I have almost finished drafting a complete Sterling S-12 Flying Fool Control Line Airplane for anyone interested in the old classic. I will copy the plans to CD. The original kit only has an assembly page I have drawn out all the parts, for easy reference. I sell the CD for a small fee including shipping.https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&i...disp=inline&zw[img][/img]

I just sold my Flying Fool kit. I should have coppied the plans.

Do you have full size plans?

The Flying Fool is a great CL model, but I wish it was a tad larger. I built that model as a youngster. Now I'm an oldster.

Charles

Hi Charles, if you remember the Flying Fool Kit, only came with an assembly blueprint, so you could build it from your kit , following the instructions, but there wasn't drawings of the bulkheads, or ribs, and the flying fool had flat wall balsa construction, and the rudder elevator, and stabs weren't drawn out. I have sketched out each individual part onto two separate plans, so you can scratch cut all the pieces to build the actual size Flying Fool. I should have the CD from the print shop within a week or so, I will sell the CD for $20.00 that also covers your shipping cost standard rate USPS.

I'm sorry Charles I should have remembered your letter better, I just want to remind you, that by putting the Flying Fool blueprints onto CD as opposed to rolled plans, It not only cuts down on shipping costs, but when you take the CD to your local prints shop, they can blow plans up as large as you wish. I myself may build a larger version and convert it to Radio Control.

Better to start from plans than with a kit anyway. The 2 FF kits I have featured worthless plywood (you have to replace ALL the plywood) and atrocious die crushing that often off by as much as 1/8". Making all that garbage fit properly is far more work than starting from scratch.

[&o]most of the bulkhead parts in my kit were broken and needed re gluing

You would be doing the modelling public a giant sized service if you would add a detailed outline for overhauling the attachment of the top wing, particularly the fuselage end of the center pylon, which was notoriously extremely compromised.

I don’t recall all those problems with the die smash parts. But my kit I built was a first run production. Pretty sure of that. My second kit I never built. And still have it. Pretty sure it was one of the last Sterling built. Pat Treedle makes a larger version. I bought that kit after seeing another member fly one it was powered with a OS 50 and really was impressive. The Fool is an attractive bi plane. My first build was in 1968, it was powered with a Fox Stunt 35. I was adjusting my control handle used stainless cables. I think 14s and 58 foot lines. I have always been told to measure your lines from the bell crank to where you grip the handle. Now we teather on your wrist the down side,back then we did not do that. I’ve been out of U Control,but I have several of my planes still and want to try it again. If you fly you crash that’s a fact. But it was fun building and fun flying. I still have my hard point handle. And my old Sig Lines. 55,58,64, measured. I used the copper rap method with thimbles and coated the finished line with ambroad glue. Still looks good no rust at all. I remember I lost my top wing, the lead outs were routed thru the left strut. If I remember when the top wing came off I was trying to do a figure 8. And the left strut went with the top wing. That pretty much was the end of the Fool. I think if the lead out left strut had stayed with the model I could have saved it. AJ

This was sure an old post about the Sterling Flying Fool. This Winter I’ve been building a Super Ringmaster. But my thoughts keep going to the Flying Fool. It was the only By Plane I built in U Control. In RC I built the RC Stearman. It was a heavy plane and dropped like a rock when it lost power. I needed to thin my Hurd so I sold it to a bar in Fort Worth Texas. My Flying Fool I built in 68 was under power with a Fox 19. It went line slacking every time I flew it. I had my old Fox Stunt 35 and it flew a lot better even in a small wind. It was a major cutting job to install the 35 went all the way and installed new mounting rails. The nose was really narrow. That Fox Stunt 35 filled it up, but looked nice with the two inch aluminum spinner. Ended up buying another Fox Stunt 35. My S1 Ringmaster looked terrible motor less. My Top Flight Magician got all the repairs done. Tough little plane. AJ

Dang I forgot a couple years ago I ordered a BiSlob from Brodak, really my very first laser cut kit, it was great. So I was wrong about building only one Bi plane. I’ve built two. My Bislob has a Fox Stunt 35. Just did a shorter line to fifty four.AJ

The plan is now available free for download on Outerzone.

Hi Quizmo thank you for that info. I still have the plan from my old 68 build. Including the Box it originally came in. I was in the Army at the time. That plane in your post had a few changes. The struts. And the bellcrank lead outs. That engine looks like maybe a 40 or 50? I had my parts traced..learned that when I was younger. Mostly for repairs. But I wanted to build a larger flying Fool. I found another guy thru Brodak, that offered a 50 powered Flying Fool. Pat was his first name. Don't recall the last. With what I wanted to do and the cost of Pat's full kit it was a no Brainer. Don't know what happened but UPS opened the double box. It came in and according to Pat's plan..a few parts came up.missing. UPS truck was involved in a accident. UPS did cover the damages. And I was able to salvage what was missing. I am about finished with my Super Ringmaster. I have a UC OS 50. I might start building the wings on the Flying Fool. Probably be a two winter project.AJ.

No fool like an old fool that thinks about a Flying fool. I’ve never used the several different heat shrink cover material. It’s become really popular​​​​​ and many suppliers have several different brands. In my old ways I’ve used Silk to cover all my wings. Even in RC. Which I put up about two years ago. Took my RC stuff to a swap meet and never sold anything. I had nothing in electric, and that’s what was selling. So it goes in 24, and the times are a changing! Often wonder if guys are having any buyers on the old kits like the Flying fool, S-1 Ringmaster, or the Super Ringmaster? AJ.

I have a new in the box Flying Fool that I hope to build one day. When I was in my late teens I saw several fly, and always wanted one. I want to power mine with an OS LA .25. The OS is comparable in power and weight to the Fox .29/35's and has a muffler.

Hello Mr Doe, that’s great, I say Build it. If your kit is original, I plan On building the Larger version. OS 50 UC engine. I flew my Flying Fool four about five years. Do a simple strut mod and beef up that area where the struts attach at six points. I am sure you have Hurd the stories about the top wing. Just so much larger than the bottom wing. I’ve been using a Toung muffler on all my planes, a guy builds them In Georgia. Going to order one for my OS 50. AJ

Hi Greg Doe, you started that fool yet? I thought I would tell you about the Ringmaster FlyOThon. On the first weekend in October2024. I’ve always had a Ringmaster and learned U Control on the S-1. If you got a Ringmaster,or it’s easy to build,and join in on the fun! AJ

AJ, In answer to your question I haven't started on my Flying Fool yet, and it probably will be a while, as I have several projects to finish before I get into nostalgic projects.
Matt Kania designed the Super Clown while he was working for PDQ Products Co. (in Millville, New Jersey). The Super Clown was so successful that Sterling highered Matt away from PDQ to design a similar model which became the Ringmaster. So while the Ringmaster was far more popular then the Super Clown, the Ringmaster is actually a "clone" of the Super Clown. The Supper Clown has been accepted as recognised model to fly in the Fly-O-Thon, and I have flown mine numerous times in the for the Fly-O-Thon, both here in Tennessee, and in North Carolina.

Hey Greg that’s great, Never built or flew a Super Clown. I was thinking it has Flaps unlike the S-1 Ringmaster. Never knew it was a clone off the Clown. Tho they do look a little like the same design. Sounds like your are up to speed on the October FlyOthon. I wanted to fly in the 2023 Brotherhood but I was recovering my S-1 only had a majestic. That was ready to fly. Been working on a few other projects, about the Flyohthon I really think you could fly just about anything. And I think a lot of guys do. AJ

We.ll I started the king version of the Flying Fool it’s lazer cut but several of the pieces did not cut thru. Especially the thicker and the ply pieces. It’s my winter project started it in October. I think it’s going to be fine I completed the wings and started lamination on the fuselage. Nothing in the controls came in the kit, so it looks like I will use arrow shafts and a three inch Belcrank. Pat calls for larger. The only guy I know of that has a Belcrank larger is Okie Aires in The Oklahoma area, but he is a bust. Ordered some things but never got them! AJ

Hey Greg Doe how ya doing, well it’s 2025, the Ringmaster fly Oh Thon hit 11,000 flights, quite an accomplishment. Busted that old record! I did not get to fly, had some medical issues wind and rain. Even on the rain dates. But that was 2024! Looking to October hopefully I can participate this year. Keep them lines tite! AJ

AJ, I'm still here lurking. I got a new right knee 5 weeks ago, and hernia surgery a couple of weeks before that. My problem is balance issues. I can fly RC as long as I'm flying in front of myself, but if I try to turn around as we have to do in 3 poll Pylon racing, I fall down. So guess what? I think controline is "currently out of the picture" for me!. I'll be 80 the 28th of Feb.

Well Greg so sorry to hear that, about UControl. I am 79 in October. I get about three rotations a flight. My heart meds are strong
,and now I am having an MRI about back pain. Really slow getting up. I start my UC engines on a table. I’ve wrecked a few falling down kinda thins the fleet.changed all my tanks to 2.5 ounce. That helps. AJ

Well my Brothers I’ve seen a lot of inquiries about the plans on the Flying Fool. I am currently building the Pat King version of the 45. And his plan is great. Looking at the Cad offering it’s good but really a copy of the Sterling plan that was not much of a plan. I think you can order the plan from Pats web site it’s offered in the original version and the larger version. I got his kit for the 45 because I Hurd so many great comments about Pats kits, so I tried one out and they were not bad still had to do a little mods but it’s a nice lazer cut kit. Keep them lines tite! AJ

Haven't posted about the flying fool.been side lined with lots of medical issues. Going to.have back surgery. April the 8th. Still waiting on my fuel tank special order from Brodak. Hope all you U Control flyers are doing well. Keep them.lines time! AJ

Well guys I got thru April 8th, been hard my spine was cracked thru so It was screwed back in place, two disc replaced. My Fool is coming along, keep them lines straight and tight. AJ!

I've been in a relax mode due to my back surgery, it's going to take a while, come to realize that. Been mostly sanding and doing some balsa fill, and cleaning up getting ready to lay some nitrate dope, mix it with talc so I can fill the balsa. Memorial Day coming up. Hope all you guys are doing well, keep them lines straight and tight! AJ