1/8 scale TopFlite Corsair Mods
Jock, great looking cowl! you got the mechanics of it right, but your history is a bit off. the early corsairs (F4U-1) had cowl flaps the whole way 'round, but the operating pistons leaked oil onto the wind-screen, messing up vision. these were wired shut in the field to prevent this, and the mod to a smooth transition on top was incorporated on the F4U-1A, along with the bubble canopy and taller tail-wheel strut, all designs to improve forwad field of vision. I'm sure the lack of flaps popping up helped with forward vision too..