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

[Grossman56]

Anyone have info on the connector board in the wings? In what order are they plugged in? If I recall, the landing gear retracts are the second set of pins from the foreword edge? This should really have been included in the manual.

Grossman56
(Dangerous Dan)

[Grossman56]

And how about the retracts? About to replace mine with the bigger pins version. An extension through the wings from the blue box with a short cable on the end of the retract would have been a better way to go.

Grossman56
(Dangerous Dan)

[Aros]

What a effortless flying warbird , A++ i had only flown it a few times last year, I installed a new 3d printed pilot that i had painted recently , HRB 5000 6s , wow so smooth , only mod were dave Brown foams , plug in outboard wings would be way better , it takes up to much space with the wing on , Pray for V2 version

Couldn’t agree more. It’s such a pain to have to take the wing off every time for transport. Outboard wings that clip on and off without screws would be heavenly.

[Elbee]

davegee,

Outstanding.

Best, LB

[davegee]

The seat was also raised 6 inches starting with the F4U-1D. Which is why she got the bubble canopy, the birdcage had zero head clearance. The raised seat allow for a better view over the nose and gave the pilot excellent SA when in combat.

I believe that the first bubbletop canopy and the raised seat started with the F4U-1A. They also added about 6.5 inches height to the tailwheel strut for better visibility, too.

While we're on the subject, I have a minor bone to pic with MRC. I want to state emphatically that their 1600mm Corsair is a fantastic flyer, and looks great. It has been one of my favorite warbirds for 5 years, now and I hope to have many more flights on it. However, I wish MRC would have been a little more accurate in designating the names of these two different airplanes, namely the "birdcage" and "bubbletop" Corsairs.

MRC designates the birdcage Corsair as a "F4U-1A." If you want to be picky, it should really be just a "F4U-1." This is the one that the Marines first took to the fight in the Pacific, and flew from Pacific island bases before the plane was deemed safe to land on carriers. That came later, with later models.

MRC calls the bubbletop "F4U-1D." That is also not quite correct. The -1D was now a fighter- bomber, and had factory installed bomb racks (2) in the center fuselage section, and rocket racks or stanchions mounted on the wings. But I'll concede it looks very similar to the F4U-1A that MRC sells.

The F4U-1A in some cases added a Brewster bomb rack to attach a single bomb or extra fuel tank under the center of the fuselage. Elbee scratch designed and built an Excellent Brewster bomb rack that is 3D printed and has a simulated 500 pound bomb hung on it. I had his permission to print one of his designs to my Corsair and it can easily be mounted and removed with magnets.

My sources for the above information include: F4U CORSAIR in detail and Scale by Bert Kinzey. There are several great books on the history of the Corsair, too. I know MRC will never change these technical but correct points, but that's the way I see it, anyway. I'll attach a couple of pics of Elbee's printed Brewster bomb rack and 500 pound bomb installed. Got about a dozen flights with this installed, works great, comes on and off with tiny rare earth magnets.

Cheers

Davegee

[Couchbr]

That's a great period video taken in 1945. By that time the landing sequence for getting aboard the boat in one piece had been pioneered by the Brits before and additions like the stall strip on the right wing helped both wings to stall at the same time (instead of its nasty tendency to stall the left wing first and a deadly torque roll off the fantail of the ship), just before they touched the deck for a safe "trap." I believe they got the airplanes down to an approach speed of about 80 knots with full flaps, did a continuing 180 degree turn to the deck from a left downwind leg, and kept the LSO (Landing Signals Officer) in sight all the way to the deck. It was very tricky, but you can see when done properly, it was possible to get this aircraft on the deck somewhat safely, although there were a lot of crackups in late WWII and Korea.

The seat was also raised 6 inches starting with the F4U-1D. Which is why she got the bubble canopy, the birdcage had zero head clearance. The raised seat allow for a better view over the nose and gave the pilot excellent SA when in combat.

[vrosi1963]

What a effortless flying warbird , A++ i had only flown it a few times last year, I installed a new 3d printed pilot that i had painted recently , HRB 5000 6s , wow so smooth , only mod were dave Brown foams , plug in outboard wings would be way better , it takes up to much space with the wing on , Pray for V2 version

[davegee]

Thanks Dave, I really appreciate that. I had spent a couple of hours working with the weathering powder and given it a bit of a dusty Solomon Islands look, but wanted to use the WBPU to seal everything and also as I saw from several references that the carrier based aircraft still had a sheen to the paint. The WBPU taking away the weathering powder is a happy accident and I think means I've ended up with the right look for a carrier based Corsair

I found this on YT which is a great source of reference for VMF-351

https://youtu.be/1LJIeiI2zNc?si=USh6BjwWiWySzyqE

That's a great period video taken in 1945. By that time the landing sequence for getting aboard the boat in one piece had been pioneered by the Brits before and additions like the stall strip on the right wing helped both wings to stall at the same time (instead of its nasty tendency to stall the left wing first and a deadly torque roll off the fantail of the ship), just before they touched the deck for a safe "trap." I believe they got the airplanes down to an approach speed of about 80 knots with full flaps, did a continuing 180 degree turn to the deck from a left downwind leg, and kept the LSO (Landing Signals Officer) in sight all the way to the deck. It was very tricky, but you can see when done properly, it was possible to get this aircraft on the deck somewhat safely, although there were a lot of crackups in late WWII and Korea.

[jetfool]

lani1201,
Welcome to the re-worked Corsair club, you're going to love this plane. Nice job.
Best Regards, Rex

[Elbee]

ianl1201

Well now, she is a beauty for certain.

Weathering just right, correct livery and a great pilot.

Bravo Zulu, Sir.

Merry Christmas.

Best, LB

[ianl1201]

Thanks Dave, I really appreciate that. I had spent a couple of hours working with the weathering powder and given it a bit of a dusty Solomon Islands look, but wanted to use the WBPU to seal everything and also as I saw from several references that the carrier based aircraft still had a sheen to the paint. The WBPU taking away the weathering powder is a happy accident and I think means I've ended up with the right look for a carrier based Corsair

I found this on YT which is a great source of reference for VMF-351

https://youtu.be/1LJIeiI2zNc?si=USh6BjwWiWySzyqE

[davegee]

Finally home after working away the last few weeks and got a chance to set to

I'm about done. A couple of takeaways from today...WBPU removes weathering powder and also dissolves chipping silver....but....I'm happy how it's looking

Hi ianl1201: I like the way you weathered your Corsair, which was a shipborne aircraft and not subject to the much tougher environment that the marines had island hopping earlier in the war. Although subject to the salt water, winds, etc., they would also be touched up for scratches or chips by the crews responsible for anti-corrosion control. So, the planes would look more like you have done with your airplane.

Well done!

cheers

davegee

[ianl1201]

And a festive pic for my fellow Corsair fans

[ianl1201]

Finally home after working away the last few weeks and got a chance to set to

I'm about done. A couple of takeaways from today...WBPU removes weathering powder and also dissolves chipping silver....but....I'm happy how it's looking

[f4u ausie]

Gross. I only ever broke 1 pin. Most times it was a broken or split caseing.. or bent worm screw.. it's currently hanging in the clouds(garage) with broken gear:worried:. I reinforced the case b4 install.. and found they lasted longer. Good luck.. and also make sure that steel plate at the top with 4 holes is fitted

[jetfool]

Grossman56,
Hope you add all of Elbee's stl 3d landing gear struts, TW retract, and wheel hubs. Adds so much more scale detail too it.
Best Regards, Rex

[Grossman56]

Hi guys! One of the many Winter projects is to convert the Corsair over to the upgrade landing gear, the one with the larger diameter pins. Seems mine was on the tail end of the smaller pins and we who have flown these planes know that the landing gear needs all the help it can get!
Any feedback on whether the upgrades helped strengthen the system or not?


Grossman56
(Dangerous Dan)

[Elbee]

OK, time for a small update. Been busy with the chipping pen....

Your Corsair is looking like she's battle tested.

Really like the silver chipping pen idea, :face_with_monocle:I should have tried that on my Corsair.:confounded:

It is rewarding to do the weathering, I would bet once you're back in the workshop, you'll be adding more.

Either way, she's a beauty, Sir.:star_struck:

Best, LB

[Aros]

Looks great! Not overdone at all. Understated which is always the best!

[ianl1201]

OK, time for a small update. Been busy with the chipping pen, Robarts and dummy struts are fitted. Still want to add engine detail and then start with the weathering. Walking the fine line between looking right and overdoing it! Think I stopped myself at the right time with the silver pen!

I'm away for work for the next couple of weeks so progress will continue to be glacial!