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Got my Stearman!

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  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Sunday, March 16, 2014 11:21 AM

The kit that I referred to in original post was from a friend who figured I'd start the build before him.  I agreed to replace the kit.  Local hobby shops are all out of the kits! I guess it is a big seller!

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    November 2006
Posted by Bearcat57 on Saturday, March 15, 2014 1:07 PM
Thanks Don...I'm just wondering how the best way to go about tackling the rigging installation would be on this. It also seems that just due to the nomenclature of biplanes that the wings, spars and fuselage should probably be painted prior to assembly (which runs contrary to my usual method) Lookin' for some guidance in that department, as I haven't built a two-wing jobby since I was a kid, and well, you know how that goes!
  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Saturday, March 15, 2014 9:09 AM

If I remember correctly, the Stearman used the flat stainless steel flying wires, not the earlier stranded cable.  Thus, the rigging should be fairly shiny and smooth. I use monofilament, colored with a silver magic marker.  Okay, it isn't flat, but at that scale it is hard to tell.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    November 2006
Posted by Bearcat57 on Friday, March 14, 2014 5:21 PM
any good rigging tutorials out there? seems like painting and rigging a crate like this could be a bit challenging....but I'm ready to take it on.
  • Member since
    July 2010
  • From: Tempe AZ
Posted by docidle on Thursday, March 13, 2014 8:50 PM

Thanks for posting Don, I have to go and pick one out at the LHS.  Add to my collection of the planes my Dad flew in the Navy.

Steve

       

 

 

  • Member since
    March 2003
Posted by rangerj on Thursday, March 13, 2014 4:09 PM

I see one or two of the Stearman at "Thunder Over Michigan" airshow every year. Check out their web site and see what is on the agenda for this years air show. Willow Run Airport is in Ypsilanti MI a few miles east of Ann Arbor. The airport and facilities were built by Ford during the 2nd World War for the building of B-24s for the war effort.

  • Member since
    February 2014
Posted by dflu78 on Thursday, March 13, 2014 12:11 PM

When I was a kid my grampa would take us down to the muni. They restored 2-3 Stearmans down there and they would always let us sit in them. We were offered rides in a lot of stuff: Decathlons, Cubs, Cessnas, Bonanzas...but I always wanted to feel the wind in my face...

I didn't even realize there was a new kit if one of these. I'm stoked!

  • Member since
    March 2003
Posted by rangerj on Thursday, March 13, 2014 11:56 AM

New modern kits of these old aircraft is most welcome. More of the Golden Age of Aviation aircraft would be nice. This new Stearman looks really nice and I can't wait to build it. I have about 100 hours in "tail draggers" and doing a perfect full stall "three-point" landing is an accomplishment. Doing A DC-3 style landing on the mains and letting it settle on the tail wheel is also a lot of fun. I'd like to see a 1/48th scale J-3, a Better PA 18 Super Cub, and a Citabria.. A 1/48th Lockheed Electra Model 10 would be nice also. I only got sick in an airplane one time and that was during an inverted stall and spin in the Citabria. Not a pretty picture. Piper several years ago considered doing a 1:1 scale kit of the old J-3, but legal liability issues and other legal concerns nixed that idea. I would liked to have built that model!!!!   Thanks for sharing Don. There was a Stearman in one of the hangers where I did my flight training, but I never saw it out of the hanger. I would have liked a ride in it. The FBO owner owned it as well as a P-51 (he flew P-51s in WWII).

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Thursday, March 13, 2014 8:52 AM

My first rides (and last) were when I was about eight years old- that would have been about 1946.  My dad was in a CAP squadron that had obtained one just after the war. I was too young to be an official cadet, so the squadron kind of adopted me as a mascot and let me have rides in their planes.  Dad did a lot of aerobatics with me in the plane, so I became acclimated to aerobatics at an early age!

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Posted by Don Stauffer on Thursday, March 13, 2014 8:49 AM

Geezer

Don,

What is the kit number on this one?

Kit number is 85-5264.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

  • Member since
    February 2015
Posted by Bick on Thursday, March 13, 2014 7:56 AM

The kit number from my box is Revell 85-5264.

  • Member since
    December 2006
  • From: Phoenix, AZ
Posted by Fly-n-hi on Wednesday, March 12, 2014 11:39 PM

Very cool!  I've got a little stick time in a Stearman.  It was alot of fun.

  • Member since
    September 2013
Posted by blackdog62 on Wednesday, March 12, 2014 11:35 PM

I came across this kit at my local hobby shop about a week or so ago and picked it. Up I posted about it as soon as I got home started getting info on it right away. I knew nothing about and found its a new revell kit and looks to be molded very well. I like seeing revell turning out there new nice kits.

They get bashed on pretty hard over there older molds.  SO 2 THUMBS UP TO REVELL.  !!!!!!!    :)

  • Member since
    November 2006
Posted by Bearcat57 on Wednesday, March 12, 2014 2:10 PM
I really want to get this one - looking forward to your build impressions of it Don. Already trying to work out in my head how I would go about the painting and rigging. (I don't normally build biplanes, so this will be an adventure)
  • Member since
    October 2012
  • From: Mt. Washington, KY
Posted by Geezer on Wednesday, March 12, 2014 2:07 PM

My only Stearman ride was years ago. The pilot was a dear family friend. Sadly, he died in 2010. In addition to being a standout athelete at UTenn, he flew C-47 and C-46 over the "Hump" in WW2. Taught more people to fly in our area than anyone did. Great, great man.

www.spamodeler.com/forum/index.php 

Mediocraties - my favorite Greek model builder. 

 

mgh
  • Member since
    May 2011
  • From: Utah County, Utah
Posted by mgh on Wednesday, March 12, 2014 1:31 PM

I would be interested in the kit number also.  My favorite online retailer has a Stearman they list as a Revel Monogram.  They list stock number as RMX 5264.

Thanks

  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: Northern California
Posted by jeaton01 on Wednesday, March 12, 2014 1:08 PM

Don, I just finished building this in the Trainer GB on this site, it has great fit.  Don't worry about the tail wheel, after you break it off it is easy to drill and pin it and then you can turn it where ever you want.  That was my procedure, if you look close you can see that it is reversed, as if the airplane had just been pushed back.

John

To see build logs for my models:  http://goldeneramodel.com/mymodels/mymodels.html

 

  • Member since
    October 2012
  • From: Mt. Washington, KY
Posted by Geezer on Wednesday, March 12, 2014 10:01 AM

Don,

What is the kit number on this one?

www.spamodeler.com/forum/index.php 

Mediocraties - my favorite Greek model builder. 

 

Dre
  • Member since
    June 2007
  • From: here, not over there
Posted by Dre on Wednesday, March 12, 2014 9:28 AM

I got to ride in a Stearman years ago on a photo flight and that has to be one of my most favorite flights ever.  The wind, the noise and the overall awesomeness of hanging by the belts to get a shot was well worth the few bruises to my face from the camera being blown about.

I hope you get the same satisfaction from that new kit.

  • Member since
    November 2009
  • From: Twin Cities of Minnesota
Got my Stearman!
Posted by Don Stauffer on Wednesday, March 12, 2014 9:07 AM

Picked up my new 1:48 Revell PT-17 Stearman Monday night.  Looks great. I understood it was new tooling, and certainly appears to be.  Molding detail is very fine.  Kit includes the tubular fuselage structure.  There are even the engine accessories for the back of the engine, though it seems to me these will be completely hidden once the engine is mounted to the firewall.  Only objection to me is that the tailwheel is part of the fuselage. I often like to build with rudder turned slightly and tailwheel not centered, as if last pilot turned hard into parking spot on ramp. If that is my only objection to inspection of kit it shows I am highly satisfied.  Haven't started build yet, so no idea on fit.

Don Stauffer in Minnesota

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