I started working on the Sportmaster short kit that I bought from Lazer-Works today. Very nice kit! I started with the wing...

I shortened the wing 3" and spaced the ribs further apart so that I could eliminate 2 more ribs.
Those of you who have built Andrews kits are familiar with the built up ailerons. Fun stuff! The ailerons are built along with the wing and are later cut out.

Looking foward to seeing more of the build![8D]

A little progress this weekend.

One more..

Here are some pics of the aileron extraction. This is a really fun build!

You said you shortened the wing 3 inches. Was that per panel or total span?

Are you planning on any other modifications?

The wing construction looks good.

Paul

Paul,
Three inches per panel, giving it a span of 59" Yes I am planning several mods.
The original Sportmaster had a tricycle landing gear, Lazer-works offers a tail dragger option that includes ribs with the landing gear notch forward of the main spar. Mine will be a taildragger but I decided to mount my landing gear on the fuselage just forward of the wing, so I ordered my kit with no notches in the ribs at all. Oh, and by the way , the wings will be bolt on.
For power, I'm going to use my trusty OS Surpass .91 FS. I'm still thinking about going with a radial cowl like the GP Aeromaster. Kinda give it that Gee Bee look, we'll see. Other mods, obviously dual aileron servos instead of the old bellcrank linkage, I might relocate the rudder and elevator servos to the tail depending on how it balances with the .91 My goal is to keep her as lightweight as possible. I will start on the second wing panel this weekend, probably won't post anymore pics until the wings are joined.

Thanks for watching!

-Johnny

Looking forward to more pictures and updates.

A lot of my Sportmasters had bolt on wings too.

I never flew one with a shortened span though.
Should be fast.

I had a couple that were taildraggers, I used the gear and mount from an Aeromaster.
Handles nice with a tailwheel.

Paul

Well, having never flown a Sportmaster, I guess I should ask: Am I wrong for shortening the wings? Its been my experience that most of the older designs seem to be a little docile, so I thought I'd start out by a shortening the wings right away rather than get bored with it and have to go through the hassle of shortening them after its all finished. I don't think a 59"span. 675 sq." wing is too small for a .91...I'm planning on a RTF weight of about 7lbs maybe less. What do you think?

-Johnny-

Don't know if it's a good idea or not. After you fly yours and report, we'll know.

With the lighter equipment today, the wings can be shortened and the wing loading shouldn't change all that much.

I personally like the longer wing, but that is just my opinion. Who knows, shorter might be better.

Either way, I am interested in how yours flies.
Looking forward to more posts.

Diversity is good.

Paul

I got some work done this weekend. The second wing is about 80% framed up. I have all the sheeting and cap strips on, now its time to trim the leading edge sheeting flush with the ribs so that I can apply the leading edge. Then I will build the tip and cut out the aileron. I'm having a lot of fun making minor changes that will hopefully make this a good flyer, I like doing things "my way" rather than going by a step by step instruction manual. I'll post more pics when I get closer to completing the wings.


-Johnny-

The second wing was coming out better than the first one until I made a major goof. I'm too embarrased to admit what I did, I'll only say that I'm going to have to build another aileron. I'm going to try to salvage most of the structure but I will have to make some new ribs. Not too much of a big deal, I'm just mad at myself for goofing up on something that was coming out so perfectly. I told my girlfriend not to let me in the shop after 3 Bud Lights!

-Johnny-

some progress this weekend....

More pics....

I'm having a ball with this build! I love the looks of this plane!

It's looking real nice. Keep the pictures coming.
I always liked the plane better with the nose tapered to a spinner.

Paul

I had modify the fuse quite a bit to except the OS .91 Surpass and the fuse mounted main gear. I moved the firewall aft 3/8" (this required a new taller firewall) and I had to build up the bottom of the fuse sides to accomidate the landing gear mounting block. I cut the "cheeks' off of the sides so that I could build up the cowling from balsa blocks similar to a Super Sportster.

Here's one I had in 1970. Very similar nose.
Still had the trike gear on this one.

Paul

Paul,
Thanks for your responses! I remember reading in another forum (Aeromaster Bipe any info?) that you used to work for Lou Andrews. Its very cool to get comments from someone who had a hand in the production of this great design. I love Lou's design style. I love the built up "barn door" ailerons, and the stringers on the top and bottom of the fuselage. Its a very sexy fuse shape! My first RC airplane was an A-Ray that my dad bought me for Christmas along with a K&B .35 Before this, he was teaching me to fly with his Jensen Ugly Stik and decided it was time for me to start building my own airplanes. This was about '74 or '75 (I was 10 in '75).
In 1993, I built an Aeromaster from a Great Planes kit (another Christmas present from dad) and loved the way it flew. I always liked the way it looked with the top wing off and thought about how cool a monoplane version would look. I had no idea that there was one until a couple years ago while reading through the forums here on RCU. Then I discovered that lazerworks had a short kit available...Here we are! I'll keep posting pics as I progress.

-Johnny

I found some old pictures of Sportmasters.

The black and white ones I scanned from the photo aid sheet.
The picture of three Sportmasters is actually only one plus the converted Aeromasters Ernie Huber did.

The one on floats is the one I built for Lou.
The other one was Dennis Sawyers.

While I did build a few planes for Lou, most of my efforts were into the production of the kits.
I didn't have any input into the designs.

Dennis Sawyer worked for AAMCO for a while, I think he did the drafting on the Trainermaster.
Bill Harney did the drafting on the A-Ray.
They had a lot more input into the designs than I did.

Notice the two cockpits on my grey Sportmaster, this was before the Trainermaster.

Paul

Wow! Great pics! I'm leaning towards the red fuse with the black and white stripe in the 6th pic (yeah theres an airplane in that picture, actually two) #26.
I suspect that the wing shown was from another Sportmaster since the colors are different. If I do go with that color sceme, I will go with a red wing and duplicate the stripes on the tail. Thanks Paul, you have inspired me!

-Johnny-

Those pictures sure bring back some great memories. I've got a very old Sportmaster which just needs a wing and a lot of TLC to put back in the air. The pictures here are quite an incentive. I've going to cut a foam wing for mine. Just easier since I have all the equipment. I agree that fairing in the wooden nose blocks make for a MUCH better looking airframe. Great Project. I was wondering if the canopy for the Sportmaster is the same one that is used on the Aeromaster???? This would make it easy to get a new one from Great Planes. Any AAMCO experts out there have an opinion???? Thanks,

Dan
Carolina Custom Aircraft

Aeromaster and Sportmaster shared the same canopy.

I've cut that same canopy down and it fits the Trainermaster too.
I cut one down further and it fit the Minimaster.

That's the good news, the bad news is Great Planes discontinued the canopy.

If you find a source for them please let us know. I need a couple more.

John, the red one was two different Sportmasters, I recycle.

Paul

I joined the wings this morning. Everything went well. I've decided to mount the elevator and rudder servos on the side of the fuse under the tait. This will help to offset the weight of the OS .91 in the nose. With the servos in the tail, theres lots of room for a detailed cockpit....Lets see how motivated I get!

-Johnny-