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Joined: 1/15/2003 From: Port Saint John,
FL, USA Status: offline
I found a set of plans for the "Big John" biplane, 76 3/4" wing span, length 56 1/4", .60 engine. I think it was designed by Bill Northrop. Does anyone have any experience with this model? I remember seeing some adds in the older magazines but have never seen one fly. I have an old OS Max H-80 that needs an airframe.
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Joined: 5/18/2002 From: Paris,
KY, USA Status: offline
I have a Big John that is the original one. A later version was called Big John OMT (One More Time). I think there is very little difference.
Mine has an old OS 90 four stroke and does well. It is a sport Biplane and is comfortable just flying around the patch. Slow rolls are very slow rolls and the fast rolls are the same as the slow rolls.
I don't have any pictures or I would send them.
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Dan Thompson (Long live the ACE MicroPro 8000) Visit www.groups.yahoo.com/group/mp8k for support
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Joined: 8/15/2004 From: Cary,
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Hey,
I built one and it flies great. Remember that I am an old timer (flying UC in 1952 and first RC in 1964). I don't fly 3D and probably can't. It's slow, easy to see and flys and does most pattern maneuvers if you have patience.
I had Eddie at Lazer Works cut the ribs for me. Very, very reasonable. Saved me about about a month and a bottle of Advil.
Mine plan was from Bill's plan service. He has a great list of the old stuff, a lot from the 60's and 70's.
Good Luck and please start a built tread. I wish I had.
Here are some Big John OMT shots from the construction article in the March 1967 edition of RCM. If you would like an article scan just PM me your e mail address.
Posts: 405
Joined: 1/15/2003 From: Port Saint John,
FL, USA Status: offline
quote:
ORIGINAL: RFJ
Here are some Big John OMT shots from the construction article in the March 1967 edition of RCM. If you would like an article scan just PM me your e mail address.
Ray
Yes Please, I would like a scan of the article and pictures.
Posts: 258
Joined: 9/15/2006 From: Newark, DE, USA Status: offline
Hey! I go away for a couple of days and you guys are talking about me! Yup, that's mine, allright. BJ needs to be flown, it's not one of those airplanes that you can slap the stick over in a roll and count one, two, three. It's slow, taxiing on the ground it waddles around like a duck but once you apply power, it quickly goes into its element. To do a decent roll, (usually a barrel) push the nose down to get airspeed then pull up the nose, apply aileron and rudder through the maneuver. Loops are easy, stuff the nose down for airspeed then pull up and over. In general, it flies like a full size and needs airspeed to do aerobatics. Rudder is required, and ailerons are generally useless except to initiate a roll, turn, bank, etc. Spins are easy, retard the throttle to idle, stall the airplane then input full rudder and elevator. Spin recovery happens within 1 1/2 turns. My BJ is from the MEN kit but I did a recovering job on it and added some of the details of BJ OMT. The large rudder I think really helps the airplane, but I'm not sure about the narrow rudder of OMT. The three RCM pictures are of the original OMT, the middle photo is Graham Lomax who recently passed away and one built by a fellow in Sacramento.. Graham's was powered by an Enya .60 and Monocote covered and flown with a green box Micro Avionics radio.
My BJ is powered by an OS .90 four stroke, flown with a Futaba FPT-7FGK radio (still an excellent 20 year old radio!) and covered with SIG Coverall and Randolph dope. Weighs about 10 - 12 lbs. or so. The engine is turning a Master Airscrew 16-6 which is a perfect combination. If it is a hot, humid day, I switch to a 16-4. With a 12 oz. tank, I climb to altitude at full throttle then pull it back to 1/2 and cruise around all day. After 12 minutes, I still have at least a 1/4 tank left.
BTW, I also have the smaller version, the Duster (pic #4) also designed by Bill Northrop. The flying characteristics are similar, being a 7/8ths reduction of BJ. Bill has the plans available for Big John (the first) and RCM has the plans for OMT. It takes a lumberyard to build one.
< Message edited by Michaelj2k -- 5/5/2008 12:24:47 PM >
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He's crazy Lew, he,...he builds toy airplanes! Waco Brotherhood #6
Posts: 964
Joined: 5/18/2002 From: Paris,
KY, USA Status: offline
OK, here's mine. It was built many years ago by the owner of the AMA number on the top wing. I did have to rebuild some and improvise the wing struts as I did not get them. I added the two flying wires as the wings seemed to flex more that I liked.
It is powered with the old OS 90 four stroke which is an early 80's vintage engine. Slow easy flyer but to fly it is like herding cattle. You must jump in front of it before you want to turn as it is slow to respond.
The radio receiver is the Spektrum. In addition to the DX7 transmitter, I also use a MicroStar 2000 single stick with the Spektrum RF module.
< Message edited by iflyj3 -- 5/7/2008 2:09:59 AM >
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Dan Thompson (Long live the ACE MicroPro 8000) Visit www.groups.yahoo.com/group/mp8k for support
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Joined: 9/15/2006 From: Newark, DE, USA Status: offline
quote:
ORIGINAL: Broken Wings
Boy they don't write construction articles like that anymore....What a Hoot!!! Smiles
Bill is quite the prolific writer, the construction articles he's written not only are entertaining but they provide plenty of information to build the model.
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He's crazy Lew, he,...he builds toy airplanes! Waco Brotherhood #6
Posts: 258
Joined: 9/15/2006 From: Newark, DE, USA Status: offline
Nice looking machine Dan. It looks like yours may have been built from the MEN kit also. When I rebuilt mine, I added some fuselage stringers to the sides and bottom to get away from that "boxy" look. I don't have brace wires on the wings, it seems that the "I" struts add just enough stiffness to prevent them from flexing (I hope). Regardless, I watch the speed when I point the nose down prior to reaching "pucker factor" and try to make easy recoveries from each maneuver. I'd rather fly it out than yank the stick back. Needless to say, I have plenty of altitude before trying something.
Two sayings I've heard about aerobatics at airshows: Redneck pilot: "Hey Y'all, watch this!" And the best one: "If you haven't done it before, don't do it here!" How true.
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He's crazy Lew, he,...he builds toy airplanes! Waco Brotherhood #6
Printable Version
All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> Vintage & Antique RC >> Big John Biplane 
Big John Biplane - 
Yup, that's mine, allright. BJ needs to be flown, it's not one of those airplanes that you can slap the stick over in a roll and count one, two, three. It's slow, taxiing on the ground it waddles around like a duck but once you apply power, it quickly goes into its element. To do a decent roll, (usually a barrel) push the nose down to get airspeed then pull up the nose, apply aileron and rudder through the maneuver. Loops are easy, stuff the nose down for airspeed then pull up and over. In general, it flies like a full size and needs airspeed to do aerobatics. Rudder is required, and ailerons are generally useless except to initiate a roll, turn, bank, etc. Spins are easy, retard the throttle to idle, stall the airplane then input full rudder and elevator. Spin recovery happens within 1 1/2 turns. My BJ is from the MEN kit but I did a recovering job on it and added some of the details of BJ OMT. The large rudder I think really helps the airplane, but I'm not sure about the narrow rudder of OMT. The three RCM pictures are of the original OMT, the middle photo is Graham Lomax who recently passed away and one built by a fellow in Sacramento.. Graham's was powered by an Enya .60 and Monocote covered and flown with a green box Micro Avionics radio. 
and try to make easy recoveries from each maneuver. I'd rather fly it out than yank the stick back. Needless to say, I have plenty of altitude before trying something.