rrcorbell

I have been building plastic model kits since I was about 8, and have also loved R/C for about the same length of time. I have wanted to build a 60 size warbird, but I thought I would try my hand at one of the (Far less expensive and complicated) Guillows Scale Models first. I will be posting photos as I go. Any constructive criticism would be greatly appreciated. I will definitely need it when I dust off that Top Flite Corsair!

rrcorbell

Here are some recent photos.

rrcorbell

Here are some older photos. I had to find them.

rrcorbell

Also, is there anything I can use as a substitute for clear dope, or do I just need to order some online? I don't really have a local hobby shop, so pretty much everything would either come from the internet or from the hardware store. Thanks for any help you may be able to provide.

Zor

What are you planning to use for covering this light structure ?
Tissue paper ?
Cloth fabric ?

Be aware that aircraft dope keeps shrinking for years and need a strong structure.

Zor

rrcorbell

Yes, I was planning on using the tissue provided in the kit.

Zor

Hi rrcorbell,

The reason to provide that tissue is to use it.
This structure is designed for lightness and slow flight.

Suggest to humidify the tissue with a spray atomizing bottle of water and let it dry. It will tighten the tissue.

Then brush on a diluted coat of nitrate dope .
Dilute about 30% thinner and brush one direction and immediatly at about 90 degrees before it starts getting sticky to even out the coat.

Use soft artist brush about 1/2" wide of good quality so it does not loose its bristles.

Let cure (dry) for 48 hours even though it will touch dry after on hour. This is to let the dope start tightening.

Apply a second coat as the first using butyrate dope.
This second coat can be colored if you like.

No more than two coats of dope on this light structure.

Good luck and Happy New Year.

Zor

LargeScale88

Looking good. Guillows makes great kits. Any warbird big or small is worth seeing.

Keep us posted!

Jason

rrcorbell

Finally got the covering on. I think that was more nerve-wracking and tedious than anything else has been.

LunaSea

Some will think this comment is crazy, but... At this point, you have already gained most of the knowledge benefit that you will get from this building experience. Don't waste any more time on that stick/tissue build unless you are just dieing to have a "desk model"... Go ahead and move on the the bigger kit ALTHOUGH a Corsair is a more challenging build and NOT a good trainer... Unless you have substantial RC flying experience already, you might want to consider building something more suitable for a trainer. There are many "trainers" on the market, mostly high-winged, flat-bottom airfoil types. They are fine, but if you are a quick study on the flying aspects, you will quickly outgrow them. If you have good local training support (instructor), I would actually recommend something a bit more capable. The old Bridi-designed RCM Trainers were nice, high-wing but symetrical airfoil, have decent aerobatic capabilty, but I don't think anyone is kitting them anymore (plans ARE available). I think something along the line of the Sig 4-star series (.60 size would be nice for glow) is relatively easy to fly (with competent instruction) and offers a LOT of developmental capability as your skills improve...

flyingtheoldones

My Feedback: (1)

LumaSea is exactly right. You now have the skills, probably already did before you started on the FF Gillows kit, seeing how well you've executed it. But get a good trainer. The Bridi trainer (RCM also has copies) kits are awsome. They are not die-cut or laser cut, but are machine cut and sanded, which is what I prefer. They are no longer in production, but are available often on the eb*y and here as well. another good line is the oldGreat Planestrainer kits.Great Planesmade a 20, 40 and 60 series trainer, in kit form never as an ARF, which had a fully symetrical airfoil. These were also machinecutkits and sellvery high on the auction sites, but are worth it,IMHO. They were named GP Tainer 20, GP Trainer 40. etc..GP also made a line of "PT" (perfect trainers)trainers. The PT 20, PT 40, etc.. was a flat bottom airfoil and not as good as the older Trainer series, but sell way less and easier to find and are only good to fly as a trainer, not very aerobatic like the previously mentioned.
Be willing to spend about $150 for one ofthe performance trainers (fully sym. airfoil)kits. Since they are found mostly on auction sites, they can vary and you can get lucky, but most often they sell high, everyone wants one... even two.
Their is another I would recomend over all of these, and that would be a Carl Goldberg Falcon 56, in either the MKII or MKIII version. The Falcon is a shoulder wing and has a Fully sym. airfoil but also has a built up, airfoiled stab as well, which really improves on flying characteristics as well as lightning out the tail. The fuse is also built from 1/8" lightply with lightning holes in them. Being a shoulder mounted wing,itwll be much more suited towards performance than a high, or cabin mounted platform. The original Falcon 56 had a balsa fuse and was a bit weaker for the beginer, and they sell very high, I wouldn't sugest getting that one. But a MKII or MKIII sell for less than the Bridi and GP trainers. Reason is, the Goldberg kits were die cut. Even the liteply was die cut. So care is needed and some initial prep work (sanding) to the components would need to be done. But you will save lots of money since these do sell a bit lower. There are also a 1/2a version as well as a 60 sizeSr. Falcon. Both sell very high. The 1/2a is too small to really learn off of and the Sr. is the better flyer over the 56s but again sell for at least $150. The MKII kit is starting to gain value to collectors as well and are selling high too, So I would recomend the MKIII for the value. I alsothink that the CG Falcons design were the highest produced kits.
After a trainer aquick to build and easy to fly sport plane would be good. Jemco had a line of "fun scale" models of the war birds. Never had one but I'm sure someone here can comment on the kits, again, gotta hunt them down as well as they too are no longer in production... sad really.
Hope this helps some..


DM

gene6029

rrcorbell, Nice work for a stick & tissue model! You have shown us you have the skills and patience to build. Welcome to the hobby. Allways glad to see a new builder...Gene

rrcorbell

Thanks to all for your help. No, I don't plan to fly the Corsair for quite a while, I have heard it is one of the most challenging out there, especially on takeoff. I would like to get a .60 size trainer again. I had one that was covered in fabric and I loved, but I never got to fly it due to engine trouble, and I had to sell it before we moved in June. I also have a substantially greater income now, and a much better work space. Anyway, thanks again for your help, and I hope to see some of you out on the runway sometime.

dash008

My Feedback: (1)

I hope you finish the Gullows kit. I'd like to see what it looks like when you start putting the dope on. You are doing a great job. Shame not to finish it.

Gray Beard

My Feedback: (-1)

Always finish what you start. If you can build a guillows you can pretty much build anything. I was into U-Controls and free flights for a lot of years and silk span was my covering of choice. I always put it on with dope first then used a mister to wet and shrink the covering then finished it with straight dope. You can use a water based paint to cover the Guillows with an air brush, works very well. I know people building the Guillows and converting them to electric RC. They work pretty well but look like a hand full when they fly them.

rrcorbell

Yes, I will be finishing the P-40 as well as the other 2 I bought. I figure I paid money for them, so I might as well go ahead and put them together. More photos to follow.

rrcorbell

Here is my progress so far on the Corsair, as well as an update on the little stick built models. I think the filling, sanding, and priming is taking longer than it did to frame it all up!

rrcorbell

Here is my current progress on the Corsair. I have joined the tip panels to the center wing section, started sanding on the LE and TE, began preparing the oil cooler areas for the plastic parts, and started on the fuselage.

rrcorbell

I do have a couple of questions that I can't seem to find the right forum postings to help me, and I have done quite a bit of searching on the internet to no avail. I bought the scale cockpit kit for the Corsair, as well as a retractable tailwheel. The instructions provided with each pretty much pertain to the assembly of the pieces, with little to no information about actually mounting on the kit. Can anyone help point me toward some resources to deal with these two items?