RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF

RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF
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RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF - 8/2/2006 3:05:29 PM

mikerc

Posts: 721
Joined: 1/23/2002
From: Eagle, WI, USA
Status: offline

Here are a couple of pictures of mine. I must say it is a pleasure to fly. I have only had 2 flights with it but am looking for a cool day to fly it more. It has a Siato 125. Power is perfect for scale flying and a little more. I will be putting a smoke system on it this winter.

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(in reply to David B)

Post #: 101

RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF - 8/4/2006 6:17:17 AM

David B

Posts: 63
Joined: 2/23/2002
From: Warren, NJ, USA
Status: offline

Fly4Real,

What did you use for flying wires? I like them better than the standard black cord.

David B

(in reply to David B)

Post #: 102

RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF - 8/6/2006 4:19:39 AM

bdreed

Posts: 62
Joined: 7/7/2003
From: Galveston, IN, USA
Status: offline

Hello -

I've been working on my PT-17 for a couple evenings and had trouble with the cabanes fitting properly. My struts were labled incorrectly as some other have mentioned. VERY FRUSTRATING !!!!!!!!!! I like the plane and it seems to be well designed but the little things that are not mentioned in the manual or are labled incorrectly etc. really get under my skin. I'm a flyer, not a builder. I hope Great Planes will take into consideration that most people who buy their ARF's are not kit builders and will improve their manual and quality control of their little arrow sticker placement.

Now off the soapbox and on to my question. The tires that came with my plane seem a little hard. I fly from both grass and pavement. Will some Dubro low bounce tires work better than the ones that come with the plane?

Brian

(in reply to David B)

Post #: 103

RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF - 8/6/2006 3:56:30 PM

Hellcat716

Posts: 864
Joined: 9/10/2003
From: Las Vegas, NV, USA
Status: offline

I used the Robart 4" wheels.

(in reply to bdreed)

Post #: 104

RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF - 8/6/2006 6:42:53 PM

ElectRick

Posts: 474
Joined: 8/31/2002
From: Jacksonville, FL, USA
Status: offline

To make sure you have the cabanes mounted correctly, you first have to make sure the interplane struts are right. There is a right and wrong way for them to go on. The longer parallel leg of the two goes to the rear. If the interplanes are mounted correctly and the lower wing is bolted on right, the cabanes should line up very nicely. If not, you have something wrong.

I used Dubro 5" treaded 'lite' wheels (Dubro # 500TL) on my PT-17. They are certainly softer than the GP wheels. They are as close to the correct scale size as there is out there in a commercially produced wheel. Nothing is exactly right, since the plane is designed to an odd scale, i.e. 5.33:1. There are two styles in this size from Dubro--a foam filled tire and an inflatable one (Dubro # 500TV). I went with the foam filled tire.

Be aware that larger wheels will make the plane sit taller at the front. It's no biggie if you aren't bothered by it altering the (more or less) scale angle the fuse sits at on the deck. The custom gear I had made for mine took this into account and allowed for it.

Rick

< Message edited by ElectRick -- 8/6/2006 6:53:42 PM >

(in reply to Hellcat716)

Post #: 105

RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF - 8/8/2006 3:10:31 AM

Nerevar

Posts: 260
Joined: 6/2/2005
From: *, USA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: ghostrider168

Ramon,

I like what you had done with the fly wire. Best looking set up by far. What did you use and can you post some close-up pictures.

Thanks,

Gary

Hello Gary,

I just found your post. Sorry to be so late. I hope this will still help you.

For the flying wires I used elastic thread bought from Hobby Lobby craft store - NOT the Hobby Lobby RC store.

It is "Create-A-Craft" brand name. There is 10 yds on this one card - so one card was all that was needed. It is about the diameter of 'kite-cord', or, slightly bigger than 1/2A Control Line String - If you are familiar with that. The number at the top left on the card is 90501-00. The color name on the back of the card is "Silver/Arcent". Imported by Sulyn Industries, 11927 W. Sample Rd. Coral Springs, FL 33065.

I decided to use Silver because I thought it 'looked' more like the real thing than black. However, I found out that the Silver doesn't 'stand-out' like the black does on a Tiger Moth I have. The Silver tends to 'disappear' to some degree.

Anyway - I am needing to replace the rigging because our Himalayan cat decided to use the prier rigging as "dental floss"

- which tore out what was on there. Now I am trying to decide whether to go back with the same Elastic Thread, or a bigger diameter of Silver Elastic Thread, or possibly a Black Elastic Thread. What's your opinion?

I hope this is some help to you.

Ramon

(in reply to ghostrider168)

Post #: 106

RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF - 8/8/2006 4:27:28 PM

David B

Posts: 63
Joined: 2/23/2002
From: Warren, NJ, USA
Status: offline

Ramon,

In my opinion the silver thread looks better than the black; I think it resembles a the full scale flying wires a little better as well. To me the black looks a little too pronounced. I think it's a "less is more" case. If you want them to stand out a little more I'd go with a larger diameter chord. Just my opinion, it looks great either way.

David B

(in reply to Nerevar)

Post #: 107

RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF - 8/9/2006 12:46:10 AM

Nerevar

Posts: 260
Joined: 6/2/2005
From: *, USA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: David B

Ramon,

In my opinion the silver thread looks better than the black; I think it resembles a the full scale flying wires a little better as well. To me the black looks a little too pronounced. I think it's a "less is more" case. If you want them to stand out a little more I'd go with a larger diameter chord. Just my opinion, it looks great either way.

David B

Thanks David. That's about the way I see it too.

I have some of the larger diameter silver and maybe that would look better for the cabane cross braceing, with the smaller diameter again as flying wires.

Ramon

(in reply to David B)

Post #: 108

RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF - 8/10/2006 10:17:13 PM

Nerevar

Posts: 260
Joined: 6/2/2005
From: *, USA
Status: offline

quote:

...... It is "Create-A-Craft" brand name. There is 10 yds on this one card - so one card was all that was needed. It is about the diameter of 'kite-cord', or, slightly bigger than 1/2A Control Line String - If you are familiar with that. The number at the top left on the card is 90501-00. The color name on the back of the card is "Silver/Arcent". Imported by Sulyn Industries, 11927 W. Sample Rd. Coral Springs, FL 33065. .....

My wife found this at our Wal-Mart too, just yesterday. So, if you have a Wal-Mart close to you, you might find it there.

(in reply to Nerevar)

Post #: 109

RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF - 9/4/2006 11:37:00 PM

Nerevar

Posts: 260
Joined: 6/2/2005
From: *, USA
Status: offline

I thought some of you might like a flight report on this Plane.

Sorry - no pictures. No camera was available and to be truthful, it wasn't even thought about until after we were packed up and headed home.

Today was the long, long awaited maiden flight for my Stearman. My impression of this plane is ALL POSITIVE! Absolutely nothing to complain about. It flys easier than anything else I have at this time. The only thing I could think of to compare it's flying characteristics to would be something like the Sig Kadets, but I haven't flown one of those in many years.

The first flight started from what was to be a taxi down the field to get the feel of the ground handling - and it wasn't even a 'fast' taxi. The tail popped right up and in about 5 to 10 feet, it was in the air - at less than half throttle. I went to full throttle, which I found wasn't needed, so I came back down to about 1/3rd to 1/2 throttle for the rest of the flight. The plane is VERY GENTLE in the air, as one said - a puddycat (the profanity filter wouldn't allow the other word). It is one sweet, sweet flying plane. And I have to also echo something else that has already been said - Great Planes sure got it right on this one!

The 2nd flight I tried a few loops to see about the power. Yes, the engine is still new, but I had to try it anyway.

(you know how it is). The answer is, the vertical was much better than I thought I would have, given a new Saito 120, which many on RCU have given a bad name. It performed flawlessly for me today, and had more than enough power. I have an APC 17x6 prop on it turning about 9,000, according to the tach. It should do even better after a few tanks of fuel - or so I have been told. One interesting thing - on the down side of the loops, when you pull the power off to idle - you could hear the sound of the wind through the flying wires. Very nice endeed.

So - To anyone that's considering this plane - it's a great plane from Great Planes (couldn't resist)

OH yea - there is one problem - I had to get a friend that has a trailer to transport it to the field and back for me (the main reason it wasn't flown until now). That limits how often and when I will get to fly it again. If I had that trailer, I would be back out there tomorrow, and the next day, and the next ..... well you get the idea.

It's a wonderful plane - I just wish it was a 60 size so I could transport it and fly it more often.

Ramon

< Message edited by Ramon081850 -- 9/4/2006 11:45:00 PM >

(in reply to Nerevar)

Post #: 110

RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF - 9/9/2006 11:27:15 PM

Xairflyer

Posts: 287
Joined: 12/17/2002
From: Co. Donegal, IRELAND
Status: offline

What is the recomended CG position like ? always found to have to play with CG on some brands of ARTF's

Also is the wing incedence pre set buy the cabanes

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(in reply to Nerevar)

Post #: 111

RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF - 9/11/2006 12:44:14 PM

Nerevar

Posts: 260
Joined: 6/2/2005
From: *, USA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Xairflyer

What is the recomended CG position like ? always found to have to play with CG on some brands of ARTF's

Balanced at the recommended point, mine flew great. Nice and smooth. Not 'twitchy' at all, as one would be that is tail heavy.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Xairflyer
Also is the wing incedence pre set buy the cabanes

If I understand what you're asking, - yes.

I just followed the instructions, and it turned out fine.
It did require some 'down' trim in the elevator to stop it from climbing at less that half throttle.

Ramon

(in reply to Xairflyer)

Post #: 112

RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF - 9/13/2006 6:04:00 PM

Xairflyer

Posts: 287
Joined: 12/17/2002
From: Co. Donegal, IRELAND
Status: offline

I am picking up mine on friday, I want to also redo the colour scheme, to the more familular all blue fuselage.

What have you guys found the best paint to use on monokote ? Dont really fancy re covering.

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(in reply to Nerevar)

Post #: 113

RE: Great Planes PT- 17 Stearman ARF - 9/14/2006 1:39:26 PM

Nerevar

Posts: 260
Joined: 6/2/2005
From: *, USA
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: Xairflyer

I am picking up mine on friday, I want to also redo the colour scheme, to the more familular all blue fuselage.

What have you guys found the best paint to use on monokote ? Dont really fancy re covering.

I haven't ever painted Monokote, but have painted SolarTex - which is another heat shrink covering. SolarTex is a woven, fabric-look, material, made in England (if memory serves me correctly). So, the weave gave it an ideal surface for paint to bound to. With that said - I suppose Monokote could be sanded to roughen the surface for paint to adhere to.

A polyurethane base paint worked well for what I did. However, be advised that polyurethane is H E A V Y, and the Stearman is big, so that equates to a significant weight gain for your plane.

Like I said, I haven't tried it But if I were going to do this, I'd try this first (in the color of your choice) - Top Flite Lustrekote .

It's made by Top Flite, the same company that makes Monokote. And in the 'features' section, it says; ".... Use on balsa, plywood, fiberglass, aluminum, ABS plastic, and MonoKote-covered surfaces .....". - and also; "Get a tough, lightweight, fuel proof finish--easily!". (I added the bold and underline)

Be sure to read all the info, including the 'comments' section, for any incompatibilities.

Remember - this is JUST what I would do. Again, I haven't tried it myself.

I hope that what ever you decide to do, that it works out well for you. The PT-17 is a fantastic plane and a really great flyer! Enjoy it!

Ramon

(in reply to Xairflyer)