Balsa USA Stingray 120 Build
 

Which Hitec servos would you guys recommend for this kit? I've started building it and I'm close to mounting the servos. I've always used the cheap Hobby King servos in ARF's but since I've put so much time into a kit, I would feel a little more peace of mind using a "higher quality" servo.

Here are the specs...It's basically like a Sig Four Star 120 but is supposed to be a little lighter.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1981939 http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1981940 http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1981941

I built one several (15+) years ago. Flew it with a Fox .78, and used HiTec HS-422 through out. Never a problem. It's a pretty slow flying model, so at the most you need hi-torque standard servos. This plane is a hoot to fly.

Did you go with a single elevator servo or one for each elevator half? The dowel rod connecting the two halves seems kind of flimsy. I was thinking of going with a Saito 150.

If anyone's interested I can post pics of my build progress. This is my first traditional kit. I've only built one other kit and it was a laser cut wing a tail kit for a Slow Stick so it wasn't even a full build.

Here's what it looks like inside the box.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1981946

The wing taking shape.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1981965 http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1981966

More wing pics

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1981967 http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1981968 http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1981969

Looking good :)

Like TLH101 said, you shouldnt need much more than decent high torque standard servo's for this. Something like the futaba 3152's would be perfect, or whatever other brand similar in spec's. It does not have massive control surfaces, so you don't need monsters in it.

I went with Hitec HS=425BB for everything except the rudder which is a HS-645MG.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1981970 http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1981976 http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1981977



I'm not sure about the elevator setup though. The dowel rod joiner seems kind of flimsy but that's what the plans called for. I've been thinking about cutting the dowel and using two servos for the elevator.

Or, you could stick with the single servo, and just use a Y on the elevator end of the pushrod.

I think for now, I will go with a single elevator servo...Here's more progress.

I made a mess getting the wing halves glued together. Next will be sheeting the wings.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1981984 http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1981985 http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1981986

Getting the wings sheeted.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1981987 http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1981988 http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1981989 http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1981990 http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1981991

It wasn't in the manual but I added shear webbing on the spars for added strength.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1981992 http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1981993

Looking good! :)

I'd like to thank Balsa USA for making me a better modeler by making me shape square stock for the leading edge instead of supplying me with a round/half circle piece.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1981994 http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1981996

They are just looking out for you!

lol, lucky me..

Getting closer.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1981997

OK, I'm calling it quits here.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1981998

I learned to fly with a BUSA Easy 100 and built about five of them before moving on to something with a little more performance which was a Stingray 40. I always wanted to build the 120 but never got around to it. I see they still sell the plans so maybe someday.... I think you would be okay with the dowel rod between the elevator halves if you epoxied it in and then do a wrap around it up to the balsa wood with some fiberglass cloth. BTW, BUSA makes you earn what you end up with with all the sanding and carving you have to do to build one of their kits, lol.

Those magnets look familiar. Where did you get them? I forgot to mention in my first post that your build is looking real nice. I think you will love that plane.

Thanks for the comments. I got my the magnets from this guy.

http://www.magnetsource.com/airfieldmodels/

Cap stripping the wing now. Had to cut a 1/4 inch strip of balsa to cap each rib.


Before

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1982074


After

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1982075


The outer ribs got a 1/2 inch cap

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1982076

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1982259 http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1982260 http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1982261

Very nice job. This is a wonderful airplane. My old flying buddy in Wyoming, Fred Hildebrand, has been flying one for years. I could never find a kit. :(

Thanks! I can't wait to get this finished...first real full build and I can't wait to start the next!

Going to "upgrade" the landing gear. The one's included in the kit are pretty lame. I'm going to add some wheel pants too. This is the Sig Four Star 120 landing gear.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1982265 http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1982266 http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1982267


This is the look I'm going for. I even like the color scheme.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1982268

Got the fuselage sides laid out and ready to laminate

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/atta...mentid=1982269