Roden Beech Staggerwing

Don: I put the first coat of paint down on that last night. WIP pics on the last couple of pages of the Mighty Eighth group build. Nice little kit. A couple of things to watch for. The instructions call for the instalation of the cabin glass after you button up the fuselage. INSTALL THEM BEFORE YOU CLOSE IT UP. Lots of cleaning up of parts, Most have mold seams and some flash. Fit is generally good except for the forward wing fuselage join some putty needed there. I plan on building a couple more of these. A yellow wing version and one in civilian colors.

jbrady

Don: I put the first coat of paint down on that last night. WIP pics on the last couple of pages of the Mighty Eighth group build. Nice little kit. A couple of things to watch for. The instructions call for the instalation of the cabin glass after you button up the fuselage. INSTALL THEM BEFORE YOU CLOSE IT UP. Lots of cleaning up of parts, Most have mold seams and some flash. Fit is generally good except for the forward wing fuselage join some putty needed there. I plan on building a couple more of these. A yellow wing version and one in civilian colors.

Thanks.  That warning about putting transparency in first is important.  Still hope to pick up my kit Saturday.  I plan to do a civil version- downloaded a great pic of a red one.  That is good because the decals are black, the easiest to make with an inkjet.  I have already copied the Beechcraft speedbird- just need to color it black. I made dark blue decals for a natural aluminum D-18.

The Staggerwing is one of my favorite civil aircraft. I was lucky to get a few hours control time in one about 30 years ago. One weird thing, and this is true of a lot of Beechcraft, there is only one yoke, It is mounted in the center and swings into position on the right or left depending on who is flying. Not a good trainer.

jbrady

The Staggerwing is one of my favorite civil aircraft. I was lucky to get a few hours control time in one about 30 years ago. One weird thing, and this is true of a lot of Beechcraft, there is only one yoke, It is mounted in the center and swings into position on the right or left depending on who is flying. Not a good trainer.

The Bonanza was the same way.

I hate to admit it, but I didn't know the Roden kit existed.

Anyone know how does the Roden kit compare to the old AMT kit?

Sprue-ce Goose

I hate to admit it, but I didn't know the Roden kit existed.

Anyone know how does the Roden kit compare to the old AMT kit?

And I didn't know that AMT made a kit. I found this review of the AMT kit here http://www.aircraftresourcecenter.com/Gal10/9601-9700/gal9602-Staggerwing-Presley/00.shtm The Roden had none of the problems mentioned in that article. Fairly straight forward build.

jbrady

The Staggerwing is one of my favorite civil aircraft. I was lucky to get a few hours control time in one about 30 years ago. One weird thing, and this is true of a lot of Beechcraft, there is only one yoke, It is mounted in the center and swings into position on the right or left depending on who is flying. Not a good trainer.

The old AMT kit was the post-war version with the shorter engine mount. I had to stretch it and add the chin vents to build a C-43. The wing fuselage joints were a bear to match up. The fuselage had a kind of step for the rib pattern and the wing the usual raised bumps VERY hard to blend the two and have it come out right. I've posted some pics way back. I'll see if I can pop a few on here later.

I built the AMT kit a couple years ago.  It took some work.  I think the engine was in the same spot on the fuselage, but the G windshield has a flatter slope than the earlier models and the cowling is faired into the fuselage much more than the earlier 17's.  The cowl had to be reshaped to avoid a step in front of the windshield.  Something else with the cowl wasn't quite right but I don't remember what right now.  The aft fuselage is a bit shorter than it ought to be, and the upper stringers are to straight aft of the wing, a fault that the Roden kits share. If I had another AMT kit I'd use its interior for the Roden kit, it is pretty well done.  Reminiscent of a car kit the way it fits in tublike.

Here is a link to my build log.  With all the work it is still one of my favorite models in the display case.

http://www.yolo.net/%7Ejeaton/Propplanes/beechcraft/17/17.htm

Progress report-

I have the interior completed, but before I close up the fuselage, I need to insert the windows.  A bit of a problem there.  There are no flanges for the windows to help hold them in position- they rely only on the glue bond.  But the windows are all slightly large for the openings.  Shaving the windows and enlarging the openings for the perfect fit is a bit of a pain.  Each window is separate- there are four windows plus the windshield. It is taking a bit of time to do this, so it will be awhile before I close the fuselage (glue the two halves together).

I'll take a photo today or tomorrow of the interior as it sets ready to enclose in the fuselage.

Such a nice airplane.  A doctor friend of my moms has one that is the inspiration for my WIP.  I believe it is hangered at the Hanger 10 museum in Denton, TX but I haven't been out there in a while.  Here's a pic of his and what I hope mine will at least resemble.  Chris