RE: top flite corsair build questions
 

Almost at the end!:D
But, I have a issue. I still need to paint the stars and bars and place a few decals. I just weighed what I have so far:
Plane with reciever, battery, fuel tank and prop without engine is 8lbs 15oz.
With rcv120 SP is 11lbs 3oz

I have a new RCV 120SP but could I get away with a 90SP after fully completed. That sure would be nice!

RE: top flite corsair build questions
 

Beautiful job, Mistral!

I know you can hardly wait to put her up. What prop are you going with? If you're undecided, Hobby Lobby sells Graupner G-Sonic 18x12 3-blades that would work great with the 120SP. (I would round the tips and paint them yellow, though.)

I had a friend maiden mine in July. It flew wonderfully. That engine will pull it around with authority. Flys great at 1/2 throttle. My maiden ended badly, though. I used a silicone exhaust deflector and the hot exhaust burned through it and the firewall, melting my retract air line, charge jack, and on/off switch. She went down but is now repaired and ready to fly again. I'm just waiting on my SoloProp blades. Here's the video, if you haven't seen it. http://www.rcuvideos.com/video/Corsa...ight-Crash-Hap Turn your volume up. Juice did a great job with my video footage and set it to music.

You're right, the 90SP would fly your plane just fine. But you will love the power of your big 120. You should be able to cruise around with no strain whatsoever on that torque monster. Just be sure to get your cooling duct directing air over those fins with ample escape for the hot air.

Good luck,
Joe

RE: top flite corsair build questions
 

Joe,

Your planes looks great. Man, that thing flew like a rocket! That crash scared the @#$ out of me but I was so glad you were able to reapir it so easily! Do you think mine would be easier to fly with the 90 versus the 120?

RE: top flite corsair build questions
 

I would think that, if properly balanced, they would fly pretty much the same. Though, with the 120SP you would have more available power and torque at your disposal. It's nice to know you have some extra power available to get you out of trouble. I think there is some 10 oz. difference in the engine weights. I would just throw the big engine in and throttle back. Plus, spinning a big prop is the reason I bought the RCV anyway. Remember, these kits tend to build tail-heavy. My Corsair balanced with the big engine without adding any additional weight, and that was with Juice's prop hub and SoloProp blades (around 16 oz.). That extra engine weight will probably be of great value to you when you balance your plane.

Did you add extra ply to the firewall? If not, I would go back and do that just for piece of mind.

RE: top flite corsair build questions
 

Joe,

Fired up the 120SP! I ran 1 gallon of wildcat 10 and then started on omega 10. It is running smooth and had little vibration even at the start! It is finally idling around 1400-1500. Top rpm is 5400 with a 18x12 prop. I want to try a 16x10 master air
3 blade. Have you tried to start yours from the front? Mine seems to turn over fairly easy.

RE: top flite corsair build questions
 

Mistral,

I haven't tried starting mine from the front, but I think it would start easily. I'm using CoolPower 10 exclusively now. It seems to run a little cooler and I haven't had any drop in performance with it.

Sounds like you've gotten her broken in nicely. Did you have any problems with the muffler coming loose? After I had the back end welded on, the threads on the front of the muffler stripped. I discarded it and replaced it with a straight pipe with a reducer fitting on the back to give me back pressure for pressurizing the fuel tank. The exit hole diameter is the same as the stock muffler. It's a little louder, but I think it sounds nice. I believe that the aluminum muffler expanding at a different rate than the steel header pipe is the root of the loosening problem. I have not had any problems with my steel straight pipe coming loose.

RE: top flite corsair build questions
 

Joe,
My muffler finally exploded today[&o]. I lost the tap on the nipple and had to retap it and I welded the end on. I bought a flexible muffler tube this weekend and I think I am going to use it in the plane. I am frustrated now with the idle. I cannot get it idle below 1800 to 2000 without is trying to stop. I'm scared to mess with the needle too much since it runs great at mid and top. Dumb question but is the idle screw inside the bottom of the carb. Is it a reg screw needing a screw driver. Should I try to adjust it? Is it too rich?

RE: top flite corsair build questions
 

The idle screw is on the opposite end of the carb from the main needle screw. If you have been idling good and are now having problems, don't touch the idle screw yet! Did the idle problem start after the muffler problem? Has the weather changed recently? Has your fuel been left open for a while? Have you changed fuel brands?

A friend of mine was having terrible idle problems with an O.S. engine. As it turns out, he had bad fuel. It had been left open and had absorbed moisture from the air. With a weather change you may now be too rich or too lean. That main needle adjustment does affect idle.

Just check the idle screw to be sure that it is not loose and takes some pressure to turn it. I wouldn't adjust it yet. At this point, I would just tinker with the main needle. What I did was set the main needle 4 clicks to the left of max rpm.

RE: top flite corsair build questions
 

Joe,
Thanks for the input on both post. I finally think I have this stress maker dialed in. I even put the 16x10 master air screw on and got it maxed to 5200 and even idled down to 1650! I only have a slight hesiatation going from idle to full throttle. I also found that my max throttle is slightly before full open on the carb. Is the hesiatation too lean or rich? Should I better just leave it alone? Thanks for the trick finding the right nedle points. I'm getting close to try to fly or crash this thing! I evev started it with my hand held starter from the front!

RE: top flite corsair build questions
 

What did you guys use to glue the oil cooler to the wing? I was thinking Super RCZ56 or SIG-MENT, any preference?

Thanks

RE: top flite corsair build questions
 

bdraper,

As I remember, I inletted the wing leading edges so the oil coolers would fit flush and just CA'd them in.

RE: top flite corsair build questions
 

Mistral,

I just noticed your last post today!. I'm glad I could help. I just ran my engine today for the first time since the maiden and crash. It ran fine and turned the 18x12 at 4400 rpm. Idle was between 1400 and 1500 rpm. I'm now ready to to give it another go.

Concerning your hesitation from idle to full throttle, I think your idle screw may be slightly lean. Try turning it counterclockwise 1/8 turn and see if that helps. That should let you idle a little lower as well. Remember to go back and adjust your main screw as before (finding your max rpm at full throttle and then richening a few clicks). Once you get that idle screw dialed in, you won't have to touch it again. You should only have to adjust the main screw to your weather conditions.

Hope this helps,
Joe

RE: top flite corsair build questions
 

Got the RCV adjusted finally! Idling down to 1500 and max to 5100 with the 3 blade! Finishing the cowl cuts ofr the muffler and I think I am going to just put a hole in the top for the starter. I'll post some picks! Getting ready to start on the ZIroli SBD. Just got back from the Wings over Houston Air Show. Great warbird collection there!

RE: top flite corsair build questions
 

Here are some pics of the finished bird!

RE: top flite corsair build questions
 

Mistral, I've been following this build and what a wonderful job you've done, even the detail, wow. I'm only about half way done with mine, thanks for the thread. My RCV 120 has a 19" Bolly; love it! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b32tBqqrD_k Also trying to get her to idle better too.

Paul S.

RE: top flite corsair build questions
 

GREAT looking Corsair.

Good luck with the maiden.

Pete

RE: top flite corsair build questions
 

Great job, Mistral. You've built a really nice bird! Don't forget to shoot some video of the maiden-and good luck.

re-Activitaing the thread
 

Restarting the activity on this thread.
Is anyone building the TF Corsair Gold Edition 60?
I have started on the Wings. A lot of the early problems, 10 years ago, in this thread have been addressed either thru manual or plan changes. Or, some of the suppliers changed their designs. Also, many of the "fixes" are no longer available.
The thread can continue!
Will