maddingo

Hey Fellas,

Great thread. I too can't get in touch with IRON BAY. Really silly how they can't get back via phone or e-mail.

Does anyone know of an unfinished kit for sale out there or a RTF. I'm looking to buy. If not I'll have to go the way of the TF GS kit and build away.

Thanks.

Dave

Fly2XS

My Feedback: (65)

Dave,
Welcome!
It looks like Chad has a contact for a NEW kit, retracts, engine & PurrPower package available in Arizona. The price looks good.
I may be selling one of my projects but shipping it could be a bear!

I search for Iron Bay Models and I came up with this beauty:
http://websupp.org/data/NDWV/5:05-cv-00082-23-NDWV.pdf

It may be old and out of date as I hear some guys were gettting product as recently as March of 2009. I've been trying to contact John Craig since July with no response. The phone just rings and rings. My e-mails are unanswered. I have not tried snail-mail yet.

Here's something from one of the other threads:
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9109354


Scott

Canuck1

Hello fellow Corsair enthusiasts
Have returned from a long 9 1/2 months in Kandahar, and am looking forward to getting back to the project.
The honey do list is not exaustive, but have a few things to do before i get back to the Corsair.
I will update the progress as i proceed, may not be until after christmas, but i am determined to get back at it.
I first need to figure out (remember) where I left off, then proceed from there. it is nice to see this thread progressing, and look forward to posting soon.

Craig

Fly2XS

My Feedback: (65)

Welcome Home Craig!
Looking forward to seeing more from you!
Do you have snow yet?
Scott

F4U_corsair

Its nice to have you back Craig.
I too got a brandnew Byron Corsair with all gears and i will pick it up in two weeks in California and can use a lot of info posted here by you,,,, keep up the good work bud.

CorsairJock

My Feedback: (90)

OK guys, Let's talk Main Gear Wheels:
Mine did not come with any wheels, and since the odds of getting a set from Iron Bay sound doesn't sound to good, what are the alternatives?

I'm thinking true scale size is right around 5 1/2", but going slightly smaller might not be noticable, and will make it easier to fit them when retracted, as well as keeping them lighter.
I am leaning towards the Dubro 5" (Lite) scale wheels: they have a sorta nice scale look (except I would HAVE to paint those plastic hubs)
Robarts: better looking, no doubt heavier, BUT: I could not even find any in this size range.
The Sullivans in this size really look all wrong: the hub is way too small in proportion to the tire. Likewise withe the Dave Browns

Any thoughts/ recommendations? Do you guys think the 5" ones will look alright, OR do I need to step all the way up to 5 1/2"? BTW: the Iron Bay/ Byron ones are 5 1/4", aren't they?

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXD785&P=SM
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXFV60&P=SM
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXHML6&P=SM
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXB932&P=SM

ccostant

My Feedback: (38)

How about wheels from Vailly Aviation? Or depending on how much you want to spend, Sierra? Just a thought.

Fly2XS

My Feedback: (65)

I just spent 30 minutes composing a post to compare wheels & prices and it was wiped out.
I'll try it again.

WhoDaMan

My Feedback: (164)

Ya gotta go with scale tires and rims, Mine are painted white now

Fly2XS

My Feedback: (65)

Wheels for Byron’s or TF 87� Scale Corsair:

I found you can spend as much or as little as you want on wheels for your main landing gear. Planning can give you a terrific look while saving some money.

I’ve looked at (6) different sets of wheels and I’ll list them below:

Brand: Robart Mfg.
Web Site: http://www.robart.com
Description: 5� or 5 ½� dia. treaded tires on 8-spoke machined aluminum hubs (Oilite bushings)
Price: ~ $150/set
Availability: Readily available
Comment: I have a set of 5 1/2� wheels for my Ziroli Corsair. They look terrific!

Brand: DuBro
Web Site: http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXD786&P=7
Description: 5� or 5 ½� dia treaded Lightweight Wheel on 8-spoke molded hub (No bushing)
Price: < $20/wheel
Availability: Readily available
Comment: I picked up a set for a Corsair I was selling. Needed to drill out axle to install brass tube as a bushing.

Brand: Byron’s Warbird Wheels
Web Site: http://www.ironbaymodelcompany.com/
Description: 5 ¼� dia. scale knobby Goodyear tires on molded plastic hubs (no bushings)
Price: ?
Availability: Used on eBay. Iron Bay has not responded to telephone calls or e-mails from July – Nov. 2009.
Comment: These look great, but the hubs need to be bushed and reinforced. I’ve bought spare tires on eBay.

Brand: Vailly Aviation
Web Site: http://www.vaillyaviation.com/wheels.html
Description: 5� or 5 ½� dia treaded tires on cast aluminum 8-spoke rims (Oilite bushings)
Price:

CorsairJock

My Feedback: (90)

Thanks, Fly2XS.
Your post is definately enlightening and informative.
First off, it appears the the Byron/ Iron Bay wheels are not so scale after all, and therefor not worth the trouble of trying to locate a set.
Robart: I still haven't located the 5" and 5 1/2" ones, but at $150 a pair I'm not gonna bother to look for them either.
AeroTech: from what I have seen: not that scale either.
Vailly Aviation: Maybe.
Equinox RC: Now THAT'S what I'm talking about. I wonder how much they'll cost, any idea? Whatever it is, they are certainly the most scale looking of the bunch.
Sierra: They are looking pretty good looking also, I've e-mailed Darrell requesting a quote on 5 1/4" ones:
http://www.sierragiant.com/prod08.html
Dubro: all things considered, really not a bad choice. Drill them out and install bushing, paint them, and you end up with a set of inexpensive, light weight (and relatively narrow) wheels that look better/ more scale authentic than most of the more expensive ones.

Right now I'm thinking: best thing to do is wait until prices are announced on those Equinox wheels.

Thanks again for the post.
Pic is of restored FG-1D, which has what was pretty much the standard 8 spoke Corsair wheels in WW II.

Chad Veich

My Feedback: (60)

The Byron wheels are nearly perfect scale...

...if you're building a B-25 that is! Amazing how much mileage Byron was able to get from that set of wheels and tires. Even their Ryan STA used them!

Fly2XS

My Feedback: (65)

Jocko,
I don't know which manufacturer's wheels are more accurate and best for the buck.
I bought the 10-spoke AeroTech P-51 wheels because I could'nt get a set of Vailly's and I wanted the machined aluminum with out paying the Robart price.
I'll probably sell them to someone who's building a TF P-51.
I dug around my shop and pulled out my Robart 5 1/2" Wheels. I place one set of hubs on the Robart 5 1/2" tire and the other on the Byron's 5 1/4" tire.
Both tires have a foam core and have a rubber outer layer. The old Byron tires have a thin skin that abrades during a crosswind landing. The Robart tires are heavier but they look to be more durable.

I heard the Equinox wheels are being made here in Minnesota by my buddy Eric M. He does quality work so I don't expect a bargain basement price.
Have fun!
Scott

Fly2XS

My Feedback: (65)

That's a nice looking bird Jocko!
I was curious as to what the 1943 era tire looked so I found the enclosed photo from VF-17 on the Bunker Hill.
You can see from the closer tire that the tread is similar to the Byron's tire, a knobby, vs a straight tread as used later.
Scott

Cleco

My Feedback: (4)

Craig, Good to have you back safe. This is a great thread for the Byron Corsair, I have a kit that I would like to get started on but the kit seems to be missing the template sheets and some wing drawings but I am not shure what is missing, this is what I have:

2 fusalage construction sheets
1 tail group sheet
1 recommended flap construction sheet
0 template sheets

Can anyone see what is missing? I shot Iron Bay e-mails (service@ironbaymodel) but they fail. If they are available form anyone I would like to purchase them.

Thanks,
Charlie

Fly2XS

My Feedback: (65)

Charlie,
My buddy Gregg just gave me a wad of drawing for my #3 project. I'll see if I can scan them.
Scott

Fly2XS

My Feedback: (65)

I've updated my Wheel Comparison Post for Corsair Wheels:
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=9351071

Let us know if you have a better source for scale wheels for the Corsair and I'll add it to the list.
Thanks!
Scott

NCIS

I sent an email to Iron Bay yesterday/Sunday and got a response this morning from Dan Smith who wrote me back that if I wanted the Corsair to order it and I would have it in 4 weeks. Just a little food for thought. Maybe I will try it. I sure want one.

Barry

Vintauri

My Feedback: (25)

I'd see of you could call them too. They are hit or miss at e-mail. I got a promising response about some Ryan parts but then when I asked a question about ordering a specific part I never got a reply.

Cleco

My Feedback: (4)

I spoke to Dan at Iron Bay today and he said they don"t have any printed literature at this time. Scott did you get a chance to check your drawings and templates?

Thanks.
Charlie

By the way Dan said they would be back in full production some time this summer.

NCIS

That sounds great. Thats about when I will be able to buy one. Back to the landscaping business instead of freezing to death. $$$

Barry

Fly2XS

My Feedback: (65)

Charlie,
I'll check in the morning. From your address it sounds like you work at/near the base.

Barry,
How's the hand doing? I hope you're not shovelling like we did here in Minneapolis.
I'm getting back in touch with my Byron's Corsairs. Only 4 more months before I can fly them again!

Scott

Cleco

My Feedback: (4)

Scott, My home is between Fort Wainwright and Eielson AFB. I just got an e-mail from Dan at Iron Bay and they have the documentation I need so I can order from them along with some parts for a mustang I am also working on. Turns out I was short four plan seets and four template sheets. I appreciate your effort looking for the palns ect.
Were you stationed up here?

Charlie

Fly2XS

My Feedback: (65)

Charlie,
I found the following sheets:
- Fuselage Construction (firewall& spar)
- Die cut Plywood Layout
- Wing Drawing A & B sheets
- Recommended Flap Construction

Some are pretty cut up but I can tape them together and get them scanned.
I'll shoot a couple of photos first so you can see them.

IDEA:
I'd like to see if we can get everone that has documentation to scan it so we can build a resource file in RC Universe for those who need it.
This could include:
- The basic Byrons/Iron Bay Corsair Kit documentation
- The PurrPowr Package (Sachs/Quadra) documentation
- The PowrProp Package (Sachs) documentation
- The Cockpit Kit documentation
- The Sliding Canopy Kit documentation

If anyone has any of these documentation packages, please let us know. Even better if you could scan your documents and send a PDF copy!

Thanks!

F4U_corsair

I got a Corsair kit, it is NIB and i think everything is there, so if i can be any help to anyone let me know, i am in LA Cali, for newyear and will be back home (Toronto Canada) soon.

Mike.