Model Airplane Corsair Tailwheel Upgrade

Model Airplane Corsair Tailwheel Upgrade
If you are building a Corsair from one of the Top Flite ARF kits, this upgrade will add lots of static scale points. This impressive scale retractable tailwheel with tailhook unit comes from my good friend and scale modeler, Earl Aune.
Model Airplane News - RC Airplane News | Model Airplane Corsair Tailwheel Upgrade
Model Airplane News - RC Airplane News | Model Airplane Corsair Tailwheel Upgrade
(Above) Gear Extended
Model Airplane News - RC Airplane News | Model Airplane Corsair Tailwheel Upgrade
(Above) Gear in the retracted position
Involved with scale competition and the U.S. Scale Masters Association for many years, Earl build an impressive Corsair and scratch-built his own functional, retractable tailwheel assembly complete with tailhook. Several years back Earl also hand built tailwheels for Nick Ziroli, Byron Originals and Bob Holman Plans for the Corsair, Hellcat, Zero, Mustang and Skyraider, but the hand building and assembly took over 3 hours apiece!  This took all of his “spare” time plus the orders kept coming in such that he was soon overwhelmed and burned out.
Model Airplane News - RC Airplane News | Model Airplane Corsair Tailwheel Upgrade
This past year  however Earl built himself his own CNC system and he commented that this made a huge difference! Now, all of the pieces actually fit precisely together instead of having to be hand sanded to fit which took most of the time. So, Earl is thinking about cranking up his Tailwheel business once again with his new manufacturing capability to produce the gear for the 86 inch span Corsair.
Model Airplane News - RC Airplane News | Model Airplane Corsair Tailwheel Upgrade
Model Airplane News - RC Airplane News | Model Airplane Corsair Tailwheel Upgrade
The gear is fully steerable and comes fully assembled with the tailwheel. The linkage locks the gear in the down position to relieve the retract servo from any loads or forces. Overall, the unit is very nicely made and looks great! The tailhook is also functional in that you can use a seperate servo to raise and lower it. And the geometry is just perfect for scale looks and functionality.
He asked if I wanted to try retro-fitting the tailwheel unit to the Corsair after the review and I just could not refuse the offer. It will take some modifications to the ARF to make it fit but it does look like it is doable. If you are interested in Earl’s classic Tailwheel assemblies, you can contact him at the address below: of send him an email at:  earlaune@comcast.net
Earl Aune
 c/o
Jensen Designs LLC
2508 SE 152nd Ave
Vancouver, WA 98683

20 Comments

  1. That is an awesome looking tailwheel, I can see myself doing “carrier” landings on the runway at my local club.

    1. I just acquired a Byron Originals F4U-1 Corsair.Was wondering if the 1/6 scale tail wheel was still available.

  2. That is really nice. My question is, how are the doors set up?

    1. Hey thanks for your comment. The gear doors for any scale airplane are a project all onto themselves. Earl’s gear do have ball-links attached that you can use to attach linkage to open and close the doors. However, the geometry to get the doors to travel and function properly with the proper end points is a trial and error exercise. Also, there are other methods like spring loaded paddles that the tailwheel pushes up when retracted that in turn pull the doors shut, so the whole project is up to you.

  3. Very nice looking assembly!!! I have plans to build a giant scale Corsair in the near future….and this would fit nicely!!

  4. I just finished the Top Flight 85″ gold edition built up kit painted like the real one “RED DOG XII”see it on youtube crash land,My bad! Next project is the Top Flight Giant Corsair and I must have this tail wheel set up! It looks AWESOME !

  5. I.E. Gear doors. Thanks for the reply Gerry, I will keep trying. Looks like the key word is “project”.

  6. Is the Corsair in this article the TopFlight ARF?

    1. Yes — same one! Look for the review in a future MAN.

  7. lovely work, i see you are doing a version for smaller corsairs, namely the ESM/YT version, any chance of one for me, and post to the UK?

  8. i at least expected a reply

  9. Hi all, just checking into this thread. Thanks for the compliments on the tailwheel, they are a lot of work but are certainly worth it when you are after the scale look and function. I can make them in any size. Also I am making available the scale tailwheel for the Hellcat, Zero, Skyraider and Mustang. The Skyraider and Mustang fold forward as an interesting note. Just shoot me an email to start. Cheers, Ear

    1. HI EARL, I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO FIND A SITE THAT SHOWS YOUR CORSAIR TAIL WHEELS AND I LOVE THE DESIGN BUT I CAN’T FIND OUT ANY WHERE, WHERE I CAN BUY THEM. PLEASE SEND ANY INFORMATION YOU HAVE SUCH AS PRICE. I WOULD LIKE TO ORDER ONLINE BUT ALL I HAVE IS SITES TO LOOK AT YOUR GEAR…BUT… I DON’T WANT TO JUST LOOK AT THEM I WANT TO BUY MORE THAN ONE IF I CAN FIND OUT HOW TO DO THAT. PLEASE SEND ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN SUPPLY…. Thank you for any help you can provide…

    2. DEAR EARL I WANT TO PURCHASE THREE OF YOUR CORSAIR TAIL WHEELS. for 75 to 80 inch corsairs.Please let me know if i need to send you a check or will you take a credit card?

    3. czn you make 1/10 scale coursair fu 4 tail wheel no hook it is based on marine base landings

      1. hi looking to purchase tail wheel how should we do it mike

  10. Oh boy, just found your tailwheel. I have the plans for the Franz Meier Skyraider and plan to start construction the first of the year if not sooner. It is a 75″ wing span model, so somewhat smaller than the Ziroli 100″. What information would you need to build a tail wheel assembly for my bird? What is the power source to activate it? Servo or air cylinder or either? This looks like the ticket to have a fine tail wheel assembly for my Spad. Thanks for a reply. WS

  11. I have a Cy models Bearcat 97 inch wingspan. Will your tailwheel work in that plane? Is it simple to install? Thank you

  12. Hello what is the winspan of your Corsaire ? and where have you had the mechanism for folding wings ?

    Thank you
    chris

  13. I want to purchase three of your corsair tail wheels. I have a 75 inch CMP corsair and two 75 inch ESM corsairs and i have a 90 inch Black horse Corsair that i need a tail wheel for. They supply one but it does not retract nor does it have a tail hook and it does not look scale in any way…. Thank you for any help you can provide.

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