RE: GP Super Stearman
 

Hi, I am in the process of finishing the Stearman with an FPE 2.4 gas. I am showing a few pics of the install. The spacer is all drilled out for weight, I have installed on the firewall a rubber grommet for the wires will not scrape against the wood. I have Carbon Fiber around the inside of the bulkhead(firewall) also I added another 1/4" ply on the inside of the bulkhead as I am using 10/32 bolts and I don't want the blind nuts to go through the bulkhead with the gas engine vibration.
You can see, that the cowling is not cut up that much.
I was flying a Sig Sukhoi with the same 2.4 at 16lbs and much less wing area. I believe that if you use the power only when needed, like vertical climbs, there should be no problem. You have reliability, sound, and also I have a slimline smoker so with the Pitts muffler from FPE it should look great in the air. Putting a gas engine with no mods to the bulkhead could lead to problems.
The tape in the pic on the engine is to hold a kleenex in the plug hole. The angle of the pic which was taken from the bottom shows the lines not even. take my word for it, they are. Also I think that the 20 10 prop will look great and more scale. Also the little hole on the side of the cowl is for the air for the carb.

RE: GP Super Stearman
 

Here is another view showing the dummy engine. The opening for engine cooling is a little larger than usual, but it is a larger engine.

RE: GP Super Stearman
 

Looks pretty good. Keep us posted.

RE: GP Super Stearman
 

Mga,

Thanks for the pic posts, installation looks great.
I was very interested to see your FPE with the slimline muffler. I didn't know that there was one made for it. FPE advertise's their stock muffler is smoke ready. Did you try the stock unit? If so, how do they compare?
The Pitts style is nice for makeing the whole unit more compact, less cutting to do on the cowl.

Craig

RE: GP Super Stearman
 

On my FPE 3.4 52cc has the FPE muffler, and they have a spot on it right at the exhaust point to drill and tap and put a dubro smoke fitting. I do not have a slimline muffler, but I have the slimline smoke pump. Either On my 2.4 FPE 40cc as you can see I have the FPE Pitts muffler, even with the regular FPE muffler on the side, there would of been as much room as this engine is very small. On the Stearman, I am sure it will work as well.
As the Stearman advances, I will be posting more pics.

RE: GP Super Stearman
 

Sorry it has taken me so long to get back. Been busy with work. the Saito 180 is perfect. I have "Scale Flight" at about 3/4 throttle. the extra allows me the insurance to get out of a sticky situation. Plus, I added NO!!! weight with the Saito. it balanced without the "Weight Box" that reat Planes includes with this plane. I have always had a problem with adding dead weight. I use 4 servoes for the wing, I just wanted it to fly better than it looked. It looks scale when it is 100 feet up and 100 yards away from me.

I think the 180 is not overpowering at all. I still wish I had more verticle speed. I am using an 18x6 prop on the thing and it probably needs to be changed. Not so up on prop sizes, and I rely on my fellow hobbiers to help me.

It is a good flying plane. Flew it three times on Sunday and I still have weak knees when its in the air. I have been flying for 25 years, and when the knees stop shaking, I will give it up.

Good luck.

RE: GP Super Stearman
 

APC 17X8 will give you the verticle speed you are looking for. Probably need to throttle back a little more on level flight.
Ron

RE: GP Super Stearman
 

Thanks Ron.

RE: GP Super Stearman
 

RE: GP Super Stearman
 

RE: GP Super Stearman
 

I am finally going to start my Stearman and was wondering if their are issues that I should know about besides the ones already mentioned in this great thread? I am putting an O.S. 1.60 in it and planned on using 625MG's for the elevator and rudder, standard 537 for throttle but, up in the air on the two wing servos. Would another set of 625's be to much in the wings? Codimasta, I should just go out to the field and see how yours is set up. Thanks in advance for all of your inputs.
Stangevil29

RE: GP Super Stearman
 

I forgot, what about the hardware it comes with? I intend on replacing all clevis's with sullivans, are the horns good enough or should I get better ones? Thanks. Sorry about all the questions but this my biggest and most costly project thus far so, I want to get it right.
Stangevil29

RE: GP Super Stearman
 

I just read this whole thread and the one thing I did see was that some people were using the converted G26 but no one posted yet if they needed to add weight with the lightened engine. So I ask, did you need to add weight with the RC converted G26?

I just bought my second G26 and this looks like a grwat home for it. :D

RE: GP Super Stearman
 

Thanks for the tips I've been away also, and my computer took a crap on me to boot so I had to get a new one. Anyway should get my GP Super Stearman first week of April. This is kinda like Christmas.... When your 7 yrs old...... Wow, cool man

RE: GP Super Stearman
 

What motor mounts are all of you using to mount these 150, 180 saito's? I want to use my o.s. 1.60 but the mount is off by a quarter inch. Are you all plugging and redrilling the mount holes? Thanks.
Stangevil29

RE: GP Super Stearman
 

[8D] I used the Dubro Soft Mounts, did not use the stock mount, do you need one (stock mount) ?

Had a little problem with my Stearman...it went on an unauthorized flight from the back on my Pickup....a gust of wind hit it and straighten out the metal on the bungee cord while going down Hwy 215...damage..Right wing tip, and Right Elevator....I was lucky that the wind blew over on the landing gear.....an of course...not traffic on the opposite lane..will send picture soon.

Larry

RE: GP Super Stearman
 

Codimasta,
Sorry to hear about your Stearman. I bet you have it looking good as new in no time. Thanks for the info on the mount. I was told by the other individual with this plane that he used the stock mount and didnt have to change a thing to get his 1.60 on it. Well, after 2 hours of messing with it I gave up. I have know idea how he got a 120 size mount to hold the 1.60 and not have to change the blind nut locations. I wanted to keep from having to relocate the blind nuts. I may be able to try a different adjustable mount. Any suggestions? Thanks.
Matt

RE: GP Super Stearman
 

I installed the OS 160 in mine.

No need for weight in front

Use the GP 160 mount and I used a round file to bring in the holes to match the ones in the firewall.

Mount the engine sideways

Use a bisson pitts muffler

Use large fuel line, pipe through tank, and clunk or get a perry oscillatiing pump

Use Classic 18x6 prop works the best, tried 16 x 10 first didn't like it

Use tru-turn 2-3/4" at-6 120 spinner and Tru Turn Adapter Kit 3/8-24 1.60 FX (not the ones that come with it)

I had two tanks split near the opening during hard landings that took off the landing gear, I used a soldering iron to melt the plaastic back together sealing the tank then wrapped it in strapping tape, added foam around the tank for support

Loren

RE: GP Super Stearman
 

I used the mount sent by Great Planes for my saito 180. Flew it yesterday, what a great flying plane.

Good luck.

RE: GP Super Stearman
 

Any news about Stearman with an FPE 2.4 ?

RE: GP Super Stearman
 

Hi, This is the stearman with the FPE 2.4 I am almost ready to fly it, but would like to know where exactly is the CG. is it five and a half inches from the leadiging edge top wing. Have others tried different cgs. The plane finished at fifteen pounds eight ounces. so I am very pleased and it balance right on if the five and a half inches is right. I ran the engine in it and all seems well. I carboned fiber the edge of the bulk head inside that is for extra strenght. I will not need all that power, but I wanted gas rather than glow. Glow is getting very expensive and I am changing to gas. I went throught twenty three gallons last summer at twenty five dollars a gallon, that is here in canada.
looking forward to the summer.

RE: GP Super Stearman
 

[img][/img] I have flown the Super Stearman with the FPE 2.4 gasser and have 25 flights on it. fantastic.

RE: GP Super Stearman
 

Here is my Super Stearman taken at our flying field. hope you enjoy the pics.

RE: GP Super Stearman
 

Nice Job!!!

RE: GP Super Stearman
 

Thanks Ron. You were correct. I have all of the verticle that I need and it still drags the tail around the sky like a real stearman.

By the way, Smoke on this baby increases the thrill. I love this ariplane.

Good luck to all.