1/4 Scale F4U-1A Don Smith Plans Build
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RE: 1/4 Scale F4U-1A Don Smith Plans Build
It's not boring to me. Having watched the build of your son's 1/8 scale, I can't wait to see the progress made on this one. Where ever you continue to post, I'll be watching the progress.
-- TakingFlight96
-- TakingFlight96
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RE: 1/4 Scale F4U-1A Don Smith Plans Build
Barry,
Great job so far, I have been watching with interest to see how scale this plane is. I’m sure you won’t get much “scale†feedback at RCSB so I’ll add my thoughts about this design and some thoughts on your work here. My impression of the design from what I can see here is that I’m very disappointed in the scale outline of this plane, it doesn’t even come close to cutting it for me. This has nothing to do with your build, but just the design itself, to me it’s a big disappointment, I don’t need to measure.
The only criticism of what you have done so far would be the location of the tail wheel, and it is a nice one. The former in the full scale Corsair for the tail wheel was just behind the leading edge of the vertical fin, and it was mounted at the very bottom of that former so that when retracted the tail wheel and fork remained outside the aircraft. Your tail wheel is to far back and is mounted to low, it would be a shame to hide that thing so deep in the fuselage. I doctored one of your pictures and relocated the tail wheel to the correct location.
Keep up the good work, good luck at RCSB!
Luke
Great job so far, I have been watching with interest to see how scale this plane is. I’m sure you won’t get much “scale†feedback at RCSB so I’ll add my thoughts about this design and some thoughts on your work here. My impression of the design from what I can see here is that I’m very disappointed in the scale outline of this plane, it doesn’t even come close to cutting it for me. This has nothing to do with your build, but just the design itself, to me it’s a big disappointment, I don’t need to measure.
The only criticism of what you have done so far would be the location of the tail wheel, and it is a nice one. The former in the full scale Corsair for the tail wheel was just behind the leading edge of the vertical fin, and it was mounted at the very bottom of that former so that when retracted the tail wheel and fork remained outside the aircraft. Your tail wheel is to far back and is mounted to low, it would be a shame to hide that thing so deep in the fuselage. I doctored one of your pictures and relocated the tail wheel to the correct location.
Keep up the good work, good luck at RCSB!
Luke
#56
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RE: 1/4 Scale F4U-1A Don Smith Plans Build
Sorry to hear of your decision to discontinue your post to RCU. Anyway, appreciated the info you shared about your plane and the mods done. I will make the mod to the tw mount. Hopefully I can find the RCSB link so that I may continue to follow your progress.
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RE: 1/4 Scale F4U-1A Don Smith Plans Build
ORIGINAL: t_burley
for what its worth Barry, you are getting some of the best
information here from the best Corsair geek I know.
Luke knows Corsairs
for what its worth Barry, you are getting some of the best
information here from the best Corsair geek I know.
Luke knows Corsairs
#59
My Feedback: (85)
RE: 1/4 Scale F4U-1A Don Smith Plans Build
ORIGINAL: ReaperGrim
Does this look like a geek to you? Me as a gladiator in Spartacus, I was in the show on Saturday:
ORIGINAL: t_burley
for what its worth Barry, you are getting some of the best
information here from the best Corsair geek I know.
Luke knows Corsairs
for what its worth Barry, you are getting some of the best
information here from the best Corsair geek I know.
Luke knows Corsairs
Great photo. Looks like a nice diversion.
Barry,
Have been enjoying the build and it is going to take a while. Keep posting.
Pete
#60
RE: 1/4 Scale F4U-1A Don Smith Plans Build
ORIGINAL: ReaperGrim
The former in the full scale Corsair for the tail wheel was just behind the leading edge of the vertical fin, and it was mounted at the very bottom of that former so that when retracted the tail wheel and fork remained outside the aircraft.
The former in the full scale Corsair for the tail wheel was just behind the leading edge of the vertical fin, and it was mounted at the very bottom of that former so that when retracted the tail wheel and fork remained outside the aircraft.
#61
RE: 1/4 Scale F4U-1A Don Smith Plans Build
Either place is good for my Gibbs, I will watch with interest. It will be a interesting year or two while you build your Corsair. I am looking forward to following your progress.
Geoff
Geoff
#62
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Thread Starter
RE: 1/4 Scale F4U-1A Don Smith Plans Build
I have many scale books and 3 views of the TW retract location. The only thing you see when it is in the retracted position is one half of the tire and no retract. Unless you are looking at different Corsair books this is about as close as I can get. Plus I did move the former forward 1/4" to be where the plan called for it. I am very happy with the lines of this Corsair and when it's done I hope everyone will see what a good designer Don Smith was before he retired. His planes won Top Gun and many other events over and again. I will post both places for those that don't know where RCSB is. That stands for RCSCALEBUILDERS. Thanks for the input on the TW retract anyway. I just disagree with you on the location.
Gibbs
Gibbs
#63
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RE: 1/4 Scale F4U-1A Don Smith Plans Build
Here is where I got the information on the proper placement for the TW retract and how high it should be in the tail. The drawing is from The Scale and Detail book and the rest of the pictures are from the books in the pictures. If you look at the ruler it signifies the TE of the fin on the plan and the plane is directly in line with the plan. The TW retract is directly below it exactly where it is supposed to be. I hope this gives you the idea of where I got the location from. Don Smith was just 1/4" off and since he just blew up 1/5 scale plans to 1/4 scale I think he was probably right on with his 100" Corsair. This 120" just makes everything a little hard to follow because of the plans.
Gibbs
Gibbs
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RE: 1/4 Scale F4U-1A Don Smith Plans Build
ORIGINAL: NCIS
His planes won Top Gun and many other events over and again. I will post both places for those that don't know where RCSB is. That stands for RCSCALEBUILDERS. Thanks for the input on the TW retract anyway. I just disagree with you on the location.
Gibbs
His planes won Top Gun and many other events over and again. I will post both places for those that don't know where RCSB is. That stands for RCSCALEBUILDERS. Thanks for the input on the TW retract anyway. I just disagree with you on the location.
Gibbs
Looking at the tail wheel from the new picture perspective makes it look to small, the drawing on the plans looks like it is in the right location and size.
I have many scale books and 3 views of the TW retract location. The only thing you see when it is in the retracted position is one half of the tire and no retract. Unless you are looking at different Corsair books this is about as close as I can get.
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RE: 1/4 Scale F4U-1A Don Smith Plans Build
ORIGINAL: NCIS
The only thing you see when it is in the retracted position is one half of the tire and no retract.
Gibbs
The only thing you see when it is in the retracted position is one half of the tire and no retract.
Gibbs
#66
RE: 1/4 Scale F4U-1A Don Smith Plans Build
ReaperGrim, I would have to disagree, I have alot of pictures on the Corsair and yes "some" have the fork below the doors but not all. Some of the pictures I have show the wheel fork above the doors. Then there are some with no tail wheel out of the doors at all. I would have to make a guess that some had bad hydralics or something causing them not to fully retract? I wondering if some models have different tail wheel setups.
JMO
Geoff
JMO
Geoff
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RE: 1/4 Scale F4U-1A Don Smith Plans Build
ORIGINAL: Wolflord
ReaperGrim, I would have to disagree, I have alot of pictures on the Corsair and yes "some" have the fork below the doors but not all. Some of the pictures I have show the wheel fork above the doors. Then there are some with no tail wheel out of the doors at all. I would have to make a guess that some had bad hydralics or something causing them not to fully retract? I wondering if some models have different tail wheel setups.
JMO
Geoff
ReaperGrim, I would have to disagree, I have alot of pictures on the Corsair and yes "some" have the fork below the doors but not all. Some of the pictures I have show the wheel fork above the doors. Then there are some with no tail wheel out of the doors at all. I would have to make a guess that some had bad hydralics or something causing them not to fully retract? I wondering if some models have different tail wheel setups.
JMO
Geoff
With this picture of the F4U-4 you know that the tail wheel was designed to be where it is because of the large fairing behind it. The reason that the fork shows up so well is because it was painted white, otherwise it would be very hard to see. It is my opinion that for later F4U-1A's and up to the F4U-4 that having the fork showing is correct and as designed. There may have been anomalies as I discussed that may have either caused the tail wheel to appear to be more fully retracted, but as designed the fork should show on these models.
#68
RE: 1/4 Scale F4U-1A Don Smith Plans Build
NCIS, looks like you are doing a great job! I hope you will continue to post here (I just found the thread). It is always great to see any nice Corsair project.
Luke, once again your powers of observation and explanation reign supreme. I notice in your earlier picture that it appears to be an F4U-1. Even in that picture of the very early one, the forks are exposed (this is the one with the shorter tailwheel).
Luke, once again your powers of observation and explanation reign supreme. I notice in your earlier picture that it appears to be an F4U-1. Even in that picture of the very early one, the forks are exposed (this is the one with the shorter tailwheel).
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RE: 1/4 Scale F4U-1A Don Smith Plans Build
ORIGINAL: Riddle4U
NCIS, looks like you are doing a great job! I hope you will continue to post here (I just found the thread). It is always great to see any nice Corsair project.
Luke, once again your powers of observation and explanation reign supreme. I notice in your earlier picture that it appears to be an F4U-1. Even in that picture of the very early one, the forks are exposed (this is the one with the shorter tailwheel).
NCIS, looks like you are doing a great job! I hope you will continue to post here (I just found the thread). It is always great to see any nice Corsair project.
Luke, once again your powers of observation and explanation reign supreme. I notice in your earlier picture that it appears to be an F4U-1. Even in that picture of the very early one, the forks are exposed (this is the one with the shorter tailwheel).
Thanks Tom, I'm not sure if this was the kind of attention that he wanted though! This post should wrap this up unless someone has some proof that I'm wrong.
The first picture of the older short tail wheel in the retracted position, you can see how it would protrude when an extension was added to the fork. And more documentation of the longer retracted tail wheel in flight.
Last picture CLEARLY shows how low on the fuselage former that the tail wheel was mounted.
#71
RE: 1/4 Scale F4U-1A Don Smith Plans Build
ORIGINAL: kkozy
I found a web site on here obout a FG-1D at the Clark Co. Airport here in Indiana. I called the airport and they gave me the number to the hanger. I talked to one of the care takers / pilots, ( and I thought I had a kool job ) He told me that the corsair had been sold 2 years ago ( BUMMER! ) He said that the mustang is still there along with some other planes. I know that there is a F4U-5 at the airport in valporaso In. so i guess I`ll just have to plan a road trip for some pics and to get a good look at the tailwheel assembly and whatever else that I might be able to scale down. Please keep all of us posted on your porgress. It`s looking good so far. Kozy
I found a web site on here obout a FG-1D at the Clark Co. Airport here in Indiana. I called the airport and they gave me the number to the hanger. I talked to one of the care takers / pilots, ( and I thought I had a kool job ) He told me that the corsair had been sold 2 years ago ( BUMMER! ) He said that the mustang is still there along with some other planes. I know that there is a F4U-5 at the airport in valporaso In. so i guess I`ll just have to plan a road trip for some pics and to get a good look at the tailwheel assembly and whatever else that I might be able to scale down. Please keep all of us posted on your porgress. It`s looking good so far. Kozy
There's a FG-1D being restored in Cincinnati at the Tri-State Warbird Museum. Check out their website: [link=http://tri-statewarbirdmuseum.org/]Tri-State Warbird Museum[/link]
Here's some pictures I took:
[link=http://s169.photobucket.com/albums/u221/rwright142/Corsair%20Graveyard]FG-1D[/link]
These are mostly internal so I need to upload the external pictures I took too.
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RE: 1/4 Scale F4U-1A Don Smith Plans Build
RWRIGHT, Thans for the info, I`m sure it`ll come in handy. As for me though, I`m planning a trip up to my home town ( Michigan City In ). That`s only about 20 miles from Volpo. As i said, I know the owner, and I`ll be in the area. I plan on putting the long version on mine just because i like the way it sets. Just like the difference between a `68 and `69 camero, same body, just sets a little different. I would like to see whatever pictures you took of the Cincinati bird though.
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RE: 1/4 Scale F4U-1A Don Smith Plans Build
NCIS, Regardless of whether or not the fork shows, unless you plan on competing in scale competition, i don`t see where it will make a big differance. If you are really considering comp. then i think i would be making sure the three views being used were stamped as authentic and accurate and recognized by the AMA. I might be wrong on this, but i think Dave Platt has the authority to stamp the three views as accurate for competition. I DO REMEMBER though, that somebody up high on the competitors list has that authority. It all depends on how strong you want to be able to argue your point to a scale judge, or a modeler friend at your field. I hope this helps you on what you`re trying to accomplish. Good luck, Kozy
#74
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RE: 1/4 Scale F4U-1A Don Smith Plans Build
Luke,
I slept on what you posted yesterday and that picture in your post #54 kept coming to mind. I couldn't stand it and since I know you know your Corsairs I put the TW retract where it should be. It's under the TE of the fin when in the down position and when it's up the yoke and half the axle shows as in your post. I like it much better this way and like you said it's to pretty to hide. Thanks Luke and all of you for helping me with this seemingly minute scale change but I am a perfectionist and appriciate all what you have to say. So GLADIATOR if you see anything else that I'm doing wrong let me know before it's to late. Kozy I do plan on entering it in competetion and don't want to hassle with a judge over the TW.
Thanks again,
Gibbs
I slept on what you posted yesterday and that picture in your post #54 kept coming to mind. I couldn't stand it and since I know you know your Corsairs I put the TW retract where it should be. It's under the TE of the fin when in the down position and when it's up the yoke and half the axle shows as in your post. I like it much better this way and like you said it's to pretty to hide. Thanks Luke and all of you for helping me with this seemingly minute scale change but I am a perfectionist and appriciate all what you have to say. So GLADIATOR if you see anything else that I'm doing wrong let me know before it's to late. Kozy I do plan on entering it in competetion and don't want to hassle with a judge over the TW.
Thanks again,
Gibbs
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RE: 1/4 Scale F4U-1A Don Smith Plans Build
ORIGINAL: NCIS
Luke,
I slept on what you posted yesterday and that picture in your post #54 kept coming to mind. I couldn't stand it and since I know you know your Corsairs I put the TW retract where it should be. It's under the TE of the fin when in the down position and when it's up the yoke and half the axle shows as in your post. I like it much better this way and like you said it's to pretty to hide. Thanks Luke and all of you for helping me with this seemingly minute scale change but I am a perfectionist and appriciate all what you have to say. So GLADIATOR if you see anything else that I'm doing wrong let me know before it's to late. Kozy I do plan on entering it in competetion and don't want to hassle with a judge over the TW.
Thanks again,
Gibbs
Luke,
I slept on what you posted yesterday and that picture in your post #54 kept coming to mind. I couldn't stand it and since I know you know your Corsairs I put the TW retract where it should be. It's under the TE of the fin when in the down position and when it's up the yoke and half the axle shows as in your post. I like it much better this way and like you said it's to pretty to hide. Thanks Luke and all of you for helping me with this seemingly minute scale change but I am a perfectionist and appriciate all what you have to say. So GLADIATOR if you see anything else that I'm doing wrong let me know before it's to late. Kozy I do plan on entering it in competetion and don't want to hassle with a judge over the TW.
Thanks again,
Gibbs
Luke