Royal Kits
 

I thought I'd start an area for all interested in any Royal/Marutaka kits. Here's mine; a Zero kit I purchased and constructed mainly from '79 to early '80's. I glassed it with .06 oz., did the rivets, and painted with chevron perfect paint. It has Rhom retracts, robart retractable tailwheel and split flaps. Now that I have gotten back into it I just need to mount control surfaces, find a new canopy, mount my radio and I'm thinking about an O.S. or Supertigre .90. I have an unbuilt .60 Royal Corsair kit that I may just hold on to, and order plans, e.t.c. somewhere for the building. Interested in seeing others projects.:D

RE: Royal Kits
 

That is really nice! I qualified for the Scale Masters open class this year with my trusty old Royal P-38. I have several Royal kits in process, including a Piper Tripacer.

RE: Royal Kits
 

Thanks (Dail?), yours is the type of response I was hoping for (meaning pics and stories). I like the look of your Lightning! I'm a bit partial to the relatively smaller scale models (.60 size, or so) for now. I always wondered how that Royal P-38 looked when built nicely. I was tracking one on Ebay today incidently (sold for 270 or something). Thanks for the positive comment; any ideas for us all on mufflers for the Zero and other radial types? I have been a bit stuck because of the somewhat atypical engine mounting on Royals (I am leaning toward the O.S. 90fx). Congratulations on your success competing your old kit..I wonder if my Zero would compete very well, I know I need to find a prototype and finish the markings. I have never entered any scale competitions. Oh..and ever have an engine out on that thing?

Best regards

RE: Royal Kits
 

you Royal guys are one TUFF breed.....:D

RE: Royal Kits
 

That's because we have to be! Now..remember just carve away everything that is not supposed to be the Royal aircraft![&o]:D

RE: Royal Kits
 

Riddle4U that is a nice plane. Good luck with finishing it. I do have a question. In the photos I see an old Kraft TX. Do you plan to use it with the Zero? I am not familiar with Kraft equipment but I know that TX is pre 1991 and not narrow banded. That is unless you had it updated. I am not even sure if those radios could be updated, though I bet they can be.

Regards,

John B.

RE: Royal Kits
 

John, that is a new addition to my small but growing vintage radio collection. It is a Kraft Series '71 six channel on AM 72.96 (not a legal channel). Radio South can narrow band the transmitter on these, but the receiver cannot be. I'm working on my Ham license now so I can legally fly it on 53 Mhz channels. Radio South should be able to convert the transmitter and receiver crystals to 53Mhz (Ham) where the narrow band channels don't apply (they'll also put in new NiCads). I'm putting my Fut 7UAPS PCM in the Zero with one of their high speed/high torque coreless aileron servos (I like to use one central aileron servo with bellcranks). Thanks for your interest.:D

RE: Royal Kits
 

I would like to see if anyone out there has the Royal/Marutaka Staggerwing kit flying. I have the plans for this plane and I'm curious to hear how it flies with such a thin airfoil.

RE: Royal Kits
 

Mine flew very scale on first flight until I flipped on what I thought were high rate alirons. Found out real quick that was the flap switch. Needless to say, It nosed in pretty hard. I have it all built back up except for covering. I'm sure I will finish it this winter. I think there is still a picture in my gallary.

RE: Royal Kits
 

I saw the picture in your gallary Moto-X it looked like a great airplane. I have the plans from the Royal but the wing looks too thin to install retracts. looking at the picture I'm guessing yours has fixed gear.

RE: Royal Kits
 

Yes, It would be a tight fit for retracts. If you like that bird enough, search Airplanes for sale on RCU, go to biplanes and look at the topflight prototype that is for sale. It is all white, retract ready ARF. The price has dropped several times. It is a 160 size plane though. a power plant and some trim panels, I don't think you would have that many more dollars in it than if you build one. Plus, big birds are easy to see in the air and they draw alot of attention at the field.

RE: Royal Kits
 

I donated my Royal P-61 Widow to the Mid Atlantic Air Museum in Reading, Penna.. to help people get a idea what the museum was restoring in the shop.

Looks like a 38 on steroids in the black paint and Crescent on the tail.

I still think I should have kept it. Nothing close to the 48" WS now.

RE: Royal Kits
 

I had the Staggerwing, It was warped but still flew OK. I modified it to take Hobbico Retracts and they worked OK. They were a tight fit in the wing and I had to modify the fairing to make them work. It also compromised the center section, so if you're going to use retracts, you'll need to beef up the wing center section. , It was very light though and was extremely over-powered on an O.S. .61

There are pics of it in my Gallery

RE: Royal Kits
 

Thanks to all starting to post here; it's really YOUR thread so it is as good as we all make it! lets get a few more pics as we go along. I really like scaledails's P-38. I thank him. Let's make this a fun thread...throw in whatcha got!:D Thanks to all posting here, again it's yers!

RE: Royal Kits
 

This is a refreshing thread for the nostalgia freak! (like me) The 70's was a unique time in RC history, you wanted it you had to build it! I love bell cranks and linkages, just like the full scale WWII iron. I'm thankful for the skills I gained from doing it the "hard way." I've built a few of the Royal kits, but I'll start with a good one I found on the net a few years back, it is a Royal P-38 built by Mr. Holland, if you are on here sir please fill us in!

RE: Royal Kits
 

I built the Marutaka Zero 3 or 4 years ago. Like you, I modified it for air retracts and split flaps. This plane can fly incredibly slow with landing flaps deflected. You are going to really enjoy the wide speed envelope this plane is capable of. Mine flies with an O.S. 1.20Surpass III swinging a 15X10 APC prop. I use 30% all synthetic oil "heli-mix" fuel and this engine really growls. I still had to add weight to the nose even with the large 120 size engine.

A couple of years ago, I was able to purchase a brand new canopy for this plane from a gentleman here on RCU who had made a mold from the original one. It is a really nice one! Maybe if he sees this, he will be willing to help you out with one as well.

RE: Royal Kits
 

Steve...

Yes, there is a fellow who hangs out in the Warbird section here and is a biggie collector of Royal stuff. He was trying to replicate certain easily damaged parts and had many spare originals too. But was missing some things here too.

Was also a fellow at RCSCALEBUILDER who claimed to be the biggest collector. He was missing plans for certain models, but had the remainder of those kits.

I do not personally know either, but got them aquainted with one another again about a year ago. This before RCS began charging for admission.

Wm.

RE: Royal Kits
 

I have a brand new canopy for the Zero, it would look great on your plane! I am a collector and maker of Royal parts, although I have not been modeling for about a year now. I am getting ready to move to texas early 08 and have been very busy getting ready for that and stressing over it. My first name on RCU was dionysusbacchus, then I had several others after that, lost count. Not sure how long I’ll keep this one, I just close them to avoid confrontation now. This thread just looked too good to pass up! So the Royal kits brought me back! Riddle4U, I love your Zero, it just looks right if you know what I mean.


I would also like to warn you guys about an ebay guy that I would recommend you avoid, he is calling himself ‘u.s.wing’ now, but had another name when he screwed me over. Basically the auction did not bring the price he was expecting for the Royal Corsair kit, so he tried to back out of the deal by telling me that he broke the cowl and canopy when he was packing the kit. Never mind that he makes reproduction canopies himself, although of very poor quality. I threatened to go to ebay so he sent my kit, when it finally arrived it was not the kit in the auction. It was listed as new and looked untouched in the pictures, what I got though was a kit that had been started, crushed canopy and a crushed aluminum cowl. We all know he destroyed the cowl on purpose to get back at me for winning the auction at a lower price. He immediately closed his account and started the new u.s.wing account so that I could not leave feedback.

Here is my email with his response:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Luke. If you assume what ever you said is importance to me then your assume is right or else I know who I am. And remember I did refund money but you was whining to pay to get the kit.
Phil

-------------- Original message --------------
From: "Luke"
Phil,

Why did you find it necessary to totally destroy the Corsair cowl? That was a shameful thing you did and very dishonest. I'm very disappointed in you. As R/C flyers we live in a very small community together, word gets around. When you set out to hurt your fellow builders, you will end up hurting yourself. I was ready for a small dent in the cowl, but not total destruction. You're a liar Phil, you did not do that packing the kit. Phil, everything is wrong with this deal, the kit was not new as stated in your auction, it has been started and the plans are cheap copies. The canopy I got is different from what is in the auction picture.

Luke

RE: Royal Kits
 

Luke, I am truly honored to get a response from you here. I read your Corsair thread well into the night (more than a day to get through all of it). Read my post on a P-38 thread here where I acknowledge you. To all: this is a fine scale modeler (DionysusBachuss) and we'll all do well to have his contributions here. He has an Historic thread on the Royal F4U which I encourage all to find. This is a Royal thread, but also neccesarily a scale thread. Not just show and tell but also scale modeling techniques are welcome (aka the great Dave Platt!)! Luke, thanks. I hope to communicate with you, and hope you'll help this hopefully fun thread along. I appreciate your "it just looks right" comment, Luke. I realize this plane will be a perfect test bed to try some of your chalk weathering techniques, along with the airbrush. I will post pics of the fun experiments to follow!

RE: Royal Kits
 

Steve, thanks for your response (parts). One thing I know about the Zero is that it has lots of wing area and should fly well. I've always felt a bit guilty enjoying the lines of the A6M5, but it is a bute regardless. You must know there is a story about the Zeke that goes to Howard Hughes H-1 racer (which I have seen at the Smithsonian along with the Zero), I am mainly a Corsair nut, going back to Robert Conrad in Baa Baa Black Sheep! The Zero is attractive to many for the simple reason that it was GOOD! Just to look at it, you know it's gonna fly well. Because we won the war, it is our perogative to model these things with impunity. It may be different feeling for a Japanese to model anything, but I think they'll actually model our aircraft too (obviously). I love the Corsair and am re-reading Tommy Blackburn's book about the "Jolly Rogers". I always think it is neat to put our models in a historic context. I am a full scale pilot, and so can relate always to the thought of losing "life and limb". I bought a 1940 Model Airplane News with a yellow XF4-U on the cover (this might be a subject for you Luke), it was cool to go through MAN's assesment of the fighter before it became the proven work horse that it was. Seriously, MAN was an aviation magazine as well as a modelers forum back then(I'll post a cover pic of that "experimental" Corsair). How different! ..thanks for the ideas on getting a canopy e.t.c. (to all), and Luke I'll git with ya on that(or other generous folks here). I'm sad to here U.S Wing is that way. I was going to order some stuff from him. I can't believe that B.S. he did with your cowl! I guess I need a different source. I noticed from your old source Luke, about blowing up the .60 Royal Corsair to 1/6 th.; 82" is a good size. Can I partake in that? I trust you on your opinions of outline, and was about to order Brian Taylor's plan, but now feel differently (Holman sells his 82"). Sorry to derail my own Royal thread...carry on gentlemen. Thanks for bringin' in those other P-38 pics Luke, and to the others talking about the Stagerwing Beech..I applaud. Beautiful plane, that is, (saw a restored one lumbering over my native Boulder, CO-Beauty!).:D Oooh this was too long, sorry all.

RE: Royal Kits
 

Steve Collins..I didn't mean to leave you out. I am glad to get some feedback before I burn 20 bucks on a canopy. I have a 1.20 surpass pumper on my TF Stang (almost done). The four stroke is a good thought always, and the nose weight being usable for power is better than lead. I'll post a pic of my brass manifold and struts for my P-51 TF, although it is outside the "Royal" topic. I can get away with that can't I?

RE: Royal Kits
 

Riddle4u,

Luke is the guy I got my replacement canopy from. I just couldn't remember the name. He makes very nice ones. See if you can talk him into making one for you.

RE: Royal Kits
 

Would you have the cowl for thr Royal Staggerwing? I'm a Golden Era Aircraft fan and I mostly build civilian airplanes.

RE: Royal Kits
 

Luke, I'd like to get that Zero canopy from you, just PM or e-mail me with transaction details. I liked your wheel well parts for the Corsair! Could you reproduce those? Does Earl Aune still provide struts and tailwheel, or maybe you have drawings for your excellent tailwheel and hook for the Corsair..loved that. Is that famous Corsair of yours still alive? I had hoped to see a video of it flying. I'm going to make fiberglass doors for my TF (.60) P-51; what weight glass did you use, and was it just one layer of mat? I've used PVA mold release in the past over the Monokoted section with good results. Lastly, I use the same thinned epoxy glassing overall that You did but used a second coat which I wet sanded with 320 and 400, and sand most of it off. What is that red filler you used (brand if possible). -great to see you pop in here, Eric.

RE: Royal Kits
 

This is my attempt at a handmade manifold. I will attach it to the flexible O.S. pipe with a short length of high temp silicone tubing and some kind of clamp. It's for my P-51. It was a simple soldering affair but getting all the angles without a jig was a labor of love.

RE: Royal Kits
 

Hi, I need a canopy for my Royal KI 61 Tony jr. I got it off of eBay and it was the only thing the seller neglected to say prior my purchaseing it. I live in USA, so would need an address or phone number, appreciate any help.
Thanks
TW

RE: Royal Kits
 

Hi!
Sorry!But silicon tubing will not work on a four stroke exhaust...it gets to warm.

RE: Royal Kits
 

Jaka, really nice DC-3. That is the Royal version I presume? There is a 3 1/2 inch flexible aluminum header which should cool matters somewhat on my exhaust. Slimline markets a set up with high temp silicone tubing. I'm going to buy that and just use an inch or so as an adaptor. Pattern flyers have been using silicone quite close to the engine for years, and I believe two strokes run even hotter (i'll verify that). Thanks for sharing that nice model (like the Scandinavian Air version).:D

RE: Royal Kits
 

Hey Riddle, did you silver solder your exhaust? That will be all that will work. I just acquired a Royal Giant Scale corsair. This will be a project. Anyone out there built and or flown the 96" ws version. WHat did it end up weighing and what motor was used?

RE: Royal Kits
 

Hi guys....some pics of my Zero from down under.I bought the kit in 1990,and have spent time off and on over the years.I am really making a great effort now to finish it,and it is getting close.Have to admit I have built 7 other planes since I started the Zero..At the moment I am in the process of glass skinning it and have the wings done,and the tail feathers.To day have spent time making the bottom half of my pilot out of blue foam.Have fitted Spring air retracks with Robart scale wheels and oleo spring legs.Have started making up the exhaust system and intent to have all 11 pipes working. Yes have to admit the plane is a labour of love sanding all the balsa away but the end result is good.I have machined the wing guns out of aluminium tube as with the pitot tube.At the moment the weight is 8.6lbs.all up.The landing gear doors I made up of fiberglass,and as yet have to fit. Power super tiger. 61
riddle4u I like your plane.I am doing mine in the M5 colours of green.

RE: Royal Kits
 

Mintie, I love it! Mine was framed so long ago. I notice you have the scale spinner. I have that part also and think it makes a difference. I want to weigh my plane accurately. I put it cowl down on a lousy human scale and it came up around 7 lbs. without engine and radio. I'd actually expect something like that. I think Lukes Corsair of a similar size (and glassed) came out at 9.6 lbs. fully equiped, correct me if I'm wrong Luke(quite lite). My Zero all-up will probably be over ten pounds I'm guessing. At this scale I think choice of wood is more important than worrying about the glassing. Except for the spar I think Royals maybe are overbuilt (unless you sand it down skinny).

RE: Royal Kits
 

Oh, and Mintie keep us updated. I want to see the green version. That looks nice so far!

RE: Royal Kits
 

Ram-Bro, good to here from you. From what I read here from people I trust, is that the bigger Royal Corsair isn't as good an outline as the small one. I don't know why that should have been the case. I have actually wanted to talk about blowing up the .60 Corsair plan to 1/6th scale as Luke had mentioned in the old thread. Does that have a big spun aluminum cowl? I have the .60 Corsair kit and in profile, I can see that it has the slope from the canopy down to the cowl going forward (and in general it looks good to my eye). I don't know why some popular kits do not have a proper outline, it seems just as easy to get it right, but I don't want to get people descending on me here. It is all friendly. I think that is still a great classic kit! Maybe I'll see you at warbirds over the rockies next year?:D

RE: Royal Kits
 

I have a Royal B-25 that is in its final stages - needs primer, sanding, primer, sanding & paint to complete. My wife bought the kit for me late 1980s - turned out to be one of the last Tower Hobbies had. Because I still work for a living and have a very good friend who is retired and loves to build, Bob agreed to build it for me. The instructions with it actually use the old joke to put some glue in the box, shake it up and pour out a plane. I just got some of Nelson's water based epoxy primer to try. Mine has spring air retracts and two OS .46 SX for power.

Dan

RE: Royal Kits
 

Sorry that I've been a hog here. Just excited that Grim Reaper showed up. I asked a lot of questions that were stored up in my head about his old thread. I kind of apologize.

RE: Royal Kits
 

Hi,

I just buyed on ebay the plan & canopy for th Royal KI61 , "uswing" have all the
canopy you need for Royal / Marutaka kits here the link :

http://cgi.ebay.fr/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?...TODAY.m238.lVI

We can share pics if you want ?

I'm actually finishing my zero ( my third one from Marutaka) and will start the
KI61 when receiving the plan & canopy.

tks / Dan

RE: Royal Kits
 

hi,

Saving weight on Marutaka/ Royal kits is possible by covering the fuselage , stab & fin with "Depron" , I did this on a Zero 0.40 size , you dont see the difference with the wing that is glassed , I have flaps , retracts , and detailed cokpit and the total weight is a little less than the weight on the plan , the depron is covered with "Econokote" from Top flite or you can glass it . the first third of fuselage is covered with balsa & glassed and from the half part of the canopy it's all depron .

the Zero of the pic is my second one and is 10 years old , the third one is under contruction and will be more scale ,

RE: Royal Kits
 

I haven't bought anything fron U.S. Wing on Ebay. There are lots of things available from him on Ebay. I with hold opinion, but there is an opinion expressed here strongly. Any one else have experiences? Let us get quality Royal stuff as possible.

RE: Royal Kits
 

stick 08, I appreciate your ideas. With the nice planters, and such, apparent in the picture, maybe we need some more of your European style. Can I trade an old K&B .40 for a good bottle of bordeaux? Grand vins please..ha ha. Are you listening Bachuss? I tried to get my half-french nephews (6 and 8) interested in little Corsair models last year. No luck! Eyeballs were a rolling wondering where the lego kits were. Mamon! Mamon! (mother)!;)

RE: Royal Kits
 

There is a yellow Royal staggerwing hanging in the Hobby Barn in Tucson. I have offered to buy it for the last 2 years each time I visit Tucson and they say it is not for sale.. I saw it again last week and it is awesome. It has the retracts and looks like who ever built it has probably built several. It looks fantanstic.