Super Sportster 90/120
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Super Sportster 90/120
Does anybody know where I can get a Super Sportster 90/120 size kit???
Great Planes does not sell this size at this time.
Thanks,
SkyBound
Great Planes does not sell this size at this time.
Thanks,
SkyBound
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RE: Super Sportster 90/120
Thanks guys,
I ordered the plans from RCM, and then the next day got an email from a fellow who found a kit for sale!
So I got BOTH! Life is good!
ANYONE with personal experience with this kit.... ANY information that would give me some pre-build knowledge would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!
I ordered the plans from RCM, and then the next day got an email from a fellow who found a kit for sale!
So I got BOTH! Life is good!
ANYONE with personal experience with this kit.... ANY information that would give me some pre-build knowledge would be GREATLY APPRECIATED!
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RE: Super Sportster 90/120
I haven't finished mine yet but I can tell you that the center section of the wing builds very strong.
Here is what happened to mine.
I set the wing up vertical in the garage beside where I park my Tahoe. The garage was open and the wind came up and blew the wing down. When I backed out the Tahoe I forgot about the wing and I drove up on top of in at the center. As soon as I did I realized what had happened. I careful drove off. To my surprise the wing was not crushed. It sustained only minor damage and should only take a couple of hours to repair.
Good flying
Lee
Here is what happened to mine.
I set the wing up vertical in the garage beside where I park my Tahoe. The garage was open and the wind came up and blew the wing down. When I backed out the Tahoe I forgot about the wing and I drove up on top of in at the center. As soon as I did I realized what had happened. I careful drove off. To my surprise the wing was not crushed. It sustained only minor damage and should only take a couple of hours to repair.
Good flying
Lee
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RE: Super Sportster 90/120
I've got one that I built back around '94 and still fly it. Great flying plane and easy to build. I took out half the dihedral in the wing and used a ST90 for power. I think you'll be happy with it.
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RE: Super Sportster 90/120
Lee,
Man that is a strong wing.. I'll bet you had to change your pants after that one! Thanks for the info. Anything you come across during your build that you thing might be useful drop me an email.
Dan,
Great news, thanks. I was thinking of putting in a OS 1.20 Surp. or if money allows a YS 1.40. Do you think it can hold up to the YS? Does the stock kit have a reasonably beefy firewall area?
Monty
Man that is a strong wing.. I'll bet you had to change your pants after that one! Thanks for the info. Anything you come across during your build that you thing might be useful drop me an email.
Dan,
Great news, thanks. I was thinking of putting in a OS 1.20 Surp. or if money allows a YS 1.40. Do you think it can hold up to the YS? Does the stock kit have a reasonably beefy firewall area?
Monty
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RE: Super Sportster 90/120
SkyBound
There is a note with the plans that says : engine required ST 90 do not use a tuned pipe. I will try to find the exact quote for you.
Good flying
Lee
There is a note with the plans that says : engine required ST 90 do not use a tuned pipe. I will try to find the exact quote for you.
Good flying
Lee
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RE: Super Sportster 90/120
The OS would be plenty and make for a nice flying plane. I had to put several ounces of lead in the nose to balance the ST90. It still floats in for landing and has a pretty light wing loading. After 10 years everything is still solid and I didn't add any reinforcement.
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RE: Super Sportster 90/120
I am in the finishing phase of one of these kits. It will have an OS FS120 Surpass. Set up as a taildragger. I decided to use the hardwood engine mount (instead of a bolt on mount). Instead of the aileron torque rods, I'm using two mid-wing servos. I've had this kit for quite some time (since the 80s) and decided to build it now mostly so that I would have a something to carry an Eagle Tree Systems flight data recorder.
After I got the kit, I received a "WARNINGS AND REQUIRED MODIFICATIONS" (I don't see a date on this) kit from Great Planes to strengthen the stab/fuse joint. I also received (apparently a little later) a "SUPER SPORTSTER 90/120 UPDATE" from Great Planes dated May 24, 1988 regarding in-flight stabilizer/fuselage separation issues. There is also some mention of flutter in the original instructions.
Having the impression that flutter can be an issue with this plane (besides installing the modifications kit) I decided to counter weight the elevator and rudder surfaces. My modifications don't fully balance the surfaces at the hinge line but it does balance closer to the hinge line (maybe 1/2" closer) than the original surfaces. I also added triangle stock under the stab/fuse joint on the outside of the plane. I don't know how wise/worthwhile my modifications are, it's just something I wanted to try.
I'm looking forward to giving this thing a whirl this summer.
After I got the kit, I received a "WARNINGS AND REQUIRED MODIFICATIONS" (I don't see a date on this) kit from Great Planes to strengthen the stab/fuse joint. I also received (apparently a little later) a "SUPER SPORTSTER 90/120 UPDATE" from Great Planes dated May 24, 1988 regarding in-flight stabilizer/fuselage separation issues. There is also some mention of flutter in the original instructions.
Having the impression that flutter can be an issue with this plane (besides installing the modifications kit) I decided to counter weight the elevator and rudder surfaces. My modifications don't fully balance the surfaces at the hinge line but it does balance closer to the hinge line (maybe 1/2" closer) than the original surfaces. I also added triangle stock under the stab/fuse joint on the outside of the plane. I don't know how wise/worthwhile my modifications are, it's just something I wanted to try.
I'm looking forward to giving this thing a whirl this summer.
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RE: Super Sportster 90/120
Lee,
I'm curious as to what kind of servo/control hook-up you used on the elevators and rudder. I agonized over this with my kit. What did you use?
I'm curious as to what kind of servo/control hook-up you used on the elevators and rudder. I agonized over this with my kit. What did you use?
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RE: Super Sportster 90/120
TRoc,
Thanks for the heads up. I've heard about that tail problem on another post.
Do you have any pics of your plane?
Have you heard of anyone putting retracts on this 90/120 size plane? I was thinking of doing so, but I have not seen much available for this size plane that doesn't cost an arm and leg.
Thanks for the heads up. I've heard about that tail problem on another post.
Do you have any pics of your plane?
Have you heard of anyone putting retracts on this 90/120 size plane? I was thinking of doing so, but I have not seen much available for this size plane that doesn't cost an arm and leg.
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RE: Super Sportster 90/120
I split the elevator used two servos and Golden rod..pull pull rudder and have a OS120 4stroke up front..takes off with in three lengths of itself...landings are a breeze...landing gear is a little flimsy and bouncy..
Servos in each wing are a better idea than the torque rods..
Rather than the wood beams I used a composite motor mount..
Really no problem with flutter and will do anything that you want it to..
Servos in each wing are a better idea than the torque rods..
Rather than the wood beams I used a composite motor mount..
Really no problem with flutter and will do anything that you want it to..
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RE: Super Sportster 90/120
SkyBound
I haven't heard anything about retracts on this model. I just hope that I didn't add too much more weight with the changes I've already made.
Here is a pic of the tailfeathers (in primer). The Super Sportster 90/120 Update that I mentioned earlier shows perhaps a simpler method of balancing the elevator but it looked to me like it would be more apt to snag on something. There is about 0.4 oz. of lead in the front part of each elevator and about twice that in the rudder.
BigBird1
Sounds like a good setup with the pull pull rudder. Split elevators seem like a good way to go too. I decided to use a single servo for the elevator (Hitec 5645 MG) and carbon fiber rods. The second pic shows this but since the pic was taken, I also added pushrod guides at each former. Without having the aileron torque rods to consider, I was able to have the rudder servo at a different height to allow the rods to cross and get a straight shot out (Partly in view on the left is the throttle servo).
I don't know if the mods I made are worth it or how satisfactory the results will be but I'm looking forward to checking it out.
I haven't heard anything about retracts on this model. I just hope that I didn't add too much more weight with the changes I've already made.
Here is a pic of the tailfeathers (in primer). The Super Sportster 90/120 Update that I mentioned earlier shows perhaps a simpler method of balancing the elevator but it looked to me like it would be more apt to snag on something. There is about 0.4 oz. of lead in the front part of each elevator and about twice that in the rudder.
BigBird1
Sounds like a good setup with the pull pull rudder. Split elevators seem like a good way to go too. I decided to use a single servo for the elevator (Hitec 5645 MG) and carbon fiber rods. The second pic shows this but since the pic was taken, I also added pushrod guides at each former. Without having the aileron torque rods to consider, I was able to have the rudder servo at a different height to allow the rods to cross and get a straight shot out (Partly in view on the left is the throttle servo).
I don't know if the mods I made are worth it or how satisfactory the results will be but I'm looking forward to checking it out.
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RE: Super Sportster 90/120
I considered going with a G26 in Sportster 90/120 I'm building prior to going with the OS FS120. With the G26, I saw more issues than I wanted to deal with.
First was weight and balance: the G26 I have weighs quite a bit more (3 lbs. 11 oz. compared to the FS120 which is 2 lbs. 2 oz). To help compensate for the added weight of the engine, I was going to put the elevator and rudder servos in the tail. I didn't do all the calculations (i.e. weight x arm = moment CG stuff) to see how this would do.
Second, with the G26, the standard back plate is a little over 4" wide which is about the width of the Sportster 90/120 firewall so I saw that as something to deal with; either make the width of the backplate narrower or leave it and have just engine (no cowl/nose) ahead of the firewall (which wasn't very appealing).
Third if all that worked out, there was the issue of perhaps changing the landing gear to get enough prop clearance.
Those are the primary issues I saw. If I had more than one of these kits (I don't), I may have tried it but still, I think for me it's too much of a risk for making a mess out of things going with a gasser.
First was weight and balance: the G26 I have weighs quite a bit more (3 lbs. 11 oz. compared to the FS120 which is 2 lbs. 2 oz). To help compensate for the added weight of the engine, I was going to put the elevator and rudder servos in the tail. I didn't do all the calculations (i.e. weight x arm = moment CG stuff) to see how this would do.
Second, with the G26, the standard back plate is a little over 4" wide which is about the width of the Sportster 90/120 firewall so I saw that as something to deal with; either make the width of the backplate narrower or leave it and have just engine (no cowl/nose) ahead of the firewall (which wasn't very appealing).
Third if all that worked out, there was the issue of perhaps changing the landing gear to get enough prop clearance.
Those are the primary issues I saw. If I had more than one of these kits (I don't), I may have tried it but still, I think for me it's too much of a risk for making a mess out of things going with a gasser.
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RE: Super Sportster 90/120
Troc,
That's a good looking plane your building there. What are your plans for paint? What type are you going to use?
I thought of painting as well, but was concerned about the weight on an already heavy (with retracts) plane.
SB
That's a good looking plane your building there. What are your plans for paint? What type are you going to use?
I thought of painting as well, but was concerned about the weight on an already heavy (with retracts) plane.
SB
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RE: Super Sportster 90/120
SB,
Thanks for the kind words.
The plan for the wing is Monokote.
The fuselage is covered with light glass cloth using water based acrylic clear satin finish. This is the first time I've tried this. I actually found it enjoyable putting on the glass cloth with this stuff. I didn't weigh anything for before and after comparisons but am trying to be careful with the finish to not add too much weight. BTW, I covered the turtle deck with 1/64" ply after replacing the spruce stringers with balsa ones (except for the top center one). So (finally) for paint, not quite sure, maybe Chevron and hopefully something that will come close to matching the Monokote. I'm kind of wondering how this will all turn out.
Did you come up with anything on the retracts that you plan to use?
TR
Thanks for the kind words.
The plan for the wing is Monokote.
The fuselage is covered with light glass cloth using water based acrylic clear satin finish. This is the first time I've tried this. I actually found it enjoyable putting on the glass cloth with this stuff. I didn't weigh anything for before and after comparisons but am trying to be careful with the finish to not add too much weight. BTW, I covered the turtle deck with 1/64" ply after replacing the spruce stringers with balsa ones (except for the top center one). So (finally) for paint, not quite sure, maybe Chevron and hopefully something that will come close to matching the Monokote. I'm kind of wondering how this will all turn out.
Did you come up with anything on the retracts that you plan to use?
TR
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RE: Super Sportster 90/120
I don't know why I thought you were painting your plane, I guess with all the glass work and primer.. I assumed.. but you know how that goes...
as for the retracts, yea, I found a guy who has a "new in box" set of Rhom Air Retracts (3 gear) at a reasonable price, but he didn't say what size they were. I asked him if they were big enough for a 90/120 size plane... he said they were, but I told him to take some pics of the manual, so I can see what model they are. But more problamatic is, Rhom is no longer with us. So we'll see what happens. If they are of the correct size, then I think they will be perfect.
as for the retracts, yea, I found a guy who has a "new in box" set of Rhom Air Retracts (3 gear) at a reasonable price, but he didn't say what size they were. I asked him if they were big enough for a 90/120 size plane... he said they were, but I told him to take some pics of the manual, so I can see what model they are. But more problamatic is, Rhom is no longer with us. So we'll see what happens. If they are of the correct size, then I think they will be perfect.