cromagnonman2

I've been wondering about this incidence thing & took note of a few posts on here regarding the subject. Is there any way to check comparative incidence between eachwing & wing/ tailplane relationshipwithout buying a dedicated meter?

PacificNWSkyPilot

My Feedback: (19)

Only with flat-surface wings, Mick, like the tail feathers. You can use a regular level on those. The incidence meters clamp on the main wing at the front rounded edge, and the rear edge, centered on both. The clamps, which are designed to center on those spots, look like this: < >

I don't think incidence meters are too expensive. I got my last two incidence meters at swap meets for a couple of dollars each. I have several biplanes, so it's handy to have two meters.

I've mounted a plane where I could look at the edge of the front wing, and held a level next to it, but eyeballing it like that is a pretty poor substitute and as un-scientific as you can get.

Speaking of carrying the plane around by its top wing, I'm known for doing the same thing; grabbing my bipes in the hollow at the rear of the top wing. I guess that's a habit I should get away from. I never thought it would be a problem, since the center-mount struts are fastened right there. But I guess I've ignored the fact that those fasten-points are probably not meant to hold the entire weight of the plane. Duh.

I should've known that was WAY too convenient!

Lol

Thanks for the heads-up on that.

I'll be out for a few days. See you after that.

~ Jim ~[8D]

raptureboy

The super belongs to my flying buddy, and his is powered by a converted leaf blower engine, 25cc I believe, and has no problem doing any aerobatics you want. The same for my Pt-17 with the DLE 20 which has a sonic tronics smoke pump and 12oz smoke tank and a 12 oz fuel tank and has no problem pulling loops from level flight or stall turns or any other manuver. I do recommend setting the ailerons on high for rolls because of only having 2. I agree the 30cc will give you plenty of power but still is not neccesary for scale flight. Most people are flying this on the 1.20 fs and it flys well, but a little on the weak side. I had robart hinges on my 1st one (met an early demise in a argument with an Se5) and there is no blocking along the trailing edges of the wing for the hinges to go into. I have a 5cell receiver battery and a 4 cell ign battery mounted on a platform where the weight box would go, and I had to add a little more weight to offset the weight of the smoke tank since I could not get it mounted right on the CG. I added the flying wires using silver elastic it adds a little more to the looks and takes no time to hook up when your at the field.

trs3243

does any one know when gp first offered the super sterman as a arf ? i have one that i bought 5 years ago used. it came to me with a os 160 twin. i tryed a sato 180 it loved nitro. last year i installed a mt35 gas and this i like.

cromagnonman2

If you look at the first few pages of this thread I'd reckon you'd get a fair idea of when they came out. Sometime 2004 I think.

smkrcflyer

I'm just starting my Super Stearman that I got last summer. I order a new ZP 26cc for it.

smkrcflyer

I’m not going to use the CA hinges that come with the kit but use Dubro nylon ones with the removable pins. These are easy to install you just need to open up the slots a bit. In the past I've used canopy glue for these and it works ok. This time I was thinking about using Gorilla glue. Has anyone used this glue with these hinges? My concern with is the hinges fit very tight in the slots so there is not much room for the glue to expand and I don't want the wood to get deformed.

roknHS

I Gorilla glued my nylon hinges in..........I opened up the slots enough so the hinge slipped in fairly easy. I set the wing with the trailing edge up, put the glue bottle tip right on the hinge slot and squeezed glue into the slot, wiped of any excess, oiled the hinge center slightly, dipped one side of the hinge in some water and slid it into the slot. I sat around with a tooth pick and cleaned up what ever glued foamed out around the hinge.................done deal............
Use the clear Gorilla glue that is available now. I'm pretty sure I would break a chunk of trailing edge out of the wing if I tried to pull a hinge free. Now, I glue all my pinned hinges in with clear Groilla glue..........it is simply the best I have found.

smkrcflyer

Thanks for the Gorilla glue info.

smkrcflyer

The Gorilla glue worked real good. I have the ZP26 and its a nice engine. What size tank should I use 12oz or 14oz? I don't do long flights maybe 8 min.

Any suggestions for tail wheel assemble?

smkrcflyer

I got the engine & cowl mounted. The wings are done and the horizontal stabilizer is glued in. I’m not sure if Im going to use the fuel tank that came with it and I need to get a tail wheel assembly. I think it makes a nice looking monoplane.

roknHS

No reason not to use the stock tank. The plane is going to balance perfectly with the G-26 install. Any time you make a change from the intended components, the build gets more complicated. No reason to make a change here.

I used the Ohio Superstar tailwheel..........good tail wheel..........approx. $22 bucks at Tower.

Asif

My Feedback: (30)

Recently finished my Stearman, its got Saito FA-200 3 cylinder radial. Did a custom scheme based on Red Baron Stearman.
The radial sounds awesome!!!!
Asif

kivisto

Asif, That is a sweet combination! please keep us posted with a vid when possible. Nicely done

raptureboy

I changed my tank to a 10oz since I use the DLE20 and it go's 20 min. No need to haul around all that extra fuel, it allowed me to put in another tank for a smoke system. Ya gotta have smoke in a stearman

Asif

My Feedback: (30)

Sure, I will have a video once I do the test flight.
Asif

smkrcflyer

raptureboy,
Do you have any pictures of your tank instalation?

cromagnonman2

Nice job Asif. Good to see one with a different paint!.
Raptureboy I'd like to see your tank set up too. I went with an 14 oz tank (DLE30). If its not enough I can easily fit the next size up as the H/W dimensions are the same, it's just a bit longer. I had to make a special retainer in the nose to hold the tank in position as mine doesn't protrude through the firewall.Iepoxied this onto thetank bed in the nose.


Mick

CrabbyOldFart

Mick,

That's a clever bracket you built there.

Will you be adding some padding there? It seems to me you'd want to cut it back enough to allow for padding, so it doesn't get rubbed through from movements and vibration while the engine is running. Maybe split a large rubber of plastic tubing of some kind lengthwise, and just slide it onto the lip that goes up and over the tank nose?

Listen to me. I'm sorry to be critical of your bracket, when I'd never think of something that simple and effective.   COF

CrabbyOldFart

raptureboy is right. Gas engines don't drink much, especially the new ones they have out now. They're stingy on the gas.

The S-Stearman has 1440 sq. inches of wing (I think?). I don't think weight is an issue with this plane. You should be able to use anything that works for you. COF

raptureboy

Here's some pics of my smoke and fuel tank set up. Iglued a 1/4" dowalwith Goop,centered on the tank bottom and drilled a hole into the firewall and then used a piece of lite ply screwed to the former with a pin in it to keep it from sliding out. I am using the Sonictronics smoke pump

cromagnonman2

Thanks for the pics Raptureboy.
Crabby - please dont feel you have to apologise! I'm grateful for any criticism. This is only my second build & criticism will only make me a better builder. I think your idea is a ripper & totally necessary.
Now to work out how to pare the throat of the bracket back a bit now it has been glued in position.....
Mick

raptureboy

DOH!Ihate when Ihave a good idea and then Ihave to adjust it.Maybe just some shrink tube which is thinner than other types. Heres a pic of my PT-17

PacificNWSkyPilot

My Feedback: (19)

Hi, Guys.

I'm back. Sorry to drop in after all this time just to drop a bomb, but I've decided to sell my Stearman, shown in my Avatar. I've placed an ad here in RCU exclusively. If you're looking for a turnkey Super Stearman, this is the one. I've never had any incidents or bangs or bumps, and it flies so nice that it always lands swoosh and smooth. I've only been flying it off and on since last year, and the rotten weather this winter has kept me home enough that's it's still pretty much brand new. There are photos posted here - number 1730, I believe, has some photos, and the ad in RCU's Buy and Sell has them too. If you want to read up on the details, look at my posts in here. I pretty much detailed everything of any substance that was done to it during the building stages, with lots of photos and details.

The Syssa gasser is new, and starts easily by hand-flipping. I'm not getting out of the hobby, but I've got my eye on a rather expensive rifle (Marlin 1895SBL), though not too expensive, as rifles tend to go. The deal with my wife is that I use hobby items to pay for hobby items whenever possible. One gun is coming in? One plane's going out. It's fair.

Any questions, please ask me. I can answer them.

Jim

PacificNWSkyPilot

My Feedback: (19)

Hey, Mick! How's it going? Nice looking bracketry there. That'll be a slick installation.

Jim