saramos

A B-17 has been buzzing by my house all afternoon.

In the last of the photos posted by Richard, it does look like the track gets deeper as it moves forward up to the bend.
I've also picked up another Corsair book, perhaps others have, but new to me. SAM Publication The Vought F4U Corsair A Comprehensive Guide. I'll study the drawings and give an assesment. At first glance, they look pretty good.

Scott

Chad Veich

My Feedback: (60)

I think so too Scott but it is very hard to tell for certain. It would seem the obvious method to accomplish the task but you never know with Vought!

saramos

I'm looking at the profile from the SAM book. The upper deck line shape is dead on but 1" too high. The cowl is 2" larger in diameter, and the curve of the nose ring is off The cowl flaps are about 3/4" too long but end at the proper station. The wing in profile is properly located and with the proper incidence. The tail gear door and the shape of the tail cone are both way off. After bringing the upper deck line into coincidence, the three hatches on the tail are the wrong shape and sizes and are are off positon by as much as 2". The canopy rails are 1" too high. Also, the panel lines at 186 and 218 are located about 1" too far back. Even with all these descrepancies, it is still better than many other drawings.

Scott

Riddle4U

Yea, way overstated. I had just hoped this thread would be a group build and not just a Corsair chat. My personal opinion is that the mission statement was just too broad. My apologies.

Remklep

Riddle,

Man, you really have problems.
It astounds me how inflexible you are, you just don't tolerate any opinions besides those you set in stone yourself.
If it's true you left the thread as "one of the cofounders" (why are you so adamant about emphasizing this?) it's about time, now maybe the serious scale builders amongst us can talk and discuss about our favorite subject, the Corsair, without being interupted by your rude remarks.

Definately NOT with kind regards,
Danny.

P.S. one more thing: Xanax

rustypep

My Feedback: (6)

Tom, I want to apologize but it was me that someone forwarded these items to. I was working on the canopy rail area at the time. I did consider the idea of pulleys but ultimately abandoned it in favor of the traditional air cylinder or a linear drive built from other components (although there are emerging options which might be more ready made). I never actually hooked up the servo so it is in the condition it was presented to me. My personal decision will be determined by whether or not I use air or electric for the retracts. Down and Locked Retracts will be at Toledo and that was my last bit of research I have left before I decide on my options. I already have the air cylinder from Sierra. I have found a solution for driving the rails and concealing them. I also have the first sample of options for the rear rails but I want to try a few more ideas. I will have to revisit that area with the recent thoughts shared on the rear rails which is interesting. I do have detailed pictures of where the front part of canopy attaches and that is relatively easy to replicate. Chad has provided me with the cowl sections which I can use to build a prototype mold. I have someone with modeling experience local who can help with that task and Chad is aware of that. I am just going to have to wait until Toledo, Top Gun, and other events are over when he has time to help me.

As for the rest of the group,

I will finish the fuse this summer to a primer stage but I would encourage everyone to pick a path and follow it as some are starting to do. Chad is driving the design I will be using 100%. If anyone wants to pursue a different plan that is your call but I will be part of whatever group is still working with Chad's design and he has my total support. I love some of the work being done on the wheels, tail wheel, and the efforts to gather better and better documentation. The last I talked with Chad the wing was well beyond the start stage. We do need to finalize a plan for retracts but Chad will need to decide what gear he is going to use. The Aune gear is great but I am not sure how he will accomodate future builders without Aune gear because I would like to see him sell a few of these kits so others can enjoy his design. If someone has the skill to draw up the retracts in CAD and we can come to a collective and final decision on the design, I can approach two makers in person. I live in central Ohio and Sierra and Century are within driving distance. I am in Sierra's and Century's back yard on business all the time. I have to suspect Sierra (nor I) want to deal with an idea that is tortured to death and never final. No business person in his right mind would work with that. If I have a defined and FINAL plan for gear, I would have no problem stopping by to see Sierra or Century and putting my money down as a starting point. As much as I want an ultra scale set of gear, I am not spending two grand for it for a plane this size. Most top scale modelers wouldn't either and I am far from that so compromises are going to have to be made unless some is going to step forward with the tools, talent, and goodwill to offer to the task. Many of the small details can be replicated in other ways seperate from the actual gear. I think finalizing the design and the main gear are the two priorities and that is where we are stalled. That is where I stand today nearly three years to the day from the start of this thread, two promotions, and my first child. Life is always full of surprises.

saramos

Got my new toy! I hope to finish setting it up this weekend with the exception of a dedicated computer system for running the actual cuts. It'll cut up to 12"x24"x4.3". I'll still do all my design work on my PC. It came with a program called VCarve Pro which is mainly designed for sign makers, but will handily do part cutting. Once I get better with 3d cad, I'll pick up some software that will handle full 3d cam. I currently have Alibre Design 12, and am considering ProgeCAD, an Autocad clone.

Scott

rwright142

Sweet!

saramos

Here's a link to the latest CNC info and photos.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=10557424

Scott

Riddle4U

Nice motivation on the gear, Rustypep. As most know, I kind of dropped out of this thread since it had an open-ended, undefinable goal of "Making the most realistic Corsair model possible" (while still being basically driven by the Royal plan). Those conflicting goals didn't work for me. I wanted to just have a premise and build a 1/6th Corsair and make it as scale as I could make it. So...nice if you guys are going to get a good gear made. I say go for it. I had looked into getting a scale spun aluminum spinner made. It is only economical if I made a dozen or two for sale. I haven't gotten too serious with them. Let me know if anyone is interested in that direction, it might make that avenue possible for me. Most know that the Royals came with spun aluminum cowls (not always to a terrific profile), but it is an aesthetic option, if done correctly.

saramos

I leave for Texas tomorrow to spend my vacation on the wonderful opportunity to lend a hand to Drew on his Corsair restoration. Not looking forward to the heat though. I'll be sure to take plenty of photos.

Scott

Remklep

Cool Scott!
I hope you have a lot of fun, I would have loved to come too, but work and family.......
Anyway, you know what detail photos and measurements we need for the Corsair drawings... Go Get Em!

Danny

rwright142

I'm so jealous!Congrats and enjoy the time there. You are a part of history.

saramos

Hi all,

Photos of today's activities. An F7F Tigercat flew in for some work, You have to get into some awkward positions to rivet replacement panels.

Tomorrow we're off to the Vought Chance Museum.

Scott

rwright142

I so wish I could be there to help. Awesome. Keep the pictures coming!

Remklep

Looks like you have a lot of fun there.
I would have loved to make it too.

Danny

saramos

Hi all,

I wish everyone could be here too. Here's some photos from the Vought Heritage Museum. It's certainly something you don't see every day. One interesting thing I learned is that the way the propulsion system was designed is that both engines could power both props, so if an engine went out, you could fly with reduced power on both props. Someting that would be important for a rudderless plane.

Scott

Chad Veich

My Feedback: (60)

Awesome pancake!

saramos

Time to post some photos

Pics 1-6 are of the forward fuse section. The fuse is upside down.
The first one is looking at the firewall, station 91.75 with the spar removed and looking into the fuel bay forward of the cockpit.
Pic 2 is of the bottom of the forward fuse from sta 91.75 to sta 186.
Pic 3 is looking forward at sta 129/134 and sta 138.6 at the front of the cockpit.
Pic 4 is a closeup of 138.6.
Pic 5 and 6 are of the right and left cockpit walls.
Pics 7 - 12 are of the center wing section.
In the last photo, you can see where a couple of layers of the top of the spar has been cut away. The spar had major corrosion and is the reason the plane will only be restored as a static display.

saramos

The first four photos are of the wing folding joints of the center section.
Pics 5, 6, 8, 10, 11 and 12 are of the wheel well. 7 is of the inside of the center section.
Pic 9 is a photo of Chad cleaning the wing.
Nelson, his Wife and Chad were wonderful hosts. Their hospitality made the trip very enjoyable.
Everyone at Ezell Aviation were great!

saramos

More pics of the wheel well and also showing the underside of the center wing section and the coving for the flaps.
Pic 6 is of one of the panels we patched. The last photos are of the fuel tank bay. I forgot to take photos of 5 fuel fittings that took me a whole day to remove.

saramos

Pics 1-3 are of Sta 91.75.
4 and 5 are of the patch and it's position on the bottom of the fuse.
Pic 6 is an upside down look at the left side of the cockpit where it meets 129-134.
7 is looking down between 129 and 138.6.
8 and 9 is the right side of the cockpit where it meets 129-134.
10 is the right side of the cockpit and shows the back side of the foothold bucket on the side of the cockpit.
11 and 12 are of the left side of the forward fuse. Again, upside down.

saramos

Pic 1 is of drew buffing the corrosion off the front bottom of 129, in the fuel tank compartment.
Pic 2 is the right cockpit wall.
Pic 3 is the fairing around the upper nav light.
Pic 4 and 5 are of one of the antenna bases.
Pic 6 is of my friend Terry Farmer who came down on saturday to give us a hand. This is the removable panel that fits in the floor of the cockpit that replaced the window on the earliest Corsairs. He did a great job of restoring the panel.
Pic 7 is of Terry and I putting in rivets in holes that were drilled into the side of the fuse when the plane was mounted on the pole outside the Stratford Airport, and are not original to the Corsair.
The last few pics are of a Merlin engine and some stamps on a box that probably dates back to the 40's.

saramos

Pics 1 and 2 are of the outside of the rear canopy rails.
Pics 3 and 4 are of the back side of the rear canopy rails.
The rails are parallel from 186 to about 205.5 , then they narrow the rest of the way back to 218. I guess this allows for the rear canopy guide wheels to be removed from the track when the block in the rear of the track is removed.
Pics 5, and 6 is of the area behind the cockpit where the radio equipment was housed. Pic 8 is under the radio shelf.
Pic 8 - 9 are of the bulkhead 186, behind the pilot seat.

saramos

I hope everyone enjoys the photos. The trip to Texas was a great time. Again, I want to thank Drew King from the Connecticut Air and Space Museum for inviting me out for the opportunity to give my small contribution toward the restoration of their Goodyear FG1-D Corsair, and to everyone at Ezell Aviation for their wonderful hospitality. It was cool to see all the birds they are currently working on. Just heard from Drew that they had a Bearcat buzz the hanger today.
I strongly suggest checking out their website at http://www.ezellaviation.com. Their homepage is currently featuring a photo of Mark, from CASM and of Drew King and I. Also, a photo of the Tigercat that flew in on my first full day there.
What a sound that was when it did a low pass over the hanger to announce it's arrival.

Scott