Calling all Stearman flyers on G26, pls share what prop you using and how the nos like.

I'm currently on APC 17x8 about 8250 rpm. Should be higher as I have about 4-5 hours of fly time now. I have APC 18x6W and 18x8, and wondering if its better to use instead of 17x8.

I have a Master Airscrew 18x6 Classic on my G26 and I am getting about 7,800 rpm on the top end. It pulls it around very nice!

GOSH , I'm not a smart man....but I assembled my Stearman following the instructions and it flys great....... Just maybe GP knows what they are talking about..... In my opinion, when you deviate from the plan you are going into the unknown... then it is up to you to deal with the results.....

Same set up, and it flys great... No problems on take off or landing.....

Did you use connecting rods on the ailerons, and if so, what are the measurements, because if you use the instructions, they don't work. I used the measurements suggested on Post #161, and got closer to the proper throws.
An easy way to balance this model. Drill a small hole at the CG through the top wing at the center. Thread a length of fishing line heavy enough to take the weight of the plane through the hole and through a small plate ( Drill a small hole in the center of a piece of 1/8"X1"x1"plywood ) and tie the line to something such as a piece of 1/8"x1"dowel to keep the line from pulling through the plate. Suspend the model from something capable of holding the model. You are now able to balance it every which way you like.
After I was done, I put a small screw in the holes and dabbed some whiteout on the screws.

At my flying field I use the blacktop runway which is much harder to take off and land than grass. I put Dubro inflatable tires on without any air in them plus toed them in a bit which helped. This plane needs to be flown in when landing on blacktop. If you read some of the threads concerning this plane you will see many people are having problems with the landing gear coating splitting because of bouncing around when landing, the dubro inflatables help. This biplane loses speed quick when landing and will stall, bring it in with 2 or 3 clicks of power she is not a floater. Another thing that will help your take offs and landings is do touch and goes and learn to USE THAT RUDDER as you power her back up to shoot down the runway. I put the travel on the rudder much further than suggested and the expo very quick to keep up with her when she is on the ground. Hope this helps, Phil

I'm flying mine with a G-23 on it--does just fine. A G-26 would be okay also. No need for a G-38---why too much engine. I used the G-23 because I hate to add useless wieght to balance like you'd have to do with a Saito 120 or 150. Another one around here uses the G-26.
Just remember to keep your airspeed up on final. They do have lots of drag and will slow down quickly and then your in trouble.
I won a trophy for best ARF at one of the IMAA fly ins this summer. Spend a little time and add the wing wires and a few engine deatils like the ignition wires. Makes the thing come alive.

Also note the article about the new control horn location in R/C Report.

mic on the prairie.

Hi Mike,where is rc report,about the control horn loc.
thanks Fred

I am thinking about getting this plane, I have an OS120 FS, OS 1.08 2 STROKE or an Evolution 35GT. How would any of these motors be inside?


R/C Foolish

Can anyone compare how the GP Super Stearman flies in comparison to the GP Giant Aeromaster? Is one that much more aerobatic than the other? Thanks!

My Stearman is ready for it's maiden tomorrow, set up with a Saito 150, JR 125 MG Sport servos with the top ailerons slaved from the bottom. Balanced fine without any added lead but I put the box on just in case I wanted to adjust CG later. I might put the battery up in the box. A friend of mine has the Aeromaster with the OS 300 4 cylinder. Plane flies great but really can not compare until later.

R/C Foolish

I lost a prop due to a backfire last week. I think the OS 120 was too lean. The wings were busted up on a hasty dead stick landing but that was about all. Both top and bottom wing are back ordered from Tower. They may be here sometime in November. I doubt that it will fly before the end of the season.

A gas engine is absolutely going to be installed. I'm thinking about a Fuji 32b ei. It's about 3.5 lbs. and will balance the plane with out needing "Dumb Weight". This may be too much power and I have read that there were problems with the case cracking. Hopefully this issue has been corrected.

I'm about finished with a Wild Stick 120. I bough this plane to run with the OS 120 that will no longer be in the Stearman and, as a test platform for the home-lite conversions that I have been working on. If all goes well I may end up putting a home-lite in the Stearman.

I'll keep you posted.

Have you considered a BCMA 26cc? I'm thinking about going that route with mine after putting it in with a Magnum 120 in it. http://www.bcmaengines.com/BCMA26.htm

Wow!!!!! Had my maiden flight today, with the Saito 150 it flies great. A little down and left trim she flew straight and level. I ended up using an 18x6 prop with good response. Maybe when my motor is broken in I might change. Has anybody had any ground handling problems? Mine likes to go left if I roll out slow but tracks straight if I give it more power. Probably will have to mix in rudder with the throttle. Loops, inside and out, rolls, inverted handle nicely. Plus this plane looks fantastic in the air and got a lot of good comments from other members at the field. GP has put together a fine ARF that looks and flies great.

R/C Foolish

R/C Foolish

Congratulations on your maiden... and enjoy many more flights . This is one of my favorite planes to fly. It was the only one I would bring to the field from early spring to last week when I lost a prop. I experimented with the CG, installed a smoke unit and flew in different weather conditions.

When the plane was set up nose heavy it would track down the runway with little rudder input. Almost point and go. It would bounce every once in a while if I did not pay attention on landing. In the air it was smooth and scale with some acrobatic ability.

After installing smoke and moving the CG back by 3/8", the plane was far more acrobatic. It seemed like it landed better... no bounce and effortless. Takeoffs were like flying a Piper Cub... I needed to slowly throttle up and steer it down the length of the runway before pulling up. Very scale but I know the plane could be in the air in less than 30 feet if I pushed it. It took a little time to adjust to that. If I forgot the plane would remind me by fishtailing across the runway before lifting off. It would attract a lot of attention from people in the pits, enough to shame me into doing it correctly. A little smoke and they would forget the sloppy take off.

Lou55, Thanks for the link. The BCMA looks like it will fit better than the Fuji and is less expensive. I'm still going to try the home-lites but if they do not perform as well as I want a BCMA will have to be ordered.

Mine is a great flyer as well, I have a G26 on it. Mine wants to pull to the left on take off when I bring the throttle up slow, so I initially bring it up slow for about the first 10 feet then go about 3/4 or more throttle and the tail lifts up nice and it tracks straight with just a little rudder input. I do have quite a bit of nose down trim though that I haven't been able to fugure out why. I'm wondering if the top wing needs a degree or so of nose down incidence.

Hey flyboy,I had a super sterman and had a 6vt batt in the nose and a g-26 and no down trim needed.It flew great til I lost it in the sun and crash it.Hoping for another for xmas.I loved that plane and the crowd at the field loved also.
Fred

Ya, not sure why it wants to climb. I have it balanced right where it shoud be. Can't remember but I think it's 5 1/2" from the leading edge of the top wing. It might even be at 5 3/8" back. It is a crowd pleaser for sure. Everyone has to stand up and watch you take off and land because it's just so cool looking!

Hey Flyboy,

Mine does the same thing. I'm set up a little tail heavy now but when it was set up nose heavy it would still float up. The wing incidence is 0 on the stab and low wing and -1 on the top wing. That's how it came out of the factory.

What I did not check is the thrust angle. I should have done it before I pulled the 120 out for replacement. Had I thought about it sooner I would have. There was a very good article in MA a few months back about the subject.

Typically I'm not one to mess with a good flying plane or the ability of a manufacturer to produce a product that is correct and safe for the general public. BUT ... there are always minor variations in production and it's just wood and glue. It's going to move with temperature and humidity. A little fine tuning on the incidence and thrust angles will probably correct a few of the issues that seem to be inherent in this plane.

There is a post in this thread that had some incidence angles that seemed to work for that plane and setup... could be a good starting point.

How heavy is your Stearman with the G26? I'm not exactly sure how heavy mine is ... I don't trust my wifes scale!

It's a little on the heavier side, if I remember right it's almost 16 lbs. I have the four servo set up on the wings and a 1650NiMh battery. Other than that, just the kill switch and extra servo for it and the 3/4" standoffs for the engine mount. I am using an Master Airscrew 18x6 classic prop and it looks and works perfect. Oh ya, I have the 4" Du-Bro air filled wheels which are a little heavy as well but seem to work really good.

Hello,
I have a Saito 100 T Twin 4 stroke. I was thinking of using on the GP Stearman any thoughts?
Thanks
Scott

I had a older Sato 90 twin. This version had duel carbs ..... 2 needle valves. From what I have been told the 100 is the same engine with a single carb. They put put the same power. This is a nice engine. I have had no problems with mine. I mounted mine on a 60 size Big Stik and it pulled it around well. As far as putting it in the Stearman goes I think it is a bad idea. Here is why.


I put a magnum 91 4c in my Stearman. It was the only spare engine I had at the time. On the maiden flight the plane got off the ground in a surprisingly short run. It flew for about 20 feet and as soon as was high enough to overcome ground effect the plane tip stalled and cart wheeled down the rest of the runway. The only thing that broke was the landing gear. That was all luck. It could have been a total loss.

The plane will probably weigh about 12 / 13 lbs complete. It's heavy!
A single 91 is a lot lighter than a twin.
I have a feeling that a single will put out more power / torque. I think it cycles faster than a twin.

I'd hate to hear that you lost a Stearman because it was under powered. I would not use less than a 120.

Best of luck

Hello,
The plane calls for 14 cc- 19 cc engine. The 100 Twin is 16.4 cc so I would think it should fly it fine
Scott

One thing I have learned over the years is not to be on the low end of the recommended range of engines. Yes, it will probably fly it but you won't have anything extra at all. I have a Saito 150 in mine and now I think I could have gone bigger. This is a big plane, don't skimp on the power.

R/C Foolish

well darn I just bought the engine I figured it would be perfect for the plane well it sure looks good I have a nice $550 paper weight hehe
Scott