Top-Flite 1/5th F4U Corsair ARF Group Build and modification thread
01-28-2018, 09:41 AM
#551
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Shaun, Just checked mine everything is solid. Although I've only had 1 flight on mine it flew fine. Like it was on guide rails. Only had a 3 bounce landing and had to replace one electric
motor in one gear. Otherwise it's ready to go again when ever i get a chance to take it out. John T. Corsair brotherhood # 96
motor in one gear. Otherwise it's ready to go again when ever i get a chance to take it out. John T. Corsair brotherhood # 96
01-28-2018, 09:51 AM
#552
Call Tower and ask them to give you another one. This is a clear defect and has not been reported by anyone else during the life of this dedicated thread. It must be a build defect generated by the factory. At the least, ask for a new fuselage, stab/elevator and rudder assembly, though likely a new, complete kit would be cheaper for Tower. The plane is dangerous.
I'm sure they'll say they have no control over how I assembled it. That seems reasonable to me, too. The structure back there is pretty flimsy, though. ..
01-28-2018, 11:53 AM
#554
01-28-2018, 07:55 PM
#557
Ive tried to deal with Tower Customer Service on this plane in the past with ZERO help from them.
In stark contrast they sent me 3 cowls for another plane because they kept getting damaged in shipping. So as far as I can tell your chances of getting anywhere are 50/50 at best.
You can take photos and show them your problem but I fear because you have fixed something they will say they can't help you. Playing devils advocate how do I know you didn't have a bad landing and break it yourself?
So post some pics, we can look at ours and see if between all of us we can solve your issue back in the tail area.
The weird thing is from your post it would appear like nothing is sticking to the wood!?!
In stark contrast they sent me 3 cowls for another plane because they kept getting damaged in shipping. So as far as I can tell your chances of getting anywhere are 50/50 at best.
You can take photos and show them your problem but I fear because you have fixed something they will say they can't help you. Playing devils advocate how do I know you didn't have a bad landing and break it yourself?
So post some pics, we can look at ours and see if between all of us we can solve your issue back in the tail area.
The weird thing is from your post it would appear like nothing is sticking to the wood!?!
01-30-2018, 04:31 AM
#558
Chris,
You nailed it with the non-stick wood! Strangest thing! Even the glass easily peels up in the tail area, so now I suspect maybe the wood filler I used is preventing adhesion. This is in spite of my having sanded and cleaned the area before I applied the gussets.
UPDATE:
I've tried to post pics several times but it times out before my phone can upload them
I've fixed this issue (fingers crossed) and have five flights since the fix. So far so good. There are two bolts holding the stab down. The front one was very loose. When tightened, the stab was more stable and also my incidence issue went away. I removed the tailcone and epoxied a piece of 1/16" carbon plate across the cross-section of the tail, including the 3 inches of the center of the stab trailing edge between the elevator torque rods and the vertical area under the rudder where the hole is for the tailcone tab. Now the stab and part of the fin are tied into the fuse with carbon plate. I reinstalled the cone and flew. Ill try to post pics again.
BTW, I wouldn't contact Tower and ask for anything until I was sure it was their fault. If I had a dollar for every time a customer came in and wanted a freebie or got mad because he sheeted his foam wing without taking the core out of the blanks first...
You nailed it with the non-stick wood! Strangest thing! Even the glass easily peels up in the tail area, so now I suspect maybe the wood filler I used is preventing adhesion. This is in spite of my having sanded and cleaned the area before I applied the gussets.
UPDATE:
I've tried to post pics several times but it times out before my phone can upload them
I've fixed this issue (fingers crossed) and have five flights since the fix. So far so good. There are two bolts holding the stab down. The front one was very loose. When tightened, the stab was more stable and also my incidence issue went away. I removed the tailcone and epoxied a piece of 1/16" carbon plate across the cross-section of the tail, including the 3 inches of the center of the stab trailing edge between the elevator torque rods and the vertical area under the rudder where the hole is for the tailcone tab. Now the stab and part of the fin are tied into the fuse with carbon plate. I reinstalled the cone and flew. Ill try to post pics again.BTW, I wouldn't contact Tower and ask for anything until I was sure it was their fault. If I had a dollar for every time a customer came in and wanted a freebie or got mad because he sheeted his foam wing without taking the core out of the blanks first...
Last edited by Shaun Evans; 01-30-2018 at 07:26 AM.
02-04-2018, 11:47 AM
#560
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Great thread fellas! I am searching for a set of main gear for this plane. Tower is out of stock. Used is OK with me as is air or electric. Anyone have a set lay8ng around that you may consider selling to me? Thanks. Ken
02-25-2018, 04:58 PM
#564
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Very nice Dan! I was looking to do that scheme so I'm glad you did it. I hope to have my pics soon as i'm nearing the finish line. Now to figure out those darn tailwheel doors.
02-27-2018, 08:06 PM
#565
Here’s a link to Carrier Air Wing Markings https://goo.gl/images/7rzkX2
You can find a scheme and the carrier it belonged to then read up on the squadron and its action. My favorite is the CV-17 Bunker Hill scheme which is the beginning of the Jolly Rogers. They raided Tokyo and the yellow band nose represents that attack.
My Corsair sports this scheme with the yellow nose and highly visible to fly.
You can find a scheme and the carrier it belonged to then read up on the squadron and its action. My favorite is the CV-17 Bunker Hill scheme which is the beginning of the Jolly Rogers. They raided Tokyo and the yellow band nose represents that attack.
My Corsair sports this scheme with the yellow nose and highly visible to fly.
05-04-2018, 06:47 AM
#568
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here is a video i just made of my corsair with the FG90. i did this with my mobius camera so its not the best but it gets some info out there on what it takes to get the radial on this model. i hope you enjoy it!
05-07-2018, 09:52 PM
#571
Flew the F4U / FG84 RE Mod this past weekend with a new prop. Before it was running a 24x14 turning 7400rpm in flight which I felt was just a bit too much. I wanted to run at 7000 max in flight so I got a Biela 23x12x3 to see if I could get close. On the ground it tached at about 5000 but in flight telemetry logged 6880rpm.
With this combo it’s very fast, climbs out with authority and looks great doing it.
Its been a year since I flew this plane and it just came right back to me, no problems. As warbirds go this one is still my favorite for how easy it handles in all weather conditions here. It was gusting to 12-16mph as a storm approached and 90 degrees to the runway but I decided to fly anyway. It hates crosswind and will turn into the wind at lower speeds making you really fly the rudder. I didn’t fight it too much taking off but landing I made use of our crosswind grass runway. Still the wind was at 45 degrees but the landing was fine. Up high though I practiced some stalls and stuff and you could easily see the plane weather vane in the wind at lower speeds. Lots of side fuselage and tail for that.
Anyway, cool plane, wish it was more scale and less ARFy with its wrinkly monocote but there’s no way I’d want to glass it unless I replaced the Saito with a DLE 55RA or 61. Just too heavy like that.
With this combo it’s very fast, climbs out with authority and looks great doing it.
Its been a year since I flew this plane and it just came right back to me, no problems. As warbirds go this one is still my favorite for how easy it handles in all weather conditions here. It was gusting to 12-16mph as a storm approached and 90 degrees to the runway but I decided to fly anyway. It hates crosswind and will turn into the wind at lower speeds making you really fly the rudder. I didn’t fight it too much taking off but landing I made use of our crosswind grass runway. Still the wind was at 45 degrees but the landing was fine. Up high though I practiced some stalls and stuff and you could easily see the plane weather vane in the wind at lower speeds. Lots of side fuselage and tail for that.
Anyway, cool plane, wish it was more scale and less ARFy with its wrinkly monocote but there’s no way I’d want to glass it unless I replaced the Saito with a DLE 55RA or 61. Just too heavy like that.
05-08-2018, 07:56 AM
#572
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thanks chris, i really wondered what a 3 blade would run like on the FG84-90. i have been running the 24x12 xoar and it makes 6000 rpm on the ground. i like the performance in the air but i know it is twisting my FG90 really hard. i am really close to going with the Biela 23x10x3 semi scale for my corsair. i really agree with you about the ARFy look to the TF corsair and the wrinkly monokote but i chose this model for something to fly with the FG90 and have fun with and not get too fussy about. could you post a picture of your corsair sporting the 23x12x3 it would be neat to see it... and probably push me into buying a 3 blade.
05-08-2018, 08:37 PM
#574
@jag, yes I was running a Xoar 24x12 two blade also and it was way too little prop. Stepped it up to 24x14 and still not enough prop. I would say it would be better to run an adjustable prop from Vario or Solo now knowing what the engine can do. I think the Vario hub is lighter and better looking than the Solo.
The FG90 should be able to handle the 23x12x3 prop and even a little more. The RPM limit is 7000 also but with a little more torque than the 84.
The FG90 should be able to handle the 23x12x3 prop and even a little more. The RPM limit is 7000 also but with a little more torque than the 84.
05-09-2018, 11:15 AM
#575
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the three blade is very cool on your corsair and a real performer . i looked into the Vario and a four or three blade with extra blades would be well into the 200 dollar range but super adjustable and very good looking. gerhard has a biela 24x10 4 blade @ 120 dollars and the 24x10x3 for 10 dollars less both in semi scale. i wonder if these semi scale choices would be pushing the limit for the FG90.
