Tailwheel:

Got my smoke operational today..... 47% increase in the WOW factor.

I didn't go with a special smoke muffler, just tapped a hole in the header pipe and installed an old OS needle valve. It will take a little playing around with the setting to get max effect but I was very happy with the initial results.

Ed

ED,
That's awesome.I might have to check out a smoke system.No one at our field has smoke and it would be fun to show up with it and not tell .Just take-off and on the first pass turn on the smoke and give them all a WOW factor.I flew again today and it's running great.It idle's real slow and transitions is perfect.One or two back flips and it starts right up.I have 16 flights on her and hope to get a few tomorrow.It makes great three point landings with the cg moved aft a bit.Have fun

Mike

P.S. I've been using powermaster 20/20 fuel and it seems to like it.Haven't touched the needle for two days.

Hey Ed,
This bird has become my favorite for sure.I have 20 flights on it and just love it.I use a couple of pulley's to pull it up in the corner of the garage to store. It's nice because I can leave it together and not have to take it apart all the time.Have fun and keep me posted on your flying.

Mike

Mike:

It is definitely a fun plane.

It looks like you have a cap on your truck.

I just picked up a new Ram 1500 Short Bed but have to take mine apart to transport, I just have a tonneau on mine.
Could you get it in yours if you didn't have the Cap?

Ed

PS: Get some wires on that plane and up the WOW factor another 28%.

I slide it in sideways on a sheet of plywood.The wheels are chocked and the tail just sits on a cradle.I would be a little nervous with the wind without a cap.
It does need wires and smoke.

ED and TW,
are you guys using the Dubro inflatiable tires?
if so, which ones, the treaded version or the fatties?

Summerwind:

I've got the 4" Du-Bro #400RV Smooth Big Wheels and have let the air out. Little to no bounce on a decent landing.
I'm really happy I went with these.

Our field is grass ... no pavement.

Ed

Mike:

If I had more inside height I could leave mine together .... no way I'm going to transport it with the tonneau open.

I've got the assembly down pat 20-25 minutes ... 8 screws and flying wires.

A Cap is definitely the way to go.

Ed

Summerwind,
I'm using du-bro 4in with tread with no air.I like to do 3 point landings and if it's a decent landing there's no bounce.I wish I flew off grass but we have payment.

thx for the answers guys.
i've got a set of the treaded already, will buy the RV versions too and see which works the best for me.
finally started my bird.........can't wait to get it airborne.

summerwind,
What are you going to use for power?I'm sure you will enjoy this plane a bunch.Have fun.

i'm powering with an OS 160 twin...........played with the 1.20 surpass, but after reading all the reviews, decided it would be marginal power.
i know the Saito 1.50 would be great for this bird, but after running the 1.20 (single) and the 1.60 twin, decided i like the smoothness of the twin.
bought a couple of the Keleo exhausts for the twins. nice pieces for the price.

S.W.

Is there enough room in the cowl for the 7" width of the 160 twin?

Ed

more than enough...........the 1.60 is only 7.75" across. the cowl is bigger than this.

Sounds like a slick setup, especially the smoothness of the twin.

Make sure you post some pics.

Mike:

Went out again today (windy) and my buddy took some video with my camera. After I edited out about five minutes of his feet I was able to salvage about a minutes worth of clips. Go to this link and click on the "Super Stearman Movie"

http://www.rsklogic.com/pama/memberp...zlowskied.html

Ed

ED,
You can tell it was a bit windy.I love that grass field.You'll have to do some touch and go's and get that on video.I took my cap out today and got in 10 flights.Taken the cap tomorrow and the Stearman on Sunday.

Hey Ed,
I have 30 flights on it.Only problem so far has been a loose muffler today.I'm up to 30 plus flights.a friend of mine took some video today and I'll try to post it.Have you been flying?

Mike:

I've got about 10 flights on mine so far ... weather here has really been erratic.

Still love the plane ... my only problem has been that it's a handfull on the ground taking off.

How does yours handle on take off, maybe there's somethig that I'm not doing right but I sure don't know what it could be.

Ed

You really just have to get the speed up fast for the rudder to take effect. I line mine up the runway and give it full throttle. If you try to ease it down the runway it likes to fish tail. Gun it and go.

R/C:

Thanks for the input.

I like to try and do scale looking take offs but I think I will just have to be happy to get this one going and in the air as soon as possible.

Ed

ED,
I've been flying full scale for 30 years now and I like to fly my models scale like if I can.It's not always easy to do that though.If there's no wind I can usally get a scale take off by easying it up and keeping it straight with rudder.I find I really need to stay ahead of it with small quick inputs with the rudder and letting the rudder come right back to center.If I try to hold rudder I seem to over correct.If i have a crosswind I just cobb it and go.You really need to use proper crosswind technique with ailerons held into the wind on take off and landing.I can only imagine what the crosswind componet is on this Stearman but it cant be much.As far as landings go I almost always do full stall three point and of course holding full up elevator and ailrons into the wind is a must on the landing rollout.We all have our own way but this seems to work pretty good for me.Hope this helps.

Mike

Mike:

No problems at all landing... the initial run down the runway at take off is the problem. I'm going to try R/C' advice, I'm pretty confident that will work fine.

ED,
His advice will workIf it's windy thats what I do too.I'm just into scale thats all.Have fun and let us know how it works for ya.

Mike

R/C:

Went out today and took your advice. Rather than ease the throttle on I gave it a fair amount right from the start and it tracked straight and true with little rudder required. Take off looked scale as opposed to just jumping off the ground.

Thanks for the tip.

Ed