Untitled
Flair F4u-1D Corsair
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This model started out as a Flair ARTF but
as a scale modeller (to the best of my abilities, and with a little bit of
modellers license!) I just had to alter it a little bit. The model as it comes
is a glassfibre fuselage with a glassfibre wing centre section and foam outer
sections, all pre-covered and painted...... well there was the first change as
the two outer panels didn't match the centre one or the fuselage. I also
wanted to fit twist retracts, which I had to make myself as the air ones I
wanted to fit wouldn't go in (the wing joining spar was in the way) and I
couldn't get any mechanical ones at the time. I made and fitted a "scale"
retracting tailwheel complete with gear doors, operating gear doors were
fitted to the wing as well sequenced to close after the main gear has gone up
using a gear/door sequencer and a standard servo. Model is powered by an SC120
four stroke.
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(right) Shot of the Corsair showing off it's
gorgeous lines.
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(left) Shot showing some of the detail and
weathering.
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(right) Shot of the
underwing detail and weathering, panel lines were marked with a fine tip
permanent marker and dirt streaks are applied using pastels (that's chalk not
Rowntrees) and the whole lot sealed with fuel proof varnish. Note the gear
doors, they look brilliant closing after the gears goes up whilst flying.
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The following sequence of shots show a repair that has been done to the Flair Corsair wing after a crash on take off due to the wing
skin on the glassfibre centre section coming away from the frame inside. The
repair involved cutting off the outer glassfibre skin, adding extra ribs and
spars and then sheeting the wing with 1/16th balsa sheet. The final repair
was then finished with glass cloth and finishing resin, then painted.
(above) New ribs and formers fitted to the
interior of the wing structure
(below) The wing sections are sheeted with
1/16th balsa and 0.6oz glass cloth has been applied with epoxy resin, the
repair has been wet sanded smooth and is ready for primer.
(above left) The wing has been primered
and is awaiting wet sanding
again, (above right) top coat applied, no detailing yet,
another sanding then panel lines and weathering can be applied.
(below) Wing is now finished with panel lines marked on, some light
weathering and fuel proofer has been applied, just got to let it dry
thoroughly and then a test flight.
After a disappointing test flight where the engine was
found wanting in the power department.....
It was decided that a new power plant was the order of the
day and a replacement was found in the form of an MVVS 160 Petrol, the one that had been fitted to
my FW190 impressed me so much that I had to
have another
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(left) You have to admit that this is one tasty
looking engine. |
.Now the fun bit......
In order to fit this engine a few modifications have to be
made to the original installation. Firstly to use Petrol you have to change
all the silicon fuel lines and tank fittings as Petrol dissolves them, the
tank clunk needs to be replaced with a petrol one which has a felt filter
which stops fuel frothing from reaching the engine. All metal throttle
linkages, including Bowden cable, have to be replaced with plastic snakes as
the metal will radiate interference to the radio from the ignition source (not
recommended), with the MVVS an electronic ignition system comes supplied and
this needs to be mounted on the engine side of the bulkhead away from the
radio with it's own power source (4.8v-6v NiCad) which also has to be mounted
on the engine side of the bulkhead. To reduce the chance of radiated
interference Graham applies aluminium foil tape to the inside of the cowl and
to the bulkhead before mounting the engine
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(left) The cowl with aluminium tape applied
ready to be painted matt black |
The Flair Corsair, like the FW190, has a few modifications
that are peculiar to this type of model. The original model specification
calls for a 120 four stroke which is mounted on a supplied mount which is
bolted to the bulkhead with a 17mm plywood mounting block glued to the
bulkhead.... this block is too small to take the new engine mount and requires
replacing with a larger block (a bit difficult when it is epoxied on) or
increasing its size by adding a pre-cut extension.
(above) The picture on the left shows the original ply block that
the engine mount bolts to, the surrounding area has been sanded back to glue
the add-on piece to. The pic on the right shows the new piece being epoxied to
the bulkhead and the original block.
(below) The finished enlarged block ready to be marked out for
drilling for the new engine mount. The new mount (right) is a cast alloy T-bar
type that has 3 bolt holes to each side, you can see those on the right hand
one, and has to be drilled for the engine bolts.
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(right) Engine fitted to the mount and ready to
go on the bulkhead, along with the battery pack and electronic ignition
unit.
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(right) All connected and tidied up, no cables to
snag on that hot exhaust.
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(left) Engine installed and ancilliaries fitted.
Just the electrics to connect and tidy up.
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(right) There you have it.... shame about the great
big hole in the cowl, ah well you can't have it all can you.
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(left) Top view this time, not complicated is
it?..... no, just a bit crowded
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That's it then, all that needs doing now is running in
the engine and then FLY!......
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(right) Model at the flying field
for it's maiden flight with the new engine... WHAT a transformation!.... the flying
surpassed even my expectations...... SUPERB!
If you own one of these and are
disappointed with it's performance then take my advice and fit a nice petrol in
it.... you won't regret it.
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(left) This picture was taken the day after
finishing installation and the proof of the pudding as they say...... it was
run for 1/2 hour on 1 tank of fuel, that's Petrol of course. The dry weight of
the model has risen slightly from 13.5 lbs with the 120 glow to 14.5lbs with
the 160 petrol.
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