RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

Has anyone flown the staggerwing with a 160 twin? OS, ASP or Magnum?
What prop did you use?
I've tried an 18/6 and it seemed over propped. So I tried a 16/8 and got the rpm up but it feels under propped. I have a 17/6 to try next.
I also have a 16/6 which I haven't tried yet.
Seems like I have more props than flight time.
Just wondering what you guys have used.

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

Hey GeeBees,
Just got back from a swap meet around the San Antonio area....
Traded my FlyBoys Fokker DR-1 straight across for another NIB Staggerwing!
Now I can do one in UNIQUE colors that no-one else has. The more I consider my options, the muddier the waters get.
Do I do the Yellow/Black? The Black/Gold? or the Navy 3-color scheme....
May take votes and let the people decide - unlike the maunfacturers!

If anyone knows of a crashed Staggerwing that has a set of Robart retracts to off-load, please let me know. I need them.
Thanks!
Wally

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

Wally! You DAWG! Sounds like you made a helluva trade. Congrats on the new acquisition. Definitely a tough decision to make. So many great choices. If it were me, I'd do it in a military scheme. It'd be great to be able to show up at the next warbird fly-in with something unusual (of course your BF-110 already meets that qualification). If not that scheme, I'd go with the black and gold. Decisions, decisions...

What are you going to do for power on this one? Want a nice NIB Saito 3.25 5 cyl radial? :)

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

Well, Wally, I'm jealous! I was at a swap meet today too, but sure couldn't find anything like that! The guy at the table next to me did have a Royal Staggerwing kit NIB, tho. It lasted about 90 secs before someone snapped it up!
One minor point, that I'm sure you know, but the Top Flite Staggerwing is a G model, all of which (they only made 25 or so Gs) were built after the war, and none of them were military. Almost all the military versions were D models with a few Bs and Cs, that had been commandeered from their civil owners, scattered in. The black one, #555, is a C, I think. But hey, this is for fun, so do whichever one you want! Here's one that may give you some ideas. It's scheme is the one used by the American Embassy in England during the war.
Al

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

And to REALLY get you going.... LOL

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

Thanks a lot, Guys...
I worked this guy over at the last swap-meet, and when I saw him again this time, he finally caved. He's a great guy - especially since he caved! The box looks like it has been used as a fort for a Cub Scout Trooop for a week, but the airplane is in pretty good shape. A couple of nicks in the fuse and other small things, but, since it is getting refinished anyway, it worked in my favor!

It's like a kid in a candy store picking paint schemes.

Al, NO, I wouldn't have had ANY idea which model they are - I would just pick a scheme I LOVE and run with it. I saw one in that 3-color (Dark blue/Light Blue/Grey) Navy job and, like GeeBee said - it would go great at a warbirds fly-in. It's all fun scale to me! That blue/yellow looks like a Stearman - even on a staggerwing!
But then YOU throw that Black n Gold scheme at me, just KNOWING that that's my favorite color on an airplane (F82's anyone???).
I'm glad I feel like either the 3-tone Navy or the Black will go over great at the field.
AAARRRGGGGHHHH..... May need some time in a padded room to sort thru this one!
It's nice having one flying, because I have NO pressure to finish the next one. First thing I'm gonna do is strip off the RED Monokote and then sand the fuse down.

As far as power... hmmmm... I REALLY want to go gas, and after the beautiful way that my Fuji's run on the B-25, I'm leaning toward a Fuji 34 or such. I can't believe how much slime gets on the bottom of this thing with my Saito 1.80 and the Keleo Muffler.
GeeBee - I'm pretty sure that 5-cylinder is a BUNCH more $$$ than a gasser, no? You can PM me if you want to discuss it.

NEED RETRACTS FOLKS!!! You know you won't ever use yours!!!!

Alright, Keep voting!
Black/Gold or 3-tone Navy???

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

I'm jealous, I said!
I'm going to have to find a second one somewhere.

G on the left, D second, C (I think) next and the blue race plane in the next to last last pic is a B model. Final pic is another G. Note the different cowlings, windscreen angles and gear doors and the different fuse on the B, which has a 225 hp Jacobs. I have heard that the fin and rudder on the G are different from the D as well, but never have been able to see it, and have heard different things from owners. Some say the same, some say different. Go figure. Same engine in the D and G tho, 450 hp P&W Wasp Jr. G is supposed to be a little faster because it's cleaner.
Anyway enough is enough and the black one has my vote, for what it's worth.. Have fun refinishing, you lucky dog!
Al

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

I've been waiting for a couple of years for Kalderen & Welch to release their Staggerwing. It's planned to be a model of the 1936 Bendix trophy winner; a "B" model, I believe. Their site says it's still on the drawing board. It'll be 1/5 scale. http://www.kwmairpl.com.ph/NewProducts.asp

I have to make the same confession as Wally and say that I also would have no idea which model is which.

Wally - Regarding the big Saito radial... yeah, it's gotta be a lot more pricey than a gasser both in terms of upfront cost and operating expenses. It'll definitely make plenty of slime as well. I'm still waiting for inspiration on an airframe for that engine.

Okay, I'll jump aboard the black-n-gold bandwagon too. That's got my vote.

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

Thanks for posting all the great photos, Al!

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

According to what I read, the original airplane that won the '36 race was a "sold" airplane that they pulled off the assembly line at the factory and entered in the race. After the race, the customer wanted his plane so they had to finish a second one in race livery for the publicity tour. The original went to South America and efforts to find it since have been unsuccessful.

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

I'm with you guys... The Black/Gold is SURE pretty. Might blow up like a balloon in this Texas Sun, but, hey, that's what 10'X10' shades are for!!!

Did engine runs on the BF-110 today. SWEET!
Will be new pics on my thread in a little while.

And, yes, Al, I second GeeBees Thanks for getting us GREAT pics to inspire the next one.

Let me know if anyone wants me to find them another NIB airplane to do. I'd love to help out!

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

Hey - look at the pics of the Black one. NO Spinner, so if my buddy steals it again I don't have to worry!!!

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

Ok, I put another flight on my staggerwing today and man was it nice. The take off was great without the lean in the landing gear, because I bent them out, but the landing sucked because the landing gear bent back inward(toward each other) and caused it to tip on a wing again, kinda like the takeoff I was talking about in my maiden flight post. Since it bent the plane went into the grass and tipped over and broke my wood prop, its ok though. I can always buy a new prop. :)... I want to make note that the OS 160fx is more than enough engine for this plane and you would be fine going with a engine as small as a 1.40 2 stroke or a 1.50 2 stroke. Today I never even touched half throttle, during flight. The only time I went past half throttle was on takeoff and that was only about two clicks above half. I guess now I will be putting the ST 2300 I have in the Hangar 9 p-47 150, if I can find one for a great price...As for the landing gear I recommend to go ahead and buying the retracts, because I can not keep bending these gears. Bending the landing gear before each flight is a pain in the rear. ...Well now it will be sitting until I get another prop, which will probably next week when I have time and then I will get about three 18X10 wood zingers. Happy flying for everybody else.

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

F82.

Oh yes you do need the spinner for the Black and Cream Staggerwing[:@]. The picture below was taken this past September at Creve Coeur Airport near St Louis. It is the same plane NC 18555 as posted in some of the previous posts. Picture 2 is a close up of the colors at the starboard wing tip.

P1 NC 18555, s/n 157, year 1937, model F17D, Jacobs L-6.
P2 Close up of the Wing tip
P3 N 44G, s/n B-3, year 1946, model G17S, P&W R-985 Series. Note the spinner is painted to match the darker red color. Also taken at CCA.

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

Glad to hear you got another flight in. Sorry about the landing gear problems. Are you going to be installing retracts?

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

YESSSSSS, I will I am getting very tired of these landing gears and if I keep flying it I will not have any flaps or covering on the bottom wings. :D. Hopefully I can get them in another month or two.

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

Thanks Skylark - I guess I'd better go get my spinner back from JetMex!!!
Thanks also for that detail shot. I was wondering if there was a color seperator/accent line. Beautiful!!!
I appreciate it.
Wally

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

Great looking Beechcrafts!

Charles

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

Got

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

Hit the "send" button a little early, Al???:D

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

LOL! premature clickulation?

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

It looks like that's what just happened to the birdies in your Avatar GeeBees!!! [sm=spinnyeyes.gif][sm=confused_smile.gif]

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

JUST a touch, Wally! LOL
I scanned the cover from the issue of the Beech Museum mag I got today. Has a pic of Beech Serial #1 on it. WHAT a bear that thing must have ben on the ground and on takeoff/landing. Unfortunatelu RCU tells me the file "Isn't supported" and thus won't accept it for upload...
Congrats on getting your Bf110 back. The whole time I was reading about it, I was thinking that I'd just have turned it into a ball of fiberglass, balsa, props, engines and wiring!

RE: Top Flite Staggerwing
 

Thanks.

That may have been the longest 6-minutes of my LIFE! I was looking for a parachute the whole flight... NO bail-out package installed in that one!!!

Did you look over Stag #1 whe you went to the Beechcraft Museum in Tullahoma??? It is UN-Freakin-believeable to hear the background of them dragging that hulk out of a ditch (in New York?) and re-building her. It's just stunning to look at in person. Wheel spats alone must have taken 2,000 man hours to shape and finish!