Hellcat716

My Feedback: (2)

Received this ARF last week and have begun construction. Overall the kit is very nice however I will mention a couple of minor problems I have encountered. The monokote covering on my model has tons of wrinkles that I have spent hours removing only to have them return several hours later. I have used monokote many times before and have never had this problem. I feel when they applied the covering that did not get it on tight enough. The upper wing panels are two different colors of cub yellow. I foung this out the hard way after I had glued the two panels together and took them outside in normal daylight conditions. The underside panels of the top wing match perfectly. Tower Hobbies will not take them back since I have started construction. The dummy radial engine has one broken cylinder. I don't know if I want to try to repair that myself or see if they will exchange it for me. I feel the main gear tires are very stiff. May change them out later. I am about sixty percent done so will keep you posted on the progress as I move along.

Jimmy Bananas

My Feedback: (13)

Mine is almost done..Ironing out the wrinkles now..you're right in saying, it has a ton of wrinkles..using a Magnum 120 4 stroke..I had 3 cylinders that were broken..returned it to where I purchased the kit (LHS), and got a new about 4 days later..Only I problem I've had is the eleavtor servo..It's buzzing most of the time when I apply elavator..I used the hinges from the kit,but have cut the elavator lose,and installed Robarts large horny points ones...servo dosen't buzz as much as it did before...am using a HS-645mg,at 6v battery,,,going to install a HS-945mg, at 6v and see what happens......will let you know what happens...good luck in building it...

rowdyI

The covering on mine is pretty good except for the ailerons. Covering is real wrinkeled. Any body have problems with the wheel covers? Looks like the holes are not drilled corectly. Can't seem to get them to line up.

Flyboy1958

My Feedback: (1)

If any of you guys have pictures of the airplane can you post them when you get a chance? I am real interested in getting this airplane myself, but I would like to see some pictures and get some feedback from some owners first. I'm thinking of putting a Saito 120 in mine when I get it.

carlbecker

My Feedback: (3)

I have been putzzing around with mine. I coupled the elevators together to remove 20 grams of steel from the back and changed the engine mount to place the Saito 120 at a dummy cylinder location. Now to setup a pull pull for the rudder.

Flyboy1958

My Feedback: (1)

Looks nice, if you get a chance can you post more pictures? I am real close to ordering this plane.

carlbecker

My Feedback: (3)

This is not going to be a by the book build but I'll post more. I'm building a Claude currently and that is my priority.
Carl

Jimmy Bananas

My Feedback: (13)

Here are a few pics of the finished product..will fly this week end,I hope

Flyboy1958

My Feedback: (1)

Awsome, keep us all posted.

carlbecker

My Feedback: (3)

Good luck on your maiden. Just waiting for that shot of a low slow fly by.
How much ballast in the nose? I have some 605's that have found their home in the PT-17.
Make sure you don't have a bind somewhere with that buzzing servo, I beleive GP doesn't call for much over a standard.

Carl

Jimmy Bananas

My Feedback: (13)

Carlbecker:

Beleive it or not,didn't need any ballast in the nose..she balances level..put a 6v battery in the box that sits on top of the engine mounts..will add some lead into the box also..like to have the nose pointing down at least 5 degrees..as for the eleavtor servo,finally ended up with HS-945mg servo...no more buzzing..don't think any standard servo will work there...using Futaba's 3010's on ailerons and rudder..standard servo for throttle..BTW,am using the .074 wire for controls that came with the kit...Any other questions that you might need,please ask and will answer them as best as I can.....Good Luck

carlbecker

My Feedback: (3)

That's excellent! I hate lead. I am going to do the same with the battery. Sounds like I will not have to do a pull pull for the elevator. That should make things quicker. You mounted the tail servos in the recommended place? I was thinking about moving them forward also but maybe not. Keep us updated and thanks!

Carl

jbrundt

My Feedback: (2)

Good info so far. I plan on getting one of these in a few months after I complete a move to a new house. I'm going with an OS 1.20 pumped on mine (like my ST-M). I'll also do a web page similar to my Kyosho Stearman and GP Ryan documenting the build process.

Keep us posted on how she flies.

Jeff

Hellcat716

My Feedback: (2)

I opened up the existing holes on the covers a bit and was able to get the screws lined up with out much trouble. Hope this helps.

rowdyI

Thanks Hellcat. I will give it a try tonight.

Flyboy1958

My Feedback: (1)

Do you guys think a G26 would fit on this PT-17 or would you need a cowl to cover it up like the Super Stearman?

Jimmy Bananas

My Feedback: (13)

Flyboy;

As for the G-26,it would be a good engine for the PT-17,but I tried fitting one and it didn't work out...... too much of the cowl would be cut away..just isn't enough cowl to make it look nice....

OK,first flight reports...flew good,and on the first flight,the engine quit in the air and make a decent landing down wing..put a new glow plug in the engine and the second flight was great..got to use rudder on take off...very stable and nice looking in the air..Weight the plane on my scales and it said 17 Ibs...my scales aren't accurate.so don't know the real weight of it...In my honest opinion. a 150 4 stroke would be the ticket fore this plane...A 120 do fly it good,but the 150 would be better...This plane is a keeper...

carlbecker

My Feedback: (3)

Here is a progress picture report of my PT-17. Still need to de wrinkle, pilots and windscreens, decals and CG. I placed the 5 cell battery where the lead box goes. Saito 120 with on board glow.

Carl

Jimmy Bananas

My Feedback: (13)

Carl:

Nice pics..I only see one wire for the elevator..BTW,what servo are you going to use for the elevator?....tried to fly again the other day and sorta got away from me and hopped,skip and jumped down the runway during take off...split the landing gear..the alum gear is only 4mm thick..the molding,which is fiberglass,seperated from the alum gear..It's repairable,but I did order a new one...should have it by the first of the week A friend of mine has a GP Super Stearman,and he had a little bit of a hard landing and his split also....so sorta watch it..Don't know when I'll fly it again...weather forecast is rain and thurderstroms for the next 7 days...it's spring,isn't it?...good luck

Flyboy1958

My Feedback: (1)

Nice pictures Carl, keep them coming. Looks real good, it would be nice if Saito made a dummy radial to match the girth of the actual engine. I love the looks of this plane.

carlbecker

My Feedback: (3)

I am trying to not add lead so I combined the elevator halves and move things forward that are easy. The pilots are heavy also so I cut the bottoms out and used E6000 glue. I had some Hitec 605's and a 475 for throttle. I had a Pitts with the same servos and no problems. This will be more sedate flying so I think I will be OK. The Saito 120 is bigger than the dummy's but it blends in somewhat. The 91 or 100 might blend better but I wanted the weight and a little more power will not hurt. I'm thinking wheel landings for this one. Hopefully gentle. Would love to have Robart oleo's but not worth the effort. I'm down to decals and CG. Hopefully next weekend??

Carl

Hellcat716

My Feedback: (2)

Just finishing up the Stearman. Have only spent a couple of weeks putting this airplane together and the process has gone really well. Installed a YS 91 and a five cell six volt battery over the engine and the plane balanced perfectly at five and one half inches from the leading edge of the top wing. I have ordered some vinyl graphics which should be done by next friday then she will be ready to fly. Will let you all know how the maiden flight goes.

Kmot

My Feedback: (24)

Looks real good[sm=thumbup.gif]

Flyboy1958

My Feedback: (1)

Now I really want one! What size prop did you go with? and what spinner is that? It looks real nice.

Hellcat716

My Feedback: (2)

The prop is a APC 15x7 with a tru-turn 1 1/4" prop hub.