Hello, anyone around? Thanks for all the good information. I am building my second Super Stearman, and have to echo those things you-all have said. It is a fun airplane to fly. Hope there are more posts on this thread I picked up some good tips.

Im still around. Im loving my big Stearman on gasoline. So cheap to fly...

Jim,
Since this is your second Stearman do you have any tips or recommendations from what you have learned from the first one?
Shubova
[8D]

Not really, this one is a duplicate of the first one, but the first one died when someone turned a tx (that was on my channel) on. Best flyin planes I have ever flown. I like big floaty bipes, and the Super Stearman fits that bill perfectly.

Oh, I did too... Forget about the stock tailwheel assembly, and get a nice leaf spring tailwheel assembly for it. My stock TW assy lasted about an hour on the first plane, then it broke off in a crosswind landing. The leafspring setup is a must have...

Hello,

Looking for a plane for an OS 120AX 2-stroke and thought about this one. Anyone know if it would fit in there side-mounted without cutting up the cowl?

I read back to page 25 or so and didn't find anything.

Thanks

Why would you want to put an oil slobbering nitro 2 stroke on it, when you could be flying for penny's on gasoline ? Save your money, and get a nice little gasoline engine. My SV26 cost me about $180.00 with the shipping. Nitro fuel is like $20.00 a gallon now !

I've read all 719 posts extolling the virtues of gas engines - and I appreciate the suggestion - but the 120AX is on the bench already. Plus, for the one night a week I have a chance to fly, I don't go through glow fuel that quickly, and I just paid $3.49 a gallon to fill my car up today so gas isn't much far behind. It would take 27 gallons of gas instead of glow to justify buying a new gas engine - at my rate of flying t would take just under 7 years to pay for itself. That's a long time - thanks again but I'll stick to glow.

With that in mind:

Looking for a plane for an OS 120AX 2-stroke and thought about this one. Anyone know if it would fit in there side-mounted without cutting up the cowl?

I see... I fly almost every night, and gas took my fuel cost from $80.00 a month to $20.00.

The other nice thing about gas, is that you never have to adjust the needles, you don't need a glow starter, and you don't need an electric starter anymore. Im trying to sell my smaller nitro planes now, and get away from nitro all together, im very spoiled now. lol
You'll love the big Stearman... They fly so nice, even in heavy wind, and practically land themselves. With that big nitro engine on there, it should really scream. My 26cc gas just makes mine a little over scale power, but not much really. I think I would need a 40cc to match the power you'll have with the big nitro engine, but im more of a slow scale flyer.

smarkfagen,
If you go to the Great Planes web site you will find a manual and reviews on the plane.
Here is a link http://www.greatplanes.com/index.html...do a search for Stearman...you will get all that info you need.
As far a engine I usually go by the manual and use what is recommended at the top end of the given range. To small or to large of an engine each have there problems. If you do a comparison between the engine you have and the recommended engines ...weight, RPM, torque, etc you should have a good idea if this plane fits your engine. Use the manual and you won't go wrong.
Shubova
[8D]

Thanks again for the input. I have read the manual and the engine is suitable for the plane - I had it on a goldberg sukhoi which is of similar size.

What I need to know is will it physically fit inside the Stearman cowl when side-mounted, without cutting a big hole.

Thanks,
Steve

Since the crank is centered to the tank, you'll have the same clearance for 360 degree's, and slightly more at the bottom. I'll measure it for you right now... It's maybe 4 inches from the centerline to the cowl,on the top and sides. How tall is you engine from crank to the top of the head ?

I'm sure you all have seen the 1/3 scale Stearman PT-17 on the cover of the Sept. 2007 issue of Model Aviation. If not, check it out. That's about the most beautiful plane I've ever seen. Anyone know of an ARF that looks like this? The ones shown are from a Balsa USA kit that costs about $1,300.

Great Planes has one for alot less. Same size as the SS, but the PT-17. I think it's the same price as the SS, about $359.00 ? And it's an ARF... I like to fly, not build...

Shubova,
Like everyone else I came up with my own meaurments to get the proper throw on the ailerons, I also did not have any trouble with the tail wheel wire, except I had to straighen it out occasionally. The modification I made to this one was to mount the aileron servos on their side and place them in the wing. It always bothered me to see those servo's hanging down under the wings.
I use an OS 120 FS with out pump and here in Omaha, it seems to handle the plane verry well. I did find that changing from 15 to 3O Percent Nitro made a huge difference in the power I have available on take off.

Smarkfagan,
The cowl is about 8 inches across the back inside the plywood ring. The cowl tapers a little toward the front but is still in excess of 7 inches wide. If your engine is not too tall it should fit fine. You could go inverted and gain a little more room in the cowl, and if you have to cut an opening it will not be too obvious.
Hope this helps

Thanks Jim, I think the engine will just fit inside the cowl, as long as that taper isn't too severe. I'd rather not invert the 2-stroke, plus the best Pitts available is a side-mount.

thanks again
Steve

Steve, the 1.20 O.S. will fit just fine i installed a Moki1.35 in mine horizontal and the only hole on the cowl is for the glow driver. Dan

Hi team
Will a 50cc gas engine kill the Stearman?
(I really like the Stearman, but would the GiantAeromaster be a better choice for 50cc?)

I am using a Saito 150 in mine with plenty of power, airframe would not support a 50CC in my opinion. Maybe a small 26-30 CC.

R/C Foolish

The GPSS would be way out of scale with a 50cc engine. The SS was a big lumbering biplane, not a hot rod ! If ya want to build a hot rod, I would suggest using a Pitts.

Test 005,
My Stearman flew well on an OS 120. That is the engine that is installed in the replacement. I suspect a Saito 150 would be really nice, as well as the small gasser. But think the 50cc is to much motor.

It would go like hell though ! lol

Speaking of replacement here are a couple of photos