Sterling Beginners Ringmaster Bipe

badbill Sat Jan 14, 2017 6:25 pm

My new Sterling Beginners Ringmaster Bipe, built from the original kit- which by the way was excellent, best sterling kit I have ever seen. Custom TDBandit assembled motor up front, that he put together from my several pounds of Cox parts. I'll have to try to get him to tell ya'll about it ....

Ken Cook Sat Jan 14, 2017 6:48 pm

Neat airplane Bill. I have had several of those years back. I'm down to one now and it's Golden Bee powered. Watch the top wing on grass landing. It can break where the struts are cutout in it taking the struts and cracking the wing lengthwise. I loved the P-47 from that series it taught me how to fly inverted.

Kim Sun Jan 15, 2017 5:05 am

Beautiful Classic there. Put a lot of time on mine back in the late 60's and recycled that sheet metal engine mount across several more models !

Sterling Beginners Ringmaster Bipe Ringma10

Sterling Beginners Ringmaster Bipe Ringma10

getback Sun Jan 15, 2017 8:10 am

She looks GOOD as always Bill , I need to finish mine from Roger Harris been sitting on the bench for a year now Sad

Throw us a flight report if you have time > Very Happy

Ken Cook Sun Jan 15, 2017 11:01 am

This post brings back a lot of good memories flying it. Here's my only example left. My first one was orange and blue, Sunkist can colors. I totally devastated that one and all that was left was the gear and engine mount. I see the dope has warped the leading edge of the top wing a bit.
Sterling Beginners Ringmaster Bipe Dscn2626

Sterling Beginners Ringmaster Bipe Dscn2626

getback Sun Jan 15, 2017 2:15 pm

HERE'S A PIC OF MY UNFINISHED !! Sterling Beginners Ringmaster Bipe Brb_as10

rsv1cox Sun Jan 15, 2017 2:34 pm

And my Bandit Bipe.

Sterling Beginners Ringmaster Bipe Bipe_f10

Sterling Beginners Ringmaster Bipe Bipe_f11

To my shame, still clean and in one piece.

Bob

TDbandit Sun Jan 15, 2017 6:47 pm

Hi all long time no see, sorry that it's been so long. Anyway very nice Bill Smile

The engine is a baby bee converted to a black widow with a KK modded backplate N/V assembly with a matched #1 P/C set and TD head
The tank is the older "G" clip type with a mylar reed. before assembly I surfaced the crankcase on a glass plane using 600 grit W/d sand paper and sealed the tank with a new O ring at the veturi and a dab of orange RTV under the backplate screw heads. It tached 18k on a cox 5x3 grey a major improvement from the before 14,500rpm. It was a fun build Smile

Can't wait to see er go!
Small Cox Logo

(Bandit)

badbill Sun Jan 15, 2017 7:34 pm

This baby is gonna scream!

badbill Mon Jan 16, 2017 5:22 am

Why is everyone's cabane struts different? I followed the plans?

rsv1cox Mon Jan 16, 2017 7:08 am

badbill wrote:Why is everyone's cabane struts different? I followed the plans?

I modified mine into a trainer version and the plan struts interfered with the cut in forward cockpit. Besides, my pilot told me he had no forward vision with the plan struts. Smile

Sterling Beginners Ringmaster Bipe Boeing10

Bob

badbill Mon Jan 16, 2017 11:01 am

rsv1cox wrote:
badbill wrote:Why is everyone's cabane struts different? I followed the plans?

I modified mine into a trainer version and the plan struts interfered with the cut in forward cockpit. Besides, my pilot told me he had no forward vision with the plan struts.

Bob

i pretty much guessed that one, but Ken's got me thinking....

Ken Cook Mon Jan 16, 2017 6:34 pm

I changed the struts due to the stock ones constantly breaking on the top of the fuse. After I carefully sanded in the proper angle to the side of the fuse, I pinned the two across with a 1/8" dowel. My others had the struts glued to the top and after the second break, the glue joints become even stronger in which the fuse would tear apart. I certainly wasn't flying with the skills I have acquired over the years so I'm quite certain I could make a survivor out of the stock setup. I'm quite certain yours will be just fine. Good luck with it, it looks terrific. It resembles a Midwest ME -109 1/2A that I have due to a similar paint scheme. Ken

badbill Mon Jan 16, 2017 7:38 pm

Ken Cook wrote: It resembles a Midwest ME -109 1/2A that I have due to a similar paint scheme. Ken

Thanks Ken.. except mine doesn't have a drop of paint on it Smile

PeterJGregory Tue Jan 17, 2017 10:33 pm

Hey Badbill - that is a real looker. You set the bar pretty high - I am usually aiming for "flyable" class finish, few if any style points.

getback Wed Jan 18, 2017 7:06 am

Thanks Ken.. except mine doesn't have a drop of paint on it Smile Laughing wrote:

??? Is that not yours up top ??? (this maybe the day i clean that fun bench!!)

badbill Wed Jan 18, 2017 7:34 am

getback wrote: ??? Is that not yours up top ??? (this maybe the day i clean that fun bench!!)

It is, and is covered entirely in the hanger 9 parklite covering material. Took about 4 hours to cover it!

KariFS Wed Jan 18, 2017 7:53 am

That's a neat covering job Bill. Did you cover the parts separately or was the plane assembled?

badbill Wed Jan 18, 2017 9:15 am

KariFS wrote:That's a neat covering job Bill. Did you cover the parts separately or was the plane assembled?

All the parts were covered separately, then it was assembled like an ARF kit.

g33kfly Sun Jun 04, 2023 10:08 pm

Hello... New here but would love to build one of these. Had one in the early 80s as a teen and got into r/c later. Started flying with an old friend recently and we have decided to build a few 1/2A planes for nostalgia. Is there anywhere a guy can get a set of plans for this?
Thanks,
Don

Oldenginerod Mon Jun 05, 2023 4:45 am

g33kfly wrote:Hello... New here but would love to build one of these. Had one in the early 80s as a teen and got into r/c later. Started flying with an old friend recently and we have decided to build a few 1/2A planes for nostalgia. Is there anywhere a guy can get a set of plans for this?
Thanks,
Don

Took some finding but see how you go with this. I don't know how to set the scale so that the plans print out. Just keep trying until it comes out the right size I guess. 20 3/4" span. Pat King (who drew these plans) is the guy you need.

Sterling Beginners Ringmaster Bipe Begrng10

getback Mon Jun 05, 2023 6:03 am

Looked but don't have the plan , when we were building the Bipe a few of us had bought the kit from Roger Harris but he is not on here anymore .. You could contact Pat here and maybe he would see you a PDF of the plans for pretty cheap ? >> https://stunthanger.com/smf/open-forum/ringmaster-i-know-its-been-asked-before-but/ scroll down or join in its free . Very Happy

and Welcome to the Forum !!

rsv1cox Mon Jun 05, 2023 7:27 am

As Ken mentioned - memories - I haven't thought about this plane for years. Had it stuffed under my train set with others. My Roger Harris build has picked up pilots since last offered in photos here.

Sterling Beginners Ringmaster Bipe P1015509

Sterling Beginners Ringmaster Bipe P1015510

getback Mon Jun 05, 2023 7:42 am

So Bob , you added the struts in the center ?? Does the CG come out good with the BW on front , i still need to finish mine and have been eyeballing it lately .. down to putting gear on and then top wing . Laughing

Oldenginerod Mon Jun 05, 2023 8:02 am

I'll have to dig my Roger Harris kit out. Made a start on it while all you guys were building but didn't get very far. If I remember correctly, Roger supplied a plastic cowl (deodorant can top) but I'm sure the Black Widow or Golden Bee will be far too long. I had planned on using my NIB Black Widow that I won in the Tach Race but that wouldn't fit in the cowl. I think Bob's "trainer" version used a Mini-Black Widow, using a 5cc black tank if I recall. Nose still looks pretty long.
I'll get back to it one day (maybe Crying or Very sad

)

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