Actually to me they finally got it right!

I have seen many Fiberglass ARF's where the fuselage was thin, which ends up causing cracks in the paint from handling.[:@]

I just received mine today from Tower, it looks pretty good over all but there are few places that it could have been better.

I'm thinking my G-38 has found a new home! I might have to make a new prop adapter thta's a little shorter, I will see soon!

I tried telling everybody about this, and to get it while it was cheap!!!

Tower's got one listed in their Scratch & Dent section for $323. It's box damage only.

http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin/WTS1000p?&C=A

I've had mine for a couple of years now, since they firsrt came out. Two days ago I pulled it out of the box and started on it.
It's a really fine piece of work. Appears to be very well engineered and so far EVERYTHING fits!! I started sticking it together and w/in 10 minutes had it sitting on a stand w/ the wings and tail on. Not only does everything fit, but it also looks to be in perfect alignement right out of the box. It all fits and it all lines up. OUT OF THE BOX!! What a novel and refreshing concept.
Today I tightened up the wing covering and got the flaps and ailerons on. Next session will see the servos mounted and the linkages hooked up. Then a "formal" mounting of the wings. LOL.
It'll be set up just like the instructions show. Main gear retracts, fixed tail wheel. OS 160 2st, Brisson muffler. JR125MG servos on all control surfaces.
A coupl;e of minor things. No "N" numbers for the wings. Doesn't look like they were included in the kit as sold. I'll have Dennis Kirby make me a set, because to me it just doesn't look rtight w/out them. Second, the instructions mention several times that the cowl has predrilled mounting holes. Mine doesn't. Third, maybe it's just me, but this is a kit that sold when new for somewhere around $500 (can't remember, but it was pricy and looks to be a good value for the money.) Anyway, the first thing you're supposed to do is sit down and spend an hour or so cutting CA hinges out of a strip of material. Give me a break. As I said, maybe it's just me. But Great Planes sells the hinges in the proper size, 24 to a pack. Aren't these outfits all owned by the same people? How much trouble is it to drop a pack of the Great Planes hinges in the kit box. They sell for $1.79, for heaven's sake!

Mobyal,

I had those hinges installed on a 40 size GP stik by the book.
The funny thing is several of them ended up breaking at the hinge line.
Before it was over with I ended replacing them all, I for one will never use GP hinges again.

So far my bottom wings do not fit very good on mine.

I am installing a G-38 on mine, with Futaba 3010's through out.

Mobyal; something to consider is to replace the CA hinges with "Robart" which is what I have done with mine. Seems I always have a hinge or two come loose. With the weight of this aircraft I feel "Robarts might be a better choice (there is a post on this thread that covers this change. As all my aircraft at this point are in the 15 to 25 lb area, I have sworn off CA hinges. There certainly fine for 60 size down



Denis

Thanks guys. Mine are in now, so I guess we'll see what happens.

I've been flying mine for two seasons with the supplied CA hinges and haven't had any trouble. I don't just go up and putt-putt around, I've pretty well wrung this plane out with no problems. I do like Robart hinges and have them in my Byron Staggerwing.

mobyal - I had N-numbers made for mine by CFC Graphics: http://www.cfcgraphics.com Charles is a great guy to work with and does fine work at reasonable prices. He's already got the design so you shouldn't have to start from scratch. They look great and match the tail number perfectly.

edit: for reference pictures of the graphics as received can be seen in post 677 on this thread

I also have to agree with GeeBee: you install the CA hinges correct !!!! they wont come out. However the word correct is what usually bites me in the butt. If your slot is a little too wide the ca wont wick. Saying that you can screw up the "Robart" just as easy. Had a friend that lost the whole butt end of a Aero Works Yak due to Rudder flutter (2 of the 3 hinges did not get glued properly.


I also purchased the wing numbers from CFC Graphics they match perfect but are a little pricey If I recall they are about 40 bucks


Denis

MobyAl,

I would have to agree with the others, dump the CA hinges and go with the Robarts. I had the CA hinges on a Big Stick and one of the ailerons came off with the hinges breaking at the hinge line. It was the only plane I had with CA hinges, the rest have had Nylon or Robarts ( I prefer the Robarts). I would hate to loose an expensive Staggerwing because of cheap hinges ("How much trouble is it to drop a pack of the Great Planes hinges in the kit box. They sell for $1.79, for heaven's sake!" ). Spend the extra few bucks and put the Robarts in now before flying the Staggerwing.

Hi All,
Well we are almost finished with the Staggerwing.
I bought mine when they first came out but had many other projects to do before this one.
I have to say that, as opposed to many of the posts on this forum, this is probably the finest quality Scale ARF that I've owned - and that says a lot!
Even though mine was one of the first ones off the truck, I didn't have one single major issue such as the aligment pins being mis-drilled, etc.
Jetmex has done 95% of the build and hasn't had needed to make any mods or changes.
We are down to balancing and installing the battery pack, and installing the Dummy Radial.
Should be ready to fly in a week or so.

Running a Saito 1.80 with JR12X and Robarts.

Ought to be great!

I took a couple of pics from the iPhone to show the painted Leading edges with Gold Pin-Stripes - exactly like the factory stripes are!

Enjoy

Nice! I like the leading edge stripes! Can I send you mine and have you paint it?

Look forward to hearing your flight report. Good luck!

Hey GGB!
I don't think you can afford my painter.
He thinks he's Michealangelo with a paint can - you get it when you get it - but it's gonna be perfect!

We checked the balance this afternoon.... Holy crap how can they say they put an OS 1.6 on there. Musta had 5lbs of lead up front.
We don't have tailwheel doors, but everything else is stock and I think it's gonna need an additional two or more pounds to balance. Ouch!
I know, I know, shoulda gone gas, but I've had the Saito since I bought the ARF.
Will keep all posted and take vids of the test flight in a couple of weeks.
We have a couple of big swap meets here in TX that will keep us off the field for a couple of weeks....
Till then,
Wally

Painting the leading edge isn't all that difficult, 3M fine line tape, scuff pad and an aerolsol can of black fuelproof paint. Mask with newspaper.

Or, I could provide four pieces of black vinyl which can be used for the leading edge. Bottom piece would go on first and require trimming then the top piece can be applied. Ultracote or another iron on material could work also.

I have the correct Beechcraft logo text besides the N numbers.

The N numbers are actually in two colors. They are outlined in gold.

www.cfcgraphics.com

Charles

The leading edge trim looks nice, but it wasn't on all (many?) of the Staggerswings. Attached are photos of two G models...

Hey Wally
Have you all completed balancing yours yet? Wondering how much lead you had to put up front. I'm just about ready to install the engine on mine and was going to use the OS160 2stroke w/ the OS metal mount, but depending on your answer may go w/ the heavier Saito 180 w/ the Saito metal mount. Did you have any clearance/installation issues?
I agree with what you said about kit quality. Mine was also one of the first available and so far has been an absolute pleasure. Everything fitsd and lines up!
I really do like your leading egde trim, and think I could paint it on without a lot of trouble. but wonder about visibility on final?
Let us know how the test flights come out.
Al

Hi Moby,
I know that some/most/all of the S.W.'s didn't have the painted LE's, but I was at Hobby Airport here in Houston a while back and saw Howard Pardues S.W. at the HawkerBeech FBO. His has the painted LE's and it just REALLY stands out from the others. I'm glad we did it - it was worth the two hours it took to do it!

No fit or clearance issues with the 1.80 unless you consider the two small oval that we made in the cowl to clear the rocker arms an "issue"? Take a look at that Keleo Creations Muffler - REALLY NICE!
Yes, I just finished balancing it at the recommended 5.5" from the LE of the lower wing.
It took an additional 2lb 3oz of lead weight to bring that number in!
Originally I was going to use a 4000 5-cell NiMh battery (wieghing 11.8oz), but after realizing that I REALLY need an on-board glow system for easy starting and reliability (plus the additional battery pack) I decided to down-size the main pack to a 5-cell 2700 and then have a 4-cell 2500 on-board glow battery (12.2oz total).
As you can see I made an aluminum shelf to mount the batteries and the lead brick.
The lead brick is UNDERNEATH the aluminum shelf, mounted with 4ea #12 self-tapping screws, and then the batteries are stacked on top and velcro'd into place.
With the shelf there would not have been room to mount the second pack on top of the main one, so down-sizing helped save room and overall weight, too.
I'm just about finished with the dummy radial and will see how much the balance changes with that installed. I may go to a wood prop to offset the extra couple of oz's.

I hate it that I needed to mount the switch and glow system in the forward stripes, but I really didn't want to run any more long extensions just for that.

BTW... I BEGGED Top Flite to do a run of S.W.s in that exact Yellow and Blue scheme that you posted. It is my all-time favorite colors on a S.W.! They said "NO" - rats. I would have one of each. If I ever find one of these used at a good price, I will refinish it in those colors, that's for sure.

F82FAN I like that mount you put on top of the engine for the batteries. I think I might do that so that I will not have to add so much more weight. I am glad you posted some pictures of it.

Yeah. I agree about the yellow one. I like that one the best too. If you buy another kit and have it finished in those colors let me know and maybe we can get a discount for two of them! LOL Seriously, that kit is so good I really have been thinking of getting another one just to have on hand and would jump at the chance to have a yellow one..
I took those pics at the Fall flyin at the Beech Heritage Museum in Tullahoma TN in 2005. The yellow one belongs to a guy named Jim Gorman from someplace in the midwest. I think Ohio. The red one is "Big Red", and it belongs to the Parrish family, the prime movers behind the museum. They live on the airport property! But Big Red is with one of the Parish sons and currently is based near St Louis at Creve Coeuer (sp?) airport, I think.
I appreciate the pics of your engine installation. I already have both engines (OS 160 and Saito 180, and the metal mounts for each. I'll mess with both of them and try to figure out what to do.
I'll attach a few more pics, some of SWs w/ the painted leading edges and one more of the yellow G17.
Damn I do love the Staggerwing. Even got a couple of hours in one at the 2003 flyin.

MobyAl,

I live near St Louis and am often out at the Creve Coeur Airport (note spelling). I could attempt to contact the owner of "Big Red" N44T to get some additional pictures to the 46 "walk around type" including some interior shots that I already have. I also have a dozen pictures of the "Black" SW NC18555 (exterior only) including a closeup of the wing tip where the Black (seems to have a blue tint), Cream and Metalic Maroon end.

There is suppose to be a Yellow SW also based at CCA but I have not seen it. I can talk with the owners of CCA and try to find out who and possibly contact that person also. Might take a while.

Let me know or send a PM.

Interesting how the side strips or the layouts differ from aircraft to aircraft.

Restored and painted by different people in different places. Owners have input also.

They are all nice.

Charles

Here are some pictures of Randy's he put together here in this thread. I took it off his hands and it's a show stopper. This has a Brison 2.4 and it needed no nose weight with that motor. Pictures taken by JohnVH.

Enjoy,
Ken

Looks great! Awesome photos!

Skylark
Thanks for the offer, but I have plenty of both Big Red and 555. I got a number of Big Red, nondigital, on my first couple of visits to the museum in '03. In '05 I got enough of 555 to last me too! I really do appreciate your offer, though.
Now that I know how to spell Creve Coeur, I'm wondering how to pronounce it! LOL
Al