brianrfike

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Hey everybody, I'll be starting a 1/3 scale Andy Sheber Pitts S2A. I've ordered the plans already and decided to go look for some goodies for it today and what do you know, an engine surfaces! I know I said its a S2A but with the size of the Brison 4.8 twin I bought for $400, it might end up closer to a S2B. Well anyway, I'm open to any and all ideas and criticisms, it will just help me to produce a fantastic scale airplane. I'll be posting pictures along the way, like this one...

Thanks in advance for all of your ideas and help

Brian

heggen

Brian, you might have seen the thread for the Pitts S1S in this RC Scale Aircraft forum. There wayne d shows pictures of a Pitts S2 he is building. I have a post in the Pitts S1 forum describing my Pitts S2 which is a restoration of one of two built back in the late 1970's. The Pitts S2 was promoted in an RC Scale Modeler magazine article back then and was reported to have a Quadra 35 for power. I am not sure how it got off the ground or even stayed in the air very long. I powered mine with an 80 cc converted Olympic chain saw engine. Big engines were not commercially available back then. The airplane flew well but it was heavy at around 35 pounds due to the heavy engine and a lot of dress lining for covering and heavy epoxy paint. Having reclaimed one of the Pitts S2's I helped build back in the 70's, I will be doing weight reduction program on it and will be powering it with a DLE 111. As I recall, it flew "heavy". That I am sure was because the servo on elevator was marginal in power for such a huge, heavy airplane. With new digital servos, and engine power to spare, I am sure it will be a much better airplane under 30 pounds. I will get the airplane parts together and take some pictures for posting. Would enjoy following your building effort and I will do what I can to contribute in pictures and text. Maybe we can get wayne d to join us in this thread.

brianrfike

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Hey heggen, bring all the pics you've got. I'd really like to see what you have. Yes I did see wayne d's s2 pictures and was disappointed when I didn't see anymore. I really haven't figured out coverings, and paint. What I do know is I'm going to try and avoid weight without sacrificing scale. I'm stuck in the mud until I receive the plans in the mail. DLE 111!?!? I thought I might be overdoing it with the 80cc! I'm thinking about doing this paint scheme, I got to go fly it with the owner and have access to as many pics as I need

frequent flyer

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Is that a S2B?

brianrfike

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Yes frequent flyer it's a 20' s2b

heggen

Brian, your choice of paint scheme is interesting as I have chosen one that is similar but somewhat opposite as you can see in the photo. It appears to be a simple but striking paint scheme that shouldn't take to much time to mask and paint.
Your 80cc engine should be fine as long as you build it light. My S2 30 years ago had an 8+ pound 80cc converted Olympic chain saw engine for power. It turned a 24-10 prop at about 6300 rpm. I think today's 80cc engines can do better than that. At 35+ pounds, my S2 was limited to one roll straight up and then it ws time to level off.
To hopefully get mine down below 30 pounds, I will pare away some of the heavy plywood and heavy spruce stringers, cover with Sig Koverall and paint with latex. Also the DLE 111 is about 3 pounds lighter than the chain saw engine. Lead balance weight in the tail can be removed.
I will take some pictures this weekend of my S2. All the fabric has been removed and I am in the process of cleaning up the covering remanants from the wings and fuse. With that finished I will install radio and pushrods, engine, fuel, and smoke equipment. Then I will remove all the equipment and cover and paint it. I hope to be in the air this summer as long as the things of life don't get in the way.
I will keep you up to date on my progress. I trust you, and others, will do the same.

brianrfike

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I was thinking, I should make my templates out of plexiglass. It would last forever and I could use a router over and over on them without any denting...plans arrive Thursday... Built a test stand for the Brison, hooked up the ignition (CH HD) then tried to attach the fuel tubing...it's too small! Oh well, I'll just have to wait until I get home Monday

heggen

I found the Giant R/C Scale Models magazine from 1978 that had the Pitts S2A article in it. I enlisted the skills of my wife to scan the pages of the article for you all to read. A great big thanks was given to her for doing that.
I recall being awestruck, fascinated, and taken by the airplane in this article over 32 years ago and knew that I would have to build it. To this day I feel the same about it and therefore have taken on the project of restoring one of the two built at that time.
In 1978, I had started to build a 1/4 scale Scholls Chipmunk and intended to power it with my Quadra 35. However, realizing how big and heavy the Chipmunk would be, I abandoned the project for lack of sufficient power to make it fly realisitically. Then I learned that my friend Chris also wanted to build an S2. Along came the answer to our power problem, another friend Fred Wallman of Annco servo fame and machinist, who determined that an 80cc Olympic chainsaw engine could be converted to power the airplanes. Chris, his father-in-law Jim, and I bought into a deal for Fred to convert three engines. Jim put his in a scratch built 8 foot Hellcat, and Chris and I built our Pitts S2A's around the Olympics. Chris volunteered to build the fuselages and I did the wings. Finished, Chris's S2 was finished in the black, green, and, cream color scheme shown on the first page of the accompanying scanned article. Mine was finished in the red, white, and blue color scheme shown on the second page. Both S2's weighed in at over 35 pounds dry. Though they were impressive in the air, mine with a smoke system, they were not high performance machines. But, they did draw a lot of attention. This weekend I will take some pictures of my S2, which is formerly Chris's, and get them posted for viewing.
I will have to show magazine article on seperate posts as the file is too large.
Enjoy!

heggen

Having trouble sending the article. Working on a solution.

brianrfike

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Make it snappy! I need some pics!

heggen

The problem appears to be the scanned article is PDF and I need to convert it to JPG. Working on it.
I will get you pics of my model in the morning to relieve some of your stress. I know the feeling.

heggen

Time for some pics. This is my 32+ year old S2A in the process restoration. Let me know if you want specific detail shots.

brianrfike

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I got something from these pic that I didn't expect. Knowing how much it weighed and looking at it now I can judge what mine will weigh. What material is the black stuff?

heggen

The black stuff is paint. This model was built and flying in the early 1980's and is now is in restoration. There is a lot of upgrading to do to reduce its weight as a lot of the thick, heavy plywood for formers and heavy spruce for longerons and stringers were overkill. The fuselage with no landing gear as shown weighs 9 1/2 pounds. Thankfully, the wings together weigh only about 4 pounds and are built according to plan. I don't have the plans in front of me but I think the firewall was 1/2" ply. I would laminate two 1/4 pieces if I were to do it again with the one on the backside lightened by removing material where it isn't necessary. Make fuse formers out of light ply. I will be removing unnecessary parts and replacing necessary heavy parts with lighter ones. The interplane struts made of aircraft plywood weigh 8 oz together. They will be replaced with new ones made of light ply and balsa. The heavy longerons and stringers will be whittled down to about 1/3 their mass in weight but will keep their external dimension. I am hoping to stay around 28 pounds dry, down from 35+ pounds. I'm sure it will fly a lot better with lighter weight and more power. The DLE puts out 55 pounds of static thrust so it should be an excellent perfomer in the vertical. A lighter covering material and finish will also help shed some weight.
Let me know if I can answer any questions.
Also, I am still wanting to get the interesting magazine article on the S2 on this thread. If anyone can give advice as to how to scan and post the article properly, it would be welcomed.

brianrfike

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Received my plans yesterday and have started the materials list...lots of study going into this one

heggen

Good luck with your build. I am anxious to see your progress.
I hope to start again on mine in a couple of weeks.

Billy J

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heggen is correct my S-2 came in at 32 lbs with a G62 and super coverite with 2 coats of dope/ primer/ 2 coats of perfect paint and crylon for strips! Good luck cant wait to see your build!

brianrfike

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Now things are getting real, all this wood for $138.00 from lonestar balsa. Good quality stuff

brianrfike

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I'm cutting 5/8" particle board to form the laminations on the empennage. I ordered 2 sets of plans just so I could cut one up for the forms and still have one set fully intact. I bought this glue to stick the paper, and it's awesome basically sticky note glue in a can. Hardly stinks at all and does a fantastic job, you can peel the paper off and just lay it back down if you need too

heggen

Billy J, thanks for the pictures of your S2. Have you flown it yet, and if so, how well did it fly - good points and bad? Was the G62 enough power and what prop do you use. Smoke system? I would enjoy your input.

Billy J

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it flew hands off ! with no lead in the tail , so balance came out perfect . I did use giant scale Futaba servos with carbon fiber push rods on elevator / I went with the G 62 cause I didnt want to cut the cowl . I ran a 21-10 Mezlik prop for the best performance / which gave it a bout a 200 ft vertical before stalling . I believe most people were running 3w 70 twins for better power/ vertical. If you go with a 100cc I dont think a DLE will fit mabey a BME 100 will .. I used a Bob Divley canopy for 2 place. I just finished a 38% Eagle with 3W100 which is a little bigger/ cowl bigger and more fat ! Perfect match with monakote withno tail weight needed , that being said your twin should be a nice match for scale flying ! When I flew in the fullscale Pitts S-2 it did not have a full vertical anyway. Good Luck!

brianrfike

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Here we go... Yeah I forgot to put the wax paper down. The plans for the stab were not accurate from center to both sides. I picked the best side of the form and used that side to trace another pattern that is the same from center.

heggen

Glad to see the start of ypur Pitts project. I see my Pitts sitting in the corner of the workshop begging for attention while I finish up other projects. I will be back to it soon and give updates of progress.
I am eager to see your progress.
Build strong - build light.

brianrfike

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After fixing the symmetry problem with the stab, I realized I need to redraw the plans too work from. Couple of beers, lots of patience, and 3 hours later...

brianrfike

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Building the stab and elevators. Basswood and hard balsa