Robtck

After crashing my Four Star 40 that I had been flying for five years. My plan was to rebuild it into a bipe. After looking at a set of plans for the Sportster Bipe 40, I thought would be cool to have a Sportster Bipe 60. For this Build I started with Sportster Bipe 40 plans and Super Sportster 60 plans. I made the fuse side first. I added one inch to nose and three inches to the tail, while using the bipe 40 wing airfoil.

Robtck

A little more work done. The older sportsters used cross grain sheeting for a fuselage doubler. I've added the cross grain sheeting and installed three of the formers to the right side. The former in front of the wing saddle is 1/4 ply and the other formers are balsa.

Robtck

The fuselage is starting to go together. The basic shape fuselage goes togeher fast. Cutting out the parts took long then putting them together.

1- left side fuse has been added.
2- wing hold down mounts installed
3- Firewall glued in, all the remaining formers installed.
4- push rod tubes are installed and cross grain bottom sheet is half fininshed.

ckangaroo70

My Feedback: (51)

Looking great! I am currently building my 3rd Super Sporster 90/120, but the current one I am building from scratch. I have always wanted to build one of those .40 size Super Sportster Bipes as well, but like the Super Sportster 90/120's the little bipe kits go pretty high at auction. So if you ever get done building your bipe, and wanna tackle building the 90/120 size.....I would be happy to swap you a set of 90/120 plans for a set of SS bipe plans. Keep up the build! Looking real good, and I hope to see you get it done and fly it!

colmo-RCU

The bipe flyes as good as any super sportster, that is, as good as any plane you could ever own. The only thing is that it weighs a little more and glides a little steeper. I would love to make a 120 bipe. Hummm, I just might. Good luck and please keep posting. Ckangaroo, how long is the 120 fuse?

ckangaroo70

My Feedback: (51)

On the plans from tip of spinner to the end of rudder is around 58".


I am really looking forward to seeing a 60 size SS bipe! A 120 size would be very cool as well, but man that would be alot of wing building!LOL

Robtck

Got more work done. The bottom of the fuselage is sheeted. Landing gear blocks are installed. And the lower chin is added. I left the lower chin long until the cowl is finished.

I'm planning on a wing span of 57" and a fuselage of 54" from spinner to back of the rudder.

At this point I'm going to start building the wings. This way I can plan out the cabane struts. I don't like the wire cabanes on the 40 size. Looking for something a little more of a Pitts style cabanes struts. Right now I'm looking at a lot of different biplanes (models and full size) to see which cabanes struts I like the best.

1) Engine mount is installed along with formers 1A and 2A.
2) Former 3A installed, cockpit floor, and dash.
3) Formers 4A, 5A, 6A installed with stringers.

Robtck

Work on the bottom wing is almost done. I got a little to much into building the wing and forgot to take building pitures. Next is the top wing. It builds as a one piece wing. Should have more pictures of it.

1) Right wing panel.
2) Left and right panel together.
3) Wing interplane strut mount.
4) Wing tips installed.

Robtck

After looking at a number biplanes. I've decided to use the cabane struts from the Sig Hog bipe. Ordered two sets of cabane struts, just in case of mistakes.

For the tail I've just ordered a Super Sportster 60 tail.
Should have the parts by the time top wing is done.

Started on the top wing. Cutting and glueing the spars, trailing edge and leading edges together.

Robtck

Went back to working on the bottom wing.

1) center joint is glassed.
2) trailing edge is installed. Installed bottom wing fairing.
3) tips are compete, but need a final sanding.

Robtck

Back to working on the top wing.


1) Wing ribs install on on bottom spar.
2) Shear webbing is installed on center section is front and behind the spars.
3) Wing mounting blocks are installed on the center ribs.
4) Sheeting is installed on the bottom of the top wing.
5) Tri-stock is install on wing mounting blocks.
6) This is a picture of the cabane struts I got from Sig. They are for the Sig Hog Bipe.
7) Shear webbing has been installed on the front of the spars. Shear webbing is installed from tip to tip on the top and bottom wings.

Robtck

Here is a shot of the cabane struts clamped in place with the wings. Just has to see it together.

Robtck

The cabane struts have been installed. More work has been done. I Just need to take more pictures.

1) Cabane struts.
2) top wing needing top sheeting.

Robtck

A few more pictures of the the cabane struts and the top wing

Robtck

Work continues on the bipe. Found my first mistake. When I built the top decking I didn't have the tail parts and went off the plans. I had a 1" gap between the decking and the tail. So a small decking was added. The tail parts are for the Super Sportster 60.

1) Tail installed with the small decking added.
2) Main gear has been installed.
3) Tail wheel is installed.

ckangaroo70

My Feedback: (51)

Looking great robtck! Keep the pics a comming![8D]

Robtck

Hi ckangaroo70,
Thanks for the encouragement. Although I just hit the first major problem of this build.

Do you have any pictures of the Super Sportster 90/120s that you've built?

ckangaroo70

My Feedback: (51)

I do have some photos of both the SS 90/120's I built from kit and also some from the one I am currently scratch building.(The two I built from kit I no longer own) Here are a few various pics, but if you need something specificly off plans I can take a high rez photo. I even threw in a photo of my Giant SS ARF. I am sure it is obvious I am a fan of the Super Sportsters.LOL

Robtck

As work continues on the bipe, I hit a major setback. After mounting both wings and making the interplane struts. I realized the top wing was too far back. It was time to recheck the measurements. The top wing needed to be moved forward 1.375 inches. After thinking about it for a while, I came up with two ideas. The easy way and the hard way. The easy way would be to mount a block of balsa on top of the cabane struts to shift the wing forward. The hard way would require the use of a cutoff wheel in the beloved Dremel rotary tool. This would also raise the top wing, which I think is mounted to low on the fuselage.

1) The interplane struts.
2) Balsa block mounted on cabane struts.
3) Balsa block mounted and trimmed to fit the wing.
4) Wing in place on the balsa block. This only moves the wing 1" forward. So much for easy.

Robtck

Thanks for the pictures. They look great.
The Super Sportsters are great airplanes. Over the years I've had the 20, 40 MKll, and 60. The 60 was made into a twin and needs some rework. I still have a SS60 in the box and SS40 bipe in the box. I would like to build the SS90/120 after SS60 twin is back flying.

ckangaroo70

My Feedback: (51)

I'll bet that twin sounded sweet![8D] I have always wanted to build the 40 size SS bipe....so once you are done with your plans I am sure we can work something out to get you the set of 90/120 size plans when you are ready.

Robtck

The twin sound sweet and is very fast. It's not a slow flight airplane.
Specs for SS60 Twin
Wing span 72”
Fuse per plans
Engines OS 55AX with Master Airscrew 12x6 prop
Rudder has one inch added to leading edge
Wt is 9lbs 1oz


I already have the plans for the SS90/120 from RCM and the canopy from Great Planes. What I can do is look into making a copy for you. Let me know what you think.

ckangaroo70

My Feedback: (51)

Well thanks for the offer, but perhaps I may win the bid on a SS bipe kit one of these days. I have bid on several but they always go pretty high. I'll just have to get a bit more brave in my bidding.LOL Keep up the good work on the SS 60 bipe....I am looking forward to seeing it completed and your thoughts on how it flys.

Robtck

Today I cut out the Cabane struts. The fwd strut was cut from the top, and aft strut was cut from inside the fuse. Now it time for some carefull planning.

mjfrederick

Good call on ordering 2 sets of the struts.