WarBirds

The retracts for our Corsair are made by the reknown scale retract manufacturer Sierra Giant Scale. They are designed exclusively to fit our Corsair. We strongly recommend to use this gear with your CARF Corsair, as both, kit and retracts, are a perfect match and designed for each other. Here are a few important details which should rule out any aftermarket product:

• CNC-machined from aircraft grade aluminum and stainless steel
• precise and strong 90-degree rotating mechanism
• oleo exactly matched for the predicted aircraft weight
• prepared for scale sized wheels
• functional scale down lock strut
• powerful cylinder for easy retracting and safe up locking
• light weight and still super strong

There are matching scale wheels with CNC machined aluminum hubs available, a retractable tail gear with wheel, exclusively manufactured for the CARF Corsair, as well as a pneumatic kit with electronic valves, door cylinders and all necessary plumbing material to be ordered separately.

This Scale Wheel is a replica of the standard Vought Corsair Wheel. Its giant size of 7 inch is SCALE! Most Corsair models have wheels too small for the actual size of the aircraft. This is because the space in the gull wing is limited, when retracted. CARF has designed the center gull wing so that the full size wheel fits.

Note: Even though 7" diameter, it is NOT the same wheel as our 7" P-47 wheel.

This scale retractable tail gear for our Corsair is a light weight design, to not jeopardize the center of gravity of the plane. It still is very scale and the tyre is up to the task, too. The unit has an oleo, too.

The retracts for the CARF-P-47 are as sophisticated as the whole airplane. They have been designed by Sierra Giant Scale in collaboration with CARF, to fit specifically our plane. The scale strut is not only retracting, it is also compressing during the retraction process so that the full scale length when extended is available, and still the compression during retraction allows the scale strut and wheel bay position in the wing. In order to compress the strut all the way, the oleo must be partially an air piston, where pressure is released when the gear is cycled. As a side effect, once the radio is switched off, the plane sinks into the struts just like the real one, where the fading hydraulic pressure made the plane sit low when the engine and hydraulic systems were switched off. A scale gimmick, as extraordinary as the whole plane.

A pair of scale wheels and a retractable tail gear are also available to complement this mavellous piece of engineering. 

This scale wheel is a replica of the original Republic wheel used on the Thunderbolt.

 Note: Even though 7" diameter, it is NOT the same wheel as our 7" Corsair wheel. The wheel is not as narrow as the Corsair wheel.

 This package contains 2 wheels.

The P-47 Tail Gear, very similar to our P-51 Mustang tail gear, is a very simple, but rigid construction, still very light weight in order to balance the plane easily. It retracts towards the back. A pneumatic cylinder is readily installed, a steering arm for a pull/pull system with neutralizing spring makes installation easy. 

 A strong tail wheel is available to complement this tail gear.

This scale wheel with aluminum hub will carry the weight on the tail of our P-47 Thunderbolt easily. The aluminum hub fits the axle perfectly and the rubber is strong so that it doesn’t collapse from the significant weight the heavy warbird puts on the tail gear.

Since 1964 the "National Championship Air Races" have been called the "Worlds Fastest Motor Sport" and one of the last venues where this could be organized was the city Reno in Nevada, USA. Soon the event became known and "Reno Air Races". The most exciting class today is the "Unlimited" class, where heavily modified WW2 Figher Planes run for a trophy. Historic names like "Dago Red', "Miss America", Strega" "Voodoo", and "Galloping Ghost" have all one in common: They base on the P-51 Mustang, the greatest Fighter Plane of All Times!!!

CARF-Models' P-51 Mustang has been around for many years and has proven its sturdiness, reliability and performance. So it was a natural consequence that one day we would look into building a true Reno Racer based on our proven P-51 airframe.

The STREGA is one of the most famous Reno Racers of all times. It is actively racing since the early 80s, rebuilt in 1999 it became the "Strega" we know today. This attractive white, red and blue color scheme with all the decals (various versions included in the kit) has always fascinated the model airplane enthusiasts. 

The STREGA has a completely new fuselage, with a removable canopy frame, the narrow and slim radiator under the wing and the extended wing fillets as seen on the photos. It fits all accessories of the regular P-51 Mustang and it has also the modified engine bay to accept the big Kolm 230 engine, besides lots of other choices, such as a DA-100 inline twin or similar. Prefabrication is as high as with our Galloping Ghost.

The CARF-Models AT-6 “Texan” has conquered the hearts of our fellow modellers and customers right when we published the first photos of the plug on Facebook. Their reactions have confirmed that our approach of a "total scale AT-6" was a wise choice. 

A Giant Scale, All Composite WWII Fighter Without Compromise.

There are two versions of the P-47 Thunderbolt out there, both very popular. One is the bubble canopy version, which had been created in the later days of the 2nd World War, so that the pilot had a better all-around view. But the real, characteristic Thunderbolt, built by the thousands, seen all over Europe during the war, was the so called “Razorback”. In homage to this historic aircraft, CARF Models has reproduced the P-47D “Razorback".

Basically, we have started out with a thorough research and a precise CAD design, bringing several drawings and plenty of photos into one authentic creation of lines and shapes. We sized it all around the Moki 250 radial engine, always keeping in mind to stay safely below 25 kg flying weight. This resulted in a wingspan of 280 cm, respectively a scale of 1: 4.5, and an overall weight of 22-24 kg, depending on the equipment used and the detail added.

Initially, due to the complexity of the aircraft and the experience with our F4U-1D Corsair, we will offer our P-47 as an ARF plane only. All parts are composite, with silver surface and panel lines and rivets molded in.

Basically, all composite parts are prefabricated to the highest possible level. It’s only left for you to install servos and linkages to the already installed control horns, and bolt on your engine. Lets show you through the contents of the ARF version, which will take your breath away.

A scale landing gear with pneumatic extending main struts, compression link for shortening during retraction, and a steerable scale tail gear is available as well as the almost scale sized, absolutely impressive 4 blade prop with our alu hub and 30” carbon blades.

A Giant Scale, All Composite WWII Fighter Without Compromise.

After introduction of the Razorback version of our P-47 Thunderbolt, we successfully produced and sold an impressive number of highly prefabricated "Razorbacks". However, the demand for a "Bubble Top" never silenced. So, we looked at the amount of modifications required to convert the Razorback into a Bubble Top.

CARF Models has then built all new plugs of fuselage, canopy, canopy frame and dorsal fin, matching the full scale outline 100%. The dorsal fin is a separate part, so that you can produce both the earlier and the later versions of this version of the airplane. Vertical fin, stab, elevator and wings have been take over from the good old Razorback. All internal construction and equipment installation was directly copied into the new Bubble Top.

The ARF version of our folding wing Corsair is in our opinion the way to go. Extreme value is added for affordable extra cost. A very complex plane with folding mechanics readily installed. All required hardware is included. On top of the usual kit prefabrication so much more is already done for you:

- all flaps with their offset hinges are readily installed.

- all control horns are installed

- cowling is factory installed

- stab is completely installed

- landing gear installation is prepared up to simply bolting the gear in place

- gear doors are all hinged

- tail gear former and servo mounts are installed

- folding mechanics and hinges are readily installed

For you left to finish are mainly installation jobs, such as:

- one glue joint fin attachment (not glued on for packing and shipping reasons)

- linkage, servo and other RC installation

- engine installation

- retract installation and final gear door cylinder installation

- wing fold hydraulic installation and plumbing

- canopy and cockpit installation

- final scale detailing and painting

All parts are detailed, silver painted composite components, light weight and not only “prefabricated” but really ARF’ed. Why bother with hundreds of building hours if you can get around it for as little upcharge as it is? A detailed instruction manual not only guides you through the remaining build, shows you how much work you’ve saved...

Note: You need to order the hydraulic pump&valve set (Item No. 790400) separately to operate the folding wings!