FAA F4u-1a Corsair, questions, questions ,questions ...

[Gordon Parker]

5 hours ago, JackG said:

Hi Gordon,

 

I've been using this free host for photos, but you should still keep your images saved on the hard drive for future reference, just in case the site goes under or becomes a paid site.  The login feature I've never used,    but probably allows arranging and grouping photos into albums or such:

https://postimages.org/

 

I've plans to draw up the side scoops, vent, and inter cooler flap in vector format and get them custom PE.  I'd offer you some in 1/32, but you might finish your build before the year is done?

 

regards,

Jack

Thanks on both counts Jack.

The chance of me getting anything much going on the Corsair before the end of this year or next seems to be slipping away. Work has been piling up a bit and I really need to finish at least some of the 72nd scale kits, (Kittyhawk, Hurricane I, Spit I, Spit V, Spit VIII and PZL II) I have on the bench and at least one 1/35 scale piece of armour I have PROMISED to finish before Christmas (likely "Bomb" of the Sherbrooke Fueseliers).

So other than a bit of preliminary work and maybe a start on the instrument panel drawings (I use Corel Draw 11 btw, also in vector, which of course I could send your way) your offer woiuld be much appreciated.

Maybe we can share the cost of the PE as I will need several sets in 1/72 anyway and the vector artwork is completely scalable.

Cheers and thanks,

Gord

[Gordon Parker]

FAA Corsair Insrument Panel?

As I understood it, there were substantial differences I was starting on the drawings to create a FAA IP for the Tamiya Corsair.

Looking at the Pilots notes, images of the FG-1A Corsair in Yeovilton and comparing those to the Yahu instrument panel I can't see much of a difference. The side boards look basically the same as well. Switches, throttle, trim wheels etc are all in the same place as I would have expected. Yeovilton's Corsair has a flare rack on the right hand side, the map pockets are different and I am sure I will discover more as I dig into this.

So what am I seeing here? Should the ip's be different or have Tamiya and Yahu used a FAA instrument panel as a patter?

Cheers, 

Gord

[Troy Smith]

13 minutes ago, Gordon Parker said:

FAA Corsair Insrument Panel?

As I understood it, there were substantial differences I was starting on the drawings to create a FAA IP for the Tamiya Corsair.

Looking at the Pilots notes, images of the FG-1A Corsair in Yeovilton

If the British were going to specify a new IP, it would have the standardised  British centre panel for blind flying, with 6 instruments

it was standardised  on British types

 

http://spitfiresite.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/zues09_021-640x479.jpg

 

The blind flying instrument panel provided the six crucial instrument in the standardised layout. In the top row, left-to-right are: the airspeed indicator, artificial horizon, rate of climb indicator. In the lower row, same order: altimeter, gyro compass followed by turn & bank indicator,  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_flying_panel

 

This was not supplied in US built types for the British AFAIK.

 

(maybe some very early ones which were not not lend lease,  but I don't think so)  I'll @Graham Boak  as he may have a bit more detail.

 

Pilots notes are the best source for photos of this.   

@Dana Bell mention a British IP in Hellcats, but the pilots notes don't show the centre 6 panel.    I don't recall them being mentione on any other US types operated by the British either.

 

HTH

 

[JackG]

There's a couple evaluation reports available as pdfs, first one is on the  Corsair I, and at the bottom there is listed cockpit features as being 'unsatisfactory':

http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/f4u/jt118-handling.pdf

 

A second evaluation report on the Corsair II that included night flying trial, but I did not notice any mention of requiring instrument panel change:

http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/f4u/jt259-handling.pdf

 

regards,

Jack

 

[Gordon Parker]

On 9/21/2021 at 11:06 AM, Troy Smith said:

If the British were going to specify a new IP, it would have the standardised  British centre panel for blind flying, with 6 instruments

it was standardised  on British types

 

(maybe some very early ones which were not not lend lease,  but I don't think so)  I'll @Graham Boak  as he may have a bit more detail.

 

Pilots notes are the best source for photos of this.   

@Dana Bell mention a British IP in Hellcats, but the pilots notes don't show the centre 6 panel.    I don't recall them being mentione on any other US types operated by the British either.

 

HTH

 

Hi Troy, 

Thanks as usual.

Sorry for the slower than normal reply, stuff happens sometimes (like I fell off my bicycle and cracked a few ribs, ouch).

Of course I do understand what a Blind flying panel  However, having read here and other places that there were some differences in the IP's I wanted to double check what I was seeing. I had to wear my magnifying visor to compare the Yahu IP to the FAA pilot notes (found here of course) and could find no changes at all.  So measure twice cut once eh?

I do like to  check these things thouroghly and you guys are the most knowledgeable and helpful bunch I have come across. 

There were some differences in cockpit fittings  (radio and seat harness were to British standards) and photos of the "Time Capsule Fighter" (arriving soon I hope) show numerous additions and placements (flare rack). Is the FAA Museums Corsair totally original for wartime and were there detail changes between the Vought built  MkII that I want to build and a Goodyear built MkIV?  So more variables added.

Best regards,

Gord

[Gordon Parker]

On 9/22/2021 at 6:55 AM, JackG said:

There's a couple evaluation reports available as pdfs, first one is on the  Corsair I, and at the bottom there is listed cockpit features as being 'unsatisfactory':

http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/f4u/jt118-handling.pdf

 

A second evaluation report on the Corsair II that included night flying trial, but I did not notice any mention of requiring instrument panel change:

http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/f4u/jt259-handling.pdf

 

regards,

Jack

 

Cool stuff Jack,

Thanks,

Gord