I'm in need of you guys help here. I'm currently working on a TF P-47 1/5 scale and have come accross a little delima at least for me. In the kit plans it shows quite a bit of right hand thrust on the engine. And with that it realy looks wrong and even worst with the cowel on it. Should I eleminate the thrust on the engine or maybe redrill the engine mount holes in the fire wall and set the engine off center then adjust the cowel to make it look square. I would realy prefer to set the engine up with 0 thrust and go from there.

The thrust is built in to counteract torque (p-factor) of a large engine. You can adjust the cowl but remember we have to take scale liberties to make our models fly. BTW I have one of these and it does look like a lot but it flies very well

What engine are you using? If it is the 41, then you can get away with a little less right thrust. Also, remember that the designer drew the plans for the average pilot in mind. If you have a lot of time with heavy, taildragger warbirds, then you could get away with a little less right thrust. Are you a good enough pilot to fly the big Jug with rudder only? If you never use the rudder in the air, then I would leave it alone and build it according to the plans. If so, then you could take out some of the right thrust. The original had right thrust. The full size Corsair had an off set vertical fin to counter the thrust problem.
Brian

NChrome....I have done quite abit of "testing" with different thrust angles on several warbirds......What I found out was it was of little value for the work needed to dial in right/down thrust...........provided the throttle isn't "slammed" on the T/O roll or during go arounds......if you have good throttle management skills I would forget the offset and go 0/0.......Offset does make a difference on the vertical line or for the Aerobatic guys where they do a different kind of flying..........for us warbird guys when even going on the vertical adding rt rudder will keep it there....Good Luck.........Bill....

Thanks guys for your responces. I think I will divide the diference and reduce the thrust about half of what it is supose to be and maybe redrill the fire wall to set the engine off center to center the prop to the cowel. Warbirdz1 I do have some experience with warbirds just not of this size. Except for my HP200 which I have 0 thrust up or right and it flys just fine for me. And like I have always said I don't do aerobatics unless I want to take it home in a bag I just fly and enjoy it. Also on my HP200 the engine is mounted solid not a soft mount. I've read in other posting that soft mount voids some of the warrentys. Besides that my HP is about four years old and have only had one clevis work loose. But yes I do do a preflight check thats how I found the clevis loose. All hinges are doing just fine no stress cracks in the fire wall and the gear is still on her. Thanks again

Here's a link to a calculator to you figure out how far to move the engine off centerline and get thrust just right.
http://www.lcrcc.net/offset_calc.htm

Im currently building the top flite P-47.I mounted the engine per the 2% of right thrust and no soft mounts.I am using a Fuji 64 engine and made my own mount to bring the engine out per plans and it looks dead on center with the cowling. Remember that they have shifted the engine off center to compensate for the right thrust. How did your retracts with wheels fit in the wing?Im about one week from glassing the airplane.If you have any more questions feel free to email me.Good Luck