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

[Elbee]

DaveG

These look to be the correct tanks.

It's be great if we could find 3-views.

Do you know the actual dimensions of the tanks you mentioned?

What do you think?

Best, LB

[davegee]

Dave, not sure about any existing STL's; my best guess would be Thingiverse.

However, if you find some decent 3-view drawings, I can walk you through designing those.

Also, I will look for some 3-views, too.

I think drop tanks are interesting add-on mods and modelling those are fairly straight-forward.

Best, LB

Thanks, LB. The wing drop tanks that come with the E Flite 1500mm P-51D are of an extreme teardrop shape that doesn't conform to the design of the real ones in WWII. At a minimum, I'd like to print some scale 75 gal "teardrop" tanks that are more accurate, but also the 110 gallon tanks used for long bomber escort missions, too. I'll keep looking. I just got my Tinkercad for Dummies yesterday. Reading through the first couple of pages, I confirmed that I am indeed a Dummy, so the reading material is appropriate for me!

Cheers

Davegee

[davegee]

DaveG

These look to be the correct tanks.

It's be great if we could find 3-views.

Do you know the actual dimensions of the tanks you mentioned?

What do you think?

Best, LB

Hi Steve: Yes, these are all pretty accurate models of different drop tanks. I'm familiar with this drawing that is shown in some of my reference books. The two in particular I am looking at are the 75 gal. "teardrop" shape that went on the wings of the P-51s (among other planes, too) and the 108 gal. "paper" tanks with the distinctive ribbed patterns from the impregnated molded paper nose and tail sections of the tank.

I don't have exact dimensions for these at the moment, but could come up with something pretty close. The FMS 1500mm P-47 has foam "paper" tanks that I judge to be fairly accurate. Same with the "teardrop" drop tanks that come with the E Flite P-51Ds. It's just that the overall shape of the P-51 tanks is off, would need to be modified some. But the basic starting dimensions are possible that I could photograph and measure for a start. I also have photos, or they could be gotten from the internet showing side views of the teardrop tanks to use as a guide.

I've adapted the stock shackles from the E Flite P-51 to some very scale looking 500 pound bombs I had Chris Wolf (RC Geek) make for me a couple of years ago. The shackles could be further refined by printing some more scale ones (e.g., the sway braces are "WAY" too thick, and could be scaled better) but even though I haven't done new shackles, the RC Geek printed bombs that look great and are easily changed out when desired from the inaccurate stock teardrop shaped drop tanks that came with the kit.



Davegee

[Elbee]

Drop Tank P-51.zip

davegee See if this is workable. I did a quick design this morning referencing only pictures. Best, LB

[davegee]

[ATTACH]n402351[/ATTACH]

davegee See if this is workable. I did a quick design this morning referencing only pictures. Best, LB

Hi Steve: we're in the ballpark. Thanks for taking time to do a preliminary drawing. I'm attaching a couple drawings/photographs of the real ones.

Here's what I'd say about your first rendition:

1) for the 75 gallon drop tanks, they were two pieces, pretty much identical top and bottom, and have a rim where they are welded or attached somehow.

2) There is no ribbing on the 75 gal tanks as is shown on the front of the rendering. The entire outline of the surface should be a continuous, gradual arc from nose to tail. The whole tank is very smooth, aluminum or steel construction, probably put sheet metal on a big press to get the two parts.

3) I think the front of the tank is a little bigger than the rear of the tank, if you can see on the photos which aren't ideal. The E Flite 1500mm P-51 foam tank rendition has it streamlining to a point in the rear, which it did not do.

I'll see if I can find something a little better.

Let me know what you think.

Thanks!

Davegee

[davegee]

Hi Steve: we're in the ballpark. Thanks for taking time to do a preliminary drawing. I'm attaching a couple drawings/photographs of the real ones.

Here's what I'd say about your first rendition:

1) for the 75 gallon drop tanks, they were two pieces, pretty much identical top and bottom, and have a rim where they are welded or attached somehow.

2) There is no ribbing on the 75 gal tanks as is shown on the front of the rendering. The entire outline of the surface should be a continuous, gradual arc from nose to tail. The whole tank is very smooth, aluminum or steel construction, probably put sheet metal on a big press to get the two parts.

3) I think the front of the tank is a little bigger than the rear of the tank, if you can see on the photos which aren't ideal. The E Flite 1500mm P-51 foam tank rendition has it streamlining to a point in the rear, which it did not do.

I'll see if I can find something a little better.

Let me know what you think.

Thanks!

Davegee

Hi Steve: I found I have a little Dragon diecast steel 1/72 scale model of a P-51D with the teardrop shaped 75 gallon drop tanks. I took one off and measured its basic dimensions with a caliper, however it was so tiny it was only a wag.

Here's what I came up with: The E-Flite P-51 D model that I have is approximately 1: 7.52 scale

The length of the little diecast steel model drop tank was about 1 inch. That would translate to approximately 9.57 inches long from nose to tail for the E Flite model if my calculations are correct.
The greatest diameter of the teardrop tank of the diecast steel model is about .32 inches or so. That largest part I took about 1/3 of the length of the total tank from the forward end. Just a wag, I know! So, the diameter at the widest part is approximately 3 inches, give or take.

I don't know if that helps any, or not.

Cheers

Davegee

[Elbee]

Corsair Dudes and Dudettes,

I am adding ordnance and a fuel tank to my Corsair,

In the process of designing/redesigning the 500lb-ers (AN-64's ?).

The goal being to keep this light as foam...

Anywho, all parts of Version 3 sans paint at 14g

Best, LB

[davegee]

Corsair Dudes and Dudettes,

I am adding ordnance and a fuel tank to my Corsair,

In the process of designing/redesigning the 500lb-ers (AN-64's ?).

The goal being to keep this light as foam...

Anywho, all parts of Version 3 sans paint at 14g

Best, LB

Those look beautiful, Elbee! I like you have the fuze spinners for the nose and tail fuzes printed, as well. I made mine up from scratch, but I could certainly print some, now!

Well done!

Davegee

[jetfool]

Great work Elbee. I would like to add the Brewster rack and bomb on my Corsair eventually. Will your STLs be available for others? Been a slow start for me to fly this year, life has gotten in the way with other things. Thinking of purchasing the bubble top Corsair later this year, Love the Corsair. Winds are starting to subside in our area and we are flying more at our club. Hope to get my Corsair and Tigercat up this season.
Best Regards, Rex

[Elbee]

Great work Elbee. I would like to add the Brewster rack and bomb on my Corsair eventually. Will your STLs be available for others? Been a slow start for me to fly this year, life has gotten in the way with other things. Thinking of purchasing the bubble top Corsair later this year, Love the Corsair. Winds are starting to subside in our area and we are flying more at our club. Hope to get my Corsair and Tigercat up this season.
Best Regards, Rex

JF, could be coming to a theater near you later this Summer. Best, LB

[Elbee]

Bent-Wing Brethren,

I've been finishing the Brewster Rack with a few details and test printing the 'odd' parts.

So far, so good.

Weight sans paint is 17 grams making the all up printed weight of 500lb bomb and rack 31 grams or a smidgen over an ounce.

Not certain if the equivalent 'foamie' part would be as heavy.

Also, been illustrating some water-slide stencils/markings. I have the Callie Graphics set in white and black, but wanted to add a few more.

She whose authority exceeds my rank is now in total belief I have lost all perception of reality and I said, "...quite the opposite."

Note: I am currently residing on the sofa until further orders.

Enjoyed the illustrating, though what a slow process what with all the breaks I needed to get another eye exam.

For size reference, the decal sheets in the pic are 3 X 5 inches each.

If anyone is interested, I can do a quick post on how I did what I did.

And BTW, don't ask for samples b/c I have a legally binding non-compete with the talented Callie of the aforementioned Callie Graphics

More when there is more.

Best, LB

[jetfool]

MAD Creator at work! Excellent Elbee

[davegee]

Bent-Wing Brethren,

I've been finishing the Brewster Rack with a few details and test printing the 'odd' parts.

So far, so good.

Weight sans paint is 17 grams making the all up printed weight of 500lb bomb and rack 31 grams or a smidgen over an ounce.

Not certain if the equivalent 'foamie' part would be as heavy.

Also, been illustrating some water-slide stencils/markings. I have the Callie Graphics set in white and black, but wanted to add a few more.

She whose authority exceeds my rank is now in total belief I have lost all perception of reality and I said, "...quite the opposite."

Note: I am currently residing on the sofa until further orders.

Enjoyed the illustrating, though what a slow process what with all the breaks I needed to get another eye exam.

For size reference, the decal sheets in the pic are 3 X 5 inches each.

If anyone is interested, I can do a quick post on how I did what I did.

And BTW, don't ask for samples b/c I have a legally binding non-compete with the talented Callie of the aforementioned Callie Graphics

More when there is more.

Best, LB

Excellent work, Elbee!! 👍👍👍

[Aros]

The Maestro at work!

[Elbee]

Coconut Aros davegee Gentlemen, I truly thank you from the bottom of my heart. Best, Steve

[Elbee]

Happy Memorial Day to all,

I had some time today and mustered up the courage to 'cut' some holes in my Corsair for the "Brewster Bomb Rack" thingie-mah-jiggers.

Please bear with me as these are first dry fit of all the parts and these will be printed in a finer detail for final.

The rack is adjustable, i.e., the forward mount is not printed with the whole rack and can slide along the rack nose.

I printed magnets in both the mount cylinders and there are magnets in the rack as well.

These are cut into the fuselage and will be glued into the fuselage underside then filled and painted as needed.

I designed a jig to get the distance between the mounts as exact as I could; worked great.

There will be other printed parts that replicate a rear cover and forward mount "empty" when the rack is not mounted.

Functionality will be a project for another time, but for now I like where this going for static display and in-flight use.

Best, LB

[davegee]

Awesome! Nice job, Elbee!

Davegee

[Elbee]

Again, my thanks, Dave. Best, Steve

[f4u ausie]

Steve your incredable work of art,,, will soon b in the smithsonian awsome,, incredable.. (blabla) i have seen those racks b4,, did not no what they were..,,, b safe hav fun

[Elbee]

Steve your incredable work of art,,, will soon b in the smithsonian awsome,, incredable.. (blabla) i have seen those racks b4,, did not no what they were..,,, b safe hav fun

Craig, thank you. I just build what I see in my mind's eye.

I had not seen these before, only the wing pylon bomb mounts and the swinging mounts like on the Douglas SBD Dauntless.

I think the Brewster mounts are a complicated design, seeing how this was war time.

I've seen other pictures of these torn down to functional bare minimum.

In any event, I certainly have not seen one on an R/C model, but I don't get around much.

Best, Steve

[jetfool]

Excited to see it finished and installed on your Corsair. Incredible work Elbee

Best Regards, Rex

[Elbee]

Thank you, Rex...I appreciate your appreciation. LOL Best, Steve