Stalker 76 re in trivial puriut

[David Campbell]

Has anyone built a trivial pursuit using a 76 stalker I have a rsm kit and the plan shows a 12 inch prop i will be using a 14.2 inch prop. do i extend the wire legs on the wing or go to fuselage mounted under carriage Should i shorten the nose 1/2 inch for the extra weight of the motor. What are your thoughts
David 

[FLOYD CARTER]

Seems to me that a 76 Stalker is a lot of engine for a TP.  I built one using an older model ball-bearing OS 46 (not an LA) which had plenty of grunt.  Bigger engine will not hurt, but you will have to deal with extra weight, which isn't a good thing.

\F.C.

[Noel Corney]

Hello David, I scratch built a T/P several years when the Stalker 76 first came out ,used a 3 blade 13 Brian Eather prop. I had no problems with balance or ground clearance. I had consistency problems with the motor,I couldn't get a decent run out of the motor, Bit the bullet and retrofitted it with a P/A 75, perfect combination if you are using I/C, Today I would use an ELECTRIC.Noel.

[Steve Helmick]

I would stick with the wing gear and make longer legs and tail strut, unless you fly off grass all the time. Wouldn't shorten the nose, because the engine (I have one) is pretty long compared to (say) a ST .60, but about the same weight.

As for engine consistency, Norm Whittle was running a Stalker .76 when I first met him, at NW CL Regionals. It seemed to run well and sounded great, but when he got home, he said it didn't run right, and found that opening the venturi to .330" bore made it run sweetly. This on zero nitro. Burning more fuel can improve the engine run because it also flows more oil through. Would more oil have done the same? More power swings the same prop more easily, so reduces heating. Also might be possible to add nitro and head shims to do the same thing.    Steve

[Randy Cuberly]

As Steve said, I would stick with the wing mounted gear and just bend new gear.
Looking at my Trivial Pursuit Plans, to clear a 14 inch prop with about 5/8 inch clearance at worst case, would only require about 7/8 more extension from the stock gear to accomplish the deed.  Remember that you would want to change the angle of the gear strut (wire to keep the wheel contact patch in the same angular location with the CG.  That's equal to about an 8 or 9 degree less forward angle for the gear since your're extending the wire which also takes the wheel farther forward unless you change the angle.  That's not a good idea unless you fly off of deep grass a lot.  It tends to make for bouncy landings on asphalt.
If you fly off grass a lot you'll want larger wheels anyway.  The plans show 2 inch wheels and you could easily use 2 1/2 inch wheels even with the wheel pants.  The increase in wheel size would make the wire length even less.
While I don't personally have any experience with the engine you're using I would think a 13 inch three blade would be a good way to go for most of the 75 class engines and saves ground clearance.

My TP used a PA51 on a pipe and it was ample power for that airplane even though it was pretty Porky at 70 oz.  It flew very well under normal conditions and pretty good in steady wind as long as you had a strong arm and good grip with your tennis shoes. 
It was terrible in very turbulent conditions like we have fairly often here in Tucson in the summer time.

Randy Cuberly

[MarcusCordeiro]

To clear the 13" prop on my Legacy ARF, i had to go for some 3" wheels.
Well, no more problems when flying on grass....
My friends call it the off road Legacy...
But, it was na easy and simple solution.
We are supposed to KISS, ain't we??

Marcus

[Matt Colan]

My Trivial Pursuit has a RO-Jett 76 in it swinging a 14" prop. I just extended the gear legs to clear a prop that size. Using 2 1/2" wheels an wheel pants I never had a problem with it. I did end ripping the landing gear apart on a bad landing and made gear doors instead.

[David Campbell]

Thank you all for your help I will bend new legs and stay with wing mounted landing gear
David