An overall view of Young’s finished 1/16 scale Corsair. Most of one side has the outer skin, while the other side was left as a cutaway to reveal the internal components. (Photo courtesy of Augie Salbosa.)
Young C. Park dedicated 10 years to the making of three incredible model aircraft. His first was this 1/16 scale cutaway F4U-D Corsair, which allows viewers to see details inside the plane. The model was completely hand fabricated from aluminum and brass, and is detailed down to the hydraulic lines and functional control cables to the rudder, elevator and ailerons. The wings actually fold, the wheels and hook retract, and the controls work. This miniature aircraft took about 6,000 hours to build over a period of 5 years.
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. Following the NAMES Expo in 2002, Young Park graciously donated the first of his 1/16 scale Corsair models to the Miniature Engineering Craftsmanship Museum in Carlsbad, CA. It is unlikely you will ever see better models on display in any museum in the world. Additionally, Mr. Park also compiled a collection of photos and historical data on the Corsair into a binder, detailing his construction process throughout. This was also donated to the museum for viewing alongside the models themselves. Young C. Park also won the Joe Martin Foundation’s Craftsman of the Year Award for 2002.
A rear view of the Corsair with the wings folded up into storage position. This unique design allows these planes to take up less space on an aircraft carrier flight deck. (Photo courtesy of Augie Salbosa.)A front view of the airplane with the wings folded. Some of the engine details can be seen through the cowl opening. The tires, like everything else on the model, are made from aluminum. On Young’s second model, the tires were made from rubber, and fitted to the detailed aluminum wheels. (Photo courtesy of Augie Salbosa.)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.)Mr. Park stands behind his nearly completed model Corsair. (Photo courtesy of George F. Lee, Honolulu Star Bulletin.) 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.) A peek into the cockpit control area. A close-up inside of the wing reveals the .50 caliber machine gun nest in the structure, along with ammo boxes to feed them.
Exhibit added: May 1, 2002 - Last modified: August 11, 2023
