Helped an acquaintance move his experimental aircraft. 1/2 scale F4U Corsair. Looks rusted, but it’s really hard foam blocks between the wood ribbing. Very high quality build. Once he has all foam correct he will fiberglass on the foam to make the skin.
In the back (left side of next photo) are the wings.
This isn’t a kit build. Some company back in late 1970’s made 1/2 scale blueprints and plans. No parts. Just plans. So everything is hand built. This builder is a machinist and wood worker with a full shop. So he has really done nice work. He has made everything except the canopy and tires. He even machined the wheel hubs. He has over 5,000 hours in the build and thinks it will be another 2,000. He isn’t sure which exact engine he is going with. Right now he has planned for a Rotec radial. Gear retracts with electrohydraulic with backup hand crank. Wings will fold.
Quite a project.
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I'm sure he has the right foam for fiberglassing...the wrong stuff just melts.
Applying fiberglass correctly, types of resin to use for different stages, sanding techniques etc are a whole new ball game skill wise, seriously.
Again, quite an undertaking.
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Hope he lives long long enough to finish it. Local guy doing a restoration passed away in a car accident and now the family has to figure out what do with all work.
Dam fine work to, anyone who can build this way is in high regards in my book.
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Wonder though how he's going to fit in a 1/2 scale cockpit... guess that will not some creative license.
I bet that trailer got some looks while moving...
I suspect he might cheat in the cockpit area just a little. But then "Whistling Death" had a pretty good size cockpit, so 1/2 scale might work.
"In the vast library of socialist books, there’s not a single volume on how to create wealth, only how to take and “redistribute” it.” - David Horowitz
Very cool and ambitious. If it were my project, I would definitely not bother with the added complexity, weight and expense of the folding wings.
I’d guess it’s for transport purposes, folding wings would allow the plane to be moved on a trailer with a lot less work than unbolting the wings. At 1/2 scale wingspan would be 20’ 6”, with maybe 6’-7’ of each wing folding. I can’t imagine the hinge would be more than maybe 3 feet off the ground, putting the wingtips maybe 10’ off the ground at most. Low enough for transport in an enclosed trailer. Grumman-style folders that fold up and back parallel to the fuselage would be better, but not accurate.
Phil
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This isn’t a kit build. Some company back in late 1970’s made 1/2 scale blueprints and plans. No parts. Just plans. So everything is hand built.
The company made plans for several 1/2 scale aircraft. Somewhere hidden in a box amongst other long forgotten personal items is a full page magazine add with pictures of several of the models they had available. It was on my closet door for years as a teenager. I wanted to build the Corsair too.