Started covering the wing. First time using oratex.
My previous covering jobs with oracover were satisfactory, but not always perfect. This oratex material is harder to apply.
Maybe I didn't use the right temperature.
Not the best result ... but it will fly.

The wing is completed, all controls are installed and finetuned.
Only need to cover the bottom center ... but I'm out of white oratex for the moment.
I had waited with sheeting the fuselage until all controls were installed and adjusted (it's easier to work with the unsheeted rear fuselage).
I've noticed that I haven't taken any picture of the fuselage controls. The servos were located at the cockpit floor, and Ihad used 14gram (metal gear) for elevator and rudder, and a cheap 9 gram as tail wheel retract.
Realizing that the weight of the plane would end up much higher than planned, I wasn't happy with those small servos, so I ordered a few standard ones (32gram digital metal gears).
As these are a lot larger I had to redesign their location since the 3 small ones could fit next to each other on different layers, with their control rods overlapping in 3D space. Of course the larger ones could not.

I decided to move the tail wheel retract servo deeper into the fuselage (closer towards the tail) which would allow me to keep the original location of rudder and elevator servos.
In order to safely work on the (inverted) fuselage I cut a foam jig which allows me to support the fuselage straight or inverted.

In order to know which battery to order (weight) and its location, I had to finalize the fuselage to get an idea how it would balance on CoG.
Started with the sheeting of the fuselage.

Total weight so far is about 2kg (4.4lb) without cowl and battery

With the rear of the plane almost completed, except a small part needs to be sheeted +covering, I went ahead to balance the plane (with landing gear retracted).
Didn't use any balsa blocks in the tail to reduce weight, but it still needs 980 grams (>2 lb.) in the nose.
Motor and prop are installed, so the additional weight needs to come from battery and cowl. I had settled for a 200g. motor and around 400g. battery.
But in order to reach the necessary "balast" I will have to go for a 400g. motor and 800g. battery (2x 3S 400g.)
Making the AUW around 3.2 kg. ( 7 lb. )
It would probably fly OK, but that means I have failed in my attempt to build a lightweight electric version.

It's been a while since last post, but I finally can say that Imade a succesfull maiden today, although the plane is far from being completed.

It took me a long time to figure out how to get the CoG right without adding too much dead weight.
I finally went for a 4 cell battery (4S5000mAh 20C = 500g.), using an additional 2S 2200mAh battery for external BEC, and an 4260-500kV motor.
All of this to obtain the correct balance point without adding lead.

Plane required just some up trim on elevator, no further adjustments needed. Very stable and a really nice flyer.
I still haven't tried loops, rolls, or other more tastefull manoeuvres, just the necessary taxi, take-off, few circuits, landing and taxi back.
The flight only was 4 minutes, and Iput 1250mAh back in the battery when recharging.

Congratulations! It does look strange to see so much of the model unfinished and in the air though! Looking forward to the completion and the glamour shots!

Cool, but it lacks the nitro smell !

The other day, for its 35th birthday, our club had organized a display of models and an indoor-demo.
First "show" of my corsair between other models. As not to risk any hangar rash or mishap during flights, the corsair was grounded till this event ... thus the only flight it has seen was its "uncompleted" maiden.

Just as a point of refrence..
Scratch building is starting with nothing... but a pencil, various drawing tools and calculator (or computer )
Plans building is staring with the plans already drawn up or purchased
kit building is starting with... well a kit...

What your doing is well... neat... between plans and kit buliding...

Great job!

So, if you take the existing plans and use them as starting point to draw your own, adding main gear retract attachment points, wheel wells, flaps, retracting tailwheel. Modify the whole fuselage to allow for access hatches in the tail, battery hatch in the front. Changing how the wing attaches to the fuselage. Etc, etc ...
Are we then still talking "between plans and kit building"?
I used the plans as if these were 3-views, using their outlines to build my own. Redesigning formers from the outline of the existing ones on the plan (as if these were cross-sections).

Now if you still believe this to be "from plans" then to each their opinion, which I'm not going to argue with.
Whatever it's called I did, I had fun doing so ... and had some less fun moments as well.

All planes are built using plans for the most part. Scratch does not mean design, design does not mean build. Design and build are two separate things, if you keep them separate it makes everything very easy to understand. I noticed as with most people that push these definitions, they never once mention design.

Design - when you design something, you can design something and not build it. If I was to substitute your definition of scratch in this case I would say I scratched that plan, it make no sense.

Built from Scratch - You built something collecting all of your own materials and parts, this says nothing about who designed the plane it is describing the build.

Designed and Built from Scratch - You designed the plane and collected all of your own materials and built it.

Designed and Built from a kit - You designed it but you built it from a kit assembled for you. Using your definition I would say I scratch kit built that plane.

You don't build plans you build from plans. Plans building makes no sense.

Scratch building is the process of building a scale model "from scratch", ie. from raw materials, rather than building it from a commercial kit, kitbashing or buying it pre-assembled.

Just remember scratch building, it is a process of building, not designing.

Last weekend, I performed the 2nd maiden, now in its final completed state. Ihad removed the dummy engine (cardboard printout) which I had installed for the display, and put back on the master airscrew 13x8 3-blade prop.

I was extremely nervous (although the first flight had seen no issues) and this showed up in the flight, as Imade a lot of mistakes.
This flight was to prepare the corsair for it's first season and before flying it on a regular base, Iwanted it photographed. So, the only purpose of the flight was to take pictures of it in action ... first mistake.

I had never tested the hatches with running motor. With the plane now fully assembled on the field, the first time Iapplied throttle saw the magnets of the hatches let go. So Ithought to fix that in a hurry and close the hatch with some masking tape ... second mistake.

Take off was a no event, and soon Iwas flying circuits close and low to allow for nice pictures. But Iwas so focused on the picture taking task, that I didn't think about trimming the plane ... third mistake ... until the last circuit, where Itrimmed some up elevator.

The quick fix of masking tape didn't hold for long. And soon the battery hatch opened up in flight, spoiling the nice sound and view of the airplane.

After a generously safe 5 minute timer had counted down, Iprepared for approach and landing. Still extremely nervous ... as 5 minutes flights are too short to become relaxed ;-) ...
I made a very bad landing approach, but didn't realize it until Isaw the pictures later that evening. My first impression was that, although not level, the landing was soft and gentle.
But the right landing gear had a different opinion and probably got bent on touch-down, only followed some seconds later during the roll-out by the tail gear which collapsed, broken off its hinges.

No worries, it will fly again.

what is your finished weight?

Sorry for the late reply. Didn't have a scale at hand which measures above 2kg. It did took me a week (shame shame) to figure out how I would measure the AUW with enough precision.
Finally realized Icould put the parts separatly on the scale ...

Wing:1160g
Fuselage:1855g
Battery:488g
For an AUW of 3503g (approx 7lb 11oz)
Not really happy to report Ifailed my original plan big time. But then again, a lot of the original plan has changed along the way.

Third flight today, with lots of wind. The plan was grounded for the whole day as Iwas to anxious to fly it in such a wind. By the end of the day, however, I bit the bullet as Ididn't bring the plane to the field only to look pretty in the pits.
Less nervous than with the previous flight ... and no photographer to steel my attention, Imanaged to fly "normal" circuits.
In the meantime Ihad swapped the 13x8x3 master airscrew (drawing 32A at WOT) for a 14x7x3 (34A). Flew a tad over half throttle. Strange thing is that Inow flew for 6min30 and put back only 2150mAh, while previous flight was over the 2600mAh for less duration. Iguess the 14x7x3 unloads more in the air ... or the strong wind provided for more lift with less throttle.
Landing this time was as gentle as possible. Others reported that the airplane was like a feather, so smooth the flying and landing occured to them.
No damage done to the plane and my ego got a serious boost.

The picture attached was taken during one of the last circuits. Although somewhat dark and without details it represents the look Ihave been wanting to fly for years. This plane made it happen.
Thanks to all for the help, tips and support.

 Great looking plane and build thread. Thinking of doing the same thing but using a Jemco fuselage mated to the Royal or a Brian Taylor wing. I have down loaded both drawing to the wing and using the Jemco parts I have as patterns . Have the fuselage  and a wing drawn and did a half scale ( 27 inch span) test cut on my laser. It built up Ok  so now need to finish the rest of the drawings and cut another one with all the changes. Also need to order some balsa in my next wood order. Basswood is way to heavy  </p>

Again you did a great job.</p>

rich</p>

rslaserkits</p>

Congrats on your success DSTE, nice work. That last shot is a keeper!

Luke and Chad

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