Sandmann_AU

Hey Alistair

Thanks a lot for those - they do help. I've pretty much decided to go against scale slightly - pretty sure at this point that I'll be going with NZ5457/57 but building it as a F4U-1A instead of a 1D. This is mainly for flight & building simplicity reasons - I don't want to build on the rocket/bomb/drop tank mounts of the 1D, but I want a plane with a differently coloured underside to help with orientation while in flight, and I can imagine having to defend building it with Brit camouflage constantly with the expected comments of "if you wanted a spitfire why'd you build a corsair?". If I was planning on putting it into scale comps I'd build it as the 1D instead, but I'm building for my pleasure, not anyone else's.

CorsairJock

My Feedback: (90)

Sandmann_AU, Nothing wrong with going "against scale slightly", in fact: it is rare indeed to see either version built 100% correct. My 1Ds do not have the rocket launcher pylons, nor the right wing stall wedge. I DID use Royal canopies tho, and installed the (functional) bomb pylons on them.

My intention when I bagan this thread (YEARS ago now) was to point out some of the obvious scale indescrepencies in the Top Fite design, and propose simple fixes for them, as well as propose simple additions and/ or modification to make it MORE scale authentic.

I have never been a proponent of exact/ precise scale, because it ultimately leads to ending up with a heavier model (and I always encourage people 'build it light, to fly right'), and ends up taking up too much time to build (I wanna FLY mine, and have them looking good when I do).

If there is one thang that I kind of push for tho: it is DON'T BUILD IT TO LOOK LIKE THE ONE ON THE BOX! Buy a book, and/ or do some internet reseach, and find a scheme that appeals to you, and do your best to re-create that scheme. Note that even my trusty old DynaFlite Corsair had a scale/ authentic scheme.
And, if possible: build the correct version (1A, 1D, whatever) around that scheme. And when I say "if possible", I mean that if it is within your resources and time. We all have different amounts of time available, and have different degress of building talents, so build within your means and what you are comfortable with.

And, THANKS for sharing your thoughts and taking the time to post all those pictures in this thread.

BTW, my area of 'expertise' does not include Corsairs which were owned and flown by countries other than the U.S.A.. Please don't anyone take offense, as I think most of us like to model our planes after the ones flown by our own countries. I DO know some about FAA, New Zealand, and other Corsairs, but by no means am I an expert. I will leve a link here tho, about an FG-1D which was recently aquired by a Canadian organization and repainted (AFTER pics were taken on this web-site) to represent a Canadian pilot's aircraft:
http://www.vintagewings.ca/page?a=26&lang=en-CA

iflircaircraft

Want to go AGAINST the GRAIN? try this!!!


This just an artist's rendition of a captured Corsair.

Tom

Sandmann_AU

Yep... that'd certainly ruffle a few feathers. There weren't too many tears shed when I killed my Messerschmidt BF109 a few years back - I might just get stoned or struck off the membership if I showed up at my club flying that. While I'm about the farthest thing from a nazi sympathiser, I do think they had the better looking planes (colour schemes at least)... and uniforms too (at least the officers).

Corsair 99

I was just wondering if anyone has detail markings Canadian Lt. Robert Hampton Gray's plane, as I am basing my theme after his plane.

iflircaircraft

The Vought F4U Corsair IV is that of Canada's last Victoria Cross recipient Lt (N) Robert (Hammy) Hampton Gray VC, DSC, MiD, RCNVR from Nelson, BC, who served aboard HMS Formidable with 1841 Sqn until his death on August 9, 1945.
I hope this will help you corsair99...........CanMilAir Decal set # 030 was used for this Corsair.


Tom

Chad Veich

My Feedback: (60)

Vintage Wings of Canada has a restored FG-1D Corsair in Gray's colors. Do a google image search for the aircraft's registration, C-GVWC, and you will find lots of photos of the airplane. The Canadian Warplane Heritage also operated a Corsair in these colors for many years, although it has since been sold and is now undergoing an extensive rebuild. Top photo is the current VWC airplane while the bottom photo is of the ex-CWH bird.

Corsair 99

Thanks for the info, I found some good references on these web sites.

CorsairJock

My Feedback: (90)

Yep, that's the one I was talking about. I saw it last summer at the annual Warbird Airshow, AKA Thunder Over Michigan at Willow Run Airport (where B-24s were mass producued by Ford Motor Comapny during WW II) near Detroit.

Upon close inspection, you could see that they just painted over the U.S. markings and applied the Canadian insignia. VERY nice looking Corsair, and certainly one desrving to be modeled after.

RCGuy41

A current mod I'm working on is a set of pylons to include drops and exploding bombs. Well, currently I have been working on my 3/4 sheeted wing by glassing a small internal section were the pylons will mount to the wing. I'm also incorporating a cool mod to allow the pylons to be removed for maintenance and or just to fly without the pylons. Here are a few pics of my progress so far.

Brad

RCGuy41

More pics

RCGuy41

Here are some pics how the first pylon looks attached to the wing. Once I had each screw snugged down; the first pylon feels very sturdy, Rich from Firepower RC has provided an awsome pylon kit. I'll finish the other side tomorrow night. 12/09/09, the right pylon is installed here is the added pic showing both.

Brad

RCGuy41

Gents,

I have a question about gear doors; I'm ready to draw out there location. I'm wanting to glass a set but I don't have a template for the doors, should the main doors measure out at 4X4, then cut down the center? I'm going to look on my Corsair plans for some direction, but any other help will be appreciated. By the way the bomb/drop tank release system is complete here are the final pics of the system build.

Brad

RCGuy41

Gents,

Finally finished the bombs and drops for my Corsair, heres how they look. They release great, but will have to wait until either the second or third flight before I fly them.

Brad

Gramps

Hi Jim, how did you get the hook to stay up when your tailwheel came down? Or did you use a stationary tialwheel?

jjones98042

I've been wanting to build a warbird for quite some time and try my hand at some "craftsmanship"mods and scale features. After finding this thread (and a few others) and seeing all the great information you are all sharing, I've decided it's going to be the TFGECorsair. Reading through this thread has really piqued my interest and given me some great examples to work from. Ican only hope that mine comes out 1/2 as nice as a lot of the work I've seen here! You guys put out some NICEwork!

Ideas in mind so far:
RCV engine (120).
Retracting Mains and tailwheel.
Functional gear doors on all.
Scale Flaps and control surface hinging with hidden actuators.
Might go for the operational cowl flaps.
Corrections to wing tips and rudder.
Airfoiled tail surfaces.

There are a number of other great improvements that I've seen here and I'm sure I'm forgetting quite a few. I'll be posting updates (and questions, I'm sure) here once the project gets rolling.

Take care everyone and Happy New Year!

RCGuy41

jjones,

Great, thanks for joining the TF GE 60 build with modifications, there has been quite a few builders who have put together some great mods for the TF 60 Corsair kit. I can honestly say, we all would enjoy viewing your progress, and if you have any questions you will get an answer and or a recommendation. Since I finished my pylon mod to include the bombs and drops; I have fisished covering the topcenter wing section. Now I'm in the fuselage build stage; I'm adding a semi-scale cockpit, but haven't been able to find a 9" WWII Navy or Marine pilot to sit at the controls. Hope to see some fantastic work from your building table.

Joe Lott

Hello jjones.

I did most of the mods you speak of.

RCV 120SP
Sierra rotating retracts with operational gear doors
Retractable tailwheel
Working flaps and rotary aileron drivers for the ailerons
Wingtip and rudder mods

I also sprung for a custom prop hub and 18" Soloprop blades. I didn't do the cowl flaps. She's also glassed and painted with panel lines and screw heads. I even added the scale stall strip on the starboard wing's leading edge. Keep in mind that RCV 120SP, Sierra retracts, retractable tailwheel, and rotary aileron drivers all add weight. Mine's a whopping 13 lbs. All that said, the RCV will pull it around just fine. Be prepared to land it pretty fast though.

lgaines85

Well as cold as its been the building process has been kinda slooooow. The flaps are taking the majority of the time. These dam things are defenitly a work in progress. Hopefully tonight i'll get off my but and finish the other side.

CorsairJock

My Feedback: (90)

13 lbs: about 50% more than my 1st Top Flite Corsair. That is exactly why I repeatedly recommend either building something else 1st (a lighter, easier to manage warbird) OR keep your Top Flite Corsair light.
If this will be your 1st warbird, you could really do yourself a favor by taking smaller step. NORMAL warbirds can be a handful to pilots who are not accustomed to them, but adding 50% more wieght is almost a sure recipe for disaster.
Just my 2 cents, I don't like hearing of people who spend time and money on this model, only to loose it the 1st time it flies.

BTW: my 1st warbird was a DynaFlite FunScale 40 Corsair, which I added retracts to. At 5 1/2 lbs, it was enough like a warbird to to make me make adjustments to my flying style, but still easy enough for me to make over 1000 flights with it.

iflircaircraft

I've read this entire thread. I have a 'red box' TF Corsair I plan on building and incorporate the Mods from here. The pic below is what I hope to accomplish when it's completed. I'm in no hurry to finish it.
Would it be ok to post my progress here or start another thread?


Tom

CorsairJock

My Feedback: (90)

By all means, please post your progress here. I encourage sharing ideas, and especially like it when someone elects to build their's NOT like the one on the boxtop.

iflircaircraft

I found some great shots of my subject model! It a 1A . The cowl flaps are rather small in comparison to the kit version which means I can remove some length there and also reduce the length of the cowl itself without moving the firewall too far aft!!


Tom

Sandmann_AU

Don't go moving the cowl too far back, or you'll have the engine sticking way out the front (unless you plan to use electric, in which case feel free to ignore me).

jjones98042

Point well taken CorsairJock. Although I'm planning to start this as my next build (and keep it as lightas possible with my mods), it's not going to be a fast build at all (probably measured in years). I'm going to go slow and I'm much more interested in build quality rather thanhurrying to first-flight. I'm planning to get another warbird (probably a P-51 ARF) to get my thumbs warmed-up againlong before the Corsair ever makes it to it's maiden flight. Although this isn't my first warbird, it's beensolong since I've flown one that it might as well be.