Below you can view more photos of Young’s model aircraft. Click on images to enlarge.
In viewing these photos, the close-ups actually offer a better view than you might get in person, with the models in a covered display case. However, they tend to focus on one area of the model at a time. You have to see the entire plane in person to truly grasp the incredible amount of detail inside—along with the perfect panel contours, and the interlocking fits. If you are in the San Diego area, consider coming by to see these works of art in person. We feel very privileged to be able to display them for you.
1/16 Scale Cutaway F4U-D Corsair Model #1
Corsair Controls
Using a pair of tweezers, the controls can actually be manipulated. All of the cables and linkages are in place to work the wing control surfaces as well. Young also carved a pilot’s face and hands from solid aluminum, and built an articulated pilot to sit in the cockpit. (Photo courtesy of George F. Lee, Honolulu Star-Bulletin.)
Corsair Display
Mr. Park generously donated his first and second Corsair models to the Joe Martin Foundation, along with his P-51 model a few years later. They can be seen in person at the Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum in Carlsbad, CA.
Young Park’s Shop
Young’s garage shop was packed full of tools and materials. His Sherline tools can be seen on the center bench, and some of the aircraft parts he was working on are in the lower left.
F4U-D Corsair
The covered side of Yung’s first Corsair model gives a better overall impression of the clean lines on the plane. (Photo courtesy of Augie Salbosa.)
Corsair Detail
A close-up inside of the wing reveals the .50 caliber machine gun nest in the structure, along with ammo boxes to feed them.
1/16 Scale Take-Apart F4U-D Corsair Model #2
Take-Apart Corsair
Young’s second Corsair, which was modeled as a take-apart. The plane can be broken into four sections.
Young’s Corsair Display
Mr. Park (left) is seen showing his models to the crowd at the 2002 NAMES Expo in Detroit. The Corsairs garnered a lot of attention, and Young’s display was one of the most memorable of the weekend. He crated the models and shipped them from Honolulu for the show. Young also accepted his award for Craftsman of the Year at this show.
1/16 Scale P-51 Mustang Model
P-51 Mustang
The Mustang with gears up is one of the sleekest planes ever designed. Young’s 1/16 scale model reproduces every detail, inside and out, down to the rivets.
P-51 Mustang Nose
Although all parts are machined from solid aluminum, or made from sheet aluminum, Mr. Park was able to make the cast parts look real. He used a fine dental burr to put tiny pockets in the surface, making it look like a non-machined casting. Inside of the spinner, the “cast” propeller hub can be seen.
P-51 Mustang
The Mustang model with gears down sits in the middle of the frame, with Young’s first Corsair in the back right. Though built to the same scale, 1/16, the Mustang is a much smaller plane, adding to the difficulty of making everything fit inside.
P-51 Mustang
There is such a wealth of detail in the engine compartment and cockpit that you could stare at this model for hours, and still not catch everything.
P-51 Mustang Cockpit
A look inside the cockpit reveals every detail that the real pilot would have seen.
P-51 Mustang Cockpit
The right side of the cockpit its shown here, along with part of the bubble canopy. Mr. Park vacuum formed his own canopy for the model. Although the pictures won’t show this, when you slide the miniature canopy it moves perfectly straight and smooth. There is no wobbling, and the canopy meets the fixed windshield with virtually no gap.
P-51 Mustang Tail
Like his Corsair models, all of the control surfaces actually work, including the trim tabs. The tail gear mechanism has been lowered in this photo.
P-51 Mustang Detail
Inside of the left wing, you can see the .50 caliber ammo threaded into the three wing guns. Each round was machined in three parts. The rounds consist of a brass cartridge with copper bullet and primer, and are held together with a small copper feed jacket.
P-51 Mustang Detail
A close-up shows the ammunition belt threading into the open receiver of one of the machine guns.
P-51 Mustang Engine
Young took a number of photos during construction of the model. Here we see the partially completed engine before installation.
P-51 Mustang Detail
In this photo, control wires were still being threaded around their pulleys underneath the cockpit.
P-51 Mustang Detail
The radiator air intake sits below the fuselage ready for installation. Many details are hidden once the airplane is fully assembled.
P-51 Mustang
The Mustang was still in early construction here, with the fuselage and wing structure coming along.
P-51 Mustang Panel
Each panel was hand formed over a wooden shape. The metal was annealed to the proper softness, and then pounded and bent into shape. The plane consists of may individual panels, and the fits between panels are nearly perfect.
P-51 Mustang Panel
This photo shows the same panel from the previous image, this time in it’s final position on the model.
P-51 Mustang Air Intake
The finished air intake alongside the form that Young used to make it. As is often the case in machining and model making, fixtures can take a long time to make. The public will never see them with the finished model, even though they constitute a large part of the process.
Young’s Aircraft Display
Young Park’s model P-51 and both Corsairs are now on permanent display at the Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum in Carlsbad, CA.
Sample Parts
Young Park had passed along some of his practice parts, spare machine gun cartridges, and miniature pilot to his nephew, Scott, when cleaning out his garage years ago. Scott was kind enough to donate them to the Craftsmanship Museum after his uncle passed away. The display offers some insight into how some of the parts—like hinges, wingtips, and cylinder heads—were made.
Young’s Aircraft Display
This photo shows Young’s niece, Claudia Kobayashi, and her family on a visit to the Craftsmanship Museum. They enjoyed seeing their uncle’s fine work on display as a featured exhibit.
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Makers of precision miniature machine tools and accessories. Sherline tools are made in the USA.
Sherline is proud to confirm that Young C. Park used Sherline tools in the production of his aircraft models.