I have tried once to build a 1/2 plane and fly it and I flew it once and gave it away.  It was a 1/2A size Doodle Bug and I put and Norvel .61 Big Mig on it.  I had someone launch it off the top of one of the picnic tables at the field and all of a sudden I felt like I had a constipated bat with rabies at the other end of the 35' lines.  I gave it a little up elevator and the damn thing did a wing over and I was spinning so damn fast the bottom of my feet were burning.  I was so glad when that thing ran out of gas I could cry.  I took it home, took the motor off and gave the plane to some kid.

Now, There seems to be a big contingent of 1/2 A flyers here and I would not mind building another one if somebody can tell me what went wrong with the one I mentioned above.  I really don't want that experience again..

Dazed and Confused

Mike

Absolutely. Do anything Jim T. tells you. He has guided me through many 1/2A building quirks and tips. Like he said, always start nose heavy and work your way back to the amount of twitchiness you want. A Norvel Big Mig is one hell of an engine. After they're broken in, some of them can turn certain props close to 30k. So if that's what you use, I would recommend a 7-10 ounce plane on 40-45' lines. The Brodak Baby Flite Streak is a great match for a Big Mig or a Tee Dee .049/.051, and is my favorite plane, I have one with each of the aforementioned engines. And you may find a simple pressure bladder is the easiest cranking, non hiccupping fuel supply to use. Those are quite simple to make in the shop and swap out in the field if necessary.

!/2A is pure unbridled fun. A well built one will go anywhere you point it as quickly as you want it to. It takes practice to learn to keep up with it, and also to build it so that it has good flight behavior. But they are light enough to punish and keep flying, especially if you keep some CA glue in your flight box.

With a Big Mig .061, you have enough power with the muffler to tame it with a prop to whatever level you can handle. If you want to squeeze into a 35' circle, you can use an APC 6x2. If you want to go out to 45', a master airscrew 5.5x3 will bust out some hot laps. An MA 6x3 is about the maximum, and you'll hear the engine getting a little unhappy in tight loops. An MA 5.75x3 id a good compromise.

If you use a Tee Dee, I'd say the same APC 6x2 for 35', an MA 5.5x3 for 40' and an MA 5.25 or 5x3 for 45'. These have been my successful setups with my two Baby Streaks. My Norvel .061 streak weighs 7.2oz, and my Tee Dee Streak weighs 9 ounces. With Master Airscrew props you'll need to buy the GF series 6x3 and trim it to your preferred size, and balance it.

To see my Baby Streak with a Tee Dee fly, click my Youtube button under my avatar and watch the featured video. You can click on "Videos" to see my Big Mig powered one fly (the title has "Sunday 1-20-13" in it).

Good luck and have lots of fun.
Rusty

As a 1/2A addict, I can assure you that a properly chosen, powered, propped model on appropriate lines is a tame beast capable of competitive pattern in the hands of a normal mortal.

Big Mig .049 or.061, Sky Sport model from rsmdistribution.com , APC 5.5x2.5 prop, 10% Nitro, 10% Castor, 10% Synthetic fuel, .008 x 45 ft lines and the Ultimate 1/2A handle, again from RSM.

Totally a competitive combination.

We regularly fly 1cc (.061) competitions here and the scores are usually in the high 400s.

Bill Netzband was a giant in the CL world, but the Doodle Bug was intended to be flown like the Bi-Slob. Not a smooth, competitive stunter. His Bearcat was an awesome 1/2A stunt machine.

I guess Larry is the voice of sensibility here. That would make me the voice of the over excited wild man from sport land. I've just never approached it from that point of view, maybe because I never even knew such a thing as competitive precision stunt existed until a few years ago. Being a life long loner at the sandlot, I made it up as I went along.

One problem typical to 1/2A is the small bellcrank so often used.  I found using a homemade BC with 3" line spacing really tones down the twitchiness so common to the small planes.  Slows the controls down considerably, gives flight characteristics more nearly like the big guys. Only problem is fitting it into small wings; encourages creative thinking. External mount of course is no problem.

I have used a hand made wooden 4 inch bell crank up through TD 09 airplanes.  It is a trick getting one into a 6 inch chord wing.  There are pictures with my Cheap Thrill Article in Model Aviation. 

Agreed. The Pinto, Hunter Stunter, and Baby Pathfinder are 235 sq.in., the Sky Streak is 250. Compare to the old Top Flite Baby Flite Streak at 135, and the 1/2A Snapper at 105.

Thanks for the great help Gents!  Randy, I have never seen a bladder and your video was extremely well done and an education for me.  The true appeal of 1/2A is "FUN!"  I remember flying in the street at home,  and in parking lots on weekends as kids. 
Thanks again,
\Steve

Mike,

Like Larry, I am also a 1/2a Nut.  I flew my 1/2a (Norvel .061/AP Case) in every contest this year. And not in any 1/2a events because there isn't any. I fly it against everyone else in ether Profile, 25 and Advanced PAMPA Class, scoring over 500pts in most of them.  So 1/2a can be competitive.

I just flew my new Half-Lite Stunter (210sq in) this weekends Golden State Stunt Championship.  Here is the video of my flight.  Sorry for the Camera position, but the wind changed right after I started the Camcorder.

My setup is similar to Larry's, but I just recently changed to 48' X .008 lines, giving me a lap time of about 4.5sec.  I also run a little more nitro (20%).

You can make them quite agile, and flapped if you're feeling saucy.

This little terror was a touch overpowered with a tee dee 049, but englarged would be good fun on 45 foot lines.

That's great to know. Next time maybe I'll enter two events. 1/2A is more convenient for me to practice since I can just walk across the street on a whim. No planning and car packing.

Rusty

I've been wanting to build the Pinto and have the plans.  How should I set it up. Engine? Lines? Type of tank?

Hi Duke,
Here's what RSM says about it:
http://www.rsmdistribution.com/kit-detail.php?pn=pint&src=kits-half-a.php

Probably 42' lines, I would guess

Rusty

Hey Rusty! Hope you are good.
I was thinking more of the set up to compete against my sons in beginner stunt.  I'd love to beat my sons with a 1/2A. My oldest son flies an Oreintal, I might even paint the Pinto the same colors.

Does this make me a bad Dad?

My wife says she has four kids, I only have three.  Maybe that's what she means.