Corsair question

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

Greetings,

I am finishing up a Tamiya Corsair. Can anyone tell me what the purpose of the white bars, painted on the top front of the fuse, just forward of the front windshield and sort of in the shape of a box, was for on some WWII Corsairs.

Can’t figure this one out.

Thanks,

Chuck B

2

Tape to fume seal the fuel tank

3

I agree that they are tape, however I read that it was to prevent oil leaking from the seams in the cowling and covering the canopy.

4

I think the fume seal is more likely. The tape is just forward of the cockpit right over the fuel tank, but the engine is further forward.

5

Yes, th engine is farther forward. But I’m not sure that tape could prevent fumes from leaking, bu they might prevent oil… Not sure though.

6

I also had heard it was because of leaking oil.

Here’s my corsair trivia question: Ever seen a real corsair and notice the short, triangular shaped bar on the leading edge of only one wing? Know what it’s for?

7

I think the triangular piece has something to do with the propensity to torque rather viciously on landing?

8

Thanks to all who responded to my Corsair question.

I think I agree with monktrade regarding the triangular bar at the leading edge of the wing. I would think that would have something to do with altering the airflow over the wing and affecting the stall characteristics. I do recall seeing that on other airplanes.

9

cbreeze is right, it’s a stall strip. It causes the stall to occur earlier on that part of the wing, and on the Corsair, it gets the right wing to stall about the same time as the left one, so the airplane is more controlable. Strips are often used to get the inboard wing section to stall before the outboard, so the ailerons are effective when the airplane is stalled. Cessnas do it differently, they build an intentional twist into the wing.

10

it is a small spoiler to improve the stall performance of the a/c - initialy the thing had a visious ( SP?) roll tendency. the strip cause both wings to stall at the same time and prevent the roll.

11

As to the tape question - I believe it was to prevent water ( rain) from entering and causing electrical problems - we still do it when operating helicopters ( especially Bell 212 )in tropical areas.

12

According to a photo caption on page 64 of Corsair Aces of World War 2 by Mark Styling, “The tape applied forward of the canopy was used to seal the fuselage fuel tank access panels in order to stop fumes from entering the cockpit.”

13

I also understand it was to prevent fuel leakage. It was supposed to be painted over, but wasn’t always, or the paint faded as the tape weathered, thus causing the different variations in the appearance of these “bars”. On page 53 of Ventura’s “Classic Warbirds No.6” the photo caption reads: “A Corsair being serviced on Bougainville. Note the tape applied to prevent fuel seepage through the upper cowling joints is showing through the worn camoflage paint…”