Re: Scratch built Sig Staggerwing build thread.. Version 3.0

**RknRusty** Thu May 30, 2013 11:12 am

Excellent, looking forward to the video. Remind me, what engine is that? If I recall correctly, a reedy on bladder pressure?

JPvelo Thu May 30, 2013 12:09 pm

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8iNMsOwBNlM&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Flys great! Nice clean maneuvers as long as you don't try to make them to tight, probably because the prop is so far in front of the wing. If you make loops to tight it stalls with a very gentle mush, no wing rock at all. This thing flys great! Going to make some 42 foot lines for to open up more space. Video was shot on 32 footers.
The engine is reed valve with a product back plate bored out to where there's just barely a reed seat left. I drilled it out even larger to just past the spraybar to maximize airflow past the spraybar. I also shaved the back of the Venturi to create space between it and the firewall so the motor can breathe. Cylinder is Tee Dee .049.
The plane is painted with Rustoleum and seems to stand up to 25% nitro. I was concerned about the painted ultracoat wings but they seem fine as well.
Stay tuned for version Tee Dee .09!

**Cribbs74** Thu May 30, 2013 1:45 pm

That looks like it flies really well. Now I want one....

Did you happen to make templates for your wings? Great job Man!

Much happier ending too!

Ron

JPvelo Thu May 30, 2013 2:13 pm

cribbs74 wrote:That looks like it flies really well. Now I want one....

Did you happen to make templates for your wings? Great job Man!

Much happier ending too!

Ron

Thanks man! I probably have the master template somewhere but all I did was make the thickest part ofthe airfoil about 27% of the chord and "winged it" lol!

from there. Flat front ribs butted up to triangle stock for a sheeted leading edge. Trailing edge was sheeted top and bottom as well. If anything I would go with a little thinner airfoil next time for less drag. The fuselage and wing struts are sandwiched between ribs. I drew a horizontal line bisecting the sandwich ribs and glued a shelf in for the fuselage/struts to sit square on for assembly. Epoxy the bottom wing first, then struts, then top wing to the fuse/struts. Go for it. Makes a fun plane that looks really cool in the air.

Jim

**RknRusty** Thu May 30, 2013 2:16 pm

Excellent, JP, good building, it hangs tight. And you continue to get great performance out of those reedies. While flying inverted you could start working some outside loops into your routine, and maybe a wingover or two. You might have done one of those at first, but it's hard to tell in the video.
Keep them coming.
Rusty

Staggerwing - Scratch built Sig Staggerwing build thread.. Version 3.0 - Page 2 6625052

Staggerwing - Scratch built Sig Staggerwing build thread.. Version 3.0 - Page 2 6625052

Staggerwing - Scratch built Sig Staggerwing build thread.. Version 3.0 - Page 2 6625053

Staggerwing - Scratch built Sig Staggerwing build thread.. Version 3.0 - Page 2 662505

Staggerwing - Scratch built Sig Staggerwing build thread.. Version 3.0 - Page 2 6625054

JPvelo Thu May 30, 2013 5:32 pm

Definitely need to work the outside/inverted loop into the act. Been practicing wingovers, there's a sloppy one in the last video. Here's what the back of that motor looks like with the bored Venturi:
https://i.imgur.com/7XBM6z7.jpg

Jim

**Cribbs74** Thu May 30, 2013 5:39 pm

It's turning up really good, at least it sounds like it. Are you using the same prop or did you find a new one? I really think a MA 6x3 cut down to 5.25-5.5 will make you smile.

Ron

Edit: nevermind it looks like that's what's on the front in the picture. Good choice!

JPvelo Thu May 30, 2013 5:54 pm

cribbs74 wrote:It's turning up really good, at least it sounds like it. Are you using the same prop or did you find a new one? I really think a MA 6x3 cut down to 5.25-5.5 will make you smile.

Ron

Edit: nevermind it looks like that's what's on the front in the picture. Good choice!

That's an Ma 6x3 cut down to 5 with sig 25%. I added an ounce of klotz to a quart of fuel to be on the safe side. Was turning about 17.4 in the stooge today. I was just now playing with it and it peaked at 18.2 on the bench. It has a killer bee crank with maybe fifteen minutes of run time, I hope it loosens up some and picks up some more rpms.

Jim

**RknRusty** Thu May 30, 2013 6:48 pm

It's likely hitting over 20k in the air after it unloads.

JPvelo Sat Jun 01, 2013 5:25 pm

Well, here it is. I was practicing inverted outside loops and decided to try overhead eights. Lines went slack and snapped when the slack came out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=opcmmQyZK3k&feature=youtube_gdata_player

**RknRusty** Sat Jun 01, 2013 5:34 pm

Is it broken? Please say it's not. You were doing great.

**Cribbs74** Sat Jun 01, 2013 5:37 pm

Read the leadout thread Rusty.

Did you at least time the flight for the contest? It was going so well too.

JPvelo Sat Jun 01, 2013 5:39 pm

On a brighter note the engine is really starting to hum:
https://i.imgur.com/u7wxnp9.jpg

**Cribbs74** Sat Jun 01, 2013 6:14 pm

Yeah man it was a flawless engine run. Nice numbers

**RknRusty** Sat Jun 01, 2013 9:59 pm

JP has mastered bladder fed reedies. Just gotta work on the pilot-to-plane interface. Jim, your flying is awesome. I watched the good parts of the flight a couple of times.
Your landings are just a little rough. lol!

JPvelo Sat Jun 01, 2013 10:01 pm

RknRusty wrote:JP has mastered bladder fed reedies. Just gotta work on the pilot-to-plane interface. Jim, your flying is awesome.
Your landings are just a little rough.

Any landing you can walk away from is a good one, and I'm still walking! Smile

JPvelo Sun Jun 02, 2013 5:11 pm

And so begins #3. Don't anybody hold their breath on this one being done.
https://i.imgur.com/cZ2lfSE.jpg

**Cribbs74** Sun Jun 02, 2013 6:19 pm

If at first you don't succeed.......

Looks like you are off to a good start. We are all pullin for ya!

You did, fix the new/old one right?

Ron

JPvelo Sun Jun 02, 2013 6:32 pm

cribbs74 wrote:If at first you don't succeed.......

Looks like you are off to a good start. We are all pullin for ya!

You did, fix the new/old one right?

Ron

Yep, the new old one is fixed but not flight tested.

pkrankow Sun Jun 02, 2013 7:05 pm

Before you glue it together, scan the parts so you can give out plans (PLEASE!)

Phil

JPvelo Sun Jun 02, 2013 9:18 pm

pkrankow wrote:Before you glue it together, scan the parts so you can give out plans (PLEASE!)

Phil

I don't have a scanner but I did trace out the parts from the plank wing sig kit. I can send you a copy of those. It won't have rib outlines but I plan on doing a more detailed build thread this time so it should be easy to figure out. I would almost recommend just buying the kit from sig. It's only $19 and you get excellent Mylar decals and the cowl. You can then add built up wings if you want to for another $10 or so in balsa. I would also replace the flimsy firewall in the kit wit 1/4 ply so you have something to secure the cowl to.

If anyone is ordering from sig anytime soon I will gladly pay half of shipping cost and paypal you money for a couple staggering decal sets. I don't want to pony $15 for shipping a 1.99 decal by itself. What?

Thanks,
Jim

JPvelo Mon Jun 03, 2013 9:23 pm

Bunch o' ribs cut, twenty of them:
https://i.imgur.com/dgV52Im.jpg

Six ribs marked to square the wings to the fuse and support the wing struts:
https://i.imgur.com/53RxO2B.jpg

JPvelo Tue Jun 04, 2013 1:29 am

The horizontal markings are used as a guide to glue on a seat for the wing struts:
https://i.imgur.com/NgEu4je.jpg

A second rib is used to create a sandwich to hold the strut:
https://i.imgur.com/0r5zFh9.jpg
You want a firm fit for the strut but not to tight or the wing covering will distort and wrinkle during final assembly.

The same technique is used for mounting the wings to the fuselage:
https://i.imgur.com/fBF59be.jpg
The seat between the ribs assures the wing sits square on the fuselage.

**RknRusty** Tue Jun 04, 2013 7:49 am

Thanks for the interesting details. I like to watch build threads for ideas about how to do things. Good ideas on building don't seem to come naturally to me.

JPvelo Tue Jun 04, 2013 8:14 am

Fuselage and one wing coming along nicely. I trimmed 1/2 inch off the front of the fuselage to tighten up loops, not sure if I like the ascetics.
https://i.imgur.com/dJaL9Sv.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/FW5mro1.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/zEHfQzC.jpg

I decided to use tite bond on the wing after following Rustys thread. I'm sold, one of the easiest and cleanest wing builds I've ever done. The only place I used cyo was to attach the leading edge sheeting to the ribs.

Jim

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