Sterling P-38

[mike londke]

The latest project, the wood is awful, the fits are poor, and the instructions read like Chinese. I guess that's to be expected for a 40 year old Kit.  Eric and Walts laser cut kits have spoiled me. Anyway it should be fun to fly.

[Walter Hicks]

Mike the wood in those kits are called Templates! The wood is so hard it is easy to trace around the parts on good wood.

[Glenn (Gravitywell) Reach]

Templates!  That made me laugh out loud....wife was wondering what was going on!

I have the same kit in poor condition....ie, not a collectors kit.  I have thought of building her but was worried about weight.  I guess there is lots that could be cut away to lighten her.....but then I do have a full set of "templates"!

What power are you going to use on her?

[mike londke]

I'm not expecting stellar performance and I'm too lazy to trace the parts onto better wood.  It's  "just for fun"  airplane anyway. I like twins. It will be heavy and I'm ok with that, as long as it goes round and round.

[Dan McEntee]

  I think this would be awesome with two Norvel .061s. I have a kit stashed away for that project one of these days. I think Chris McMillin's son Michael did one of these with that set up for the Tucson twin contest?
  Type  at you later,
    Dan McEntee

[dennis lipsett]

 I think this would be awesome with two Norvel .061s. I have a kit stashed away for that project one of these days. I think Chris McMillin's son Michael did one of these with that set up for the Tucson twin contest?
  Type  at you later,
    Dan McEntee

I had 3 of them. One originally with 2 Fox Rocket 15's not really bad, not really good. about 1958
Second one had 2 OS 15 FP about 50 years later. Can you say guided missile and 90MPH flying, Dam, it was fun but it met an early end. about 1998.
Third had 2 OS 10 FP and is was pleasurable to fly and would loop, wing over and fly inverted. I didn't push the envelope with it. It could have flown perfectly with 2 Norvel 074 and they would have been the perfect match of power and fuel economy.
I gave it to a good friend and hope that he is enjoying it.
Really it would pay to replace wood as it is  a small plane and weight is a disaster on this model. Make sure that you cover the wing first before assembling the model and also inset the main landing gear into the booms. Trust me, you will be glad you did.
Do not expect a great glide ratio with this model. Landings are perfectly controlled but are accomplished in 1/2 of a circle.
one of my bucket list models revisited and put to rest.

[mike londke]

This one is getting two Cox .09"s

[john e. holliday]

The .09's would be a good choice.   I had TeeDee .15's on my last one as it was build for a racing event when we still had a circle at Swope Park.  It was great doing inside loops and wing overs.   Met it demise when I forgot the tanks were set up for racing.   The first one I had flew great with Medallion .15's.    Was not a great contender of the pattern, but got peoples attention when doing maneuvers.   Would build another one if I had a kit.  Hey Walter,  how about a bigger version laser cut?   Will check the list, maybe one of our Pat's has a kit already.

Now remember guys when these came out they were top line kits with die crunching and what did we know about wood.

[david beazley]

My flying buddy picked up a partially built one of these last weekend at a swap meet. The guy gave, as in free, it to him. It is missing the center pod and horizontal stab and elevator. Anyone got parts they can trace?

[mike londke]

My flying buddy picked up a partially built one of these last weekend at a swap meet. The guy gave, as in free, it to him. It is missing the center pod and horizontal stab and elevator. Anyone got parts they can trace?

  I can do that for you.  PM me your address again.

[Bill Little]

Hi Mike,

I have both the Sterling P-38 kits.  That one which "suggested" .15's and the "1/2A" kit intended for tank mount .049's.  I have not really checked the wood in them as I built several Sterling kits back in the day and know what to expect from them!

Let us know how it flies!  Right now it looks like my sons will e selling mine off, but you never know!!!

Bill

[dennis lipsett]

The .09's would be a good choice.   I had TeeDee .15's on my last one as it was build for a racing event when we still had a circle at Swope Park.  It was great doing inside loops and wing overs.   Met it demise when I forgot the tanks were set up for racing.   The first one I had flew great with Medallion .15's.    Was not a great contender of the pattern, but got peoples attention when doing maneuvers.   Would build another one if I had a kit.  Hey Walter,  how about a bigger version laser cut?   Will check the list, maybe one of our Pat's has a kit already.

Now remember guys when these came out they were top line kits with die crunching and what did we know about wood.

John,
Would you be interested in a 50 inch version plans and short kit. It is an enlargement of the sterling kit and this one would be perfect for 15 engines. Cox medallions or even the older os15s  series would be good. I have such a thing to let go of.

Dennis

[kenneth cook]

            Dennis, the P-38 is in good shape. I currently have 2 OS Max-S .10's on it. I was striving for 2 OK Cub .14's. This is a neat plane and looks really cool in the air. Unfortunately, the flying characteristics don't compare to it's looks. It does the basics, I'm quite certain Mike will be capable of wringing it out. You just don't see them like you see the Ringmaster. It's a fun flying airplane and it receives a lot of attention when others see it. Ken

[dennis lipsett]

            Dennis, the P-38 is in good shape. I currently have 2 OS Max-S .10's on it. I was striving for 2 OK Cub .14's. This is a neat plane and looks really cool in the air. Unfortunately, the flying characteristics don't compare to it's looks. It does the basics, I'm quite certain Mike will be capable of wringing it out. You just don't see them like you see the Ringmaster. It's a fun flying airplane and it receives a lot of attention when others see it. Ken

[Chris McMillin]

I was building up stuff to make one for Michael years ago with Cox 09's. The plan was to stretch the tail moment a little so it had enough leverage to corner  and the light engines would give it some power yet keep overall weight down. Might do the Pattern.
Chris...

[Paul Smith]

TeeDee .09's are great little engines.  Unfortunately, the lack of throttles & mufflers makes them a bit unusable for scale and stunt.  But they will be great for a twin engine sport model.

The P-38 is a popular model with the fans.  The models are like the real thing.  Fast and not too maneuverable.

[mike londke]

  Mine looks different. The LE of the rudder lines up with the LE of the horizontal stabilizer.

[Avaiojet]

Mike,

Nice build. 

The Sterling P-38 is a nice size twin. You see them on ebay from time to time selling between 50.00 and 80.00, or there about.

Bet you have your scheme picked out.

Charles

[mike londke]

Mike,

Nice build. 

The Sterling P-38 is a nice size twin. You see them on ebay from time to time selling between 50.00 and 80.00, or there about.

Bet you have your scheme picked out.

Charles

I paid $60 for this a few years back. It will be finished in silver dope and hopefully have some reproduction vinyl decals.