RCGuy41

Hi, I'm starting this thread because I was asked by another RCU member to start one. This is my second kit built aircraft, but I have been flying warbirds for quite some time. The aircraft I'm building is the Top Flite Gold Edition F4U Corsair, 1/8th scale w/65inch wingspan. I'm going to add some modifications to my aircraft, but if you want more detail check out; 1/8 scale TopFlite Corsair Mods here on RCU, I'll be posting some of my mods their also. Since I'm at work; I will edit then post some of my current work when I return home. I'm no master modeler, I'm just an average guy who likes building and flying RC warbirds.

Brad

DavidAgar

My Feedback: (108)

Looking forward to seeing your build. The Corsair is high up on my favorite planes list. Good Luck, Dave

RCGuy41

As promised, I'm going to upload my current work to this thread. If there are any questions please feel free to ask; I will answer them to the best of my ability.

Brad

RCGuy41

In the first set of pictures, the center wing section has been framed and glued together. Pay particular attention to the center wing main spare when glueing the three pieces together. The builder needs to ensure the notches are verticle and aligned, which will prevent further reshaping when fitting each individual wing rib. I'm a little off so here are the pics of my outer wing panels glued to the center wing section

Brad

RCGuy41

Since I'm adding some scale detail to my Corsair, I have ordered and received a fantastic tail kit from Mr. Chad Veich. Here are my build pics of the verticle stab and rudder.

Brad

RCGuy41

The last set of pics I have is my tail gear retract assembly which I built for my Corsair.

Brad

RCGuy41

At this point in time I'm in the process of dry fitting all parts to my horizontal stab. Once I'm convinced all parts fit, then I will use use a little CA to secure all ribs to the LE & TE spares. I promis more pictuers will come, in the mean time; the other mods to my Corsair are going to be pneaumatic retracts, all internal flite controls, and wing and horizontal stab incidence at +2.

Brad

RCGuy41

I was able to finally make some progress, first remember I had to dry fit all the horizontal stab parts, well every thing went well and I CA'd all the parts together. I let the framed horizontal stab sit for about 20 minutes, took a smoke break (I know its bad for me,) then got a drink. I returned back to the stab and covered the top then covered the bottom, my finger tips are covered in CA, boy what a mess. Well, when the CA finally cured; I trimed all my sheeting and took some sand paper to the stab to clean up and square each side. Tomorrow I'm going to install each leading edge and end cap. So, in the mean time here are a few pics of my progress.

Brad

RCGuy41

I have made a little more progress. I finally got the leading edge and the horizontal stab tips glued on and this evening after dinner I sanded the leading edge of the stab. Thursday I received my retracts back from Darrell at Sierra Giant Scale. At least I have some work that can be done on my Corsair, but for now here are some more pics.

Brad

RCGuy41

Brad how much time do you have in the plane so far? Looks good!

Paul S.

RCGuy41

Hi Paul,

I have been working off and on since mid summer; that's when I started building the tail retract assembly. The only item I didn't have was a set of main retracts, when my Hurricane went down and I couldn't get three replacement parts; I had to make a decission. Well; as you have noticed; I gutted the Hurricane, started building the Corsair ( I love the bird,) traded the Hurricanes gear for another set and swapped the legs with Darrell at Sierra Giant Scale. In the mean time I found a guy who makes a scale tail kit for the Corsair; I contacted him and found out his prices were reasonable and paid him. I received the tail kit about three weeks from the time I placed the order only becuase he had to order some more balsa and lite ply. Included in the cost; I received all major structural parts and a set of rolled plans. Some of the other building material I had to supply from my kit, which is fine in my book. Paul, if you any other questions please feel free to ask, today I'm going to work on the elevators and get them built and posted on this thread and the 1/8 scale Corsair mods. By the way how are doing on your build; I would love to see some more progress on your bird, because when I saw what you had done with the cowl flaps to include adding + 2 on your wing and tail assembly to include a few other mods. In my opinion you are a great builder and other builders could learn a lot from you.

Brad

RCGuy41

Today I have been working on my elevators, the first set of pics show the framing of each elevator. Once each elevator was framed then I spent about an hour sanding each elevator preparing for the skins, once both skins were glued in place then it was time to glue on the counter balance and elevator tips. The final item that needed installed was the elevator leading edge, with them installed the next step will to sand both elevators to their final shape, then it's time to hinge and final detail. Here are the pics of my horizontal stab and elevators.

Brad

RCGuy41

Thanks Dave,

I just moved about my entire thread from kit build to RC Warbirds, it should get a little more attension. So far the build has been good and have been enjoying it tremendously. There will be a few mods i'm going to icorporate from the 1/8 scale TF Corsair thread.

Brad

Paul S.

Now yer cookun

Paul

RCGuy41

Paul, it seems as if I'm making very little to no progress, but I'm still working on my elevators, doing my final shaping. Here is a pic of my gear I'm using, temp installed in my wing.

Brad

RCGuy41

O.K.,

It's Veterans Day, here's a shout out to all who have served and their family's and friends who supported them and their sacrafices. I'm retired Navy, did 20 years and now I'm wondering where did all the time go; again I salute all veterans and their family's and friends.

I have made a little more progress by completeing the final shaping of my elevators. Once I complete each elevators shape then it was time to mark and cut all my hinge points. With the hinge points cut from the elevators leading edge; I had to drill out all hinge holes, and the control horn holes. Once each hinge was placed at the correct depth the next thing to do was mark each location for the hinge on on my horizontal stab. I used my robarts hinge drill jig on the stab to drill each hinge hole, here are a few pics of the almost final stab & elevators.

Brad

Redback

You'll find the Sierra gear is a little more difficult to install than Robarts.

Worth it though

Terry

RCGuy41

Hi Terry,

Thanks for the thought; yes I agree with your assessment. I own a set of robart HD615 retracts and have found them weak when flying off of grass or on a hard landing. Even with the Sierra retracts, I enjoy the challenge fitting them in.

Brad

RCGuy41

O.K., it's been a few days since my last post with pictures. The first six pics are just common added wing servo hatches and mounted each aileron servo; I'm using two Futaba S9301. I have also installed all the hinge blocks for the flaps and ailerons. The two control horns I have pictured will be modified and installed into each aileron to create the hidden control.

Brad

RCGuy41

The next set of pictures shows each servo location from inside of the wing with and without the servo. The reason why servo blocks are touching is to provide for better servo stability. The next set shows the Sierra gear installed; I used my dremel with a snake and small sanding drum to grind out the strut well through the main spare. Once satisfied; the next item to do was to drill out each wood screw. I only drilled down approximately 1/4 inch stopped then used the screw to tap the remaining hole, makes for a tighter screw fit. Later this after noon I drilled out six holes in each wing to run my airlines, but I didn't take that set of pics. Here are 8 pics that currently have.

Brad

RCGuy41

O.K., some one might ask how I was running my airlines and to where. I took a few pics a few minutes ago to show where my airlines are and I'm placing my retract servo and valve in the wing, the area TF had designed for the aileron servo.

Brad

NCIS

Why aren't you covering the rudder and elevators in cloth? It seems like more extra weight in the tail plus it won't be scale looking. This is mine I have for sale.

Gibbs

RCGuy41

Gibbs,

Nice Corsair; I saw it up for sale, sorry you are selling it. You have put in some time and a lot of detail to your bird. You are direct and to the point, both the rudder and the elevators are going to be covered in either solartex or super coverite. What ever I have the most of, but before I have to create the rib detail (1/64 lite ply) from the plans Mr. Chad Veich provided with my tail kit. Right now all three control surfaces are lite and very strong; thanks for the question.

Brad

Chad Veich

My Feedback: (60)

The fabric covered surfaces on the full size Corsair have very little "scalop" to them and don't really look all that different from the surrounding metal save for the tapes and stitches and less sheen to the paint. These are easily duplicated on the solid plywood surface to give the illusion of fabric covering. The plywood skinning on the parts is 1/64" wing skin and adds very little to the finished weight.

NCIS

I knew it was 1/64" but just wanted to know your reasoning for doing it. It seems to me that you know what your doing so I'll just watch. Is there a difference in regular 1/64" ply and 1/64" wing skin? I never knew of such an animal. I may use that on my Monster. It's just waiting for covering now. It sure would make it stronger.

Barry