Top-Flite 1/5th F4U Corsair ARF Group Build and modification thread
03-26-2019, 01:07 PM
#626
Looking good! Im really interested in final weight when you get there.
From my experience this plane will fly ok at a higher weight but the landing approach and touch down will be faster in certain conditions. I want to glass mine too so I can't wait for your maiden and flight reports on this one.
Im switching back to 2 stroke and using the DLE 61 this time. Last time I had the DLE 55RA and it was very sporty and light. With the FG 84 it really gets a head of steam and climbs way out but flies heavy in the pattern to land. Im looking for the in between performance from the 61 and glassing it might put it back to the heavy side.
Did you use a 2mm wide tape for the panel lines? I used a now out of production Kartograph tape that was 1mm wide for my P-38 project and now I can only find 2mm tape from Tamiya. Anybody know of 1mm tape please chime in!
From my experience this plane will fly ok at a higher weight but the landing approach and touch down will be faster in certain conditions. I want to glass mine too so I can't wait for your maiden and flight reports on this one.
Im switching back to 2 stroke and using the DLE 61 this time. Last time I had the DLE 55RA and it was very sporty and light. With the FG 84 it really gets a head of steam and climbs way out but flies heavy in the pattern to land. Im looking for the in between performance from the 61 and glassing it might put it back to the heavy side.
Did you use a 2mm wide tape for the panel lines? I used a now out of production Kartograph tape that was 1mm wide for my P-38 project and now I can only find 2mm tape from Tamiya. Anybody know of 1mm tape please chime in!
03-27-2019, 02:33 AM
#627
My Feedback: (18)
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Queen Creek, AZ
Posts: 779
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Looking good! Im really interested in final weight when you get there.
From my experience this plane will fly ok at a higher weight but the landing approach and touch down will be faster in certain conditions. I want to glass mine too so I can't wait for your maiden and flight reports on this one.
Im switching back to 2 stroke and using the DLE 61 this time. Last time I had the DLE 55RA and it was very sporty and light. With the FG 84 it really gets a head of steam and climbs way out but flies heavy in the pattern to land. Im looking for the in between performance from the 61 and glassing it might put it back to the heavy side.
Did you use a 2mm wide tape for the panel lines? I used a now out of production Kartograph tape that was 1mm wide for my P-38 project and now I can only find 2mm tape from Tamiya. Anybody know of 1mm tape please chime in!
From my experience this plane will fly ok at a higher weight but the landing approach and touch down will be faster in certain conditions. I want to glass mine too so I can't wait for your maiden and flight reports on this one.
Im switching back to 2 stroke and using the DLE 61 this time. Last time I had the DLE 55RA and it was very sporty and light. With the FG 84 it really gets a head of steam and climbs way out but flies heavy in the pattern to land. Im looking for the in between performance from the 61 and glassing it might put it back to the heavy side.
Did you use a 2mm wide tape for the panel lines? I used a now out of production Kartograph tape that was 1mm wide for my P-38 project and now I can only find 2mm tape from Tamiya. Anybody know of 1mm tape please chime in!
03-28-2019, 06:48 PM
#628
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
04-09-2019, 10:38 PM
#630
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Southern Minnesota USA
Posts: 225
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
so is this right? tower says the TF Giant Corsair ARF will be available again in late may?!!? i thought these were discontinued?
https://www.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXATDZ&P=0
https://www.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXATDZ&P=0
04-10-2019, 02:49 PM
#632
Interesting, a little heavy.
If you have never flown this plane on the heavy side then you’re going to notice the weight almost immediately. Mine balances on the aluminum wing spar with the stab level, gear down and tank dry. In this configuration I can land with low fuel and the plane is very docile and easy to handle. If it was more nose heavy then the landings will get more sporty and less comfortable.
So just a suggestion, at the new weight, take it up high and do some stalls and dirty approaches with a couple flap settings so you can get the feel of it. It was very different from the light configuration for me and I had to figure it out. It reminded me of the H9 Corsair in the way it handled heavy on approach.
Happy landings, keep us posted and I hope you get video!
If you have never flown this plane on the heavy side then you’re going to notice the weight almost immediately. Mine balances on the aluminum wing spar with the stab level, gear down and tank dry. In this configuration I can land with low fuel and the plane is very docile and easy to handle. If it was more nose heavy then the landings will get more sporty and less comfortable.
So just a suggestion, at the new weight, take it up high and do some stalls and dirty approaches with a couple flap settings so you can get the feel of it. It was very different from the light configuration for me and I had to figure it out. It reminded me of the H9 Corsair in the way it handled heavy on approach.
Happy landings, keep us posted and I hope you get video!
04-10-2019, 02:55 PM
#633
I have seen it installed and working before. I have one but have not installed it because I’d have to undo my custom servo installation, rudder servo in back above the gear.
I’d suggest you do it so the tail isn’t so low to the ground especially on grass. I had to modify the Robart gear to increase the height and just clear the door opening at the back.
04-10-2019, 03:15 PM
#634
My Feedback: (18)
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Queen Creek, AZ
Posts: 779
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Interesting, a little heavy.
If you have never flown this plane on the heavy side then you’re going to notice the weight almost immediately. Mine balances on the aluminum wing spar with the stab level, gear down and tank dry. In this configuration I can land with low fuel and the plane is very docile and easy to handle. If it was more nose heavy then the landings will get more sporty and less comfortable.
So just a suggestion, at the new weight, take it up high and do some stalls and dirty approaches with a couple flap settings so you can get the feel of it. It was very different from the light configuration for me and I had to figure it out. It reminded me of the H9 Corsair in the way it handled heavy on approach.
Happy landings, keep us posted and I hope you get video!
If you have never flown this plane on the heavy side then you’re going to notice the weight almost immediately. Mine balances on the aluminum wing spar with the stab level, gear down and tank dry. In this configuration I can land with low fuel and the plane is very docile and easy to handle. If it was more nose heavy then the landings will get more sporty and less comfortable.
So just a suggestion, at the new weight, take it up high and do some stalls and dirty approaches with a couple flap settings so you can get the feel of it. It was very different from the light configuration for me and I had to figure it out. It reminded me of the H9 Corsair in the way it handled heavy on approach.
Happy landings, keep us posted and I hope you get video!
04-10-2019, 07:08 PM
#635
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I does fit.
I have seen it installed and working before. I have one but have not installed it because I’d have to undo my custom servo installation, rudder servo in back above the gear.
I’d suggest you do it so the tail isn’t so low to the ground especially on grass. I had to modify the Robart gear to increase the height and just clear the door opening at the back.
thanks for the info
04-10-2019, 07:10 PM
#636
Join Date: Dec 2014
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I does fit.
I have seen it installed and working before. I have one but have not installed it because I’d have to undo my custom servo installation, rudder servo in back above the gear.
I’d suggest you do it so the tail isn’t so low to the ground especially on grass. I had to modify the Robart gear to increase the height and just clear the door opening at the back.
Interesting, a little heavy.
If you have never flown this plane on the heavy side then you’re going to notice the weight almost immediately. Mine balances on the aluminum wing spar with the stab level, gear down and tank dry. In this configuration I can land with low fuel and the plane is very docile and easy to handle. If it was more nose heavy then the landings will get more sporty and less comfortable.
So just a suggestion, at the new weight, take it up high and do some stalls and dirty approaches with a couple flap settings so you can get the feel of it. It was very different from the light configuration for me and I had to figure it out. It reminded me of the H9 Corsair in the way it handled heavy on approach.
Happy landings, keep us posted and I hope you get video!
If you have never flown this plane on the heavy side then you’re going to notice the weight almost immediately. Mine balances on the aluminum wing spar with the stab level, gear down and tank dry. In this configuration I can land with low fuel and the plane is very docile and easy to handle. If it was more nose heavy then the landings will get more sporty and less comfortable.
So just a suggestion, at the new weight, take it up high and do some stalls and dirty approaches with a couple flap settings so you can get the feel of it. It was very different from the light configuration for me and I had to figure it out. It reminded me of the H9 Corsair in the way it handled heavy on approach.
Happy landings, keep us posted and I hope you get video!
04-10-2019, 11:53 PM
#638
Since the gear swing forward there is a CG shift.
I balance with the gear down and the tank empty so I know the plane will never have a rear CG condition. Most likely the tank will not be empty so between the aerodynamic drag of the gear down and the least amount of fuel possible the plane will always be neutral to slightly nose heavy on approach.
If you balance with the gear retracted and tank empty then the plane will have a CG shift to a nose heavy condition plus any fuel load it carries.
If you want a more agile plane try it with the gear down and tank empty.
I balance with the gear down and the tank empty so I know the plane will never have a rear CG condition. Most likely the tank will not be empty so between the aerodynamic drag of the gear down and the least amount of fuel possible the plane will always be neutral to slightly nose heavy on approach.
If you balance with the gear retracted and tank empty then the plane will have a CG shift to a nose heavy condition plus any fuel load it carries.
If you want a more agile plane try it with the gear down and tank empty.
04-20-2019, 08:27 PM
#644
Started the engine make over on my Corsair. Dropped the FG 84 and now she gets a DLE 61 with a Jtec Pitts style muffler.
I have a custom firewall made for the FG 84 that lets me pull everything out at once, tank, servo included. Now Im changing it over to the DLE 61 and had to make an adapter bulkhead. Pretty simple, used the 30mm standoffs from the FG 84 so the prop hub is in the same basic position.
I was looking at the specs on this engine, the 61, and the claimed thrust is 30 or so pounds! Im looking forward to this hot rod! This plane will be well under 30 pounds soaking wet so vertical climb outs and loops are going to be huge.
A few photos to come...
I have a custom firewall made for the FG 84 that lets me pull everything out at once, tank, servo included. Now Im changing it over to the DLE 61 and had to make an adapter bulkhead. Pretty simple, used the 30mm standoffs from the FG 84 so the prop hub is in the same basic position.
I was looking at the specs on this engine, the 61, and the claimed thrust is 30 or so pounds! Im looking forward to this hot rod! This plane will be well under 30 pounds soaking wet so vertical climb outs and loops are going to be huge.
A few photos to come...
. Damage does not look too bad.
04-23-2019, 03:42 PM
#646
Cool, now you can reprofile the rudder to a more scale look with slightly more area! I did this mod to mine is why I mention it... not the dropping part, just the rudder.
That sucks, I hope its ok.I have mine up high for storage too and I have had visions of it falling also.
That sucks, I hope its ok.I have mine up high for storage too and I have had visions of it falling also.
