ram3500-RCU

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Here we will be preparing the ARF version for flight, flight testing this airframe with a Moki 250 and becoming familiar with the complex systems on this aircraft. This will be done with the plane still in it's silver gel coat. Then, we will apply the basic scheme we intend to model.

While we fly the ARF version, we will be building the kit version, adding all the scale detail we can muster. This second airframe we intend to be our competition aircraft. We are looking forward to the experience and to working with this fine aircraft and engine combination.

Here are some pictures to begin with.

rwright142

Looks awesome!

Mustangman40

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Subscribed........

Good talking to you last night Gary, these projects will have my attention for sure...

scale only 4 me

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Can I come over and touch it?

Can't wait to see her go

uncljoe

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FWIW there is an OUTSTANDING thread already here.. Comp ARF 110" Corsair..
Semper Fi

ram3500-RCU

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Same here. We are pumped about this project.

ram3500-RCU

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Thanks. I'll be interested in any comments or suggestions you can add as a Corsair expert.

ram3500-RCU

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You WILL get to touch it my friend. We would like to bring itr to your field this year.

ram3500-RCU

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Thanks for the heads up. I have gone through it and some other information as well. I hope we can add to the knowledge base already available on this plane. Airframe #2 is to be a museum scale unit. I hope we have something to share.

Mustangman40

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Hey Gary,
you gaining any ground yet, a step by step on the Moki mounting would be great.. I plan on winning the lottery very soon and i will need to know things..

ram3500-RCU

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Picked up the RX over the week end. (JR 922) Now I can start to get things hooked up. I installed the Moki and then the cowl to make sure it was aligned properly. It looks good. I'll be taking it back off tonight and fuel proofing the firewall. Then I will re-install it and mount the pump. Brian is preparing the wings. I'll be posting more pictures later.

I'm also going to do a temporary install of the clear inside the canopy frame. I will need to be able to remove it later to paint it, but we will test fly it as is.

ram3500-RCU

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Some more pictures. The radial was too close to the cowl at a couple cylinders, so I plugged the holes in the firewall with dowel rod and Gorilla glue, and drilled new ones. It fits nicely at all five cylinders now.

Recommendations are to use grommets where any wiring goes through the firewall.

I also fuel proofed the fire wall and then painted it, before re-installing the Moki.

Some shots of the cockpit as well. This is airframe #1 and will not be as detailed as #2.

ram3500-RCU

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I mounted the fuel pump for the Moki 250. Here is what I did. It will prime in a second or two at the most.

Brian and I have been discussing the wing latching system and a way to verify it is totally locked. Given his electrical experience, he has come up with a very simple yet positive way to do this utilizing the each wing tip light. More on this later, after he has it designed.

ram3500-RCU

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We have made another decision for airframe #2. We will be covering it with Aerofoil from Meister, and then doing the paint scheme. Chipped and damaged paint looks so much better over aluminum.

We will also equip both airframes except for the engine, fuel system (all on the one board including the pump, which is held in by 8 screws), and the ignition system. That way, we can switch to a second airframe in maybe as little as 1/2 hr in the case of an accident (not involving the engine.

Whistling Death

Subscribed!

ram3500-RCU

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Some more of our plans for #2.

- new D&L air system
- brakes
- Graeme Mears detail parts (this is a nice set of parts if you haven't seen them yet)
- full lighting system (including the scale cockpit)
- paint over aluminum foil finish
- sliding canopy
- scale hand holds
- operational cowl flaps with automatic thermal control and attached to the fuselage not the cowl (we think this will make it easier to remove the cowl for servicing the Moki)
- gun flashing (lights)
- our own design for wings down and fully locked verification (we will experiment with this on airframe #1)
- and a few more things in the works

We hope to have #2 completed by March 2012.

We hope to maiden #1 sometime next month, July. We will fly it in July and August, then, if all goes well, we will break it down and paint it in September, and have it ready to fly again by the Monster Planes event in October. We will fly it to the end of the season, then pull the engine, ignition, and fuel system to install in #2.

Should be fun.

Mustangman40

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Boy Gary,
you and your brother have your hands full with that list. looking forward to following this build...
I know it's going to be a looker when you two get done with it!
Jimbo

ram3500-RCU

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Yes, I'm sure the next few months are going to go by very fast, as it always does when you are heavy into a build. I'm hoping we can get it far enough along before next winter so I have some time to build another P-38 to replace the one I lost at WOG. We'll see.

turboratt89

got 2 quistions for you guys
why are you all using the moki 250 and not the 215
plus why do you need the fuel pump added
may sound stupid but i would like to know thanks

ram3500-RCU

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Well, I'm new to the Moki engines, but as I understand it, this plane was designed (scaled) around the moki 250. I also did some asking around of guys I know have years of experience with these engines, and they are in agreement that, for the money, it is worth going a couple hundred more for the 250, if not for now, for future projects. You can always throttle back, and it swings a more realistic size prop.

As for the pump, once again, I asked those moki experts. Answer: is it necessary - no, but, here are some benefits to using it. Easier starting, 200 or more RPM on the high end, and lower more reliable idle on the low end. This from guys who have run them both ways. I chose to install the pump for these reasons.

turboratt89

thank you ram i was just very interested in the reasons why

ram3500-RCU

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You are very welcome.

Airframe #1 came equipped with the Moki 250 and pump. I still did some research before installing it. I like keeping things as simple as possible. But the reasons for going ahead with the pump were compelling to me. It will have it's own battery and switch. That means that turning the fuel pump on will be part of the check list as with full scale.

turboratt89

sweet thanks again

ram3500-RCU

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Made some air tank fixtures and installed them. I used sign board (very light, very strong) and balsa. They are installed under the cockpit. Installed with Gorilla glue.

Whistling Death

For those of us who don't know, what is "sign board" and what is it made of?