ckovacs

I recently bought an old Big Stick 60 kit and I'm wondering if any of you have any suggestions for modding it to be more like an ultra stick? I'd like to change the tail feathers and add flaps. I suspect both of these things aren't that big of a deal however I thought it a good idea to ask before I go cutting my wing ribs to add servo mounts. I'd like to get away form the center mounted combo servo for the alerons as well. I've seen a suggestion about modding a pt40 wing for flaps which was pretty good but I'd like to actually have 4 servos in the wing , one for each surface. The ultimate goal is to use this bird to "train" for future warbids etc. So I guess what I need to know is..

1. If I do this can I simply compensate for the weight change in the balancing as per the original plan?
2. Is it a good idea to put NO dihedral in the wing, or put some in as most warbirds seem to have?
3. With a change in dihedral, what do I do about washout? Do I need any if I am going to train for warbird flight?
4. Is it just plane crazy to consider glassing the wing, or using fabric to cover it just to do it and get some practice?

I know it is probably more work than it's worth but I just can't seem to enjoy the thought of flying something I didn't build and the only sticks I've seen are arfs. Even if it crashes and splinters, I'll have learned something along the way.

How many of you actually use there sticks as lab rats?

Thanks

Corey

waagbuck

My Feedback: (1)

Never heard of anybody using a stick to train for warbirds, but I like sticks. If you're going to try it, there are two changes I suggest. Definitely convert the plane to a taildragger. You could also try inverting the fuse and making it a low-wing airplane.

The recommended CG is tied to the wing rather than the overall plane, so any addition of weight in one place should be offset by other changes so that the balance point remains the same.

I've seen sticks with and without dihedral. Seems like more trouble than its worth to me to take it out. Just build the wing stock.

As far as glassing the wing, I wouldn't do that either. You would have to sheet the whole wing first anyway. Seems like you're just adding unnecessary weight.

ckovacs

I guess I should have been more clear. I'm not using it because it has "Warbird" like characteristics, rather it will be much harder to fly than my PT40 kit I've seen sticks converted to low wingers before. Is there anything special I'd need to do? Thanks again for the tips.

Corey

OzMo

My Feedback: (3)

ahhh sticks in the wind! bigger control surfaces might be fun and ANYTHING to keep it LIGHT will make any plane fly better. as for low wings its easy... remove vertical fin, invert plane, install vertical fin on new up side. really! because a stick has 0 degrees incidence on all surfaces this is possible, even the fire wall is 90 degrees to the flat side of the fuse. there was a "sweet and low" stick kit once upon a time and all it was was a turned over fuse. all of 'em fly good thats why we still have 'em! i picked up a 60 arf crashed and a nother wing from anothe crash and built a biplane....also not new 'cause midwest used to sell a kit called a "das bipe stick" plans can be had if you check around no other plane could be easier to scratch build than a stick and they come in all sizes. keep yours simple and lite and have fun.[8D]