F4U-5/7, AU-1 Wheels

Obscureco Aircraft

Reviewed by Brett Green

Obscureco have done modellers of Hasegawa's recent 1/48 scale F4U-5/7 Corsairs a great service by offering a relevant alternative to the fairly awful kit tyres.

Hasegawa have make a solid attempt at a detailed wheel by moulding both the inner and outer hubs separately. Detail on these parts is really quite good. However, the one-piece tyre lets the hubs down. The tyres are way too narrow. To my eye, the profile of the tyre looks to low too (although the overall diameter looks okay). Added to these problems are four ugly ejector pin marks on one side of the tyre. 

Obscureco Aircraft's replacement wheels address all of these issues. The wheel is cast in two parts - the tyre and inner hub as one part, and a nicely detailed outer hub as the second part. Detail is crisp and dimensions look good. 

The hub is the pressed metal style that graced some (but not all) of the later Corsair marques, including the F4U-5, F4U-7, AU-1 and many post-war racers.

My only criticism is that the tread pattern of the tyres is indistinct. It looks like a heavily worn radial tread pattern, but it is quite feint. 

These replacement wheels will make a noticeable difference to your Hasegawa late Corsair. 

Recommended.

Obscureco
957 Curtner Ave
Militas, CA 95125