Giant Scale Electric Conversions

[Aros]

I've had my eyes on that gorgeous Hangar 9 60 F4U Corsair ever since it came out. It's meant for gas but can be converted to electric. If I do pull the trigger on it I am going to go with a Power 360 Brushless 180Kv motor swinging a 24x10 Biela 3 Blade prop. I've only seen one guy do the electric conversion and it turned out great. Does anyone have experience converting giant scale gassers over to electric? If so, care to share any tips and tricks you learned along the way?

[crxmanpat]

I don't have any experience, but maybe soon I will. I just picked up an ASM A-26 Invader that has been hanging in the Riverside Hobby People shop for several years. Hobby People closed all their stores and sold off all the ceiling demo planes, and I snagged this beauty. Not sure what I am going to power it with yet, need to estimate the AUW and go from there. But since it's a twin, I should be able to find a decent setup for it.

[Aros]

That will be a fun project for sure Pat! What's the wingspan?

[crxmanpat]

It's 92". I've started a little research. Will be picking motors, ESCs, retracts, and servos soon. Hoping to go with a pair of 6S 5000 packs, one for each motor.

[Aros]

Keep me posted! Should be a fun one for sure!

[Twowingtj]

All of my giant scale birds were originally designed for gas and I fly them all electric. All are in the 30cc class. I have a 25% Pitts M-12, a 26% MXS-R, and an 82" wingspan BV-141B. I have also converted a 28% 60cc Yak 55M. I am getting everything together for a 35% Hostetler 100cc RV-4. The key is to get the right motor kv, prop, ESC and battery combination. I tend to like my birds highly powered yet not stress the power train. I'll help as I can.

[Aros]

Good to know! Nice collection there...

[0nemildot]

Aros,

I'm sure you have seen the RCG (I think) post of a gentleman that did the conversion, and the 1-2 flight videos on YouTube. I think in one post he included templates for building a battery box directly on the front of the firewall, and mounting the motor /ESC.

He was able to Cog the airframe with a 12S 10000mah setup (4 x 5000mah packs).

A similar system is used in the Hanger 9 P-51 conversion. https://youtu.be/wOPqCaJnlPM

If you are looking to stretch flight time further, look into a 14S setup. Motrolfly motors, http://www.subsonicplanes.com/Motrolfly_Motors.html will custom wind, so you can really tune the power system for best performance/efficiency with the scale prop.

The off the shelf solution other than Eflite would be to look at the big motor from Extreme Flight, I think they all are based on a 12S setup.

I drool over this airframe, but I think mine would have to have a radial out front. My favorite Corsairs are the Korean War types. An electric would allow a F4u-4 to be built using a massive scale 4 blade prop without issue.

Any chance you guys will commission a 1600mm Corsair in the future? One that is built right from the beginning? I have avoided the big FMS bird due to the hit or miss QC issues.

[Aros]

Thanks Onemildot! Welcome to Hobby Squawk as well! Yep indeed that was the gentleman I was referring to. He sent me a document with the battery box build...Thanks for the link to the Motrolfly motors I will definitely check those out. Yes indeed I would prefer a radial like a Moki as well but alas my bank account laughs at me for even thinking it!

LOL

Not sure on a future Corsair but I sure would love to see one done right myself. The owners know I am a Corsair nut so I keep in their ear for one so stay tuned! Despite the FMS 1700mm's misses, it's a good (if not underpowered) flyer, I did enjoy the two I had. Thanks again for the info!

[dkalwishky]

Not sure on a future Corsair but I sure would love to see one done right myself. The owners know I am a Corsair nut so I keep in their ear for one so stay tuned! Despite the FMS 1700mm's misses, it's a good (if not underpowered) flyer, I did enjoy the two I had. Thanks again for the info!

Flightline needs to do this as a 1600mm bird. :)

[Aros]

Nah, 2000mm! ;):Cool:

[Alpha]

:)


















[Character minimum!]

[Aros]

IF FlightLineRC or Freewing was to ever attempt a scale Corsair, surely they would make sure the flap's LE's are curved, right Alpha? LOL ;)

Every time I see a R/C Corsair with hard edged flaps it makes me want to chew glass! :Scared:

[farmflyer]

Hopefully you don't get around to doing the Corsair for a good while. Iv been able to hold off the big birds thus far but that just might break my will. The 1200mm Dynam birds are my biggest to date.

[Dewey H Lee]

Hey Farmflyer your really missing out. I love my 1450mm and one day just one day I'm going giant size. I've said it a million times that I love that bird in the air. Bigger the more beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Only drawback has been pocketbook.

[Aros]

This is one hobby I have personally found Bigger Is Better...I love giant scale...Problem is, like Dewey says it's not good for the ol' pocketbook. You can by 5 or 6 mid-sized foam jets and warbirds for the price of 1 giant scale turn-key. I enjoy flying all sizes but nothing gets my blood pumping more than flying a big, big bird.

[rifleman_btx]

I keep thinking I want to convert my 90" p38 from gasoline to electric... But then I don't know... Seems like alot of work as it doesn't have any hatches to get to batteries so I would have to make my own.. the thing has been hanging in the garage for almost 10-11 years now without a single flight on it. I want to atleast get more reliable engines on it. This is the second one, as my first one I lost an engine and it spiraled in. So it has me alittle gun-shy. I think if I just got some reliable easy to tune engines I'd be ok

[Aros]

You have had a 90" P-38 hanging in your garage for a decade without a single flight on it? You, my good man, have much better resolve than I ever would. LOL

Then again losing one to a failed motor would make anyone pretty gun shy that's for certain.

Yeah the hatch and motor mount modifications can be a big obstacle for some when converting from gas to electric. Especially for someone like me who doesn't have an ounce of engineering/building prowess to save my life. Luckily I have a good buddy who is a Boeing aeronautical engineer and enjoys building and flying RC models so I've been extremely fortunate. I pay him for his labor, materials and time and it works out great. For the Hangar 9 60 Corsair a hatch needs to be created behind the cowl and in front of the cockpit and if I had to do it myself it would look like someone took a rusty saw to the plane!

:Scared:

[F106DeltaDart]

Aros, if you ever do take on a conversion of the 60CC Corsair, that would really be a sight to see, especially with the giant scale prop! I have its baby brother, the 20CC Corsair, in the middle of its build right now. Only electric conversion I've done from a gas plane was an old Kadet Seniorita, that was a real sweet flying trainer. For being the big plane it was, it could fly on hardly any power at all, think I used the motor/ESC out of a 1st generation FMS 1400mm T-28. A Byron Hellcat would be one of my dream projects though, I'd just need a new work space, car, and a trailer... Same thing for the awesome Century Jet F-106..

[Aros]

That's great F106...Do you still have the Kadet? That's amazing, the power from an old 1400mm T-28...Nice! The Hellcat and F-106 would be sweet projects! I hear ya on space, etc. We are limited by circumstance that's for sure.

If I go through with the H960 Corsair I would want to add a top end sound system like Benedini but the added weight could be an issue....