mirwin

My Feedback: (1)

Do any of you fellow pilots know where I might buy a field stand, or might you have sketches, photos or plans for a home-made one?

There are special requirements for this field stand. It must:

- accomodate giant-scale planes
- hold the aircraft at about waist height
- be sturdy enough to safely hold a giant-scale plane with engine running at top RPM (large 4 strokes and gas 2 strokes)
- easily fold up, or come apart for transporting

A close friend of mine at the club is 81 yrs old, and his knees have all but failed him. I'm concerned that he'll fall into a spinning prop. plus, I'd like to do something nice for the old guy.

Thanks much,
Mike

Dan767

My Feedback: (19)

Is this what you need? http://www.rseahawks.org/Club%20Safety%20Stands.htm

mirwin

My Feedback: (1)

I had thought of building one of those; I had seen several variations. It's certainly stout enough. I was thinking of something portable, but I can't imagine anything that's portable AND stout enough for his big planes. But my friend pretty much "owns" the particular spot in the pits and nobody challenges him for that spot. So I could build this, and just leave it in place for him. That way, he wouldn't have to carry it with him. I don't think anybody would object.

Thanks for the response,
Mike

grinder-RCU

My Feedback: (1)

How about one of these it was designed by another RCU member Gregg Finnan. I can email you the plans, there in zip format.

grinder.

mirwin

My Feedback: (1)

That's a nice stand, Grinder, but I'm looking for one that will allow a giant-scale plane's engine to be started and even run up. To keep the stand steady under that sort of force, it would have to have a wide stance and probably pretty heavy, so heavy that I've just about given up on the idea of it being portable.

Thanks,
Mike

beepee

Mike,

We just built a set of six starting stands at our club. I can forward to you sketches if you will PM me with your email address. They are just what you describe: STURDY, right height for starting, weather resistant (all pressure treated 2x lumber). I expect pictures on our club's web site soon, but they have not yet made it.

Bedford

crv

My Feedback: (1)

In need of a Struday Work Bench...Any of the above still available??? Plans,Good Used, or New already Made????
Thanks Forehand.......

bbbair

A great design came from the Meroke Club in NY, there are two variants one for 20-90 sized AC and the other for 1/4 scale.

Portable... not really, there is a lot of wood here. []

Have a look;
http://www.meroke.com/sbbuildinginstructions.htm

Good Luck!

TLH101

My Feedback: (90)

It's going to be tough to come up something will safley support a Giant model for starting, and still be portable. The total mass needed to be safe, pretty much precludes potabilty, I would think.

BillyGoat

My thoughts exactly.

I’ve seen the stand Grinder is offering plans for and it was the first thing that came to mind when I read this thread. So the only suggestion I can offer would be to scale up the plans Grinder has.

Cyclic Hardover

My Feedback: (3)

PVC does wonders and you can come up with your own portable design

chashint

We have the Meroke designed stands and they are great.
Since your club does not have them see if you can get a work party together and build some.
This will be a great addition to your flying site.

GPutt33

My Feedback: (2)

This is similar to the ones talked about and shown in plans above. These are great stands. The one thing I like about this stand even better is it has a little bit longer front deck and the right side (as seen from the front in this picture) is about one 2x6 wider then most, which makes for an excellent table to put both your fuel bottles and your field box on with out worrying about room. I've seen some 1/4 scale birds on it with no problem with complete engine runups. The next set we build are even going to be a little longer in the front (6" to 10" maybe). Any of these are pretty simple to scale up to a particular height etc.

I really want to commend you for taking the time to think of the safety aspect and in helping one of your fellow club members who is getting up in age and deserves that kind of recognition and help. Many of these old timers have given so much to our sport in helping to train pilots to not only fly, but to build and fix

KW_Counter

Greg,
Do people use the PVC stand for starting or just fueling and assembly?
Thanks,
KW_Counter

GPutt33

My Feedback: (2)

KW - That little PVC stand is just something I use to haul a plane and a couple of wings around in the back of my van when I want to get there quick. Works well for holding fuselages on most planes to install the wings as well when I get to the field.

KW_Counter

Greg,
Thanks, I do similar to keep them from rolling around in my pickup.
I've considered a starting stand of 2" PVC with Trex decking.
Just in the thought stages.
I built two wooden ones from scrap lumber during a house build next door.
Can't beat that price.
Good Luck,
KW_Counter

cutaway

You don't need mass as much as you need the right geometry WRT thrust and the force vectors that will prevent tipping. A very lightweight unit with some long triangulated outriggers sticking out in front of the engines will do just fine to keep any tipping tendency minimized. The longer the outriggers, the better the tipping stability.

I'm thinking a 1" EMT conduit affair held together with 1/4" steel pins and cotter pins for quick setup/teardown. With long outriggers, a couple of concrete blocks plunked on the rear base of the thing would keep it down quite well.

ROOSTERLEW

If building something for gassers, don't forget the tendency to start backwards and plan appropriately!

beepee

Gee, I have seen many a glow engine start backwards, but never a gasser.

Bedford

Joystick TX

D