This is my build of the PZ F4U-1A Corsair PNP (PKZ6075) version. The BNF is PKZ6080. The kit version is PKZ6070.
Link: http://www.horizonhobby.com/f4u-1a-corsair-pnp-pkz6075

MAJOR POINTS
- 1) Discontinued
This model has been discontinued. It is one of the best looking RC Corsair models in my opinion. As of late 2016, parts are still available.
- 2) Three-section flaps
This model is set up for scale-like 3 section flaps as did the real Corsair. You must add the servos yourself but everything else is there in place.
- 3) Rectractable LG
The LG mounts are already molded in place and the wires are installed for retractable landing gear (LG) as well. You just need to buy and install Retractable LG.

I hope to find this blog useful to follow its progress as I mod it. I also find having my planes on my blog helpful to quickly retrieve facts about them. This was my Christmas present for 2015. It was bought from ReadyMadeRC.com on sale for $124.99. On 27 Dec 2015 I started putting it together and finished in about 7 hours, including the flaps but not the retractable LG.

DATA
- ParkZone F4U-1A Corsair PNP
- Wingspan 44in 1120mm
- Length 36.0in 915mm
- Weight 43.4oz 1230g w/drop tanks;
- Weight 46.6oz 1320g w/retracts/flaps 30A ESC w/flaps hardware, retract-ready, tanks installed
- Servos used for flaps are TowerPro MG-90
- Battery used for COG measurements - 11.1V 3S 2200mAh 25C LiPo
- Motor - 15-sized 950Kv BL motor (PKZ5116 15 BL Motor)

GENERAL NOTES
The build went easily except for 2 items.

1) The M3x15mm bolts to secure the fixed landing gear were missing, or so I thought. I used some M2.5x15mm stainless steel (SS) bolts I had for 1 side. When I tried to use them on the other side, they were too loose. I had to use some M3x15 SS bolts instead. All my bolts were fine thread and the missing bolts are supposed to be coarse threaded. After talking with HH I figured out the smaller 6mm length screws are the ones listed as M3X15mm. Use the smaller screws that look like wood screws to mount the fixed LG.

2) The 2 foam fuel tanks did not stay on very well. One fell off just moving the aircraft around. I ended up gluing them both on with Foam-Tac glue. I didn't realize the mount is not separate from the Tank until it was too late. The next day I still find them loose. Unless I can make them easily removable, and secure, they may not stay on. The only thing holding them on is a long M3x25mm bolt in the center. If possible, I will separate the mount from the tank and put some anti-rotation pins on the top of the mount at each end to help it stay put better once the center screw is in place.

BOX CONTENTS
1) Fuselage
2) Wing
3) Horizontal stabilizer with Elevator
4) 2x Fuel tanks
5) Decal sheet in an envelope
6) Bag 1 - holds main LG, consist of 3mm strut wires, collars on wheels, Wheels 68mm (2-5/8ths inches diameter). Collars on the wheels use PH screws vs hex heads.
7) Bag 2 - holds 2 clevises, 2 control horns, 2 back plates for control horns, bag of 5 screws (M2x14mm) for control horns
8) Bag 3 - 3 large bolts M3x25mm
9) Bag 4 - 6 plastic tubes, 3 bolts M3x11mm
10) Bag 5 - small wood flat head screws 9mm long, 1 servo extension 220mm long (bind extension), 1 short Y-harness (105mm 4in long).

TABLE OF CONTENTS

POST 1 - GENERAL DATA

POST 2 - TABLE OF CONTENTS

POST 3 - Link to Stock 9.5x 7.5 2-Blade prop vs Scale ratios

POST 4 - PKZ 6075/6080 F4U-1A Corsair Prop adapter (PKZ6002)

POST 5 - PKZ6075/6080 F4U-1A Corsair 15 BL Outrunner Motor

POST 6 - Motor Setup and balance

POST 7 - Cowl and Exhaust: F4U-1A (PKZ6013)

POST 8 - Link to Alternative batteries

POST 9 - Link to Alternative propllers & STATIC TESTS DATA

POST 10 - Link to Control surface settings

POST 11 - Link to ALTERNATIVE RETRACTABLE LANDING GEAR

POST 12 - Link to Stock 3S system w/upgraded 45A ESC & 3-blade MAS 12x6 prop

POST 13 - Link to Upgraded PZ Corsair 4S system, 2820/07 920Kv BL Motor & 60A ESC

POST 14 - Link to Rx used Lemon-Rx.com 7Ch Rx/Stab w/Dual Diversity antennae w/Sat

POST 15 - Link to Parkzone Corsair F4U-1A STOCK Servos & repaired ELE servo

POST 16 - Link to FLAP MOD on PZ Corsair 1120mm wingspan

POST 17 - Link to Stock ESC Part # EFLA1030B

POST 18 - Link to Emax 2820/07 920Kv BL Motor repair

POST 19 - Link to PZ Corsair Battery/ESC/Rx bay enlargement

POST 20 - Link to Lining the battery/ESC/Rx bays; mounting the firewall

POST 21 - Link to Upgrade elevator servo, Power Up 17g AS315MG Analog Metal Gear Micro Servos

POST 22 - Link to Corsair resurrected March 2017

POST 23 - Link to Installing the EMax 2815/09 1100Kv BL motor

(PKZ1012) The stock Prop is a 9.5 x 7.5in 2-blade prop. It is also used in the ParkZone T-28 & P-47.

The real F4U-1A Corsair flew with a 13 foot 4 inch 3-blade propeller. Based on the wingspan, this model is a 1 to 11.18 scale model.
Wingspan of real aircraft 41ft = 492in; Wingspan of model 44in.

Scale ratio 44/492 =1 : 11.1818

Propeller diameter of real aircraft 13.333ft or 160 inches.

A scale model prop should (160in/11.1818) 14.3 inches.

PKZ1012 $3.49 Propeller 9.5 x 7.5
This is the stock propeller that comes with the PKZ6075: The hole diameter is 8mm and fits the stock prop adapter. It is also recommended for the T-28D Trojan, Stinson Reliant SR-10, P-47D Thunderbolt & the Spitfire Mk IX
http://www.horizonhobby.com/propeller--95-x-75-pkz1012

Also offered by HH for consideration is this prop.
PKZ5101 $5.99 Propeller 10.5 x 9: Stock prop for the Extra 300
http://www.horizonhobby.com/propelle...ra-300-pkz5101

The prop adapter for this Corsair is a friction type collet adapter. It fits on a 5mm motor shaft that is about 12.5mm long. The shaft has a flat spot for a prop saver adapter if you wanted to use one. The shaft adapter shaft diameter is 8mm.

F4U-1A (PKZ6002) $5.99 Prop Adapter: The adapter was on very tight and I had to use a hardened hex wrench to loosen it. Be careful the first time you try to pull this one off.
http://www.horizonhobby.com/prop-ada...f4u-1a-pkz6002

There are no bolt holes on the stock motor housing for a bolt-on type prop adapter.

POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVES
HeadsUpHobby (aka HURC) carries at least three 5mm prop adapters that would fit this motor. Look up Item #s A-261, D-126 & D245. One is a basic nut and washer so you would not have the unique Corsair prop nut. Another one uses a bullet type nut. The 3rd one uses a set screw to hold it to the motor shaft.

15 BL Outrunner motor, 950Kv (PKZ5116) $54.99
http://www.horizonhobby.com/15-bl-ou...-950kv-pkz5116 As mounted, it has a small down thrust and right thrust angle to it.

It is paired with an E-flite 30A ESC, which is adequate for the stock version. But I want to run with a more scale prop. l will need a larger ESC just to handle the extra watts to turn a 12x?x3 prop.

Performance is adequate but not fantastic on the stock system. I decided to build a power system around a more scale-like prop, a 3-blade closer to the scale 14.3 inches for this size plane. That is impractical however. I hit the grass with a 13 inch prop, so an 12 inch 3 -blade prop is the best I can hope for. I am using a #6 pitch but I believe the motor and ESC I choose can handle a 7 to 9 pitch prop. The MAS 12x6x3 provides all the thrust I will ever need. The stock motor would bog down with that much power, so an upgrade on the motor and ESC is required.

UPDATE Aug 2016: I flew a 13 inch 2-blade prop that ended in disaster. I only fly off grass. It was fine for the TOFF and a few T&Gs but I failed to keep the tail down on one T&G. A prop tip touched the grass and that was all it wrote. Tore the motor off the mount & broke the prop. I've been flying 12 & 11 inch 3-blade props since, no prop strikes since then.

The holes in the rear of the motor that screw into the motor mount are 25x25mm diagonally across the motor. The screw holes that hold the motor mount to the firewall are 52x52mm diagonally across the mount. There is no X-mount provided for the plane since it mounts directly using the plastic mount, part # PKZ4428. The distance from the bottom of the motor to the front that allows it to spin without hitting the fake radial engine is 41.6mm. The front extension of the motor, for the motor shaft is 10.5mm, and the shaft extends another 12mm.

I have looked at motors that will mount without modding and found a few. But getting the specs on a motor without the front of the motor can extending beyond 41.6mm and also having prop adapter with a shaft that extends another 22mm has been a challenge.
UPDATE August 2016: see Post 12 below.

THRUST
The motor has right and down thrust angles. I do not know what they are.

CG
The published CG is 57mm aft of the wings' leading edge.
The CG on mine measured about 66mm with everything stock, and the battery as far forward as possible. In order to move the CG forward, I plan to use a larger than recommended 2200mAh stock battery. Mine will be a 3300mAh 3S. That should help bring the CG to 57mm. I will fly my 2200mAh 3S batt also to see what effect a slightly aft CG does to performance. I may try my 2200mAh 4S batt if I can determine the system can handle the voltage.

UPDATE:
I did fly with a 3300mAh 3S LiPo and a 2200 4S LiPo, but forgot to write down the CG. After more than a few major crashes and rebuilds I am using a 50A ESC, a MAS 11X6 3-blade prop and the same larger batteries. The CG now measures 70mm. That's 13mm back from the recommended CG of 57mm. Strangely enough, my picture showing the earlier CG of 66mm doesn't look that different from the published 57mm CG picture shown in the manual. Maybe something in the manual wasn't measured correctly or my measurements are off in some way. I use a ruler and a straight edge. My plane flew just fine at 66mm. I haven't flown it yet at 70mm CG.

GROUND CLEARANCE
As measured, the prop has at least 3 inches of clearance off the ground with the stock 9.5in prop in the takeoff position with the rear tail wheel off the ground. Another 2.5 inches of prop radius is available, or another 5 inches to the diameter making it a 14.5 inch prop. Actual scale would be 14.3inches. A prop that large would need a larger motor/ESC combo to turn it effectively . I tried a 13x6 inch 2-blade prop. That didn't turn out well due to a prop strike on the ground during a T&G. Thirteen inch prop is not recommended.

Cowl and Exhaust: F4U-1A (PKZ6013) $7.99
http://www.horizonhobby.com/cowl-and...f4u-1a-pkz6013

The cowl and exhaust are hard plastic. The exhaust and simulated motor are one of the most realistic presentations I have seen. But I haven't been around long. The piece is heavy and well-made. The cowl survived quite a few crashes nose first into soft dirt, almost mud. The first crash into normal dirt (not soft or mud) cracked one side almost completely through. Some CA fixed it the first time but after a few more crashes, it takes epoxy to make it flyable. I had to use larger screws to hold it on. I used the servo arm screws from an MG90 servo as a substitute. The holes got enlarged due to the crashes. I don't believe there are any alternative cowls /exhaust parts.

It comes with 3 small screws to hold it on. I seem to have plenty of the servo mount screws with a metal shoulder to mount the cowl. The original cowl has about had it. I have a new one but I still repair the old one. It will be there until I am confident I won't nose it in. That could be awhile from now.

All batteries listed below needed some cutting of the battery bay foam to have adequate room. The battery bay in my Corsair was radically cut and altered for both battery and ESC fitment.

1) ZOP Power LiPo 3300mAh 3S 35C w/EC3 plug
I now have a Deans connector on my Corsair ESC. This is a wide and long battery. It barely fits in the Corsair but gives good flight times. The avg on this batt is about 6.5 mins over 17 flts. It averages 54% mAh usage per flt.
Stats
• Weight 263g
• Pack Size: 135x 44x 22mm


2) Wildcat LiPo 4S 2200mAh EC3 plug
Purchased at LazerToyz.com. I purchased a 2nd identical batt from LT but it was much bigger. I think it must was a 2200mAh batt and the original LiPo was an 1800mAh LiPo with a 2200mAh sticker on it. I do NOT recommend LazerToyz.com or the WildCat brand of LiPo batteries. My 1st LiPo from LazerToyz was not what I ordered. I ordered a 1600mAh LiPo and got an 1800mAh LiPo. The 2nd & 3rd LiPos I ordered were the same battery but they are not identical in size. One cell in both of them went out of balance within 25 flights. The same happened with the 1800mAh LiPo.
Stats
• Weight: 246.64g or 8.7oz
• Pack Size: L108.2x 33.02x 34.8mm or 4.26x 1.3x 1.37in


3) RMRC 2200mAh 4S 35C LiPos Deans connector
I recently bought 2 of these 2200mAh 4S 35C LiPos from ReadyMadeRC for $24.99 each. Mine came with Deans conns and XT60 are also available.
Stats
• Weight: 228.9g
• Pack Size: 106 x 35 x 30.5mm
• Power Wire: 12 AWG, 85mm
• Balance Wire: 22 AWG, 35mm

4) GForce Elite 2600mAh 40C 4S LiPo
I have flown this 40C 2600mAh GForce brand LiPo I bought from ValueHobby for $31.75 in Jan 2015 for 39 flights. It has held up well. I also bought a 2200mAh 60C GForce about the same time that did not hold up well (puffed early). They both were originally used in my Dynam SBach 342 and flown hard. The price is good. The battery has 3 flights in the Corsair as of 30 March 2017, 39 flights total.
Stats
• Weight: 268.5 or 94.7oz
• Pack Size: 116mm X 39mm X 27.5mm (4.57in X 1.54in X 1.08in)

2-BLADE PROPS

Stock 2-blade 9x7 prop. Adequate power.

13x6 2-blade prop - not a good choice on grass runways, probably not on pavement either. Had a prop strike on T&G.

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3-BLADE PROPS

12x6x3 MAS: $8.99 here at TowerHobbies.com. I like the scale look of the 3-blade 12x6 prop with the tips painted yellow. I am also flying a MAS 3-blade 11x7 for comparison. During the summer when the grass is growing fast and sometimes taller, there may be less chance of a prop strike with the 11x7 prop. There is more than adequate power to turn both props on 4S & 3S power with the EMax 2820/7-920Kv motor. I also upgraded the ESC to a Sky Power 60A ESC w/5V/6A BEC. The upgraded EMax BL 920Kv Motor & 60A ESC are barely warm with 4S batteries. On the stock system the motor, battery & ESC get hot on 3S batts using a 12x6x3-blade prop.

As of 4/2/2017 I've decided to drop the motor down to an EMax 2815/9-1100Kv motor. The 920Kv EMax was overpowering. The static test data on this new motor is below. It's plenty sufficient to power the Corsair on 4S with some power in reserve. It also pulls the 11x7 3-blade prop very well on 3S power.

12x4x3 Evolution Alpha 60: $4.99 here at AMainHobbies.com. There is NOT ADEQUATE THRUST on 3S power. I was barely able to stay airborne on the stock system. Prop tips are square, similar to the T-28 props. It is not scale. I think it's designed for 3D maneuvers at slow speeds. I do not plan to fly this prop on my Corsair again.

Dynam Part # DYP-1017: 11x7x3 prop $4.99 here at MotionRC. However the blade tips were NOT yellow, nor were the Dynam decals on the prop blades as pictured at the website. I see MotionRC did update the pics after I complained to them. Excellent power on 4S system (upgraded Sky Power 60A ESC w/5V/6A BEC and Emax BL2820/07 920Kv BL Motor).

TowerHobbies part # TOWA6103, 10x6x3 prop: $2.79 here at TowerHobbies.com. The tips were painted yellow as pictured on their website.
The prop is much lighter than the MAS or Dynam props, and much more brittle. They are made of plastic but may do fine as long as RPMs aren't too high and you don't have a prop strike.

TowerHobbies 3-blade 10x6x3 prop pulls 41A Static test on 3S stock motor & 45A ESC system.

MAS 3-blade 9x7x3 prop: pulls 27A Static test on 3S stock motor & 45A ESC system.

STATIC TESTS

All tests done with fully charged 3S and 4S LiPos.

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Stock motor & 45A ESC
PROP - 9x7x3 prop (3-blade)
3S = 27 Amps
4S = 54 Amps, 794 Watts

PROP - 11x8x3 (3-blade)
3S = 36 Amps, 407 Watts


Emax 2820/07 920Kv motor & 60A ESC,
PROP - 12x6x3 (3-blade)
3S = 39 Amps, 454 Watts
4S = 54 Amps, 777 Watts


Emax 2815/09 1100Kv motor & 60A ESC:
PROP - 11x7x3 prop (3-blade)
4S = 57.64 Amps, 806.9 Watts

PROP - 12x6x3 (3-blade)
4S = 78.25 Amps, 1178.4 Watts

I set up the control surfaces per the manual's recommendation on position 0 and 1 of my Switch C and a higher setting in position 2 of my Switch C, using a Gen1 DX18.

I recently had a control problem with my Spitfire due to flying in low rates. I also had some problems in the past flying this Corsair using low rates. I rarely use low rates and when I do, it often gets me into trouble. For awhile I removed low rates and only used the recommended high rates and higher custom rates. I use a 3 position switch for D/R's so I set the 3rd setting for a the highest rate I can get without overdriving the servos.

With the upgraded 4S power system and a 3-blade 12x6 prop, the airflow over the control surfaces is greatly improved with moderate to high power. But I have to be on my toes at idle or low power. Control in that regime is minimal, and can still get me into trouble. I still usually am flying on high rates, but I have a low rate set as well.

EDIT: 19 August 2020 - Earlier this year I installed the HK all metal retracts in my Flite Test Master build Corsair. I had to modify them for that model. The wheels it turns out are too small for grass ops. That also meant replacing the connecting shaft since the originals broke. I also replaced the axle for wider and taller tires. Below is a video of the FT MB Corsair flight with the HK retracts.

I have bought the HobbyKing retractable LG with the METAL TRUNNIONS & MOUNTING PLATE, PRODUCT ID: 107000194. LINK HERE. Others have installed them with slight modifications to get them to fit. I don't plan to install them until I am comfortable that I will not crash. As of 1 October 2016, I am not to that point yet.

FliteTest Master Build series Corsair with retracts flown 08 July 2020 (4 min 8 sec)

I was running this 45A ESC with a 5V/6A SBEC (switching) from HeadsUpHobby.com. It comes with a Deans battery connector and 3.5mm bullets , the same as the 3.5mm bullets on the stock BL motor. The ESC gets warm, but not hot, with a 3-blade 12x6 prop. But the motor gets hot. I will have to limit the prop to an 11 inch diameter unless or until I change the motor to one capable of 4S batteries. That would also require an upgrade to a 60A ESC also. I flew with this ESC & the stock motor for 5 flights.

The 45A ESC gives you more headroom than the stock ESC but not enough to run the MAS 3-blade 12x6 prop without overheating the motor.

UPDATE August 2016, 4S system installed

BL MOTOR: An Emax BL2820/07 920Kv BL Motor bought from HURC ($23.95), "LINK" here, has been installed and fitted with a 60A ESC. Both have 4mm bullets already installed. It is a 4S capable drop-in replacement motor. The prop adapter/shaft does not come with the Corsair bullet-type nut. It has an 11mm ADAPTER shaft and cannot be used with the stock bullet shaped Corsair nut.

I decided to use the new prop adapter that came with the new motor. It is more robust. I believe the FMS 1400mm prop adapter for the FMS Corsair has a bullet type prop nut that will fit this 11mm threaded ADAPTER shaft. Eventually I will buy that adapter and use the Corsair style nut.

ESC: I've also installed a Sky Power 60A ESC w/5V/6A BEC from HURC ($25.95), "LINK" here, to manage the power on this 4S capable system.

PROP: The main reason for the upgrade is to turn a more scale-like prop as mentioned in POST 6. At this time (Aug/Sep 2016) I am using this MAS 3-blade, 12x6x3 prop here at TowerHobbies.com. It has excellent power on 4S system. I thought I may run a 12x7 to 9 pitch, 3-blade prop eventually but the MAS 3-blade 12x6 prop provides more than enough thrust. The STATIC PROP DATA (amp draws) are posted in POST #9.

CG REQUIREMENTS: This upgrade does require me to place the battery as far AFT as possible for a proper CG. I had to arrange the ESC with the power connector to the rear. The battery connector is to the front of the plane and comes back to connect with the ESC.

The stock system required the batteries as far FORWARD as possible.

Because of the closeness of the Rx antenna to the ESC, and the antenna being shadowed by the battery, I originally chose the Dual antenna diversity 7Ch Rx/Stabilizer by Lemon/Rx. It can be found here - $24.80. After numerous crashes I retired my Corsair but over the winter of 2016/17 I decided to resurrect the Corsair. Somehow I feel the original Lemon Rx contributed to the plane's problems. I replaced the Rx with the Lemon Stab+ Rx with dual diversity antennas. As of 29 March 2017 I have 10 flights on the resurrected Corsair.

On the 1st Lemon Rx I also added a remote Rx for extra signal reception insurance, this Lemon DSMX compatible Satellite antenna - $8.80. The Stab+ does not have a port for a remote Rx.

I chose the end pin configuration on both models IOT minimize the servo wires being jammed down by the battery. My batteries seem to always extend over the Rx area.

On the latest installation of the Stab+ I moved it rearwards under the RUD & ELE servos, allowing more room for the wires where the Rx used to be.

The servos are covered with tape and I haven't taken the tape off of mine to check them. But I can tell they are long lead servos (400mm) like the SV80, part # PKZ1081. It and the DSV130s (PKZ1090) are the only servos listed as spare parts for the PKZ Corsair. The SV80s are the aileron servos used by the PKZ Spitfire MK IX per their writeup on HH's site. I would assume this Corsair also uses them. The DSV130s are listed as rudder and elevator servos for the Spitfire also so I suspect they are the ones used by the Corsair as well. They are metal geared servos.

You could use any 9g servo for ailerons but if I ever need to replace mine, I'd go with a metal gear servo like the TowerPro MG90. for speed or the MG90S for more torque. I got my MG90S servos on Amazon, 4 for $8.83, free shipping, here. I used them for flaps. The SV80 has plastic gears (PKZ1062). Unless you found a replacement servo with long leads, you would need an extension or solder some wires on for a longer lead.

ELEVATOR SERVO:
The elevator servo in my Corsair went bad. I replaced it with this 17g Metal Gear Power-Up AS315MG servo from HeadsUpHobby. The price was $5.95. I had to cut some foam where the original servo went. I secured it in place with Silicone Latex caulk.

AILERON Servo - SV80 (PKZ1081) Link here to servo.
AILERON Servo Gears - SV80 (PKZ1062) Replacement (plastic) gears, Link here to servo gears.

ELEVATOR & RUDDER Servo - DSV130 (PKZ1090) Link here to servo.
ELEVATOR & RUDDER Servo Gears - DSV130 (PKZ1064) Replacement (metal) gears Link here to servo metal gears.