The first production A4D Skyhawks carried two 150-gallon external tanks. These were soon superseded by 300-gallon tanks for additional range. At some point, the original 52" long pylons were replaced by longer ones.
Original:
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A brief history...
For a short tutorial on Korean War era outboard wing panel bomb racks, see https://tailhooktopics.blogspot.com/2013/12/things-under-wings-aero-pylons.html
The Vought XF4U-1, like the Bell XFL-1 and Grumman XF5F-1, had small bomb racks located within the wing structure. These were actually antiaircraft bombs, aimed by a downward-vision window between the pilot's legs. This capability was determined to be unworthy of incorporation in the production design. For a bit more more, see https://thanlont.blogspot.com/2008/06/antiaircraft-bombs.html
Production F4U-1s were initially fitted with provisions for a small bomb rack on each outboard wing capable of carrying a 100-lb bomb.
Since adding more significant bombing capability to the Corsair was desirable, Brewster (contracted to be a second source for F4U production early in WW II) designed an adapter to be mounted under the center fuselage for the standard Mk 51 bomb rack. To provide clearance for opening of the intercooler flap that was located there, like the center-line fuel tank it was attached to existing structure ahead of and behind the flap (a small cutout in the aft edge of the flap was required). This is the original design for production; a redesign that followed was similar but simpler.
According to Dana Bell, who can be relied on for the accuracy of his statements, the Brewster adapter came first and crude imitations created in the field, followed.
Production bomb-carrying capability was added to the F4U-1D with a pylon under each inner wing.
In this case the fairing that was provided to cover the bomb shackle is not present on either side. Vought also provided a removable fairing to close out the bottom of enclosure when bombs or fuel tanks were not carried.
The inner wing bomb racks were carried over to the F4U-4. The -4's initial outboard wing pylons that were suitable for rockets only were subsequently modified to carry bombs. Scroll down here: https://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2014/03/f4u-4-modelers-notes.html. Note that the F4U-4B's were different to accommodate the change to four 20 mm cannons, which were located on the same waterline on in line with the wing leading edge:
The F4U-5, as well as the AU-1 (F4U-6) and F4U-7, was produced with a center-line pylon capability similar in design to Brewster's with a more streamlined fairing. There is still a gap between the pylon and the fuselage so the intercooler flap can be opened. Note that the armament on the -5 outboard wing panels was identical to the F4U-4B's.
The front end of the pylon is secured to a fitting that is bolted to the engine mount and the aft end is secured to a fitting on the main spar located just aft of the main wing spar.
The AU-1 and the F4U-7 had an outboard wing panel with five multipurpose pylons that were mounted vertically, not perpendicular to the wing like the F4U-4/5.
Sword has just released a very nice 1/72 AD-3/4 Skyraider kit. This is the illustrated Hyperscale review:
https://www.hyperscale.com/2025/reviews/kits/sw72151reviewbg_1.htm
Brett mentions the addition of armor as a result of combat experience (also see discussion and link below) but not that the kit fuselage does not have it. Sword was aware of the option and chose to produce the kit without the armor. For one thing, most if not all of the Skyraiders represented by the decals in the kit did not have the armor. It is a lot easier to add it than to remove it. The most
obvious difference is a fixed step on the side of the fuselage (armor) versus a kick-in step. The presence of the 1/2" thick applique plating itself is subtle, not much more than a layer or two of paint in 1/72 scale.
Of note is that the -4 was initially very similar to the -3 but there were a few external detail differences. In fact, the only external difference between the last AD-3 built and the first AD-4 appears to be the windscreen, both of which are in the kit :
This is a work in progress on the AD-4 configurations: https://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2022/04/douglas-ad-4-skyraider-variants.html
I advised Sword that these configurations were representative of late AD-3 and AD-4 production :
AD-3
The AD-3 and AD-4 had the same centerline (except for the -4B), and inboard stores pylons. There were three different outboard pylons: small (rocket only); bigger (rocket and small bomb); and biggest: it's likely that the AD-3 could utilize the "bigger" one; for sure the biggest one that was standard on the AD-5/6/7 could be used on the AD-4. See https://tailhooktopics.blogspot.com/2013/12/things-under-wings-aero-pylons.html
These are my notes on Jay Sherwood's Skyraider Modeling Guide: https:tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2011/10/ad-skyraider-modeling-notes.html
More later...
The same MIL specification dated 23 February 1955 that implemented the Gull Gray/White paint scheme changed the paint scheme of target towing and drone control aircraft. From Elliott, Volume 3:
The fuselage, cowling, and engine nacelles on multi-engine aircraft were Engine Gray except surfaces extending into the topside of wings. In this case, these surfaces were painted to match the wings. The horizontal stabilizer, elevators and vertical fin were Orange Yellow. The vertical fin fairing was painted to match the fuselage. The Orange Yellow terminated on a line formed by projecting the fin leading edge down to the fuselage. Wing walkways could be either Engine Gray or, in the case where the wing is utilized to enter the aircraft, they could be antiskid black material. The rudder was painted Insignia Red. Insignia Red bands three feet wide encircled the wing panels. On single-engine aircraft, the bands were located one-third the distance from fuselage to wing tip, with the center line parallel to the thrust line. On multi-engine aircraft, the bands were located midway between the national aircraft insignia and the engine nacelle with the center line of the bands parallel to the thrust line. However, in the event there was insufficient space to locate these bands as specified above they could be located adjacent to the outboard nacelles. The national aircraft insignias could overlap the wing bands, but the bands could not overlap the insignia. The national aircraft insignia could not be altered in size or location to accommodate these markings.
In August 1959, florescent Red-Orange replaced Insignia Red and the entire vertical fin was to be red.
More later...
Steve Ginter no longer has his own website but he is still creating
and publishing books. You can contact him directly for availability and
pricing (nfbooks@sbcglobal.net ) or look for them here: https://daviddoylebooks.com/ginter-books-covers?rq=Ginter
18 October 2004: Sylvain Deloire informed me of the availability of "3D" decals for the 1/72 Fujimi kit. For details, click HERE
For an introduction and Part One, which was dedicated to the 1/72 Fujimi kits, click here: https://tailspintopics.blogspot.com/2024/10/f7u-3-series-model-kits.html
Several model kits of the F7U-3 have been produced, beginning shortly after its first flight. Some are long out of production and now sought after collectors and modeling enthusiasts willing to pay many multiples of a kit’s original price. Note that the vacuum-formed kits consist of plastic sheets from which the individual parts have to be cut out and prepared for assembly.
For more detail on these kits and many others, search for "F7U" on Scalemates
Vacuum formed
Airmodel 1/72 F7U-3/3P Kit Number 156: A very simple kit with no cockpit parts, decals, or landing gear. However, it is an appropriate basis for creating a manufacturer's desktop model.
Rare Plane 1/72nd Scale F7U-3: It is more complete than the Airmodel kit with good surface detail (female mold) but slightly inaccurate in shape and does not include decals.
ID Models 1/32 F7U-3 (subsequently reissued by Tigger Models):Vacuum formed on a male mold so the surface detail is all but nonexistent and complex shapes are not rendered accurately. The manufacturer characterizes them as “very basic canvases”, which is accurate.
Injection molded
Revell 1/60th Scale F7U-3/3M Cutlass: First released in 1953, there were several different variations released through 2010. It's pretty crude with raised lines for the placement or coloring of markings.
Hobby Craft 1/48: This kit was first released in 1990 and subsequently released with other decals and/or photo etched and while metal detail parts. Unfortunately, it has some notable shape and accuracy issues, e.g. the forward fuselage. For example, the radome and lower forward fuselage should not curve upward as much as they do in the kit. The windscreen has too big a step at its front edge and slopes aft at too shallow an angle. The cockpit detail is sparse and inaccurate, particularly the ejection seat. The late, great Phil (Bondo) Brandt also noted that the afterburners were undersized (read his full review and corrections—note that should not be an inflight refueling probe on an F7U-3M—HERE).
Lone Star Models produced a very detailed resin cockpit, that is far superior to the one in the kit as well as a resin F7U-3P nose. However, I was unable to determine their availability.
Reskit also produces a 1/48 Sparrow I missiles, RS48-0319.
CAT4 Scale Model Accessories has produced conversion parts for the detail problems other than the canopy:
R48029—Early F7U-3/-3M/-3P wheel hubs and tires
R48030—Later F7U-3/-3M/-3P wheel hubs and tires
R48040—Corrected radome (no inflight refueling probe)
R48041—Corrected radome with inflight refueling probe
R48046—Final production intake
R48047—Final configuration intake (Ubangi lower lip)
Falcon
included a vacuum formed F7U-3 canopy in its Set No. 39, U.S. Navy Part 3
but it may not have improved on the shape in the Hobby Craft kit.
Squadron subsequently produced one as a separate item, Squadron 9629 but
again it is not known whether the shape was corrected; however, it is
reportedly clearer and thinner than the kit canopy. Note that Squadron's name has been acquired by a new entity; the canopy is listed in their catalog but as out of stock.
Collect-Aire Models produced the ultimate Hobby Craft correction set.
Its resin parts replaced everything from the engine intakes forward. Also included was an accurate, but very thin vacuum formed canopy. Cast metal parts were provided for the cockpit detail and to replace the landing gear, except for the wheels. The decals allowed for the unique markings of VX-4 F7U-3M, a VA-212 F7U-3M, a VF-124 F7U-3M(129963?), and a VA-? (tailcode T) F7U-3M (129559?). One version of the kit and the Collect-Aire conversion is described in detail here: http://www.olddogsplanes.com/f7u.htm
Resin
Fisher Model & Pattern 1/32 F7U-3M (#3209): Unfortunately not only out of production but the masters were destroyed in a fire since a complete, detailed, and accurate masterpiece can be created from the contents with no aftermarket corrections required.
Paul Fisher
In addition to exterior detail, the kit features inlet ducts leading to engine compressor faces and full-length afterburners. Brass main landing gear struts provide the strength necessary to support the weight of the resin wings and fuselage. All the control surfaces and the sliding canopy are positionable. There's a review with pictures by Mike Williams HERE.
