I have a NIB Sterling Ringmaster, (plastic canopy). It's been sitting under my bench for years and it's not likely I'll build it. Anybody interested?

Is this the S-1 (solid leading edge) or the S-1a version (sheeted leading edge)?

Pipe;
Hmmmm, I'll have to have a look.

It's the sheeted LE. What does this mean?

Usually the term refers to planking from the leading edge up to the spar. On the original Ringmaster there was a spar running through the center of the wing and all of the bays were just covered in your choice of fabric. On a wing with a sheeted leading edge there is usually an upper and lower spar at the high-point of the airfoil and the sheeting will run from the leading edge and butt up against the spar forming a C or D tube wing depending on whether or not there is vertical planking between the spars.

I'm interested, I'll send you a PM.

It means Sterling updated the wing construction of this 54 year old design in the 1980s. The sheeted leading edge version (yellow box kit S-1a) flies slightly better than the older solid LE (white box kit S-1) but is not legal for competition in the Old Time Stunt contests.

If you're not a purist and don't intend to compete in OTS, the S-1a version is just fine. I like mine.

CB36, is the Ringmaster S-1A, still available?

Estes, of rocket fame, bought the Ringmasters when Sterling went under. As far as I can tell, Estes isn't making any Ringmaster kits any more. The Estes and Sterling kits are fairly easy to find on eBay and the like (at eBay prices!). But the kits aren't very good. RSM Distribution has a top drawer laser kit of the classic legal Ring.

http://rsmdistribution.com/kits.htm

Personal opinion here... just looking at the number of folks that have looked at this string... Estes is missing the boat by not ARFing the Ringmaster. The S1 would be nice but even the later one would sell as well or better than most of the other ARFs out there... too many of us old guys remember them fondly. Sterling claimed something like a million of the kits sold.
Bob Furr

If you build an S-1, make sure you make good strong joints where the wing halves are connected. That was a weak point and many of the old Sterling kit Ringmasters folded their wings. Don't know if the S-1A was improved there.
My S-1 has adjustable leadouts and tip weight. Pic has tank removed.

George

Hi everybody;
Thanks for all the replys. Yes I still have the kit if anybody's interested. $50 + ship.

They may have folded the wings in a verticle landing, but, they were easy to put back together. I have had both versions of the Ringmaster and could not see a difference in flying. It would be nice if an ARF was produced correctly(Attention Tower Hobbies). Later, DOC Holliday

I just want a full scale plan.

Barry Baxter has a CAD OTS legal plan for $13.
http://www.controllineplans.com/index.htm

If you look at those plans closely, you will see that the airfoil has a slight "polywog" to it. That is, if you draw a line from the trailing edge to the widest point on the airfoil, you will find that it goes slightly concave. When covering you need to address covering a concave 'foil or the covering will lift off the ribs.

Almost everybody likes a Ringmaster.

George

if you still have it i'll take it.. PM with details zip code is 29170

A Ringmaster was my second "gas" model. Had a Fox .29. I still have that Fox and it still runs fine. First C/L was a Firebaby with an OK cub. I later built the full fuselage Ringmaster. Super Ringmaster?

jess

Wow. that's cool. Way back in the late 60's I moved up from .049 Carl Goldberg types (Stuntman/Lil Wizard) to my first 35 profile stunter, the Sterling Ringmaster with a Enya 35. Fond memories, I should get a full size plan and rebuild one. Hey, I once saw a guy put a good strong 20 on a regular Ringmaster, it flew great! I'd like to have either Ringmatester S1 or 2. I'm going to look into it.

Good flying,

Tom Nied

Look hard at the RSM kit-it's OtS legal, I think, and vastly better quality than Sterling on its best day. Flies great on a Veco 19, Fox 19/25, or OS FP20 if you can find one. By the time you eBay a Sterling kit, you can about buy the RSM.

Went flying today. Temp was 64 and the wind was calm. I Built this Ringmaster back in the mid 60's. I no longer own it. The plane has been recovered with new silkspan. Has a OS MAX S35 with a Tatone Peace Pipe for a muffler. I think the engine was louder with the Peace Pipe? 308jockey, the owner, is at the handle and Jim was holding.

Awesome, I can sense all the fun and excitement of takeoff. I've had a few, wish I didn't sell them. And very envious of your January flying. Way cool. Thanks for sharing that.

Tom

Except for the Tower starter, that could have been on the 1960's?

Except for the Tower starter, that could have been on the 1960's?


And the Communist, European, France loving soccer nets (Frames)

Yes I`m interrested. Is it a super ringmaster by chance? Virgil Cell- 330 701 4463 Thanks !