Official FlightLine F4U-1A Corsair 1600mm (63") Wingspan

[jetfool]

Davegee,

I believe Lucky had the Curtiss prop hub by the looks of this picture. What do you think? Going to turn a wooden mock-up of the prop hub to get the correct profile, then when I have the alum. I'll know what I'm doing. Hopefully!
It amazes me how much detail the plastic modelers put into their models. The pictures will be a big help.

Down to final sanding and it is really getting smooth. Need to clean out a few panel lines then one light coat of primer so the paint all blends. If you look close you can see the foam but this is buried under 4 clear coats of poly and won't show after last thin primer coat. I have tried to sand most of primer off to keep weight down. Hasn't gained much weight.
My hands and shoulders are sore from the sanding, wet sanding is making a mess on the building table too. What Joy!




Just starting the final wet sanding. You can see where filler was applied after stencils removed. Really smooth

[Grossman56]

Hey guys!
Been trying to figure out how to seat the pilot in the cockpit with all the pesky control rods running just where his feet are. The biggest problem is the rudder control rod as it comes right up where he should sit, Dave, you said you made a wedge to seat him in but for the life of me, I can't envision what you did, can you send a pic of the wedge in place! I know there's a joke in there about giving the pilot a wedgey.

Grossman56
(Dangerous Dan)

[davegee]

Rex: check this link out: https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/...y-electrified/

It comes from a BritModeler article online, and I think now this confirms it was a Curtiss Electric prop, as you had been looking for a piece of aluminum for a spinner.

Cheers

Davegee

[davegee]

Davegee,

Thanks for the dimensions. Looks like I need to see my friend who has a machine shop, biggest alum. stock I have is 1" dia. If I can make a decent spinner I will make enough for our planes. Would be nice to make our models the correct period appearance when we can.

Best Regards, Rex

Hi Rex: I'm getting a little confused here as I haven't been able to find a period photo of Lucky yet. Have we determined that this aircraft had a Ham Stan prop or a Curtiss Electric prop? I really am not sure with this one yet. If you have any photos of this plane or accurate drawings, please post them here.

Thanks,

Dave

[davegee]

Davegee,

Thanks for the dimensions. Looks like I need to see my friend who has a machine shop, biggest alum. stock I have is 1" dia. If I can make a decent spinner I will make enough for our planes. Would be nice to make our models the correct period appearance when we can.

Best Regards, Rex

Hi Rex: I'm getting a little confused here as I haven't been able to find a period photo of Lucky yet. Have we determined that this aircraft had a Ham Stan prop or a Curtiss Electric prop? I really am not sure with this one yet. If you have any photos of this plane or accurate drawings, please post them here.

I did a little more research after this post was written. I have an interesting article from BritModeler, which usually has some very sharp and astute authors and plastic modelers.

I'll attach this link: https://www.britmodeller.com/forums/...y-electrified/

This modeler did a great job making a plastic model of Johnson's Lucky, and it shows a Curtiss Electric prop on that plane. I tend now to agree that he is right. Actually, the vast majority of P-47s in WWII did have the Curtiss Electric prop, less so the Ham Stand prop with its shorter rounder prop bub. In my opinion it is good to go ahead planning for the Curtiss Electric prop hub that you are going to try and turn on the lathe. You'll also need some cuffs to put on the base of the props. You might have some ideas on that. I had some success making them out of a piece of vinyl and folding them over the prop and gluing them in place. For the mostpart, they stayed in place during flight, but I had some fly off during this testing process. There was NO effect on flying with one or more of the cuffs coming off the prop during some of those flights. Might need a bit more research to finalize.

Thanks,

Dave

[jetfool]

Davegee,

Thanks for the dimensions. Looks like I need to see my friend who has a machine shop, biggest alum. stock I have is 1" dia. If I can make a decent spinner I will make enough for our planes. Would be nice to make our models the correct period appearance when we can.

Best Regards, Rex

[davegee]

Davegee,

I plan to make the spinner from alum to screw on the vs3 prop shaft. I need to get the length and diameter so I can look in my metal stash and find what I need.

Dangerous,
Your pilot is looking great.

Still sanding filling a few imperfections, getting there.

Best Regards, Rex

Keep me apprised of how it goes, Rex. If I can be of any help, let me know. I'd much prefer to have a lightweight aluminum spinner over a printed one.

For what it's worth, the printed one I had someone do a couple of years ago is approximately 2.48 inches long by 1.36 inches in diameter at the base. I wasn't satisfied with the overall shape of it, it needed to refined a bit to look more like the real CE prop domes.

Cheers

Davegee

[Grossman56]

Hard to keep the little guy together and get a pic at the same time!

[jetfool]

Davegee,

I plan to make the spinner from alum to screw on the vs3 prop shaft. I need to get the length and diameter so I can look in my metal stash and find what I need.

Dangerous,
Your pilot is looking great.

Still sanding filling a few imperfections, getting there.

Best Regards, Rex

[davegee]

Got right to work on the new Dangerous Dan! He has that 'Go ahead, make my day' look.



I gave him a very warm spray at first as I figure there wasn't too many fellows who didn't have a good suntan/burn going. Man that face came together so easily!, sprayed a lighter skin tone down from the top of the head and adjusted with a brush. THANKS DAVE AND ELBEE!!!

Grossman56
(Dangerous Dan)

You're off to a flying start with the initial coloring!

Davegee

[davegee]

Davegee,

We fly at the HS this Sunday afternoon. I'll talk to the teacher and see if they are interested. Might be fun.
I'm going to make a Curtiss Spinner for my P-47 on my lathe from alum.

Rex

Let me know how that goes. Will this be a flyable spinner that you thread onto the prop shaft for the V3 Corsair propeller?

Davegee

[Elbee]

Got right to work on the new Dangerous Dan! He has that 'Go ahead, make my day' look. I gave him a very warm spray at first as I figure there wasn't too many fellows who didn't have a good suntan/burn going. Man that face came together so easily!, sprayed a lighter skin tone down from the top of the head and adjusted with a brush. THANKS DAVE AND ELBEE!!!Grossman56(Dangerous Dan)

Danger,
Looks my Marine Pilot has a younger twin brother.

Nicely done.

Best, LB

[Grossman56]

Got right to work on the new Dangerous Dan! He has that 'Go ahead, make my day' look.



I gave him a very warm spray at first as I figure there wasn't too many fellows who didn't have a good suntan/burn going. Man that face came together so easily!, sprayed a lighter skin tone down from the top of the head and adjusted with a brush. THANKS DAVE AND ELBEE!!!

Grossman56
(Dangerous Dan)

[Elbee]

davegee.

I concur with the consensus, the joint-venture pilot was a success. :tada:

Lookin' good, Ma'am and Sirs.:champagne:

Best, LB

[davegee]

The pilot looks awesome Dave, So much better than PP's Can't wait to get started on him. I think you'll be impressed at the progress I've made so far.

Grossman56
(Dangerous Dan)

Good. I'll be heading over shortly to get there aroun 10 am.

Davegee

[Grossman56]

The pilot looks awesome Dave, So much better than PP's Can't wait to get started on him. I think you'll be impressed at the progress I've made so far.

Grossman56
(Dangerous Dan)

[davegee]

Davegee,

We fly at the HS this Sunday afternoon. I'll talk to the teacher and see if they are interested. Might be fun.
I'm going to make a Curtiss Spinner for my P-47 on my lathe from alum.

Rex

Sounds good. If they don't want to do the project, that's fine.

Cheers

Davegee

[jetfool]

Davegee,

We fly at the HS this Sunday afternoon. I'll talk to the teacher and see if they are interested. Might be fun.
I'm going to make a Curtiss Spinner for my P-47 on my lathe from alum.

Rex

[davegee]

Hi Rex: maybe we could effect a trade.I need someone to develop a stronger outer wheel half for my E Flite P-51D that is currently shredding the thin plastic rim with the Robart 3.5 inch tires. Also, I’d like to get a better designed Curtiss electric prop dome for my P-47. Mine is close, but could be slightly improved to look a little smoother and more realistic. Would your students be interested in a challenge like that?. I can print up and paint a Ken Walsh pilot that would fit into your cockpit easily. I’m going over to Danger Dan’s tomorrow with my V2 Corsair pilot to see how he fits into his new birdcage Corsair.

Just a thought. Might be a fun trade??

Cheers

Davegee

[jetfool]

Davegee,

You and your wife did a beautiful job on the pilot. Looks great sitting in the cockpit. I need to hire someone to make me a Ken Walsh for my Corsair. Know anybody?

Best Regards, Rex