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

[Beeg]

Thanks Ole-Timer & BeeG for your feedback,

I watched quite a few videos online on the plane. I do have another question, is the charger you linked above something for charging the batteries overnight? Is there a quick charge solution for when you're at the field? Granted that lessens the life of the batteries but gets you more opportunities to get into the air I would imagine. Do many of you have at least 2 batteries?

Just trying to get some ideas for my first big purchase, I already have a spektrum dx8 radio , so good there I imagine. I live in new england so there is lots of snow now :) and a local flying club not to far from me. I was thinking about purchasing this sucker and at least painting it up a bit for a few weeks before flying. I like to build the scale 1/35th dioramas so could weather this pretty nicely :P

Thanks for helping out, so glad to meet nice people and good feedback!

If you're talking about 6s 5000+ mAh Lipo, after normal flight drain, I recharge mine in about 40minutes. You can charge them faster at maximum "C" but as you said, and so I've heard it shortens their life. At $100 a pop for the good batteries I try to take care of them. Having said that, you'd do well to have at least a minimum of 2 or 3. With my EDF's and as power hungry as they are I usually take at least 6 to the airfield with me and my charger can handle 4 Lipos at a time.
The initial outlay for airplane, a decent charger, and batteries can be significant but a decent charger should last a few years and if you take care of your batteries they should give decent mileage for a couple years. And, If you don't have power at your airfield you may want to consider a small generator or large battery stack to run your charger.
Still cheaper than a gasser and even a large nitro bird.

[sfmadmax]

Thanks Guys, Loving the feedback here so far.
I'm an avid fly fisherman, and have invested a'lot of money into my fishing equipment and boat / supplies. Now i'm getting back into RC , and fear that i'm in trouble, :) I have an extra deep cycle marine battery I could probably use as a power source for the charger, but I need to check the power ratings on that to see if it would even be useful. I was also thinking maybe something like a, 100-Watt Portable Generator from amzaon may work too..

I understand what you were talking about Beeg re: the outlay being very expensive as I would be about roughly 1K into initial equipment, (after buying the plane, radio, batteries, receiver, charger) any misc items... However, the cost after this part is rather manageable.

I love you're quote Ole-Timer! made me laugh re: (other than woman) piece of it.... I don't own any LiPo batteries yet, so I'll start looking at some docs regarding them. I have some other questions but they are more related to my radio and not relevant in this thread which is somewhat devoted to the F4U, so I'm thankful for what you guys sent me already and do some homework.

Thanks! I may make an early purchase tho, and pick up the F4U with the admiral battery & receiver combo. At least I can start painting :)

Thanks guys!

[downwindleg]

I would just add that they are far less messy. No windex bottle and paper towels in the flight box plus my wife lets me bring them inside the house. Also, and maybe most importantly, the rpm of the motor(kv) can be lowered greatly so that the plane can be flown with multiblade and scale sized props. Something we could only dream of with those high rpm fuel planes...even the four strokes. The only down side is they're easy to ding up and it's really hard to get the manufacturers to produce larger planes. But we're working on it!! As far as chargers, I would seriously consider the powerlab 8 charger. It's expensive but it has brought enough of my older batteries back from the dead to pay for it twice. I had even removed the connector from a couple and, after seeing the performance of this charger decided what the hell and it brought them back. The problem is, once a cell in a battery gets below a certain point, less expensive chargers beep and say" bad cell". This charger will take that low cell and bring it up while holding the others 'til they balance again and bring them all back up.

[RCAV8R]

Welcome Max! Ditto what others have said...I'm going on my seventh year of flying, and it was three years ago I dumped all of my flight box of nitro stuff. Yes it was a hit to convert, but I have 7 Admiral 6s 5000's (the best batteries I have ever owned), some of which are three years old, and a Hi Tec 4X charger that I baby my batteries with by charging at 4 amps, only at home. Slow and steady! Builders will always crave the balsa dust and gassers love the smell of nitro on everything, but as we've hashed out on this forum before, the value you get with foam ARF's, combined with the scale realism and predictability of electric is tough to beat!

As to the mystery stripes, I wonder if you are referring to the pin stripes on the wing (walkable area)? Rob

[F22trainer]

I'm tempted to pick this plane up, I recently got back into the sport after flying many balsa wood planes back in the late 90's , i have countless hours or realflight logged and must say, i don't own many foam planes. (just a small park flyer) this would be my 2nd foam/electric plane, since the times have changed since the 90's theres alot more electric options out there, How does this fly compared to it's gas powered counterparts? just curious before I pull the trigger. Would anyone have any feedback?

Foam is easy and quick to get in the air, but those old balsa planes fly really well on electric. I have a Balsa electric Cub and a foamie the same size - the balsa is half the weight with same engine.

[Spectra52]

Thanks Rob that was my question

[Grover54]

Thanks Ole-Timer & BeeG for your feedback,

I watched quite a few videos online on the plane. I do have another question, is the charger you linked above something for charging the batteries overnight? Is there a quick charge solution for when you're at the field? Granted that lessens the life of the batteries but gets you more opportunities to get into the air I would imagine. Do many of you have at least 2 batteries?

Just trying to get some ideas for my first big purchase, I already have a spektrum dx8 radio , so good there I imagine. I live in new england so there is lots of snow now :) and a local flying club not to far from me. I was thinking about purchasing this sucker and at least painting it up a bit for a few weeks before flying. I like to build the scale 1/35th dioramas so could weather this pretty nicely :P

Thanks for helping out, so glad to meet nice people and good feedback!

Welcome aboard Max! Yes, you'll find not only quality information here but many different opinions and perspectives to explore to help you find what works best for you and your situation. In the short time I've been at HSquawk, I'm blown away with the level of experience and talent our member's have and their willingness to share. There's generally two kinds of advice; Bad and Worse but here you'll get the "Right Stuff!" Good Luck! Grover54

[Grover54]

I got my Corsair this weekend and got to start working on it. I am painting it in the three color scheme and have decals on the way from Calie Graphics for the plane of Ira Cassius Kepford of VF-17. I got most of the plane painted up and am now working on getting the 3d printed cockpit parts installed. I am having to a bit of modifications to get them to fit. One thing that is bugging me is the two cockpit pieces on the sides extend above the foam and the back side can be seen through the canopy. I was thinking I would have to mod the canopy a bit in order to hide this. Anyone else have this issue?

TK - Did you need to do any major mods to the cockpit so the side panels fit? Looks like you did a little but nothing major? Also, looks like the front panel and gunsight almost drops right in?

[Elbee]

TK - Did you need to do any major mods to the cockpit so the side panels fit? Looks like you did a little but nothing major? Also, looks like the front panel and gunsight almost drops right in?

TK or G54, Additionally, did you/anyone cut away the 'small gunsight' to install the large one from the 3DP Cockpit kit? I am wondering if the 'small' gunsight is for the Birdcage version and the 'large' one is for the Bubble version. Any help here would be greatly appreciated. Best, LB

[Hardway]

Stuff!!!! Enjoy....

[Beeg]

TK or G54, Additionally, did you/anyone cut away the 'small gunsight' to install the large one from the 3DP Cockpit kit? I am wondering if the 'small' gunsight is for the Birdcage version and the 'large' one is for the Bubble version. Any help here would be greatly appreciated. Best, LB

Yes. Early Corsairs had a smaller gunsight with it's own small reflector glass attached to the sight. They still had the additional bullet proof glass panel mounted just inside the front windscreen.

Shortly these were replaced with the Mark8 which in the second photo you'll see had an additional reflector glass which was just inside the bullet proof glass panel. You can find photo's of early F4U-1's with upgraded Mark8 gunsights as well.

[Aros]

Just about ready for the maiden. Decided to rock the 167 livery before I go full blown nuts with her on a repaint and weathering plan. For now I will just enjoy this sweet looking Corsair as is!

[Tim K]

TK - Did you need to do any major mods to the cockpit so the side panels fit? Looks like you did a little but nothing major? Also, looks like the front panel and gunsight almost drops right in?

The side panels stick up above the painted panels of the canopy so you can see the back. I repainted the canopy to hide them. I will take some pictures when I get home this evening and post them. I also had to trim a bit of foam from each of the sides and trim the printed instrument panel in order to get it to all fit. And the holes in the instrument panel for the gages don't line up with the sticker so I cut up the sticker and printed some additional gages faces out to and taped them behind the holes.

[RCAV8R]

Looking good Aros! What's the weather forecast for your neck of the NW? Rob

[Tim K]

This appears to be the image that Freewing used for the sticker in the cockpit.

[Elbee]

Just about ready for the maiden. Decided to rock the 167 livery before I go full blown nuts with her on a repaint and weathering plan. For now I will just enjoy this sweet looking Corsair as is!

Aros, Beautiful Pictures. I am just sayin'. That is one gorgeous aircraft. Bravo Zulu to you and to all at MotionRC, FlightLine, and whomever else is/was involved in this project.:Win:Best, LB

[sfmadmax]

[QUOTE=Grover54;n174130]
[ Pictures ]

Looks Great Grover!!!!! Wow, now it's like drooling at this point!!!!

For those of you who have flown this beauty already, would you say that , this electric corsair on knife edge swap Real Flight 8 Addon is pretty close? ( For the patient side of me while i practice ) :)

https://www.knifeedge.com/forums/downloads.php?do=file&id=24358

Love the painting schemes! Are you using Tamiya paints?

[Aros]

Aros, Beautiful Pictures. I am just sayin'. That is one gorgeous aircraft. Bravo Zulu to you and to all at MotionRC, FlightLine, and whomever else is/was involved in this project.:Win:Best, LB

Thanks Elbee! I finished applying the decals (in front of the cockpit) and dialed in the rates so all that's left is to push that throttle stick forward and kiss the sky!

(As for rates, for those of you who have flown it, are the manual recommended great or did you have to tweak them any? Elevator throw seems a touch on the narrow side but I could be wrong...)

[Grover54]

Stuff!!!! Enjoy....

VERY COOL PHOTOS!!!! Thanks for sharing!

[Grover54]

This appears to be the image that Freewing used for the sticker in the cockpit.

Nice Cockpit but I'm sure the center console avionics is an add? ;) Not sure the Corsair had that in WWII. :Confused: Thanks for sharing.