_CAP
5.0 out of 5 stars If you love Corsairs, you need this book.
Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2022
Verified Purchase
I primarily buy these books for pictures and details I may want to use when building a model. So while the detail drawings are a great aid, I want to see photos of the actual wartime aircraft.

This is a fascinating work on the development of the 'birdcage' F4U - you will undoubtedly see pictures of thing that challenge what you thought you knew. And the text describes interesting facts from primer colors to serial breakdowns.

Every Corsair lover should own a copy.
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Shannon W.
5.0 out of 5 stars great for any F4U enthusiast
Reviewed in the United States on March 30, 2023
Verified Purchase
great for any F4U enthusiast
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Dana Bell has done it again.
Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2015
Verified Purchase
Dana Bell has done it again. Searching the archives and digging up the details of these earliest F4U-1 Corsairs. This is not a bunch of squadron histories but a detailed look inside and outside of the 'Birdcage' Corsair. Complete with technical drawings from the archives, detail photos, drawings, analysis of the paint schemes and the how's and why's. This is 'The Book' on the early Corsair fighter of World War Two. Beautiful black and white and color photos illustrate the plane's unique characteristics.
One person found this helpful
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Wade Meyers
5.0 out of 5 stars Well done!
Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2014
Verified Purchase
Just when you think we've completely OD'd on popular topics like the Corsair, and in many ways we have, this series comes along. Like the old In-Action series, but much better. Large photos - obviously - and scholarly information. This is one of those series you'll want to collect all of them. Good on the writers and publishers!
7 people found this helpful
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John Jodauga
5.0 out of 5 stars A superb book in which Dana Bell's extensive amount of ...
Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2015
Verified Purchase
A superb book in which Dana Bell's extensive amount of research provides many previously unknown details and valuable information about the F4U-1 Corsair. This is a mush for aviation enthusiasts and modelers alike, and I can hardly wait for the second edition that deals with the F4U-1A (raised seat) version.
2 people found this helpful
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Convair990
4.0 out of 5 stars First Original research on the F4U Corsair in a long time.
Reviewed in the United States on December 27, 2014
First of all, in the interests of full disclosure I was a contributor to this book.

There are a lot of books written about the Corsair, but to my knowledge this is the only one dedicated solely to the first production model, the F4U-1, popularly known as the "Birdcage" Corsair.

Early F4Us are not as well understood as the later versions, but author Dana Bell was able to uncover and review original photographic imagery, as well as company documents and inter-governmental memoranda to compile this title. Dana's discoveries dispel several myths and misunderstandings which have been oft repeated in other Corsair texts.

Two significant parts that i contributed to, are the discussion of the evolutionary engineering changes made to the tail wheel assembly (which improved the ground handling and landing characteristics), and the evolution of the three/ four tone paint scheme over time; augmented by several never-before-published photos and supplemented by full colour profile illustrations.

As noted Naval Aviation historian Tommy Thomason said (in his tailhook topics blog), you will not find unit histories, biographical accounts, and slews of profile illustrations in this book; this is not an "In-Action" treatment. What this book does contain, is original research, and not a regurgitation of Corsair tidbits seem in countless other references.

If you are a serious student of the F4U Corsair, this book is a "Must Have" reference, especially for those interested in the early history of the programme. It also makes an excellent companion piece to anyone building the Tamiya F4U-1 Birdcage Corsair variants, which i have also reviewed.
6 people found this helpful
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Matthew Odom
5.0 out of 5 stars The first half of the Ultimate guide to the Mighty F4U Corsair.
Reviewed in the United States on March 16, 2017
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The penultimate Corsair reference - make sure you buy both volumes and you'll never need another Corsair reference. Comprehensive and thoughtfully laid out.

You MUST have this book, you NEED this in your library.
One person found this helpful
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Rudnei D. da Cunha
5.0 out of 5 stars A "must-have"
Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2015
Verified Purchase
A great reference book, indispensable to anyone who wants to know more about many details regarding this great aircraft from World War II.
One person found this helpful
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