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

[davegee]

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)

Hi Dan: I used a 7/8 inch dimeter dowel (you can use anything approximately that diameter that should work) and cut a disc about 1/2 inch thick. I then took a sander to one side, beveling it from the original thickness on one end and tapering it so it was basically flush with the bottom at the other side of the disc. I put the thickest part of the disc facing forward and glued it in place with some foam glue in case I want'ed to change it again, or remove the pilot. You'lll just have to experiment but you want to put the pilot's butt so it sits on the disc and the legs go up a bit, clearing the control cables with his boots. Once he is glued in, he should remain free of touching the controls with his boots. It is a fairly tight fit for clearance, but it works, on mine, anyway.

Here's a couple pics of the disc that I cut this morning to serve as an example.

[davegee]

Hi Dan: I used a 7/8 inch dimeter dowel (you can use anything approximately that diameter that should work) and cut a disc about 1/2 inch thick. I then took a sander to one side, beveling it from the original thickness on one end and tapering it so it was basically flush with the bottom at the other side of the disc. I put the thickest part of the disc facing forward and glued it in place with some foam glue in case I want'ed to change it again, or remove the pilot. You'lll just have to experiment but you want to put the pilot's butt so it sits on the disc and the legs go up a bit, clearing the control cables with his boots. Once he is glued in, he should remain free of touching the controls with his boots. It is a fairly tight fit for clearance, but it works on mine, anyway. Let me know if you have more problems with it. We have the same pilot so it should work for you as well, maybe with a little fiddling around to get it to sit right.

Here's a couple pics of the disc that I cut this morning to serve as an example.

[Elbee]

Grossman56

I used a 1"+/- square of balsa 3/16" thick that I sanded a little at a time to get the height I needed in the end.

That height was determined by the sliding the canopy aft until the balsa was short enough to allow the canopy to clear the pilot's head.

I sanded another 1/32nd or so to allow for the glue, then glued the square to the assembled seat/pilot into the cockpit.

Is goes without saying, I centered the balsa square under the seat bottom.

Best, LB

[Grossman56]

check this out, a bit of surgery and a couple of shims and there he sits!



He looks like he owns the plane! Gluing him in shouldn't be a problem as he sits just fine. As you can see the painting is coming along, harness straps are painted in, have to dirty them up a bit yet. The arms look good as well, just have to decide how to angle them. I was thinking, Dave, if you have a control stick, I'd maybe trim the bottom a bit and put the top in his hand.
Just waiting for my fine detail paint brush to arrive and I also ordered a magnifying set of glass, up to 5X so I can zoom right in on those eyeballs. Man, if I was really creative, it would have been cool to run a rod up to the head and have it swivel with the rudder. Maybe next time. The pilot is so good that it would look so real!
BTW:
EXTRA CONTENT!!
Butch O'Hare in color!
Who says bell bottoms were a 60's thing??

Grossman56
(Dangerous Dan)

[Grossman56]

Love this pilot, Elbee, Dave and I were talking about using him in an RAF livery, is there any way you can modify the STL to roll down the sleeves??

[Elbee]

[QUOTE=Grossman56;n417795 I was thinking, Dave, if you have a control stick, I'd maybe trim the bottom a bit and put the top in his hand.
Grossman56(Dangerous Dan)[/QUOTE]

[ATTACH]n417807[/ATTACH]

Danger,

This is a G-Code file for DG's Prusa Mini.

The 'joystick' is of my own design from references and is a great fit for the Corsair & the Max Greuter WW II Navy Pilot.

Max Greuter also has an RAF Pilot.

Funny, I'd been waiting for a Pacific Theatre Pilot that looked the part, you know, no flying jacket etc and now you need one with sleeves.

Hope this Joystick is useful to you, Dan, it took a bit to get the design right.

Best, LB

[jetfool]

Grossman56,
Your pilot looks great. Can't wait to see him completed.

Best Regards, Rex

[davegee]

Love this pilot, Elbee, Dave and I were talking about using him in an RAF livery, is there any way you can modify the STL to roll down the sleeves??

I'd like to see the Max Grueter RAF pilot. I think trying to change this marine pilot in his lightweight clothing would be a stretch to convert to an AAF or RAF "cold weather" pilot. But if the Grueter pilot is suitable for an RAF or AAF pilot, I could replace all those dorky OEM pilots that I still have in my other airplanes!

[davegee]

check this out, a bit of surgery and a couple of shims and there he sits!



He looks like he owns the plane! Gluing him in shouldn't be a problem as he sits just fine. As you can see the painting is coming along, harness straps are painted in, have to dirty them up a bit yet. The arms look good as well, just have to decide how to angle them. I was thinking, Dave, if you have a control stick, I'd maybe trim the bottom a bit and put the top in his hand.
Just waiting for my fine detail paint brush to arrive and I also ordered a magnifying set of glass, up to 5X so I can zoom right in on those eyeballs. Man, if I was really creative, it would have been cool to run a rod up to the head and have it swivel with the rudder. Maybe next time. The pilot is so good that it would look so real!
BTW:
EXTRA CONTENT!!
Butch O'Hare in color!
Who says bell bottoms were a 60's thing??

Grossman56
(Dangerous Dan)

Looks great, Dan! He'll do just fine. I see Elbee mentioned a G Code file for the control stick handle. I don't see it right off the bat here, but when I do, I'll print up a coupld for yours and my Corsairs to complete the look.

Cheers

davegee

[davegee]

[ATTACH]n417807[/ATTACH]

Danger,

This is a G-Code file for DG's Prusa Mini.

The 'joystick' is of my own design from references and is a great fit for the Corsair & the Max Greuter WW II Navy Pilot.

Max Greuter also has an RAF Pilot.

Funny, I'd been waiting for a Pacific Theatre Pilot that looked the part, you know, no flying jacket etc and now you need one with sleeves.

Hope this Joystick is useful to you, Dan, it took a bit to get the design right.

Best, LB

Hi Steve: I see mentioned the G code file for the control stick grip, but I don't see it scrolling down the entries. Did I miss it somehow?

Thanks,

Davegee

[Elbee]

davegee

Dave, it is in my Post 6361 above and attached as a ZipFile. Best, Steve

[davegee]

davegee

Dave, it is in my Post 6361 above and attached as a ZipFile. Best, Steve

Hi Steve: I couldn't find a Post 6361. I see a Post 6350 where you talk about the G Code file, but I didn't see anything that I could use. Can you just send me the STL or G Code file when you get a chance?

Thanks,

Davegee

[Elbee]

Emailed the G-Code file. ;-)

[davegee]

Hi Steve: I couldn't find a Post 6361. I see a Post 6350 where you talk about the G Code file, but I didn't see anything that I could use. Can you just send me the STL or G Code file when you get a chance?

Thanks,

Davegee

Hi Elbee: got the G Code ok, but can't seem to do anything with it to print this part. I can see it on Prusa viewer, but can't get it over to the slicer no matter what I try. Is there something "really simple" you can send that I can use to get this part printed? Every time I think I've moved forward in this 3D printing, I get knocked back three feet by something like this! Sorry...

Best,

Davegee

[Elbee]

Hi Elbee: got the G Code ok, but can't seem to do anything with it to print this part. I can see it on Prusa viewer, but can't get it over to the slicer no matter what I try. Is there something "really simple" you can send that I can use to get this part printed? Every time I think I've moved forward in this 3D printing, I get knocked back three feet by something like this! Sorry...

Best,

Davegee

Dave it is sliced already, copy it to your flash drive and then load it onto your printer, Best, Steve

[Grossman56]

It would seem to me that if the same fellow who designed the Marine pilot for us has an RAF pilot out, it's a sure thing that the quality and accuracy would be in that pilot as well, I'll have to look into that. Meanwhile, I figure that having the joystick in his hand gives him a reason to position it down there, short of someone commenting on 'crotch rot' in the Pacific
Seriously though, if I had it to do over, I'd do like Steve did and just cut the turtle back off and modify the whole darned thing before getting all the cosmetics down on the fuse. Maybe next years winter project with a bubble top.

[Grossman56]

https://www.cgtrader.com/3d-print-models/miniatures/figurines/spitfire-pilot

What do you think Dave?

[davegee]

https://www.cgtrader.com/3d-print-mo...spitfire-pilot

What do you think Dave?

Definitely works for the Spitfire. I'd have to look in the cockpit again to see how much room we have if a full size pilot would work, or not. But definitely from the waist up at a minimum, it would look great. Might even be able to fudge an AAF pilot out of it too. Many of the pilots preferred to wear RAF gear, including helmets, life vests, goggles, etc. Could be believable to replace the awful OEM pilots in the other planes we have. They didn't have strict regulations concerning what they actually wore, within reason. Comfort was important to the success of these fighter pilots, too!

Cheers

Davegee

[Elbee]

It would seem to me that if the same fellow who designed the Marine pilot for us has an RAF pilot out, it's a sure thing that the quality and accuracy would be in that pilot as well, I'll have to look into that. Meanwhile, I figure that having the joystick in his hand gives him a reason to position it down there, short of someone commenting on 'crotch rot' in the Pacific
Seriously though, if I had it to do over, I'd do like Steve did and just cut the turtle back off and modify the whole darned thing before getting all the cosmetics down on the fuse. Maybe next years winter project with a bubble top.

Hey Dan,

A my Corsair project went along, I had my pilot in the cockpit, but had not glued it in place.

The joystick would glue in last thing, so every time I'd look at him sitting there, his right hand was...well...where it was and I had to smile thinking I gotta get him glued in soon, 'cuz that looks funny to me, but probably not to anyone else.

Dave got the joystick G_Code file to transfer, so there ya go.

If you do buy and build that "bubble top" let me know and we'll see about getting you some parts.

Best, Steve

[davegee]

https://www.cgtrader.com/3d-print-mo...spitfire-pilot

What do you think Dave?

Dan: could you check the inside of the cockpit on your Spittie and let me know if you think we could manage a full body pilot in it somehow?

Thanks,

Davegee

[Grossman56]

Checked the Spitfire and it would require some floor surgery. For that, I leave it up to Elbee to guide us

BTW, are you thinking of replacing the pilots in your Mustangs or P 47's!

https://www.cgtrader.com/3d-print-models/miniatures/figurines/p-51-mustang-pilot

or you could just go like this

https://www.cgtrader.com/3d-print-models/miniatures/figurines/pilot-bust

Grossman56
(Dangerous Dan)