Building a Ringmaster S1

[Warren Leadbeatter]

Hi Guys

I scratch built my first Ringmaster from plans.  That was fine, but I do remember that assembling the wing was difficult.  I'm now building an original S1 from an original kit, however I am replacing the parts from the kit with better, lighter, straighter balsa than that supplied with the kit.  I am amazed that the box says "Selected, precision cut balsa wood sanded to micrometer tolerance".  If that's true then someone must have replaced the wood in my kit, because it is heavy, warped and rough sawn!

I'm following the instructions and as many of you know this kit doesn't come with a plan.   I'm trying to put the wing together, and although I am an experienced airplane builder, I would have to say there is no way I'm going to be able to build a straight wing here just by following the instructions provided.  I'm going to need to lay it out on a board or use a wing jig.  Seriously this is hard to do if you try to do it the way they say to do it.

"Easily Assembled" is another claim on the box.... It makes me wonder how many people were turned off building model planes by this kit? 

Regards,

[Bob Reeves]

Warren, when I built my last one I used Tom Morris' plywood blocks for his wing jig.. Basically just a bunch of plywood blocks cut very accurately about 1 1/2 X 2 1/2. If you block up the leading edge straight and block up the trailing edge the same height and straight you should end up with a straight wing.

[john e. holliday]

Warren,  if this is one of the original Sterling kits,  you have to remember that it was top of the line back in its day.  Much quicker to build than building one from print wood.  I learned to build from the Sterling kits.  They had no full size plans as such.  The plans were a building manual on one big sheet of paper.  Of course back then I was also very glad I could put one together.  Have fun,  DOC Holliday

[Steve Scott]

The Sterling S-1 RM was my first "large" CL kit I ever built.  I was 13 at the time.  Timeframe was mid 60's and it was assembled with Ambroid cement, silkspan on everything and Aerogloss dope.  Wing was pretty straight but the stab wasn't exactly parallel to the wing.  Flew it with a McCoy 35 redhead.  Never did anything more than a wingover and inside loop but it was one of the highlights of my kidhood.



I've built several since after gaining some experience.  The later ones were pretty bad.  Weren't they using luan 2 ply plywood for the doublers?

[Rudy Taube]

Hi Warren,

If your building from an original kit for nostalgia reasons, that is commendable, but it is a tough path to follow. Even as a kid I remember thinking that this was harder than it needs to be.

If your goal is to have a light, good flying Ringmaster then you may want to check out one of the high quality Ringmaster kits from RSM. They have everything you need from the modern world to make a great plane from the past.

PS: My favorite plane from that time, the Flight Streak, is now available in a 2X version. RSM has a short kit for the Double size Flight Streak. It is a .60 size plane. It has the excellent "Doodle Streak" option too. I saw this kit at our club meeting last night and will be building one soon. 

[taildragger-j3]

I'm glad to hear you're working on a true classic. I'm finishing up an RSM Ringmaster and have just gotten a Ringmaster Jr. from an original kit in the air. I built both wings with a homemade jig made from 3/16 rod and 1X4 blocks. I'll attach a picture so you can see. It's easier to see with the Junior wing, but the regular wing builds the same way.

There are more pics of the wing jig over on the "Brotherhood of the Ring" site

[Warren Leadbeatter]

Thanks for the encouragement guys.  Yes I am building it for nostalgia reasons.  I wanted to see what it was like to build one of these from the Kit and I am trying to do it using all of the older technology.  That is, No Zap /CA glue, original steel or aluminium bellcrank, tissue or silk covering and no rattle can paint etc.

The engine will be a new 1951 Sandcast Fox 35 that I obtained from Billy G.  I will most likely enter it in a couple of Vintage Stunt contests.

Cheers

[Oregon_Flyer]

Hi Warren,

Welcome to the nostalgic arena.  I located a set of the construction plans for a Matt Kania S-6 and then
from Barre a really nice set of full size plans.  I would also like to say that while Eric [RSM] does offer a nice
kit, you can still purchase very good balsa from which you can cut out your own parts, which was what I wanted to
do.  I hope that you enjoy building your "RingMaster" as much as I have enjoyed building the two I have.  The Polywog
airfoil can be a challenge, however just take your time and I am sure you will enjoy the results.  If you have any
constructions questions, post them and I am sure that fellow "Ring" owners/members will be glad to help you.

Marv

[Kelly Wilson]

Hey, I hate to show my ignorance, but who is RSM. I would be interested in any info on the 2x size Flight Streak. 

I would appreciate any info.

Thanks Kelly

[Andrew Hathaway]

All the claims on the box are a hoot aren't they?  I'm sure at some point they were probably true when taken from the right perspective.  The two Sterling S1 kits I have/had state they include a clear plastic canopy and neither do.  The contents of the boxes almost give the impression that by the point in time that these kits were purchased (late 80's early 90's) Sterling had started packing the boxes with whatever pieces were laying around.  The wood is all very heavy, to the point that 100 grit sandpaper doesn't phase any of it.  Most of the pieces are warped.  Spar cutouts are anything but square.  The doublers are door skin ply.  In at least one of the kits one surface of the ply parts sheet is stained and laquered.    Sterling also provided these really cool molded nylon hinges that will never in a million years fit inside the 5/32" stab/elev.  The most recent Ringmaster kit even came with a pair of solid rubber wheels that are so heavy they'd probably never get off the ground.  How about the mystery wood motor mounts that are different dimensions?  Or the 'silkspan' that feels almost like a cloth and has a nice flowery motif woven into it?  In about the same time period I bought a Hellcat kit, a Jr Ringmaster, a Baby Ringmaster, and was given a current production P-51, all of them give the same impressions.  And have you seen what these kits go for on ebay?  

The P-51 has a story that came along with it.  A kid bought it for a school project and after spending an evening with mom and dad trying to get it together, it went back to the hobby shop with complaints about how the description on the box was deceptive and the contents junk.  So at least a few people were turned away from C/L by the garbage they were putting out.  In reality that kit wasn't so bad, I replaced everything but the fuselage blank and the wing assembly and someday when I get around to finishing it, it'll fly.

[john e. holliday]

Hey, I hate to show my ignorance, but who is RSM. I would be interested in any info on the 2x size Flight Streak. 

I would appreciate any info.

Thanks Kelly

Hi Kelly,  RSM is RSM Distribution run by Eric Rule.   Just google RSM Distribution and look for the one pertaining to control line.  He has all kinds of kits and hardware as well as associated things for control line.  Also he is one terrific guy.  Have fun,  DOC Holliday

[Bootlegger]

 R S M is Eric Rule and his web address is rsmdistribution.com
  He is one of the "Good Guy's"...

[Kelly Wilson]

Hey Guys,

Thanks for the prompt response. I do appreciate the info.

Kelly Wilson

[Bill Heher]

I have built acceptable RingMasters, P-51, Jr. RM. Neuport 28 , Yak from sterling kits. Place the die cut sheets face ( printed side) down on some sandpaper on a flat surface, snad with 120 grit on a block to clean up and thin the sheets.

The wings will build pretty straight if pinned flat to a board from the back of the spar to the trailing edge, and support the front of the ribs wth a straigt dowel or piece of tubing to keep the leading edge straight.

Sand the heck out of the fuse aft of the wing, back to the stab platform, the drawing shows a cross section tapered at top- rounded on the bottom and wth the thickest part at the wing centerline.

Many people extend the engine bearers farther back for increased rigidity, if nothing else add a piece of hardwood between the bearers at the wing leading edge, and use plenty of glue on he bearers and doublers.t

Finish it, fly it, and try to stop from smiling.

[Douglas Babb]

The Philly Fliers have had a 2X Streak for a few years powered with a O.S. 1.08, definitely an experience to watch and a workout for the pilot.

[Warren Leadbeatter]

My goodness!  What size lines did they use?

[Warren Leadbeatter]

Well anyway, back to the original topic...

I ended up forming the wing up on the bench, without a plan.  I ran a piece of 3/16 x 1/2" balsa under the LE along the length of the LE.   I then threaded the ribs onto the spar and chocked up the spar with some 1/2" thick scrap balsa.  I then pushed the ribs into the LE and pinned them into place.  Then I pinned the spar down to the 1/2" scrap and pinned the 1/2" scrap to the building board, using a straight edge and a square to ensure it was straight and square.

From there I glued the ribs into place at the LE only.  Next I pinned the TE into place, lining it up by eye before glueing it into place. After that I glued the ribs to the spar.  When the glue was dry, I removed the wing from the board and removed all the pins and viola, one nice straight wing!

[George]

My goodness!  What size lines did they use?

I think Dan Banjok said he uses .021 lines. Note how he is leaning back...that's from necessity, not being funny. He has a throttle that he uses occasionally to give his arms a rest. This is from several years ago, perhaps things have changed.

Awesome to watch!

George

[George]

... The two Sterling S1 kits I have/had state they include a clear plastic canopy and neither do.  The contents of the boxes almost give the impression that by the point in time that these kits were purchased (late 80's early 90's) Sterling had started packing the boxes with whatever pieces were laying around.  The wood is all very heavy, to the point that 100 grit sandpaper doesn't phase any of it.  Most of the pieces are warped.  Spar cutouts are anything but square.  The doublers are door skin ply.  In at least one of the kits one surface of the ply parts sheet is stained and laquered.    Sterling also provided these really cool molded nylon hinges that will never in a million years fit inside the 5/32" stab/elev...

My last (current) S1 kit came with a set of normal ribs and half a set that were not. It had both wooden and nylon control horn, nylon bellcrank, and both cloth and nylon hinges. It had both wooden and plastic canopy. Some parts did not fit without some X-acto adjustments, but I used mostly stock parts.

I opted for wooden control horn (reinforced with CA), cloth hinges, and wooden canopy. I also added adjustable leadouts and tip weight box. I installed the controls on the inside of the circle. Oh yes, I added an Ambroid eye cap (remember those) for a pushrod guide.

Plans were Sterling but with ESTES logo added. Box was ESTES.

George

[Tom Perry]

Andrew and others who may be interested,

Bill Sawyer makes the plastic canopy for the S1 Ringmaster and they look great.

Give him a try he is listed here in the vendors corner:

http://stunthanger.com/smf/index.php?topic=2890.0

 

[Douglas Babb]

I think Dan Banjok said he uses .021 lines. Note how he is leaning back...that's from necessity, not being funny. He has a throttle that he uses occasionally to give his arms a rest. This is from several years ago, perhaps things have changed.

Awesome to watch!

George

I can't remember but I think they are bigger, the thing weighs around 10#. The pics were taken at our picnic and the throttle battery was dead so it launched at a rich setting throttle wide open. His hands were shaking five minutes after the flight.

[taildragger-j3]

The G-Man's Ringmaster 1000 will fly circles around that F__ S__.

Ringmasters Rule!!

[Garf]

The Philly Fliers have had a 2X Streak for a few years powered with a O.S. 1.08, definitely an experience to watch and a workout for the pilot.

I don't suppose a G21 46 would pull that thing?

[Bob Disharoon]

I built my first c/l planes in the 70s..the first was an s-1 and it was a very good kit and assembled quickly, easily, and straight. I went on to build 3 or 4 more and all were of the same quality. Had Foxes on all of them and they flew great. Maybe the quality went south after the 70s, I don't know......Bob