Author Topic: New Ringmaster (Read 5085 times)

Warren Leadbeatter · « **on:** September 28, 2007, 07:41:04 PM »

Production has slowed since I am now busy again at work. But here's where I'm up to with my new Ringmaster built from the Kit. This is the one that I have actually used the old kit to make my own parts.. so I guess you could say it's scratch built from the kit. lol

The LE is a bit non standard though. To make it a bit lighter, straighter and stronger I built up my own box sction LE and it is about 1 oz lighter than the one in the kit.

Engine will be the 1951 Sandcast Fox .35 that I obtained from Stunthangar.com via Billy G!

The covering is lightweight model span free flight tissue. Wing will be covered in silkspan.

I just thought I would share this with y'all to let you know I'm still around.... :-)

Cheers

Tom Perry · « **Reply #1 on:** September 28, 2007, 10:36:26 PM »

Lookin' Good Warren.

Do you have any pointers or methods on how you cut the holes for the spar. Yours looks straight and well centered in the picture.

Warren Leadbeatter · « **Reply #2 on:** September 29, 2007, 02:02:07 AM »

Hi Tom

To be honest... it's not as good as it looks in the photo. I simply traced the ribs from the kit onto sheet balsa, and cut them out with an exacto knife. The end result was that it is pretty straight but a little bit rough. In fact its the only part I was not real happy with, but I wasnt going to waste any balsa doing the ribs again.

Cheers

Paul Taylor · « **Reply #3 on:** September 29, 2007, 08:33:34 AM »

Warren,
I have never heard of anyone doing the LE that way very Kewl!

Paul

Warren Leadbeatter · « **Reply #4 on:** September 30, 2007, 05:40:34 AM »

Made a bit more progress today...

Larry Price · « **Reply #5 on:** September 30, 2007, 12:48:53 PM »

Warren,
A most excellent job.

I really like what you've done so far.

Mine just sits on the shelf, bare bones, waiting for covering and paint. Sigh... have to wait for my classes to be completed first. Spring break maybe.

taildragger-j3 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 30, 2007, 02:59:40 PM »

Warren, you'll have that all done and ready to participate in the Ringmaster Round-up next Spring in Houston, TX. Ought to be an easy hop, skip, and jump for you to get over for the meet, but I don't know how well Ringmasters pack in suitcases LOL.

REALLY nice looking ship. The one I'm building with laser cut parts, doesn't look as good! You've done well.

Warren Leadbeatter · « **Reply #7 on:** October 01, 2007, 08:57:19 PM »

I sure wish I could find a cheap and fast way to get there... it gets lonely flying by myself down here. $:-\$

Heres the latest pics with wings now covered... still need to put more dope on though yet...

Cheers

Bill Adair · « **Reply #8 on:** October 01, 2007, 10:24:14 PM »

Hi Warren,

That's a great looking Ringmaster! H^^I

Brings back lots of fond memories.

Mine were all Sterling kits, with no effort made to replace heavy wood. Used stock Fox 35's, with 10X6 wood props, and 60 foot lines. Mostly Silkspan covering, though I think the first one was silk and dope. Too many years ago, and too many beers ago, to remember all the details.

I've no idea how heavy they were, except that they were real dogs at one mile altitude (Denver). Took one to Baltimore MD on a temporary assignment, and it flew great at sea level. I couldn't believe the improvement in performance, and almost didn't want to go home to Denver again. Had it been any where else but Baltimore, I might have stayed longer.

Any idea what yours is going to weigh in flying trim? I suspect using good balsa, and your re-engineered LE saved a lot of weight.

Regards.

Bill

Warren Leadbeatter · « **Reply #9 on:** October 02, 2007, 01:47:57 AM »

Gday Bill

It's looking like it's going to weigh in at around 24 oz.

Cheers

Michael Boucher · « **Reply #10 on:** October 02, 2007, 11:29:59 AM »

Simply Beautiful Warren!

john e. holliday · « **Reply #11 on:** October 02, 2007, 12:32:33 PM »

Warren, that really looks nice. Hope it flies as well. Have fun, DOC Holliday

Richard Fleming · « **Reply #12 on:** October 02, 2007, 08:01:58 PM »

Nice job Brother Warren!

Bob Disharoon · « **Reply #13 on:** October 03, 2007, 01:04:59 PM »

Quote from: Bill Adair on October 01, 2007, 10:24:14 PM

Hi Warren,

That's a great looking Ringmaster! H^^I

Brings back lots of fond memories.

Mine were all Sterling kits, with no effort made to replace heavy wood. Used stock Fox 35's, with 10X6 wood props, and 60 foot lines. Mostly Silkspan covering, though I think the first one was silk and dope. Too many years ago, and too many beers ago, to remember all the details.

I've no idea how heavy they were, except that they were real dogs at one mile altitude (Denver). Took one to Baltimore MD on a temporary assignment, and it flew great at sea level. I couldn't believe the improvement in performance, and almost didn't want to go home to Denver again. Had it been any where else but Baltimore, I might have stayed longer.

Any idea what yours is going to weigh in flying trim? I suspect using good balsa, and your re-engineered LE saved a lot of weight.

Regards.

Bill

I flew my first Ringmaster in Baltimore at a friend's house..I agree, Baltimore leaves much to be desired..you shoulda come to Annapolis where I grew up..now that is a great town !....BOB

Bill Adair · « **Reply #14 on:** October 03, 2007, 02:19:48 PM »

Warren,

Twenty four ounces is really light for a Ringmaster. Good job scratch building!

I'd sure like to build another one some day, and use one of my OS 25FP-S engines in it. Almost seems sacrilegious to have a Ringmaster without a Fox 35, but that's progress!

Bob,

My late B-I-L and his family were stationed in Annapolis with the Navy, and really liked it there.

We actually lived in Fredrick MD, while I was attending a missile guidance school at The Martin Company. Downtown Baltimore was scary, even back in those days.

We now live at near sea level in Oregon. I'm sure a Ringmaster (particularly one as light as Warrens) would fly superbly here, even with a Fox 35.

Bill

Bill Little · « **Reply #15 on:** October 03, 2007, 03:16:00 PM »

Looks outstanding, Warren! I'm sure you will enjoy it and the '51 Fox 35.

Warren Leadbeatter · « **Reply #16 on:** October 07, 2007, 05:01:25 AM »

Ready tro start the engine... can't wait till next weekend.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #17 on:** October 07, 2007, 08:09:07 AM »

That is a work of art and patience. Looks great with the tissue trim. Hope it flies as well as it looks. Have fun, DOC Holliday

Jim Oliver · « **Reply #18 on:** October 07, 2007, 08:17:42 AM »

Warren,

Love the tissue work!!

Jim

Greg L Bahrman · « **Reply #19 on:** October 07, 2007, 08:20:13 AM »

27.....that's Casey Stoners number ?

Garf · « **Reply #20 on:** October 07, 2007, 09:46:11 AM »

Beautiful paperwork. That would never survive where I fly.

Phil Bare · « **Reply #21 on:** October 07, 2007, 10:01:50 AM »

Beautifull RingMaster for sure Warren..and it just does not get any better then an all time great airplane with an all time great stunt engine....50+ years later and the grand daddy of all stunt engines is still going strong...and there will always be Ring Masters.....great job Warren......Regards, Phil Bare

George · « **Reply #22 on:** October 07, 2007, 10:36:20 AM »

Warren,

I like that fuselage color!

George

Keith Spriggs · « **Reply #23 on:** October 07, 2007, 11:28:44 PM »

Fantastic classical looks.

Bill Little · « **Reply #24 on:** October 08, 2007, 04:29:25 AM »

Quote from: Warren Leadbeatter on October 07, 2007, 05:01:25 AM

Ready tro start the engine... can't wait till next weekend.

Hi Warren,

You have done an awesome job on this one in my eyes! Make sure that '51 Fox is completely broke in. From what I understand of the Australian Classic rule (Is it "Vintage"??), you should garner a lot of points with that set up. And it should fly really well.

Bill <><

Warren Leadbeatter · « **Reply #25 on:** October 08, 2007, 05:30:59 AM »

Thanks for all the great feedback guys.... I'll post a video of it flying when I get it in the air!

Cheers

P.S. Yes 27 is Casey Stoner's number, I thought I'd put it on to celebrate him becoming World Champion last week.

Warren Leadbeatter · « **Reply #26 on:** October 14, 2007, 03:24:13 AM »

Hey guys

It was a bit too windy for flying this weekend, but I did find time to start running the 1951 Fox engine in. I took a little time out while watching Casey win the Australian Moto GP.

What a little beauty of an engine. She started very easily and runs like a Massey Ferguson. It's no where near as loud as I expected. I'm looking forward to having a fly soon.

Cheers

Bill Little · « **Reply #27 on:** October 14, 2007, 09:58:53 AM »

Hi Warren,

The '51 Fox 35 was a landmark engine, IMHO. It had th ethree bolt backplate instead of the first series two bolt, and it was basically what is still produced today. 56 years later!

My first contest experience with one was actually launching Larry Scarinzi's El Diablo in OTS. He had it running pretty hard and flew like it was the '50s all over again. Probably close to 80-90 mph! A ton of fun! Of course, it will drop back off and run a 4-2, but Larry had her screaming.

George · « **Reply #28 on:** October 16, 2007, 11:44:06 AM »

Quote from: Bill Little on October 14, 2007, 09:58:53 AM

...My first contest experience with one was actually launching Larry Scarinzi's El Diablo in OTS. He had it running pretty hard and flew like it was the '50s all over again. Probably close to 80-90 mph! A ton of fun! Of course, it will drop back off and run a 4-2, but Larry had her screaming.

I think Larry mentioned somewhere that he and Red used to fly the El Diablo with and without wheels so they could fly both stunt and combat with them.

Bill Little · « **Reply #29 on:** October 16, 2007, 01:58:54 PM »

Hi George,

I wouldn't doubt that at all. The El Diablo was more akin to the combat ships of the day in it's performance! Larry is ALWAYS a BLAST to be around!