flybaby-RCU

My Feedback: (2)

I am in the process of finishing my 94 inch W.S. ZIROLLI CORSAIR , and i kind of like the early birdcage canopy models for color schemes . HAS anyone ever done this with the ZIROLLI CORSAIR and if so how did you get , or change the canopy to look scale? I would appreciate any information , and pictures you might have . Thanks Tom [email protected]

CorsairJock

My Feedback: (90)

I have been contemplating the same thing, only with a Top FliteCorsair, and I wonder if a (Top Flite) P-47 canopy could be made to work. Has anybody tried this?

dionysusbacchus

My Feedback: (25)

Your best bet would be the TF P-40 canopy. With a few modifications like altering the angle of the bottom and cutting off the back. Or carve one out of foam, glass it, put mold release on it, make a fiberglass frame, then pull your own clear canopy. Glue the fiberglass frame to it and you got it!

The front of a P-47 canopy is totally different, it is a sharp point at the center. This would look bad on a Corsair.

I would have to agree about the later Corsair paint jobs, I'm building a F4U-1D now. Only a few of the early D models had the Tri color scheme, all the rest were just all blue.

flybaby-RCU

My Feedback: (2)

Thanks for the reply but i dont think the TOP FLITE CANOPY would be big enough for the zirolli corsair . I probably will have to mold one unless someone else has already done it . Thanks Tom

dionysusbacchus

My Feedback: (25)

Oops, my bad. For some reason I was thinking .60 size. It depends on how accurate you wanted to make it. It would definitely be a lot easier to make than a bubble canopy. Maybe the Ziroli P-40 canopy? If you do make it yourself make it in 2 parts.

flybaby-RCU

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I was also thinking of the zirolli p-40 canopy . Thanks Tom

CorsairJock

My Feedback: (90)

Back to the P-47 canopies: it appears to me (from my limited P-47 documentation) that there 2 different versions of the 'razorback' canopies. The first is pointed in front, as 'Dion' mentioned, but it appears to me that a later, rounded front version was used also. This is the one I was thinking of, it appears to very closely match the 'birdcage' Corsair canopy. I think this is the one that comes with the Top Flite kits.
So, the question becomes, regardless of scale, which canopy more closely resembles the birdcage Corsair canopy? Maybe we could compare the P-51B ones also. It,s gonna take someone with plans from all those kits (in a given scale) AND good scale birdcage Corsair drawings to give a good answer.

flybaby-RCU

My Feedback: (2)

Thanks I have a giant scale p-47 canopy and i will see wht it looks like compapison wise . Thanks again Tom

phayd

I have a book with scale drawings of the birdcage. (Aero Detail)

XF4U -1, F4U-1, and F4U-2, all had different variations of the birdcage. F4U-1 had two different variations, depending on production date.

They all had the same front windshield, so I won't describe it.

XF4U-1 - flat top; Cross members - 2 verticals, one horizontal - spaced evenly; large back window frame.

F4U-1 - Flat top with exception of external rear-view mirror; Cross members - 2 vertical, one horizontal - spaced toward the back. Back window frame removed. Fuselage windows added behind cockpit.

Late production F4U-1 - Bubble top w/ internal rear-view mirror otherwise the same as F4U-1.

F4U-2 - same as late F4U-1 except an armor plate added above and slightly behind pilots head.

I will try to scan these pages today for you.


-- Update --
I have two pictures (a TIFF and a JPG) that shows all of the birdcage revisions. Together they are over 4 MB and will not shrink well. Therefore, you'll have to e-mail me to get them. [email protected]

Tmoth4

My Feedback: (1)

This is my Brian Taylor Corsair that I did with the birdcage canopy. I made a balsa plug for the windshield part and pulled it over that using a heat gun. For the sliding canopy part I used a flat piece of butyrate and cut it to fit over a 1/8 ply frame. I used a hot lightbulb with a piece of cloth over it to create the "blister" on the top of the canopy. It took a couple of tries for each but it turned out OK.

You might be able to use the windshield part of the Ziroli canopy and then make the sliding part from flat stock like I did.

Jim

flybaby-RCU

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Thanks Jim I t looks good . I f my memory serves me corrrectly the BYRON TAYLOR IS ABOUT A 76 INCH WING SPAN . I will probably try your method Thanks again Tom

Tmoth4

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flybaby,

Actually I enlarged the old .60 size BT plans to an 88" wingspan, so I had to build a cowl too.

Jim

dionysusbacchus

My Feedback: (25)

Tmoth4,

Great looking Corsair! I must confess that I don't like the Brian Taylor Corsair wing. although the nose on the Brian Taylor plan is one of the most accurate around. I want to build a large Corsair, but after getting the Ziroli plan I found that it would need to many modifications to be correct also. I have decided to enlarge the Royal .60 Corsair plan! The question is, how did you get your plan enlarged? Any info would be helpful!

Thanks,

Luke

ProfLooney

I had this same canopy question in my advisor column for rcwarbirds. Heres a way to make the canopy frame.

Use the inside of your current canopy as a mold. Use some plaster of paris and pour into the inside of the canopy and let harden. When it is cured pop it out and let it dry for a day or so. Then put a few coats of poly urethane, varnish, shellac anything like that onto the plaster and when dry wetsand smooth then using some rubbing compound buff it up. Put several coats of Mold release on and then glass over it with 2 or 3 layers of glass. When its all cured draw on the glass the frame structure you want, trim it up and you have your frame. You can then use the old canopy for the glass for your frame.

Joe

Chad Veich

My Feedback: (60)

Just FYI, the wing on the new 82" Taylor Corsair is not built at all like the older .60 size plan. No more wedges to form the gull, the new plans shows a much more scale wing construction.