NCIS

Hello,

I'm ordering a Precission Cut Kit of the Don Smith 1/4 Scale F4U-1 Corsair and plans, canopy, and cowling from Don. I can't find anything about building this plane. I tried RCSCALEBUILDERS and they have some Don Smith planes but not a single Corsair. I was hoping to be able to follow a thread on this build. Does anyone know where I might find one? Has there ever been one built on this Forum? If not I guess when I start I'll just start a new thread on the build. I would like to read an entire thread on the build befopre I start and also have it for references.

Any help would be appreciated,

Gibbs

mirwin

My Feedback: (1)

Gibbs,

I don't know of such a thread so it may be up to you. I would be VERY interested to see how it goes.

Gest of luck,
Mike

scalebirdman

My Feedback: (6)

I haven't seen a thread on the 1/4 version anywhere. Have you confirmed with Don that the canopy and cowl are available? They arn't listed on his web site.

NCIS

Hello,

I guess I'm on my own on this one. Well I sure hope the plans have a lot of info on them!Don sells the canopy and cowling direct. I'm sending Kit Cutters money for purchasing and shipping the plans so they can cut the kit. I will order the other things from Don.

Gibbs

joey_snaproll

My Feedback: (32)

Hi ,You might have seen this already but a fella over at rcwarbirds.com made a 152" span Corsair .Hi's name is Jeff Quesenbarry ,He likes the big birds.Drop him a line and see if he can help you or know of a build thread for your plane.

http://www.rcwarbirds.com/Figthers/C...orsairpage.htm
http://www.rcwarbirds.com/Advisors/Jeff/advisorjeff.htm

Joe

TLH101

My Feedback: (90)

The large D/S Corsair is a new plan, you may be the first to build it.

NCIS

Hey Guy's,

Well now I'm a Gueiny Pig!!! I probably spelled that wrong but who cares. I just want the kit and get to it. It won't ship to me until sometime in October. They have a pretty busy schedule. That's OK because I won't be done with my 1/8 scale TF Corsair until after that anyway.

Gibbs

NCIS

Hey Guy's,

I changed my mind and ordered my kit from Dino at Meister. I didn't know it but he cuts all of Precision Cut Kits and for Don Smith Plans. He is very reasonable and is going to cut the 1/4 Scale 120" Wingspan F4U-1 Corsair for me. I ordered the plans and the canopy through Don and hope to have them soon. His cowlings are still 10 days out so I just ordered the canopy for now. I'll order the cowling when it comes in. I sold more of my TF Giant Corsair equipment and ordered the Solo 3 bladed 30" diameter prop complete with spinner as seen in pictures. Here are some pictures of the 3 and 4 blade version. I will post pictures of the canopy when I get it and same with the cowling. Things are starting to roll. I should have my kit in 4 to 6 weeks from what Dino told me. You Guy's were right. Only 1 of this kit was even cut because it is a new design and size and Dino doesn't know if the Guy built it yet or not. I hope I can build this baby. The same stupid picture of my Yak shows up everytime I post pictures. Just ignore it. I sold it anyway to help pay for this project.

Wish me LUCK!

Gibbs

rt3232

My Feedback: (6)

gibbs

Just delete the pic from your file.

Bob

NCIS

Good idea Bob.

Thanks,

Gibbs

NCIS

Hello,

Update on ordering and equipment. I should have the plans today and I ordered the Canopy and it shipped yesterday. As soon as I get the plans I have to ship them to Florida to be cut by Pat at Laser Cutters through Dino at Meister. They have the 100" size Don Smith Corsair but not the 120". I ordered the 32 x 12 Solo 3 bladed prop in the Corsair profile painted flat black and then balanced by Carl. I am going with the 3W 200 cc engine at 20 HP. I am going to probably get the pilot from Dino at Meister in the 1/4 scale size. Retracts will be custom made by Darrell at Sierra. I am waiting on the cowl from Don when he gets them in. The wheels will be 8" or smaller according to what looks like scale aluminum 8 spoke by Sierra. The lighting system will come from either Wingspan Models or Dino at Meister. I still have things to get but have to think about it once I get started on the build. I'm not sure on the servos yet and there are other small things I'll need. I will probably get the cockpit cutom made by somebody in Europe. They do great detail scale work over there. I am having a hard time finding a dummy radial engine for this size plane. If anyone knows for sure where I can get one let me know. I already tried FS and Stan's. Anyway thats all I can think of right now.

Gibbs

rt3232

My Feedback: (6)

Hi Gibbs

I don't want to spend your money, but an on board starter would realy be great and would probly help with the weight needed in the nose.

Cheers Bob T

NCIS

Ok Bob,

Good idea. I have never used one on any of my planes before. How much do they weigh. I don't even know if Don's Corsair is going to need weight in the nose but I can use it to help balance it anywhere right? Heres the paint scheme I'm using on it. What do you all think of the paint scheme?

Gibbs

BarracudaHockey

My Feedback: (11)

VF 17, nice. Beware of that picture, the kill flags were only on the left side of the plane.

scalebirdman

My Feedback: (6)

That would depend on whether you are doing the original or the resto bird.

rt3232

My Feedback: (6)

Gibbs

We looked a a coupla a the Toledo show, but I did not pay attention as I was not looking for one, but give me a few days and I will go thru my files and literature to see if I can help, or at least point you in the right direction. and I am sure some of the guys reading this thread will help

cheers Bob T

Corsair Brotherhood #5

NCIS

I got em,

The Don Smith plans came today and I immediatly shipped them down to Laser Cut US in Florida to start setting up their computer laser. They will be there Saturday and I hope Pat starts on it Tuesday after Memorial day. I'm getting more and more excited. I am waiting on a small nipple for my left hand retract airline before I can test the gear for leaks and for proper opoeration so I can sheet over them. So while I'm waiting I have been on this internet ordering just about everything but the 3W 200 engine. I'll order that as soon as I can afford it. Hopefully in the next two weeks. I'll post pic's of the Canopy when it comes and the engine when I get that. The Solo prop should ship on June 1st.

Wish me luck my friends,

Barry

kochj

Hey there Barry,
I am thinking about doing this kit but price is always a consideration.
What will be the total price?
(just add up the major stuff like retracts, engine,cut kit with plastic finishings, plans)

Thanks
I might go with something more basic, but I have always wanted to do a project like this with my dad.
How far is Janesville WI from MPLS MN?
I guess you could help me if I get stuck through the web right??

Justin

NCIS

kochj,

Here is a breakdown per item:

Plans.......................................$72.00
Cut kit......................................$450.00
Canopy.....................................$75.00
Cowl.........................................$68.0 0
Dummy Radial...........................$32.00
3W 200 20 HP engine..................$1850.00
Sierra custom retracts incl. TW....$1500.00
Solo 32" diameter 3 blade prop....$325.00
Total for just this.........................$4372.00

I figure that by the time it is ready for it's Maiden I will have about $7000.00 invested in it not counting my time to build it. There are many other things to buy that you didn't consider to be big items. Here is a list:

8" 8 spoke aluminum wheels
Lighting system
Wire for the lights
LED's
Lens covers
About 17 servos
RX & Crystal
Battery packs
Hinges
pushrods
Filler or putty
Heavy 6oz. fiberglass cloth
Finishing cloth
Resin
Hardner
Finishing resin
Primer
Paint
Cockpit
Pilot
Radio extensions
Y-Harnesses
Plus a list that I can't even think of as far a misc. odds and ends

Don't forget to get insurance in case you crash it. As far as me helping you out I will do my best. Beleive me I'm going to have a handfull with this project myself. I wouldn't build it if I didn't have a fellow Club member thats a friend who is a master scratch builder. Everyone takes their crashed planes to him and he takes all the small piececs of balsa that he tells you to recover from the crash site and makes new parts just from bits and pieces. He is able to figure out what size and shape they were and reconstruct. When he is finished and the plane is completely recovered it looks like new. He doesn't consider a plane unfixable as long as he see theres a chance to save it. Plus he says nobody crashes, they just have uncontrolled landings. I hope you do build it and your about 6 hours away on Interstate 90/94. I hope you have a big trailer.

Gibbs

NCIS

Hello,

If anyone is on here from the TF Giant Corsair Group Build I wanted to show you how big this Don Smith 1/4 scale will be compared to TF's Giant Corsair. I still like the TF Giant but am happy I went crazy and got the 1/4 scale instead. Now I just wish I could sell the rest of the stuff and the kit to get things for this kit. I got my Canopy today and took a side by side picture of it and the TF Giant's Canopy. Here are a couple pictures to illustrate the difference in size.

Gibbs

mobyal

I want to watch this one....

rt3232

My Feedback: (6)

Hi Gibbs

Well I said I would try to help you find a on board starter system, but I have gone thru my files(stuff) and nothing. You might check with some of the fellows over on the gas engine forum

Good luck

Bob T
Corsair brotherhood #5

NCIS

Bob,

I haven't had time to check into that yet but when I'm ready I'll check on that Forum and see if I can get some answers. I'm waiting on the Cowling from Don right now. He will ship it as soon as my check arrives. I also found a source for the scale cockpit that will be built off Don' plans. The guy builds that section of the plane and then builds the cockpit in it. I thought that was very nice and cool too. I'm getting my dummy radial made by Wasp from William Brothers. The dummy is 3D not just the front half. It's also painted and looks like it could really run. I'm getting Darrel at Sierra to custom make the retract for me. I should have everything ordered by next weekend. I wish it wasn't so much $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Gibbs

NCIS

Got it,

I received the cowling for the Corsair kit yesterday late so Im posting a picture today. It is a lot bigger than the TF giant Corsair cowling I sold. If I still had it I'd show a side by side comparison. The diameter is 14" and the length is 11". The hole in the front is 10 1/2". The wasp 11 3/4" diameter dummy radial engine will fit perfectly. Heres a couple pic's.

Gibbs

Tomcat_104

My Feedback: (42)

Gibbs,David

I just found this forum today. Good Luck! I will follow your build with great anticipation. I will check to see if Dino knows my Meister "rep" on Monday and let you know.