Hello Everyone

Hope no one minds me posting here this is not an aerobatic aircraft as such
but I tried posting in the scale forum with no response.

I have a 1/3 scale Stearman 116" ws. built off Balsa USA plans.

I have the wings, fusalage and empennage ( tail sections ) all built
and I'm about to make the final mount on the wings and flying wires.
I have other bipe's but none this large and hope some who have this or
other large biplanes could share some information.

The plans call for du-bro 1/4 scale forks on the ends of solid
music wire for the flying wires. These have a bolt that slips through
one side and the wire bracket and thread into the other side, to trust
this setup I would extend the bolt and add a ny-lock nut, to much tedious
set up and take down at the field. I've searched but have not found
much for a substitute.

I sure would appreciate any information from those that have built
this aircraft or other large bipe's on how you did your wires and
set up and take down at the field.

I have built spring loaded functional landing gear that I can adjust
the initial load on the springs. The plane will come in 45-50 pounds
and I was thinking of setting them around 30 pounds on each side good
or bad?

Last question. In my searching I found many had a 150cc for power and
I have a 3w150. I also have a 3w106 but wish I had a 120cc
I found most had to add 4 to 8 pounds to the nose to balance soooo...
of the the 150 and 106 what would be the choice?

I'm not trying to have a 3D aircraft (of course it's not) but don't want to be under powered
either. The 150 is 2 pounds heavier(help on nose weight) but a little marginal on
prop clearence, will the 106 have a little power to spare?

Thanks ahead of time for any help. Hope I post this right I don't post very
often.

Best Ron

Ron, your best bet for this info is to ask in the kit builders forum. I would suggest you ask the mod in charge of this forum to move it there.

David

Hello Dave
Thanks for the reply. It says moderator under your name so I assume you are him if so I would appreciate it if thats where I should post at. If not could you lead me in the right direction on how to do so. Thanks again for the reply.
Best Ron

The 150 flies this plane very well....

I bet it would be "scale" with the 106, but the DA 150 is my choice.

Dave

Dave
Thank you for taking the time to reply to my post. That is the choice I have been leaning towards just wondered if the 106cc was enough and you are probably correct.
Most I have found on the net have been radials I can not afford or 150cc. Thanks again for your reply.
Best Ron

Ron, I have moderator privileges in three forums only. Unfortunately this is not one of the three. Most mods are this way. Only a few of them can mod in all forums. I will however do a report and ask that the thread be moved.

David

Thanks Dave I tried to find how to do it but no luck. I think age is catching up, I scratch built this Stearman and though it is out in a kit I did not think of listing in the kit building forum. I guess the gray hair has not made me smarter ha ha
Thanks for the concern Ron

With the 150 it barely takes any throttle to get the tail flying and I think I almost always takeoff sooner than I expect. The plane is certainly not fast with so much drag but has good vertical with the 150.

The plane is my dad's and it is in FL so I only fly it every now and then. I would recommend taking the time to making sure the struts slide nicely and would adjust the springs once you have it up on the gear. I would try set the compression so you can avoid bottoming out if possible. Alos if the spring is too soft it can "lean" when steering - fortunately the ailerons start being effective pretty soon to help..LOL

Have fun,
Dave

Thread moved to the Kit Building Forum.<div>
</div><div>Ken</div>

Because its a bipe, more drag and at 45-50lbs I myself would probably go with a 150. I don't think it would be near 3d power but would certainly pull it with authority. She is gona be a fun plane!!

Dave
Thanks for your reply, sounds like you have some fun when you visit your dad. Great you both have the same hobby. I'm leaning toward the 150cc I just don't think the 106cc is quite enough but was not sure. We are just a small group of country boy's and only have each other to turn to for advice which can get very interesting but we sure have fun.
Thanks Ron

Hello Tom
Thanks for taking the time to reply. I'm some what sure I will use the 150cc just thought I would check and see what others thought. It's been fun from the start. This is a scratch build and things have went very well. Little different when there's nothing else to check(delay) and your buddies are yelling give some throttle on the first take off yes it should be fun.
Best Ron

Ron,

I've had two of these over the years. Great airplanes. First one was initially powered by a Quadra 100. Wondered if it would have enough power, it was fine for scale-like flight. I say scale-like because even a Q100 is waaay overpower in HP/# compared to full scale .. but it would just barely loop from level flight. As far as I know you can't even come close to a loop from level flight with the full-scale .. unless it's got the 450 HP motor on it! Other than that, it flew well. I eventually replaced the Q-100 with a 3W-150, and it was a lot more fun.

Second one started with a 3W-120 which was more than enough power, eventually replaced with a RCS-250 radial, in my opinion the best motor for this plane.

If you want to use the 106, I would not worry about it. I have one on a 1/3 scale Pitts and it is a really powerful motor, much more so than the Q-100. Depends on how you want to fly.

Both were done with flying wires employing the standard Dubro ends, with 4-40 socket head screws and no locknuts. Remember unless you have a semi-trailer for transport you will be removing a lot of flying wires every time you fly. It takes a long time! The locknuts really are not needed.

What is required for this airplane is some innovation in how to assemble the flying wires to allow faster assembly at the field. Some of the Waco brotherhood guys are doing interesting things with keyhole slots and bike spokes (see RCU ID Stickbuilder), others have been using sister clips, if you have ideas here, it would be excellent.

On one of my two Stearmans, I left the top and bottom wings attached all the time and built a plywood spacer to hold the wing roots in correct orientation while off the plane, and then only had a few flying wires to attach .. but it did eat a lot of space in the trailer for the wing assemblies.

I am a little surprised about the nose weight .. neither of the ones I had took any nose weight. Did you put all the servos in the tail?

The stock gear can be a little fragile for the higher weights, mine were both over 50# and you have to land it really gently to avoid gear damage. A lot of guys use the replacement gear built by Darrell at Sierra Precision, so I am sure you will be happy with your custom gear.

Good luck with your Stearman, let us know what you come up with on flying wires.

Dave

Ron, for future referance. In the lower right below this box, you will see "Report" "Rate post" and "post #14". If you click on the "report" tab you will bring up a window to report a problem with this post. This is how to contact the moderator in charge of this forum.

David

Fellas,my dream is to one day build a large scale Stearman. Bipes are special birds. It will be a few years before I have that confidence to put so much into a model that I will actually fly myself. In the meantime, could you guys please add pics to your posts. For me, its better than playboy.
RWFLY, welcome to the kit building forum.

Hello Dave
Thanks for the reply. I purchased the 150 when I was just getting started on the build.
I wish I had purchased a 120, I've been watching the engine ads for a possible trade we'll
see but not to far from mounting time though. Wish I had the funds for the radial but I don't.
I'm just a sport flyer but do like to get with it a little so I will probably go with the
150 unless a trade comes up.

So you had no problem with the Du-bro ends and the bolts backing out good to hear. I was thinking
of going cable instead of solid wire and leave them attached and rolled up at the fuselage end.
I read in the scalebuiders forum where a 1/3 Pup and one other lost a wing to they say wire stretch
and talked to Dave at BUSA who also mentioned wire stretch so going the solid wire for sure and
looks like the Du-bro ends being you had no problem. Dave at BUSA suggested maybe using the the Du-bro Kwik
clip clevis with the pin, ordered some got them today. I'm not sure on these the pin diameter looks a
little small.
I really like your idea of building a crutch at the root ribs and leaving the "N" struts and wires attached.
I think I already have a good idea how to do that. Thanks for the idea. I'll check out stickbuilder for
other info.
As far as the nose weight I found that in searches I did, one had 8 pounds don't remember what engine.
BUSA had 4 pounds but with a smaller engine. I'm just now starting to mount the wings and wires so don't know
on mine nice to hear you did not have this problem.
Mine is a scratch build off BUSA plans, I don't have the tail wh.,fin etc fairings so those will be framed
up plus I always seem to find a place to add an extra brace or something you know how that goes.
I also fabric cover all my planes and probably add some more there.

I looked at the Sierra gear but it was $320.00 so I opted to build my own, they turned out pretty good. What tires
did you use Dave? I found some good looking 8" ones at AMR $85.00 each do you know of another source for tubed tires?
I want to thank you for taking the time to share all this info Dave hope to hear back from you.
Best Ron

Hello David
Thanks for the info I need all the help I can get most of the time. You have been very helpful and I thank you.
Best Ron

Hello Steven
BETTER than playboy? Sounds like you need to start one of these right away. Just joking.
Thanks for the nice welcome. I don't post much and know very little about doing so, can't
even add a smile face. Check back I'll give it a try on the pictures. Thanks again for the nice welcome.
best Ron

I own a large tanning salon so I see pretty girls all day long, and it is nice.   But a Stearman, now thats a treat. 

Ron,

I don't recall the source of the tires. They looked like giant Dubros, but I suspect they were not. And I don't recall them being much over 6-7" inches. I believe I still have a set (used but servicable), if you are interested I'd be happy to send them to you... they are no use to me gathering dust and I'd be happy see them flying:-)

If you are interested let me know and I'll measure them.

The AMR ones are fine, I am sure they would work for the BUSA Stearman if they are the same ones they use on their Waco.

Dave

This is my buddies 44% extra 330. The engine is a 3w 212cc 4 cylinder. The plane weights 44lbs. Power to weight is awsome.

Hello Dave
That is a VERY nice offer. We only have one signal light in town and no hobby shop. All our supplies are mail order. We fly our larger planes off a farm field and have to deal with frost heaves and hay stubble so was looking at 8" to gain a little prop clearance. My address is:
Ron Weisz
15 Red Barn Ln.
Grangeville Idaho 83530

I would be willing to pay you what you think is fair just put a note if you decide to ship them and I will send the funds.
Thanks Dave
Ron

Hello Tom
That is a great video someone is good on the camera and very good pilot he flies Exactly how I wish I couldThat engine is something else I did not hear one blip out of it and I love the sound thanks for sharing it. How is your weather? I flew today first time this year very exciting the first few moments.
Best Ron

Steve
Tried to load some picture's but so far a no go. The link says they uploaded but I DON"T KNOW WHERE.I did figure out the smile face. I will keep trying.
Best Ron

Steve Just grabbed two pictures real quik to see if I got It if It works I'll post a few more.
Best Ron