Nintendomaniac_00

Good thread E-Gap. Nice work on your Fleet! Understand your reluctance on the Sterling - kind of a challenge to prove it can be done I guess. I am also working on a 1/6 Concept Fleet. Nice kit. I work on it here and there to offset the Sterling kit negative mojo. NM

Fleet

In the early 70s , I built and flew a Sterling C/L PT Stearman. Over kill on the fuse stringers and ribs were 2 inches apart on a 30 inch or so wingspan. Flew nicely on a throttled K&B .19.

Is there an overall plan to perhaps market this laser issue of the Sterling R/C Stearman?

Ray W.

Nintendomaniac_00

Laserworks cuts a lot of different kits - check out their site
http://lazer-works.com/main.html

They do a nice job and can help jump start you on a build. They don't supply plans.

E-Gap - I don't know of any marketing other than their site and word of mouth.

Regards, NM

Nintendomaniac_00

Here are some additional pics of the cabane set up. I completed the prep and rough alignment and soldered the hoops. I also used my incidence meter directly on the saddle to get a positive 1 degree of incidence. The small holes on the saddle are for sewing on the hoop. More to follow. NM

vmsguy

I got an email from Eddie last night.

He's shipping my kit back to me.

The good news is, he has successfully completed making forms for the dummy engine.

It looks like dummy radial and/or cowling is now an option.

Those building, might want to contact him and figure out what you want to do...

xxwolfyxx

My Feedback: (1)

Love this threat.

I have 2 sterling stearmans and a midwest waiting to be built. figure I'll do the midwest first as a dry run / practice build.

rcten

Hanging in there!

vasek

My Feedback: (4)

NICE!

Nintendomaniac_00

rcten
Good to see your Stearman coming together.

All
Here are some progress photos on the top wing saddles. They show the copper wire sewing and the set-up to epoxy the cabane wires to the plywood saddles. I covered the joint with saran wrap and then clamped the top wing on to set them in the proper position. This is one part that takes numerous setttings and measurements to get just right. Read that as; a couple of days excersizing the "patience of Job." NM

Nintendomaniac_00

All
Once the epoxy set up and the plywood saddles were fixed into position I used my dremel to smooth everything up. The next step is to attach the balsa saddles. I first opened up the holes for the cabane wire so everything fit well. With the copper wire sewing sticking up a bit, I also needed to make some clearance for the balsa saddles to mate up to the underside of the plywood saddles. I used my trusty dremel and a sanding drum to make a pocket for them to nest in, then epoxied the balsa saddles on. I have every clamp I own employed on that job! Next is to sand them, and blend them in to match the wing. Trying for a nice look like rcten got on his. NM

Nintendomaniac_00

Ok Here is some fun stuff while waiting for the epoxy to cure. Besides, I don't have any clamps to do anything else with - LOL. Here is the bottom wing blue center section and graphics. I had to fudge the graphics over a bit to avoid the servo cut outs, but they look ok I think. Hope you are still having fun with your RC project(s). Regards, NM

vmsguy

Will you be in the air by Halloween???

Nintendomaniac_00

Hmmm - scary thought eh?

I do have some vacation time later this month....

Any thoughts on pilot(s) and cockpit finishing?

Nintendomaniac_00

Here are pics of the wing saddle shaping. I outlined them with tape, to protect the wing, and then used a combination of the dremel with a sanding drum and a carving knife to blend them into the shape of the wing. Pic 3 shows the finished product - they came out ok. The next step is to install the wood sleeves over the cabane wires. You gotta love carving and shaping on these old school kits! More to come. Regards, NM

Fleet

I do love the light treatment on the covering scheme. Translucent has it's charm.

For me, the carving is the fun part. Challanging but fun.

My carving submission:

Nintendomaniac_00

Wow nice amphibian! Here are a few pics of casing the cabane struts. I slit 3/8 x 1/2" pcs of balsa with an exacto knife, grooved them out, and then epoxied them to each wire strut. Next steps are to shape and cover them. NM

vmsguy

NM..

Looking pretty darn good.

Just a thought.. wouldn't you want to shape them before you glued them to the plane?

Maybe its just me, but if I attempted to shape them while attached to the plane, sure as shootin' I'd puncture the covering and dent/break something else.

Nintendomaniac_00

Good point vmsguy. That probably would be easier overall. I use some tape to protect what I dont want to carve. I started out thinking this was a "dinky" carving job and so would be the same difference - we'll see. NM

Follow-up:
I used a knife to carve the edges, a sanding block to get a round shape and a shoe shine technique with sandpaper to finish the struts ready for covering. It took about 25 minutes to do 2 of them last night. I'll post some pics tonight when I get the other 2. NM

Nintendomaniac_00

Here are some some pics of the struts. I used some micro-balloons and epoxy to fill in around the strut to saddle joint. Covering next. Slowly pecking away.... Got pics? NM

rcten

Hi NM, your Stearman is looking good, still plugging away also, got the wings aligned and bolted up now working on getting motor and supporting gear set. I see your also building a Concept 1/6 Fleet,
I have the 40 size, you probably saw it in some of my photos, would like to build the 1/6 size too and fit it with a Saito 90 3cyl. Enclosed some photos of progress.

Nintendomaniac_00

Nice pics rcten! Now that's an engine! Good to see your progress. On the Concept 1/6 scale Fleet; I think the 90 3 cyl would be pretty big for that plane. Is is a very lightweight structure set up for electric with an option for a .50 size four stroke... Target weight ~6lbs. That 90 weighs in at 30oz. On another note; I noticed Saito is getting ready to release a 2.00 3 cyl radial engine - that would be a good one for the 1/4 scale fleet.. :+)
Regards, NM

Nintendomaniac_00

Ok making some headway on the wing saddles. Got them covered. Next step is covering the cabane struts. Started by winding a narrow piece of covering on one to see how that would work. I have the week off so I should be able to get out to the shop. Raining here, so no yard work. Wahoo! Regards, NM

Nintendomaniac_00

Got those pesky struts covered and set up the aileron linkage on the bottom wing. Here are a couple of pilots but neither looks quite right... Started the final sand out on the top wing. Hope to cover it tomorrow. Regards, NM

vmsguy

Agreed, neither pilot looks quite right.

The guy in the front seat is too big...

The guy in the back seat looks like he's sitting too high up.

Also would prefer a guy without the leather head-gear. Just goggles, and headphone/mike. But that's just me.

rcten

NM,Your getin there, someday I will be also, if I could just stop complicating each step. Working on the making the firewall treatment more difficult now. Instead of using the supplied 1/2" or so firewall, I opted to just add 1/8" firewall to the 1/8" bulkhead already there, this gives me a 1/4" firewall, which I feel will be quite adequate. I then proceded to make a 3/4" balsa ring to surround engine just behind the exhaust ring to replicate the original. This will also help offset some of the nose weight the 40 oz. engine brings with it.