Author Topic: The Stingray Kit (Read 3408 times)

Mike Griffin · « **on:** May 07, 2013, 03:20:21 PM »

Here is an update on the upcoming Stingray Kit. The Stingray was designed by Bob Gialdini and has never been kitted. I received both oral and written permission from Bob to Kit both the Stingray and the Eclipse. The Stingray will be the first design to be kitted. Due to my health and back problems, Eric Rule at RSM will be doing the laser cutting and shipping for me but when the time comes to place orders, the orders will be placed with me. Eric has done some preliminary CAD work on the Stingray but we are still in the very early stages of development and a while from production. CAD has to be done and test build of prototypes will have to be done and Eric has 70 different kits he has to maintain for sale as well. I would say we would be looking at fall or winter before this kit will be ready to be released.

I will be taking advance orders with a deposit of $50.00 sometime in late summer to early fall. Here is what the Stingray looks like.

Mike

Bart Klapinski · « **Reply #1 on:** May 07, 2013, 08:36:36 PM »

Will this kit be the one with the longer span on the horizontal tail?

Bart

Mike Griffin · « **Reply #2 on:** May 07, 2013, 09:40:19 PM »

Bart I sent you a Personal Message

Mike

john e. holliday · « **Reply #3 on:** May 08, 2013, 08:00:54 AM »

Why not let the rest of us know?

Mike Griffin · « **Reply #4 on:** May 08, 2013, 09:01:01 AM »

Hi Doc

I was not hiding anything at all. Bart asked me a question that I did not know the answer to but am in the process of trying to get an answer. I did not know that Bob Gialdini had two different spans on the stab of the Stingray but I am trying to find out and will let you know when I know...

Mike

Allen Brickhaus · « **Reply #5 on:** May 08, 2013, 08:20:10 PM »

Quote from: Bart Klapinski on May 07, 2013, 08:36:36 PM

Will this kit be the one with the longer span on the horizontal tail?

Bart

Bob only built one, I do not know of "one" with a larger stab.

Eclipse followed Stingray and the Eclipse had a larger stab.

Allen

Mike Griffin · « **Reply #6 on:** May 08, 2013, 09:32:15 PM »

Thanks Allen. I have not been able to get in touch with Bob yet but if anyone would know you would so thanks for the input.

Mike

Bart Klapinski · « **Reply #7 on:** May 08, 2013, 09:50:42 PM »

I may be mistaken but, I thought I remembered reading on one of the forums about a longer span horizontal tail on one of Bob's Stingrays. Now I have learned that Bob built only one? As I told Mike----I may be all wet on this one.

Bart

wwwarbird · « **Reply #8 on:** May 09, 2013, 03:53:44 PM »

A bit off track here, but I remember seeing a photo once of a U2 spy plane stunt model that was supposedly done from a modified Stingray. It might have been in an old Stunt News. I thought the model was super cool, still sticks in my mind. The photo was in b/w but the model also appeared to be finished in a satin black scheme.

Does anyone have any more info or pics of this "U2" model?

Bart Klapinski · « **Reply #9 on:** May 10, 2013, 07:57:21 PM »

Hi all, I did some research and discovered that I made quite an error. The expanded horizontal tail was actually on the Hi Johnson "Stuka". I would like to apologize to Mike and every one else for my Blunder. Hard to imagine that Bob built only one Stingray. One good thing came of this------I was able to converse with Mike. Nice guy! and I wish him the very best with the kit as well as his up-coming surgery.

Bart

Mike Keville · « **Reply #10 on:** May 10, 2013, 08:19:58 PM »

Quote from: wwwarbird on May 09, 2013, 03:53:44 PM

A bit off track here, but I remember seeing a photo once of a U2 spy plane stunt model that was supposedly done from a modified Stingray. It might have been in an old Stunt News. I thought the model was super cool, still sticks in my mind. The photo was in b/w but the model also appeared to be finished in a satin black scheme.

Does anyone have any more info or pics of this "U2" model?

The guy's name was Nick (I forget the last name). He was a corporate pilot from Las Vegas. The model was flown at the VSC in the early '90s.

Perhaps someone will add more info here.

Crist Rigotti · « **Reply #11 on:** May 10, 2013, 08:28:57 PM »

Quote from: Mike Keville on May 10, 2013, 08:19:58 PM

The guy's name was Nick (I forget the last name). He was a corporate pilot from Las Vegas. The model was flown at the VSC in the early '90s.

Perhaps someone will add more info here.

Nick Trifillo or something like that. He now flys with the Chicage Circlemasters and Mike Schmitt and Dennis Van De Kuur. A real great guy to talk to. Still excited about models and real aviation.

Mike Keville · « **Reply #12 on:** May 10, 2013, 08:54:38 PM »

Thanx, Crist. That's the name: Nick Trifilio. Nice guy, and a very interesting model it was!

Randy Powell · « **Reply #13 on:** May 10, 2013, 09:18:19 PM »

Joe Adamusko designed a U-2 that was published in Flying Models. I built one. Neat plane with unique landing gear. I still have the plans.

wwwarbird · « **Reply #14 on:** May 10, 2013, 09:30:37 PM »

Ok, I've definitely seen that Nick Trifilio(?) name before. Would be great to see some pics and more info on that model. Might even be enough inspiration for me to go after my first I-beamer...

Thanks guys!

Mike Griffin · « **Reply #15 on:** May 10, 2013, 09:32:35 PM »

Thank you Bart for the kind wishes and thoughts, I sincerely appreciate them. No apology necessary at all Bart I was glad to try and find out for you and I sure enjoyed talking with you also...

Mike

Bill Ervin · « **Reply #16 on:** May 10, 2013, 09:39:22 PM »

Most folks mistakenly thought Nick's Stingray was modeled after the U-2 when in fact it was the X-15. I flew models with Nick and we worked at the same airline for a few years in the nineties. If I remember correctly his was built in 1962 and it was covered in Silron ( I have a couple pictures of it at home, at work now). Didn't he win the oldest stunt plane award at VSC? My last memory of that plane was at Whittier during the '92 Knight's Joust, he had an unmuffled McCoy 40 on it goin through the pattern and MAN was it loud!

Always wondered what became of Nick, thanks for the update Crist.

wwwarbird · « **Reply #17 on:** May 10, 2013, 10:30:01 PM »

Thanks for the additional info Bill. I could be wrong, but I'm 99% sure that the photo I mentioned earlier was considering it a U2. Hopefully you or someone else here can come up with some pics.

Michael Schmitt · « **Reply #18 on:** May 13, 2013, 08:47:07 PM »

Ouch Crist! Its the Chicagoland Circle Cutters

There is at least two Stingrays--one in the AMA museum(not on display) and a second hanging in Bob's grandsons bedroom. The better of the two went to the museum.
Nick is a great guy. He flew in the Air Force for twenty years and has flown an impressive list of aircraft.
Bob's Stingray fly's very well.

Michael Schmitt · « **Reply #19 on:** May 13, 2013, 09:02:10 PM »

More pix

Mike Griffin · « **Reply #20 on:** May 13, 2013, 09:36:53 PM »

Hey Mike...so glad to hear from you again and thanks for commenting on the thread. Eric and I are really going to try to make the Stingray and Eclipse Kits something that people will be proud to own and build. I cannot say enough about how nice and helpful Bob Gialdini has been and you and Allen Brickhaus are the go to guys as well when it comes to understanding these models and commenting on their capabilities as top performing stunters.. thanks again for posting Mike.

Mike G.

Bill Little · « **Reply #21 on:** May 14, 2013, 05:55:55 PM »

Quote from: Randy Powell on May 10, 2013, 09:18:19 PM

Joe Adamusko designed a U-2 that was published in Flying Models. I built one. Neat plane with unique landing gear. I still have the plans.

Frank Warburton also did a U-2. IIRC, it was published in American Modeler. Never have been able to compare them since I don't have plans to either!

BIG Bear
RNMM/AMM

Shultzie · « **Reply #22 on:** May 14, 2013, 09:18:09 PM »

Gialdini's Sting Rays ruled my 67 through 69 years...Fret not...read Bob Gialdini's Bibles of stunt. Follow his recommendations...(beware of Engine offset and keep the balance in check...made sure the landing gear are positioned properly....FORGET THIS LANDING GEAR SET UP FOR GRASS STRIPS...(oherwise...carry some cardboard for grass. NEVER TRY TO STRETCH THE GLIDE...SET THIS MODEL DOWN ON THE TARMAC S.A.POSSIBLE!!! USE LONGER LINES...SUCH AS 68 FEET...KEEP THE LAP SPEED UP....THIS TAIN'T NO NOBLER. DO NOT USE RUDDER OFFSET~OR MORE THAN 2 DEGREES OR LESS OFFSET...! THIS RAY WILL STAY OUT ON THE LINES...EVEN THOUGH THE PULL IS VIRTUALLY SCAREEEEEEEE LIGHT..FOR FIRST TIMERS...
CAUTION!
AFTER SOME PRACTICE....YOU'LL LOVE THIS MODEL! IT SERVED ME SOOO WELL..

Randy Powell · « **Reply #23 on:** May 15, 2013, 02:08:16 PM »

Shultzie, you should get one of the upcoming kits and build a new one.

Bill Little · « **Reply #24 on:** May 15, 2013, 04:01:37 PM »

Quote from: Randy Powell on May 15, 2013, 02:08:16 PM

Shultzie, you should get one of the upcoming kits and build a new one.

I agree with Randy on this, Brother Donaldo! Would love to see you turn out a new plane.

Bill

Chris McMillin · « **Reply #25 on:** May 16, 2013, 12:34:01 AM »

I was lucky enough to see Donaldo fly his Stingrays back in the 60's and can remember how sharp his patterns looked. He was a very good flyer and either at '68 or '69 he missed the top 10 cut (back then) by 1 point. I thought he was ROBBED!

Chris...

Author Topic: The Stingray Kit (Read 3408 times)

Mike Griffin

Mike Griffin

Mike Griffin

Mike Griffin

Mike Griffin

Mike Griffin