Here's video of our GP Super Stearman converted to electric power:

http://media.putfile.com/RC-Big-Electric-Biplane

This flight video was with a setup that was producing 2000 watts at 55 amps. Recently after dismounting and reworking the same components I'm only getting 1,300 watts at 40 amps. Same Axi5330-18, same Jeti90, same two TP5300 mAh 5s lipos in serial driving a 21" prop. I don't know what's wrong with the new setup but I know it won't fly very well with 1,300 watts in a 17 pound AUW. I'm going back to the drawing board.

Roknhs:

Yes, it's only for the wings - the 2 Stearman wings go in horizontally and the Funtana wing goes in leading edge down.

I can leave the cabanes on and put that wing on the lower section.

That is great Ed. I like the wing rack too. I never did use the carrying handle.

Hey Ed,
i checked the CG on mine tonight and it seems I'll need a little nose weight.I also have a saito 150.I'll let you know.

Tailwheel:

Looks great ... are you going to put flying wires on?

I think so ED.I still have a few things to finish up.Still have to drill holes in the cowl for the needle valve and low speed adjustment.The pilots and the windsreens need to be glued too.I cant wait.

Tailwheel:

I picked up (8) Dubro #618 4-40 rigging couplers to use with my flying wires and some detachable links so I don't have to glue the flying wires into the fuselage permanently. I've attached a pic of a coupler and a link.

The links simply screw apart leaving one end in the fuse and allowing you to completely remove the wire for transport.

Ed,
That looks good.You'll have to show a pic ofyour bird with them installed.I was planning on doing my maiden flight today but I can't get my engine to run right.I took it off and sent it in for repair.I've never even flown this engine.I might just order a new engine so I can get this thing flying.

Tailwheel:

It's definitely frustrating when you can't get the engine to run properly. I bought my 150 used and the first thing I did was send it in to Horizon to have them check it out. All I have to do on mine now is set the CG. I've attached a pic showing it with the wires, but the picture doesn't do it justice ... looks much better in person.

My Brother has has built the PT17, and depending on the weather, we're both going to maiden these things sometime between Monday and Saturday of next week . He also has smoke on his so it should look pretty slick with the military and civilian versions in the air together.

CG

Here's a simple way to set the CG on this plane (or any bi plane).

I drilled a .046 hole completely thru the top wing on the centerline 5 1/2 inches back from the leading edge. Cut a piece of stock 8" x 1" x 1/4" and drill a .046 hole in the center. Take a piece of .046 wire about 6" long and bend a loop on one end. Insert the wire thru the top of the wing, attach the wood and attach a wheel collar to keep it from pulling out. Set the model on the ground, hook a piece of strong string thru the loop on the wire and lift. Add weight as needed. (Pic Attached)

You could also use this to balance laterally by just rotating the wood on the underside of the wing 90 degrees.

Ed

Check out page 23, post#554. If you use fishline and no wire you can get balance all ways.

Skyventures:

I saw that post before. I used the wire because it's easier to fish thru the wing.

Ed

ED,
I used a piece of wood like that but I just picked up the plane with my fingers on the wood.It worked fine.I still have to fine tune the C.G.I was at 5in with 12oz of lead in the box.I took 4oz out and will recheck it after I get my engine back.Your plane looks great.Best of luck on your maiden.Keep us posted.

P.S. Mine weighs 16lb 2 oz at this point.A bit heavy.

Tailwheel:

Mine balanced right on with no weight ... my brother did his PT17 same engine and smoke as mine and his balanced right on with no weight. If you use 5 1/2" instead of 5" for your CG you might be able to take out the remaining weight that you have in it. Is there some reason you used 5" instead of 5 1/2" ?

Ed,
I dont type very well..I'll double check the cg but I'm sure I checked it at 5 1/2 in. Did you weigh yours? Did you put your battery forward? Where is all of your smoke gear? My battery is under my receiver and

I also have a onboard glow battery .Was your plane in a level attitude when you checked your cg. I put a box under the fuse to hold the tail up a level attitude.I put a small level on top of the tail to make sure the tail was level .I pick the plane up very slow and the tires and tail lifted at the same time. How's your weather? Hope you get to fly soon.

Tailwheel:

Take a look at post #841 for a picture of my battery layout. There are actually 9 batteries there, 5 on top for the receiver and 4 underneath for the smoke system. I haven't checked the weight yet ... don't want to scare myself.

I think you'll get a more accurate read on the CG if you suspend the plane on a string instead of trying to hold it with your fingers. Mine was just very very slightly tail heavy which is fine for me.

I'm heading up north Wednesday to my Brothers place ... I'll be up there thru Sunday so hopefully we'll both get our maidens in.

I've got the Stearman all apart so I can't take a balance picture but I had an old one of my Electric Funtana 40 so you can get an idea how it should look.

Thanks ED...Best of luck.

Tailwheel:

Maidened the Stearman Saturday ... WOW factor 100%.

Got the field about 11 and put the Stearman together flying wires and everything. Nothing but unsolicited favorable comments from everyone who saw it. It is definitely an attention getter. The downside was that everyone stuck around until I maidened it. Thankfully the maiden went great. I needed about ten clicks of down and about three clicks of left and it was flying great. I could probably add a few ounces of weight up front but it really handled great as is. I have the inflatable tires and had all the air out of them, landing was a piece of cake with no bounce on a grass field. After a round of applause and a quick change of my underwear my brother maidened his.

His flight also went great. It was a nice feeling for us to both maiden new planes and go home with them both intact and not in a bag.


The only problem I had was when setting up the engine the sullivan head lock crapped out, what a piece of junk. One of our members gave me an O.S. head lock that is fantastic. The sullivan was a pain because the saito 150 plug is recessed and it's very hard to put that connector on and lock it, and even harder to remove. The O.S. head lock is 1500% better. Easy to put on and easy to remove.


All in all I REALLY like this plane.

Ed

That's awesome Ed.You can sure tell how excited you are.It's going to be a fun plane.How did your smoke work?Did you get more than one flight in? horizon should be looking at my engine this week.I've been flying my 80in cap while I wait for my engine.Nice going again.

Congratulations Ed. Enjoy, it is a sweetheart~!

Tailwheel:

Just did the one flight up there, wanted to make sure that I brought it back in one piece to fly at the other club I belong to at home.

I didn't run the smoke on the maiden because I wanted to get it trimmed out first. I figure the smoke should take the WOW factor to about 200%.

Hope you get your engine back soon. Horizon sends you a nice little summary of what they found and fixed as well as how they tested it, fuel used, settings etc.

Ed

PS: Dumb question ..... what is the capacity of the fuel tank that comes with the Stearman? The instructions don't say and I'd rather not take it apart to find out.

OldScale:

Thanks, this has rapidly become my favorite plane.

Ed

I think it's 20oz I change mine to a tettra tank because I was going to use a cline regulator and I wanted to be sure I had a tank that was made for a pressure system.Now I think of it I can check the stock tank tomorow for ya.

Hey Ed,
I maidened the Stearman today and 3 more flights after that. It only needed a little down trim.I didn't use the string method for the cg.I was a little nose heavy with 8oz of lead.That was fine for the first few flights.I took out 4 1/2 oz and the cg is right on. I hope I can take all of it out after awhile. I'm flying again tomorrow.This is going to be a fun plane.

Tailwheel:

Congratulations on the maiden ... another satisfied customer!!