RE: New Ugly Stick Biplane
 

Is Cedar hobbies still in business? The web site seems to be down. I was kind of interested in getting one of these one day but maybe it will not happen now.

RE: New Ugly Stick Biplane
 

Well after almost 2 1/2 years since I bought my Cedar Hobbies Stick Bi-plane...I put mine together. It was a simple build and I made a few changes to the kit as I put it together. She flew sweet and I set all my control throws to the manual recomendations. No over controling for me and the maiden flight was a non event. I did need to add a little down thrust to the engine (washers under the top of the engine mount fixed this) and the rest was just fun.

I powered my model with a K&B .40 and this was more then enough power to do the job...along with Airtronics gear w/ 94102 servo's.

I tossed out all the hardware and went in with steel cap head screws every where. I used DuBro ball links on the tail feathers and installed a Sullivan tail wheel bracket. I didn't use the kits way of connecting the ailerons together and I also fuel proofed the engine bay and wing saddle area.

A really sweet flying model and its so sad, that Cedar no longer sells this kit. Infact...the Cedar of old...is no longer. What a shame, for these folks had some awesome models coming down the pike for all of us to enjoy.

Soft Landings Always,
Bobby of Maui

RE: New Ugly Stick Biplane
 

Hi Bob,

I just acquired a kit of this biplane that did not include any construction information. You said you made some changes to the plane as you built it. Could you let me know what the changes were? Also, what I really need is the recommended throws for the surfaces as well as the balance point. Any info. you could provide would be a big help (I have received no response to my emails to Cedar Hobbies requesting this info.)

Thanks for any help you can provide.

Pat

RE: New Ugly Stick Biplane
 

Its a lovely looking project but the pilot is so wrong. Just get a Xacto and dock off Snoopy's head then glue it to the fuse! Heheheheehee ...

RE: New Ugly Stick Biplane
 

Hi Pat,
Cedar Hobbies that sold this kit is no longer in business. The new Cedar Hobbies has a web site, but none of the older models they sold, in their old web site, are sold today. Its sad...because the guys that ran the old company were good folks, with great models.

The balance point on the Cedar Hobbies Stick Bi-plane is 1/2" (one half inch) behind the lower wing leading edge.

Aileron, Low-3/8", High 5/8"
Elevator, Low-1/2", High 3/4"
Rudder, Low-1" , High 1-1/2"

I ended up changing the main landing gear from the kit supplied unit, to a larger Du-Bro fiberglassed unit (see picture). I did this because the model sat to level on the ground and I wanted more prop clearence. I also went to larger wheels.

I soaked the inter-plane struts and cabane struts with thin C.A. to make them more strong-twice. They used lite-ply and my kits struts were to flexable to my liking. I did consider cutting new struts out of aircraft grade ply, but opted to use C.A. It worked ok, but not 100% happy with strength.

Be very careful when gluing on your center wing cabane struts and make sure you follow the arrows marked on the struts before glueing them in-placed on the top wing. Play with it first and make sure you have them set proper, then epoxy them in-place. Your outter wing inter-plane struts are marked too...so use a bit of caution here, before final attachment is made. You will need to cut away the wing covering to mount/epoxy the center cabane struts in place, so test fit your struts first and make sure your struts are seated down fully and properly before gluing.

I tossed out all the hard ware, and went in with high quality black steel hex screws and Du-Bro blind nuts. There is a lot of hardware in this kit, and I felt that the kit supplied hardware was not up to the job. I also installed a different tail wheel assy., then the kit supplied unit.

Next, and before I assembled the kit, I fuel proofed inside the fuse, from the fire wall aft to the trailing edge of the lower wing, mounting area. I also re-fuel proofed the fire wall on the out side too.

I didn't use any of the kit supplied wires and riged my flight controls using Quick Links and Sig C.A. hinges. I've had good luck with Sig C.A. hinges so far and use them on all my models.

My old trusty K&B .40 flies the model right nice, so any .40 to .46 engine will do the job. Some of the guys stated that you needed more power to fly the model, with a .46 to be the minimum engine size, but this model will fly on a wing right nice with a .40 .

I went with dual elevator "Y" push rod. I also went with Du-Bro ball links on my flight controls.

The wings are a bit of a hassle to take off and re-mount. You can remove the upper wing by unscrewing your lower wing cabane struts and the lower inter-plane strut attachment hardware (the upper cabane struts are glued into the upper wing). There are 8 (eight) screws total you need to remove, to remove the upper wing (don't forget to disconnect your aileron control rods-before removing the upper wing), and after your upper wing is off the model, you have two more screws holding down the lower wing. The upper wing comes off with the inter-plane and cabane struts attached together. Be careful...it can be easy to brake struts when the model is apart. Then you will have access to the inside of the model. It is a bit of a hasstle, but its a fun model, so who cares... : )

After you get your model ready to fly...make sure your four ailerons are even and level and neutral. I opted to use a different mounting system for my aileron inter connections and I didn't like how the kit way was set up. I strive for zero play fight controls, and the kit supplied way was not to my liking.

My model was built square, and I had no problem getting the wing and the elevator/rudder epoxy glued onto the model. No out of square or insidince issues here at all.

I have over 30 flights on my model and happy with the end product.

Soft Landings Always,
Bobby of Maui

RE: New Ugly Stick Biplane
 

Hi Bobby of Maui,

Thank you very much for the info. You are truly a gentleman and a scholar. Now I will have no excuse for not getting mine in the air.

Thanks again,
Pat

RE: New Ugly Stick Biplane
 

i have had a ugly stick bipe for a couple of years, same manufacture. the only thing i recomend is that insted of the upper alierons supplyed, make new ones, no cutouts for the control rods to hook to and use plastic horns. the alierons are weak at the cut out part, and will fracture, mine did it in flight, almost lost it, got it back with rudder and luck.other than that asome airplane.

RE: New Ugly Stick Biplane
 

I see the last post is very old. Did everyone retire theirs or is anyone still flying these. I had one in a box that I finally got around to building and intend to maiden it this weekend.

RE: New Ugly Stick Biplane
 

I flew my Ultra Stick 40 for seven 15 min flights this past Monday

http://origin-images.rcuniverse.com/.../lg-204293.jpg

RE: New Ugly Stick Biplane
 

Hay Cryhavoc,
I'm still flying mine and now have nearly 100 flights on the model. So far its holding together and flying well. Its a short winged bi-plane, so it has unusual handling issues...but she flies well enough and fun.
Soft Landings Always,
Bobby of Maui

RE: New Ugly Stick Biplane
 

Hi Bob,
Thanks to your post on 6/25/2009 to Pat about C.G. and throws for a Cedar Hobbies Ugly Stick Biplane, I will be able to do some repairs and put in the air one that was just given to me. It looks like it be a fun fly. Again THANKYOU for that post.


Bill</p>

RE: New Ugly Stick Biplane
 

bILL-DER,
I changed the engine on my Ugly Stick Bi-plane, and now have a Fox .50 up front (w/Perry Carb.). A big difference in power over the old K&B .40. I needed the added nose weight anyway, so it worked out well for me. I also tightned up the tail wheel assembly and my ground handeling with the new engine solved a lot of my handeling problems. I also built up the fire wall, to make it more stout and added a fuel tank forward hatch. She is more fun to fly...and I'm now flying this bird in higher winds. I'll fly in 10~15 kt. winds now and she is responsive enough and flyable enough for my skill level to take the heavyer winds. The trade winds kick in every morning by 8:00 am or so...so you need to bring at least one model with you to our flying field that can handle the winds. This model Bi-Plane is not a floater...she glides like a home sick brick...so keep your speed up at all cost with an engine out issue...or if your engine starts to go south on you...get the model on the ground quickly. You can chop power at 50' down wind, with 1/3 power (!)...and just make it to final...and remember...keep your speed up when landing. She is hard to three point land...and wheel landings are difficult to do with any class. But ever so often I surprise myself and do one of each in a day. I love to do touch and goes...most difficult manuver in the weather conditions we have here. Lots of club members models get damaged on landings, due to the high gusty winds we have here. Its the only flying field on the island...so you either learn to fly in winds...or take up a new hobby... : )

w8ye,
I flew an Ultra Stick .40 for over five years...and well over 500 flights on her before I rekitted the model. My fault and I tried my best to fly through a huge (%$#@) bush...but the bush won. K&B .61 Twister for power and what a great combination this was. I even broke-in my Super Tiger G90 on this airframe ! Talk about vertical presintation...WoW. I have an old Model Craft .40 size ugly stick now...not as nice as my Ultra Stick...in fact no where as nice flying, and this Model Craft airframe flys more like a heavy WWII fighter. A short wing on a heavy frame...and no balsa anywhere. They used door skins or something just like it to build this Model Craft Ugly Stick, with wood covered foam core wings. I'm using it to brake-in two T.T. .46, for a A26K I'm building next, right now. It does not fly as nice or as sweet as my Ultra Stick .40 did. That Ultra Stick .40 is the best flying .40 size Ugly Stick made today. It flys nicer then my Big Stick .40 or .60 did and I highly recomend the Ultra Stick .40. The Big Sticks fly very nice, but are more stout in the build, a bit heavyer too, then the Ulta Stick .40. The best Ugly Stick of all times was the Middle Stick by Midwest models. Easy to build up, strong and light, manuverable and solid in the air. Ugly Sticks are cool, great flying Sunday knock around models. Easy to fly, easy to repair and can land with the best of them...any time.

Soft Landings Always,
Bobby of Maui

RE: New Ugly Stick Biplane
 

Is that model still available?

RE: New Ugly Stick Biplane
 

Hay Sport Pilot,
No, this model (ARF) is no longer available. It was a Ceder Hobbies model...and it first sold for under $100.00 and it was a real bargan. You can either get the plans, from RCM or find a Midwest Das Ugly Stick Bi-plane U-build kit. I have the kit...and was going to build it when the ARF came out six years ago. Sorry for the news...but if you want one...try looking online, with Chinese sellers...you may find one.
Soft Landings Always,
Bobby of Maui

Ugly Stick Bip Plans
 

Does anyone have the plans available for an Ugly Stick Biplane??