downwindleg/Aros ESM 50cc F4U Corsair Build (Electric Conversion)

[Aros]

Thanks RRHandy!

[downwindleg]

Man!!! Awesome canopy framing that Fred did with the aluminum. That sure would look good in Pappy's office.:Cool:
Brad

[Aros]

Man!!! Awesome canopy framing that Fred did with the aluminum. That sure would look good in Pappy's office.:Cool:
Brad

The who with the wha? Which post/pic are you referring to? I wanna see! :Silly: LOL

[RRHandy]

Aros, I was looking around on the web and I found this for the canopy. R.

https://vqwarbirds.com/esm-corsair-how-to-add-sliding-canopy/

[Aros]

Thanks RRHandy, I have seen that. It's quite impressive! I wish I had the skills/tool shop/space for these mods...I've showed that link to my buddy Chris and he thinks we will definitely be able to figure something out, possibly very similar to that method.

[downwindleg]

Aros, I was looking around on the web and I found this for the canopy. R.

https://vqwarbirds.com/esm-corsair-h...liding-canopy/

Hey Todd, it was on R.C.Universe, 50cc Corsair, Fred. About using aluminum to make an awesome canopy frame with the Hanger 9 canopy...check it out.
Brad

[Aros]

Ah yes...Okay I see now...I do recall those images from Fred's post in that thread. I asked if he would consider doing one for me if I paid him fairly. Hey, I am not above paying folks who have superior skills and tools to get this bird looking the way I want.
:)

[downwindleg]

I hear you man. That's why Mike is building the P-38. Sometimes you have to delegate right?

[Aros]

Oh no doubt my friend. I always marvel at the manufacturing/tooling/workspace/talents of so many in the hobby. Unfortunately I have little to none of those things. Oh sure I can wield a mean rattle can and detail some things but that's about it. The only way to own and fly a gorgeous scale ARF is through the talents and tools of others. Otherwise I would be stuck with PNPs only. I am forever grateful to those who have and will provide their talents and services to achieve that goal. My workspace is literally my kitchen table!

LOL

[downwindleg]

Hey Todd, you forgot to mention time as one of the components of the above mentioned equation. I have the space and limited amounts of the others but time is NOT on my side.....yet. BTW spring is just around the corner and I had my precious zero turn mower picked up for servicing/blade sharpening/etc.The whole season is ahead of us and there may be some new Heavy Metal gracing this field before the season is over.:Cool: Hope one of them is a certain Corsair:corsair and later a certain Lightning:p38? We will see. How's Chris doing come to think of it?
Brad

[Aros]

I sure hope a certain Corsair is one of them in the coming months as well! Truth is, Chris hasn't been as available as in the past due to weekend commitments with his daughter who plays in a volleyball league. He's gone every weekend...Between that, his work at Boeing plus another business opportunity he has been freelancing at night, his availability to find time to work on RC build projects isn't what it has been in the past. So progress has been slower than expected but slow and steady we're getting there. He's currently noodling over the power system. Requested the info on the motor and prop today...Figuring out the best way to go about powering these thirsty servos and landing gear. I bought two 20A Castle Pro BECs...May just use one but we are thinking potentially both (system redundancy).

So the wing is just about complete. I would suspect in the next few weeks he will be requesting the fuselage which would signify the second half of the build can get under way. The fun little details like the sliding canopy will have to wait until after the maiden. I will consider that the third and final phase (scale detailing/painting/weathering) which will get under way after I've had a handful of successful sorties under my belt with her. Hopefully in time for this next Winter.

Patience has never been my strong suit but I'll be damned if this hobby hasn't given me plenty of opportunity to improve that character flaw!

LOL

[Aros]

Okay progress on the upgrade canopy. Took the dremel and cut closer to the cutting line (photo 1). Then I switched to a sander tip and got as close as possible to the cutting line (photo 2). Finally I took some 120 grit sandpaper and smoothed out the edges (photo 3). Surprisingly it went smoother than expected and no profanity was involved!

LOL

Still thinking about how best to cut the canopy at the sliding line. Even using guide tape the cutter blades I have for my dremel are not as thin as I would like. I may need to go get a thinner edged cutting tip. Otherwise I may dump it in hot water for a few minutes and slowly cut it with scissors using the tape guides.

[downwindleg]

Hey Todd, I would go with some sharp round nosed scissors. They need to be sharp though. You can test them on some of your canopy cutoffs. If they don't cut cleanly then you might have to buy a small pair. You'll notice a little notch at the bottom of the frame on each side. That's what differentiates the trailing edge of wind screen from leading edge of canopy. Use that as your starting point for laying some tape along where your cut will be....nice and parallel to the edge of the framing. Good luck my friend.
Brad

[Aros]

Thanks Brad...In typical Todd Fashion I threw caution to the wind and just went for it with scissors. LOL

It went great up until the compound curve at the top of the canopy. So I used the dremel cutter for that going as carefully as possible. Of course it took a small dip which finally allowed the profanity to flow and after huffing and puffing and muttering to myself like a homeless person I went back out there, put the sander tip on and blended it the best I could. After sanding it's hardly even noticeable. Plus, once I inlay that "catcher strip" (that allows the LE of the canopy to marry up against the trailing edge of the windscreen like a seal) that will help as well.

Photos show open and closed orientations. Next up is masking off the clear sections and laying down some primer.

[downwindleg]

Looks great Todd. You might try to double stick tape a piece of like 320 sandpaper on a small block to sand those edges and even out the high spots or even one of your wifes emory boards glued to a stick just to fine tune it a little. Looking good though for sure.

[farmflyer]

Oh no I think I might have been able to see it you’ll have to throw it away and start over actually it looks pretty good I bet when you get done it will look just fine.

[RRHandy]

:Cool::Cool:.

[Aros]

Thanks Brad good advice...Masked it off and got some primer on it. It will be easier to see the high/low spots with some paint on it now. After some final smoothing out and sanding and more priming then I will add the rivet detail. Finally it will be ready for it's base coat once I have figured out what color I am going to use for the entire bird.

[Aros]

Here's a pretty good close up view of the rivets on the canopy. Granted, this is the -4 variant and not the -1A but I have to think they both shared very similar rivet patterns. If anyone can say otherwise speak up now or forever hold your peace.

LOL

[Prowler901]

Fantastic work on the canopy, Aros! :Cool:

What will you be using for rivets?