Top Flite Staggerwing
04-07-2009 | 10:37 AM
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From: Chandler,
AZ
RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
Tim:
Throttle servo should be fine as I have a custom exhaust system made by Keleo that will keep the firewall clear of oil. At least that what I am hoping for ??????
Denis
Throttle servo should be fine as I have a custom exhaust system made by Keleo that will keep the firewall clear of oil. At least that what I am hoping for ??????
Denis
04-07-2009 | 06:53 PM
#1127
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From: Fayetteville,
GA
RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
I've mounted throttle (and choke and kill switch and onboard glow) servos on firewalls many times with no ill effects. I've always been worried a lot more about heat and vibration than oil. I believe your assumption is correct that as long as you're getting the exhaust clear of the cowl, it's going to stay pretty clean in there.
04-07-2009 | 10:44 PM
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From: Williamstown, MA
RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
Hey guys, what's your measurement from the firewall to the front of the drive washer? Denis, I see you had to add 1.25 inches with spacers. I believe the length of your engine is 4.75 inches from the back plate to the front of the drive washer. According to the specs on the 3.00 it's 5.83 inches from the firewall to the front of the drive washer. I believe this means it should fit in the cowel. The cowel seems to be about 9.5 inches wide which is exactly the width of the 3.00....hmmm.
I'm anxious to get started on my Staggerwing but have been traveling and haven't had a chance to get going yet...hopefully this weekend.
Tim
I'm anxious to get started on my Staggerwing but have been traveling and haven't had a chance to get going yet...hopefully this weekend.
Tim
04-08-2009 | 07:53 AM
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From: Chandler,
AZ
RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
The instructions said 6" from firewall to drivewasher, so thats why the 1.25 worth of standoff, trial fit of the cowl appears perfect, but you know how that goes
Denis
as long as we are on the subject: I plan to attach the cowl with 2-56 blind nuts not the suggested wood screws, appears to be plenty of room to install the blind nuts, wood screws never work to hold down a cowl
Denis
as long as we are on the subject: I plan to attach the cowl with 2-56 blind nuts not the suggested wood screws, appears to be plenty of room to install the blind nuts, wood screws never work to hold down a cowl
04-08-2009 | 06:02 PM
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From: Fayetteville,
GA
RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
6" is a good number.
Denis - I like your blind nut idea for cowl fasteners. I used the screws provided but added rubber grommets to the cowl. These seem to dampen the vibration quite a bit and I haven't had a screw come loose yet.
Denis - I like your blind nut idea for cowl fasteners. I used the screws provided but added rubber grommets to the cowl. These seem to dampen the vibration quite a bit and I haven't had a screw come loose yet.
04-08-2009 | 06:10 PM
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From: Fayetteville,
GA
RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
I'm in the process of some minor surgery on my Staggerwing. I've decided to change my single tank arrangement to twin tanks, one feeding each cylinder. I found a pair of Sullivan "slant-oval" 12 ounce fuel tanks that should fit in place of the old single tank without extensive mods. I found myself outrunning my fuel supply on the last few flights and attribute it to the single fuel line with tee arrangement. I'll also have to add a second Dubro quick fueler. I'm also going to fabricate a support for the exhaust header just above where it exits the cowl as I'm getting some play. Last, I'm going to have to enlarge the hot air exit at the bottom of the cowl. It's not cooling quite as well as I'd like and I think the 2" x 3" hole is a bit too small.
Link to the fuel tank I'm going to use: http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXFU59&P=FR
Link to the fuel tank I'm going to use: http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXFU59&P=FR
04-08-2009 | 06:57 PM
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From: Chandler,
AZ
RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
Sorry gang I Couldn't hang with the instrument panel sticker< its the scale builder in me I guess. This panel includes the pressure gauge fro the retracts as well as the led for the on board glow.
Denis
Denis
04-08-2009 | 07:45 PM
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From: Chandler,
AZ
RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
I actually have this argument with quite a few. This is a hobby, hobbies are FUN. you do what is fun. If sticking a huge engine on a J-3 cub so it will do 3-D is fun to you thats what you need to do !!!. I just happen to love to build, so doing these little extra thing is where alot of my fun comes from. If you think about it 95% of the folkes will never see that panel. But I have fun
Denis
Denis
04-09-2009 | 12:25 AM
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From: Festus,
MO
RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
Denis,
The IP looks good.
If you want to get some really good looking instruments in 1/5th, 1/4 nad 1/3 scale check out InZpan http://www.inzpan.com/ . They are the English site for the ProPagTeam instruments made in the Czech Republic. Probably the best in the market and are already assembled, drill the mounting hole and glue in place. Other brands have you put a clear lens over a decal and the results are not as good. They also have switches, minature screws to "mount" the insturments and other instrument panel and cockpit accessories.
P1 - IP in N44G
P2 - N44G
The IP looks good.
If you want to get some really good looking instruments in 1/5th, 1/4 nad 1/3 scale check out InZpan http://www.inzpan.com/ . They are the English site for the ProPagTeam instruments made in the Czech Republic. Probably the best in the market and are already assembled, drill the mounting hole and glue in place. Other brands have you put a clear lens over a decal and the results are not as good. They also have switches, minature screws to "mount" the insturments and other instrument panel and cockpit accessories.
P1 - IP in N44G
P2 - N44G
04-09-2009 | 05:44 AM
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From: Fayetteville,
GA
RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
Absolutely no argument here. I agree with you, pursuing whatever aspect of the hobby that scratches a person's particular itch is okay by me.
04-09-2009 | 07:47 AM
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From: hamilton square,
NJ
RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
ORIGINAL: GaGeeBees
I'm in the process of some minor surgery on my Staggerwing. I've decided to change my single tank arrangement to twin tanks, one feeding each cylinder. I found a pair of Sullivan "slant-oval" 12 ounce fuel tanks that should fit in place of the old single tank without extensive mods. I found myself outrunning my fuel supply on the last few flights and attribute it to the single fuel line with tee arrangement. I'll also have to add a second Dubro quick fueler. I'm also going to fabricate a support for the exhaust header just above where it exits the cowl as I'm getting some play. Last, I'm going to have to enlarge the hot air exit at the bottom of the cowl. It's not cooling quite as well as I'd like and I think the 2" x 3" hole is a bit too small.
Link to the fuel tank I'm going to use: http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXFU59&P=FR
I'm in the process of some minor surgery on my Staggerwing. I've decided to change my single tank arrangement to twin tanks, one feeding each cylinder. I found a pair of Sullivan "slant-oval" 12 ounce fuel tanks that should fit in place of the old single tank without extensive mods. I found myself outrunning my fuel supply on the last few flights and attribute it to the single fuel line with tee arrangement. I'll also have to add a second Dubro quick fueler. I'm also going to fabricate a support for the exhaust header just above where it exits the cowl as I'm getting some play. Last, I'm going to have to enlarge the hot air exit at the bottom of the cowl. It's not cooling quite as well as I'd like and I think the 2" x 3" hole is a bit too small.
Link to the fuel tank I'm going to use: http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...&I=LXFU59&P=FR
Please post your results,
Jim Meighan
04-09-2009 | 08:20 AM
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From: Chandler,
AZ
RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
John:
My Reciently finished Ryan PT-22 used InZpan instruments, they rea quite nice. I had some old ones left over from a european company thats no longer with us that I used on the Beech.
Denis
My Reciently finished Ryan PT-22 used InZpan instruments, they rea quite nice. I had some old ones left over from a european company thats no longer with us that I used on the Beech.
Denis
04-09-2009 | 11:35 AM
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From: Chandler,
AZ
RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
You know I have only flown that plane twice: for some reason its been extreemly windy here in AZ. With only two flights I'm not ready to tackle crosswinds. With the two flight I did have it flew very scale like (read "cow")
04-11-2009 | 07:27 PM
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From: Chandler,
AZ
RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
Hey : Paul Wally or whoever is still lurking here !
Just attempted to mount my cowl. First off, instructions say there are "Pre Drilled Holes in the cowl, Nothing on mine.
I also know there are blocks of hardwood fiberglassed inside the fuse where the screws should attach. I have measuered the location of these blocks, and with the cowl on the fuse they come no where near the cowl :: "see attached photos"
Did you guys have any issues here ??
Denis
Just attempted to mount my cowl. First off, instructions say there are "Pre Drilled Holes in the cowl, Nothing on mine.
I also know there are blocks of hardwood fiberglassed inside the fuse where the screws should attach. I have measuered the location of these blocks, and with the cowl on the fuse they come no where near the cowl :: "see attached photos"
Did you guys have any issues here ??
Denis
04-11-2009 | 08:52 PM
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From: Fayetteville,
GA
RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
Hi Denis,
No problems with mine. The blocks were where I needed 'em. There weren't any pre-drilled holes though. Pics attached showing the location of my mounting screws. There are two sets of holes in mine due to the engine change. I'm using the rearward holes (darker colored). Hope this helps.
No problems with mine. The blocks were where I needed 'em. There weren't any pre-drilled holes though. Pics attached showing the location of my mounting screws. There are two sets of holes in mine due to the engine change. I'm using the rearward holes (darker colored). Hope this helps.
04-11-2009 | 10:09 PM
#1145
RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
ORIGINAL: knucklebutt
Hey : Paul Wally or whoever is still lurking here !
Just attempted to mount my cowl. First off, instructions say there are "Pre Drilled Holes in the cowl, Nothing on mine.
I also know there are blocks of hardwood fiberglassed inside the fuse where the screws should attach. I have measuered the location of these blocks, and with the cowl on the fuse they come no where near the cowl :: "see attached photos"
Did you guys have any issues here ??
Denis
Hey : Paul Wally or whoever is still lurking here !
Just attempted to mount my cowl. First off, instructions say there are "Pre Drilled Holes in the cowl, Nothing on mine.
I also know there are blocks of hardwood fiberglassed inside the fuse where the screws should attach. I have measuered the location of these blocks, and with the cowl on the fuse they come no where near the cowl :: "see attached photos"
Did you guys have any issues here ??
Denis
I don't recall... I'll ask Jetmex, but the ply plates are right where they should have been on mine. I do know that. I think the holes were in the cowl, but NOT the fuse...
Paul, flew The Dream (B-25) again today.
VERY aptly named!
Even got video - once I got ALF trained!
Will post when I can.
04-12-2009 | 01:00 PM
#1146
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From: Fayetteville,
GA
RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
ORIGINAL: F82FAN
Paul, flew The Dream (B-25) again today.
VERY aptly named!
Even got video - once I got ALF trained!
Will post when I can.
Paul, flew The Dream (B-25) again today.
VERY aptly named!
Even got video - once I got ALF trained!
Will post when I can.
Oh, almost forgot... I acquired another Gee Bee this week (yeah, just what I needed - I know). It's the Great Planes ARF and I got it NIB for less than two Benjamins. I think I'm going to put a Saito 1.30 twin in it. The Robart struts arrived yesterday so I'm just about ready to get started assembling.
04-12-2009 | 04:29 PM
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From: Chandler,
AZ
RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
Paul: Thanks for the photos with the measurements: gawd sometimes I really suck at measuring: Mine was wayyyy off . I used your's and hit right in the middle of the wood blocks
Thanks
Denis
Thanks
Denis
04-12-2009 | 10:33 PM
#1149
RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
ORIGINAL: knucklebutt
O.K. gang I'll bite
Whats "ALF"
Denis
O.K. gang I'll bite
Whats "ALF"
Denis
Either you are very young, or were out of the US in the '80's when there was a TV show of that name. The main character (ALF - Alien Life Form) could NOT shoot with a video camera and much was made of his apparent lack of skills! I hardly remember ANYTHING else about the show, but whenever somebody screws up a video by shooting the ground/sky/ground, etc, and completely missing the subject, we refer to them (lovingly, of course!) as ALF.
All in good fun!
Wally
04-12-2009 | 10:43 PM
#1150
RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
ORIGINAL: GaGeeBees
Hey Wally! Glad you got a flight in. Looking forward to seeing the video. Congrats on finally getting ALF camera qualified. It's been really breezy here the past couple of days and the only thing I've gotten to drive around is the danged John Deere.
Oh, almost forgot... I acquired another Gee Bee this week (yeah, just what I needed - I know). It's the Great Planes ARF and I got it NIB for less than two Benjamins. I think I'm going to put a Saito 1.30 twin in it. The Robart struts arrived yesterday so I'm just about ready to get started assembling.
ORIGINAL: F82FAN
Paul, flew The Dream (B-25) again today.
VERY aptly named!
Even got video - once I got ALF trained!
Will post when I can.
Paul, flew The Dream (B-25) again today.
VERY aptly named!
Even got video - once I got ALF trained!
Will post when I can.
Oh, almost forgot... I acquired another Gee Bee this week (yeah, just what I needed - I know). It's the Great Planes ARF and I got it NIB for less than two Benjamins. I think I'm going to put a Saito 1.30 twin in it. The Robart struts arrived yesterday so I'm just about ready to get started assembling.
Say it ain't so......
Turned into a STUNNING Easter day here. The am started WAY yucky, but it all cleared by 1:00 and I spent the rest of the day wishing I had the SW ready to go.
I did run her up again, since the last flight presented a sagging engine requiring an emergency landing.
Found the exhaust to be coming loose, so I pulled the cowl and checked things out and cleaned up the attendant slime. After firmly tightening the Keleo Exhaust, I buttoned things up and put her on the charger. Next weekend is the local big bird fly-in, so she's ready to go!
