Author Topic: Old School (Read 2269 times)

Norm Faith Jr. · « **on:** November 20, 2013, 09:51:15 PM »

My "building funk" was becoming so bad that I realized I had to do something to get my "mojo" back. Every time my six year old grandson would come over he would ask me "what about that one hanging there grandpa? That one needs to go fly." The "old school" plane he was referring to is the first thing you see hanging from my shop ceiling when you walk in the door. I bought the kit (and a few others) at a sidewalk sale in front of the Eglin AFB BX in 1975. I carried the kit with me half way around the world until I decided to start flying C/L again around 1999; that is when I started to build the kit. I got the model about half done and lost interest in it and moved up to bigger and better things. I started my latest PA creation around four years ago, a little larger .60 powered version of my original "Thai Angel." I got it into primer and stalled. Last week I pulled down the ship I started nearly fourteen years ago and got busy. It too is now ready to finish out and hopefully I got my desire to finish my PA ship and move on to the profile PA in the box under my bench.

Ron Cribbs · « **Reply #1 on:** November 20, 2013, 10:08:46 PM »

Love that Sportster!

It's going to look great when finished. Heck it looks good in primer! Keep it up!

Ron

Larry Lindburg · « **Reply #2 on:** November 20, 2013, 10:13:04 PM »

Perfect for the Ringmaster Flyathon!

wwwarbird · « **Reply #3 on:** November 20, 2013, 10:24:31 PM »

That's really cool, gotta love the old stuff.

Randy Ryan · « **Reply #4 on:** November 21, 2013, 06:38:25 AM »

I love the Sportster, I've always referred to it affectionately and the "Ugliest Ringmaster". I've built 2 of them, one in 1975 which I bought at coincidentally at a garage sale, the second about 8 years ago using patterns I took from the old one after I decommissioned it.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #5 on:** November 21, 2013, 07:54:05 AM »

Yes, I too thought how could Sterling come up with such an ugly plane. But, it you look at it, it reminds me of an Ercoupe with a single rudder. May have to add the design to Ringmaster harem.

Duke.Johnson · « **Reply #6 on:** November 21, 2013, 09:03:02 AM »

Norm
It looks GREAT! I love it. I've always thought, if I build one I'd put the Ringmaster tail feathers on it. Your is great, what colors are you going to go with?

Norm Faith Jr. · « **Reply #7 on:** November 21, 2013, 09:06:37 AM »

Quote from: john e. holliday on November 21, 2013, 07:54:05 AM

Yes, I too thought how could Sterling come up with such an ugly plane. But, it you look at it, it reminds me of an Ercoupe with a single rudder. May have to add the design to Ringmaster harem.

Or a Navion...

Norm Faith Jr. · « **Reply #8 on:** November 21, 2013, 09:13:34 AM »

Quote from: Duke.Johnson on November 21, 2013, 09:03:02 AM

Norm
It looks GREAT! I love it. I've always thought, if I build one I'd put the Ringmaster tail feathers on it. Your is great, what colors are you going to go with?

Hi Duke, I'm going to try and copy the "box top" which I believe is a maroon, beige, dark brown or black. It's hard to tell from the box top picture, but Ill check the assembly print again and for sure I'm using the same scheme.
Norm

UPDATE...I went back and checked the drawings...the colors, are red, black, silver and white...Man! I missed that one by three colors.

dennis lipsett · « **Reply #9 on:** November 21, 2013, 10:54:45 AM »

I did one a few years ago from a kit by Pat King. It just might surprise you when you fly it

Duke.Johnson · « **Reply #10 on:** November 21, 2013, 11:01:48 AM »

Very cool Dennis!

Douglas Ames · « **Reply #11 on:** November 21, 2013, 12:15:59 PM »

That looks alot better than the "Super Ringmaster". Ugh!

I agree - Definitely has a Navion influence to it.

Paul Taylor · « **Reply #12 on:** November 21, 2013, 01:56:01 PM »

Now that is a RingMaster I would like to build. Very Kewl Norm!

Norm Faith Jr. · « **Reply #13 on:** November 21, 2013, 02:38:38 PM »

Quote from: dennis lipsett on November 21, 2013, 10:54:45 AM

I did one a few years ago from a kit by Pat King. It just might surprise you when you fly it

Nice Dennis, is the stab and elevator the same size as the original plane? I really like the finish...It reflects the era of the design.
Norm

Garf · « **Reply #14 on:** November 21, 2013, 03:29:35 PM »

I had one a long time ago. It flies very well.

MarcusCordeiro · « **Reply #15 on:** November 21, 2013, 03:34:11 PM »

I like it!!

Marcus

dennis lipsett · « **Reply #16 on:** November 21, 2013, 05:11:10 PM »

Quote from: Norm Faith Jr. on November 21, 2013, 02:38:38 PM

Nice Dennis, is the stab and elevator the same size as the original plane? I really like the finish...It reflects the era of the design.
Norm

Outlines are identical to the kit. The construction is a little more modern. Pat king kits and sells the kit. He has an address in the vendors corner at

pdk llc laser cut kits

Dennis

Juan Valentin · « **Reply #17 on:** November 21, 2013, 05:44:38 PM »

Hello Norm
That`s a nice looking Ringmaster sporster,will follow your progress.
juan

john e. holliday · « **Reply #18 on:** November 21, 2013, 08:22:20 PM »

Quote from: dennis lipsett on November 21, 2013, 10:54:45 AM

I did one a few years ago from a kit by Pat King. It just might surprise you when you fly it

Thank you so much. I was trying to find a source for the plans.

Norm Faith Jr. · « **Reply #19 on:** November 22, 2013, 07:46:20 PM »

I truly appreciate the kind comments. I hope to have the Sportster flying soon. "Stay tuned, same time, same station."
Norm

Dan McEntee · « **Reply #20 on:** November 22, 2013, 08:08:24 PM »

Hi Norm;
I like this old classic also. It always reminded me of some other airplane and I could never put my finger on it, so I'm glad you mentioned tha Navion! That made it pop in my head. I like this model a little better, because the wing is a more lower aspect ratio. I was never a big Navion fan because I though the wing was too narrow! There is a Sterling Collectors web site I think and I'll have to check it out. I think they did a profile Navion, also, but I may be mixing that up some.
Good Luck and have fun,
Dan McEntee

dennis lipsett · « **Reply #21 on:** November 22, 2013, 08:42:51 PM »

Quote from: Dan McEntee on November 22, 2013, 08:08:24 PM

Hi Norm;
I like this old classic also. It always reminded me of some other airplane and I could never put my finger on it, so I'm glad you mentioned tha Navion! That made it pop in my head. I like this model a little better, because the wing is a more lower aspect ratio. I was never a big Navion fan because I though the wing was too narrow! There is a Sterling Collectors web site I think and I'll have to check it out. I think they did a profile Navion, also, but I may be mixing that up some.
Good Luck and have fun,
Dan McEntee

Dan,
Sterling did make a model of the Navion it wasn't produced in large numbers like the Ringmaster. It was offered awhile ago by DARE models. Brodak's has picked up some of the Dare line and does offer a nice kit of the Navion under the DARE label.

Dennis