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

[RichJ53]

It sounds like we got our panty hose all bunched up worried about scale. Let's not forget that this is a foam electric plane with wheels that are too small for scale, a radial engine that's missing the 2nd row of cylinders (except for Brandon Moon's) and engine cowl flaps that are just sad (again except for Brandon's). And we're worried about the placement of a bank indicator? Don't get me wrong, none of my planes remotely resemble anything scale cause I add plenty of colorfull paint to help visibility, a multitude of Callie's graphics from different planes and I stuck a Warbirds pilot in my Corsair that is about as scale as a bear riding a tricycle. If you like it, do it, if not do something else. I doubt anyone will notice that a gauge is in the wrong location as your flying this around, in fact, it seems none of us out there actually knows what the exact gauge location is. And I doubt the half dozen or so people in the world who do know, are going out at the field when I'm flying. I personally love the look of the panel and Callie's gauges. And how many people look inside the cockpit after you close it up and can even see what the gauges are?

I've got a silver and olive B-24 that are both about as gaudy as they come, yet believe it or not, last month a WWII veteran who piloted a B-24 saw my plane and couldn't get enough of it. He was like a kid at Christmas, fondling it like it was his long lost lover, and not once did he complain that my plane didn't look like a shot up old wreck or even that I had my wife's "handle" on the plane as the co-pilot and an actual girl in the co-pilot seat.

Anyway, that's just my 2 cents (coming from someone whose planes look like Jimi Hendrix designed them). I do still really appreciate the work that most of you do to make your planes look as realistic as possible, I'm just not capable or patient enough to do all the cool things most of you do to simulate realism, so I go the other direction, and at the end of the day, I'm just a little bit (maybe a lot) different (or at least completely f-ing crazy):Dizzy:. I let my wife design the look of my planes, but then she also dresses like Dolly Parton, even out at the field when she flies!:wacky

Hi Hugh

Thank you for grounding us with your comments. So very true and for me, lets use the 10 foot rule.... looks pretty darn scale to me :)

Rich

[RichJ53]

Hobbysquawkspitty I have the EZ balancer II and the Xicoy digital weight machine. The EZ machine is a good balancer and straight forward. The problem with this one is figuring out away to mark the balancing point on the plane and lining up the EZ so one can see it on plane placement. I mark the CG on the under side of the plane and use post-it note at the balancing point. This works very well for me. Now, the Xicoy is very different and requires some getting use to. However it is highly accurate for both tail draggers and tricycle gears. It uses three parameters in determining the CG based on the recommended CG. Once set up (CG), any change in battery size (wt) can be entered and the recommended CG given. The unit can be taken to the field and the CG checked at any time. There are some good YouTube videos on use and set up. I really like the one I have once the learn curve was mastered. This is all I use now. The CG is spot on based on manufactures recommendations.

I have seen this Xicoy CG balancer and no question very precise. How does it account for the balance when the wheels are retracted? The Corsair's CG will move aft when the landing gear is up. For me the CG has a small amount of range that is the ""sweet spot"" which gives us some leeway.

Rich

[Elbee]

It sounds like we got our pantyhose all bunched up worried about scale, (coming from someone whose planes look like Jimi Hendrix designed them).

LOLLOLLOLLOLLOLLOLLOL IMHO-Self-deprecating humor is the wit of intelligence driven by experience while stating the obvious. You, Sir, are King today. Best, LB

[xviper]

It sounds like we got our panty hose all bunched up worried about scale.

Hugh, I never thought you had it in you. You put down very eloquently what I usually throw out in a very crass sort of way. I've always clashed with the scale police on just about everything. "Not the correct instruments"? Absolutely nobody I fly with will be down on their hands and knees with a magnifying glass to see if my planes have any instruments at all. I put Mr. Poop (Emoji) for a pilot in one of my planes, a minion in another, Mario in another. Ronald McDonald will look at french fries for gauge needles If I can find an Elvis that will fit, it's going in my next plane - sideburns flapping in the wind. (Have you seen the price of Bobbleheads on ebay lately?) And when my DC-3 transport goes by at 85 mph, it's going to be hard to see if there's any pilots in the seats, especially when it's doing loops and rolls. Then there's my flying woman in her bikini. When she goes by, everyone wonders what size cups she's got. All I can say is ................. "Those puppies are NOT scale!"

[downwindleg]

O.K. O.K. Glad I could provide a good landing spot for a dog pile.:Loser:Trying a steam iron to remove the creases in the panty hose.LOLLOL

[Grover54]

Hugh, I never thought you had it in you. You put down very eloquently what I usually throw out in a very crass sort of way. I've always clashed with the scale police on just about everything. "Not the correct instruments"? Absolutely nobody I fly with will be down on their hands and knees with a magnifying glass to see if my planes have any instruments at all. I put Mr. Poop (Emoji) for a pilot in one of my planes, a minion in another, Mario in another. Ronald McDonald will look at french fries for gauge needles If I can find an Elvis that will fit, it's going in my next plane - sideburns flapping in the wind. (Have you seen the price of Bobbleheads on ebay lately?) And when my DC-3 transport goes by at 85 mph, it's going to be hard to see if there's any pilots in the seats, especially when it's doing loops and rolls. Then there's my flying woman in her bikini. When she goes by, everyone wonders what size cups she's got. All I can say is ................. "Those puppies are NOT scale!"

OMF-ing G.....you guys are a hoot today and thanks Hugh for kicking it off. I haven't laughed this hard since my Grandma got her tit caught in the wringer... PLAY BALL!

[Hugh Wiedman]

Glad we all have a good sense of humor. The way I fly, I certainly need it.

One of the guys at our field who is a FedEx pilot has a huge turbo prop something or other he is taking to top gun in Lakeland. He has an army hummer that tows it out to the field with George Bush driving it. Then he found some place that makes like 1/5 scale pilots of yourself (you have to send in like 10 different head shots) that you program for head movement and arm movement. In the co-pilot seat he has his wife (who is extremely hot), and she is programmed to move her head in various directions and is holding a checklist in one arm, rising up to read it, and then giving the thumbs up for take off. None of it is scale but man it sure draws a crowd. He said the top gun competition is 50% flying and 50% on the ground and after coming in 2nd a number of times, he thinks these pilot/co-pilots will put him over the top. Next time he brings it out I'll get some pictures and a video, it is hilarious.:)

[xviper]

O.K. O.K. Glad I could provide a good landing spot for a dog pile.:Loser:Trying a steam iron to remove the creases in the panty hose.LOLLOL

I have a couple pair that I burned holes through. You know, crotchless panty hose to go with the crotchless chaps.

[Aros]

The way I see it, the more detail you put into the model, the worse you feel when it ends up in pieces, lol. Nobody ever notices the minute details but you. Just do enough that makes you happy and go fly for Pete's sake. LOL

[Grover54]

Glad we all have a good sense of humor. The way I fly, I certainly need it.

One of the guys at our field who is a FedEx pilot has a huge turbo prop something or other he is taking to top gun in Lakeland. He has an army hummer that tows it out to the field with George Bush driving it. Then he found some place that makes like 1/5 scale pilots of yourself (you have to send in like 10 different head shots) that you program for head movement and arm movement. In the co-pilot seat he has his wife (who is extremely hot), and she is programmed to move her head in various directions and is holding a checklist in one arm, rising up to read it, and then giving the thumbs up for take off. None of it is scale but man it sure draws a crowd. He said the top gun competition is 50% flying and 50% on the ground and after coming in 2nd a number of times, he thinks these pilot/co-pilots will put him over the top. Next time he brings it out I'll get some pictures and a video, it is hilarious.:)

He sounds like he belongs to the "Spare No Expense" club!:Cool: Those guys are amazing. I've met a few pilots with deep pockets and they've all been great guys. Never pretentious or looked down their nose at us average guys. It's really fun to see their tricked out planes and they enjoy sharing them. It's all fun!:Cool:

[prestonowtm]

It sounds like we got our panty hose all bunched up worried about scale. Let's not forget that this is a foam electric plane with wheels that are too small for scale, a radial engine that's missing the 2nd row of cylinders (except for Brandon Moon's) and engine cowl flaps that are just sad (again except for Brandon's). And we're worried about the placement of a bank indicator? Don't get me wrong, none of my planes remotely resemble anything scale cause I add plenty of colorfull paint to help visibility, a multitude of Callie's graphics from different planes and I stuck a Warbirds pilot in my Corsair that is about as scale as a bear riding a tricycle. If you like it, do it, if not do something else. I doubt anyone will notice that a gauge is in the wrong location as your flying this around, in fact, it seems none of us out there actually knows what the exact gauge location is. And I doubt the half dozen or so people in the world who do know, are going out at the field when I'm flying. I personally love the look of the panel and Callie's gauges. And how many people look inside the cockpit after you close it up and can even see what the gauges are?

I've got a silver and olive B-24 that are both about as gaudy as they come, yet believe it or not, last month a WWII veteran who piloted a B-24 saw my plane and couldn't get enough of it. He was like a kid at Christmas, fondling it like it was his long lost lover, and not once did he complain that my plane didn't look like a shot up old wreck or even that I had my wife's "handle" on the plane as the co-pilot and an actual girl in the co-pilot seat.

Anyway, that's just my 2 cents (coming from someone whose planes look like Jimi Hendrix designed them). I do still really appreciate the work that most of you do to make your planes look as realistic as possible, I'm just not capable or patient enough to do all the cool things most of you do to simulate realism, so I go the other direction, and at the end of the day, I'm just a little bit (maybe a lot) different (or at least completely f-ing crazy):Dizzy:. I let my wife design the look of my planes, but then she also dresses like Dolly Parton, even out at the field when she flies!:wacky

That is...hahhaa

[Hugh Wiedman]

That is...hahhaa

Now that's what I call "scale". The other pilot I loved was Snidely Whiplash and Muttley. I think that was WrightBrosRC, correct? For a while I had rocket racoon as my nose gunner on one of my B-24's and Groot as the top turret gunner. Go lots of laughs, then I decided to put some "real" gunners in there and no one even takes a second look. Should have left the Guardians in!:Angry:

[downwindleg]

I have a couple pair that I burned holes through. You know, crotchless panty hose to go with the crotchless chaps.

I am so not going there.LOLLOL;)The mind boggles at all the possible jokes that could come out of that with my filthy carpenter's mind.

[downwindleg]

Glad we all have a good sense of humor. The way I fly, I certainly need it.

One of the guys at our field who is a FedEx pilot has a huge turbo prop something or other he is taking to top gun in Lakeland. He has an army hummer that tows it out to the field with George Bush driving it. Then he found some place that makes like 1/5 scale pilots of yourself (you have to send in like 10 different head shots) that you program for head movement and arm movement. In the co-pilot seat he has his wife (who is extremely hot), and she is programmed to move her head in various directions and is holding a checklist in one arm, rising up to read it, and then giving the thumbs up for take off. None of it is scale but man it sure draws a crowd. He said the top gun competition is 50% flying and 50% on the ground and after coming in 2nd a number of times, he thinks these pilot/co-pilots will put him over the top. Next time he brings it out I'll get some pictures and a video, it is hilarious.:)

Wow.!! If your friend can compete and come in 2nd at Top Gun, that's sayin' somethin'.Yeah you get four flights and you get to throw out your worst score. Then take an average of your flying scores with your static score to get your overall score. I used to go down there every year to be camera number 2 for Werner Kopp and PropWash video. I started in 1994 with him when it was at the West Palm Beach Polo Club and then it moved up to Lakeland. Filmed there for a couple years 'til Werner finally retired. Good times meeting the likes of Frank Tiano, Nick Ziroli, Jerry Bates, etc. It was also fun to check out the Fantasy of Flight Museum, Stallion 51 and others in the Kissimmee area. Always wanted to compete in at least the Scale Masters but life got in the way. Maybe that's where I got so anal about scale details.LOL

[Grover54]

For Your Enjoyment!

Some may have already seen this but it's worth another look. - Reno Air Races - 2017 Jay Consalvi Corsair Interview and Flight

https://youtu.be/BWe6rroSe8I

[brk6188]

Hugh, well said and brave of you to post your opinion -- you have no doubt upset a lot of anal persons and I doubt you are much different than 95% of club level flyers? I have always said that my models are 50/50 -- 50% scale at 50 feet yet everyone always recognizes them for what they are when in the air and I have much satisfaction when flying them in a scale fashion. I am much envious and hold in much admiration those whose skills allow them to detail out to Scale Masters or Top Gun levels but at six figure $ and four figure hours they rarely become your go to models. The new F/W F-18 is my type of model -- no weathering required just a gloss coat and you have a scale finish!

In line with your thoughts are my concerns for ever getting airborne those persons who ask "where should my CG be if I use the Whiz-Bang 62001/2, 100C, 1,000gm battery?" Should you be flying $500 models if you have to ask those type of questions?

Obviously I am so old that I still think $500 is more than just pocket money.

Three great flights with the Corsair yesterday and Hugh, it was with the stock pilot and decal panel !

[sfmadmax]

Remember, all it takes is 1 windy day + a big gust of wind and BAM, plane on the ground... OR you simply forget to do your preflight check and crash :P

[xviper]

In line with your thoughts are my concerns for ever getting airborne those persons who ask "where should my CG be if I use the Whiz-Bang 62001/2, 100C, 1,000gm battery?" Should you be flying $500 models if you have to ask those type of questions?

Obviously I am so old that I still think $500 is more than just pocket money.

These two statements align exactly with my philosophy.

1. We always see so much fuss and finagling about "which airplane balancer is the best?" Really? :Silly: For me, I go by the punch line of a 55 year old joke from my high school days .......................... "By the grace of God and with the help of these two fingers ................... "
2. I'm that old, too.

[xviper]

Remember, all it takes is 1 windy day + a big gust of wind and BAM, plane on the ground... OR you simply forget to do your preflight check and crash :P

That's my form of "weathering" (The BAM factor). ;)

[Grover54]

These two statements align exactly with my philosophy.

1. We always see so much fuss and finagling about "which airplane balancer is the best?" Really? :Silly: For me, I go by the punch line of a 55 year old joke from my high school days .......................... "By the grace of God and with the help of these two fingers ................... "
2. I'm that old, too.

Lots of good info and perspectives here. We sometimes get wrapped around the axel over things so I must recall I saw a posting from someone regarding flying inverted...."Down is Up and Up is EXPENSIVE!" I love these sayingsLOLLOLLOL Good flying everyone!