Pre Built Take Apart Ringmasters (UPDATE)

[Mike Griffin]

Several years ago, I built some Ringmasters and shipped them out and people seemed to like the idea of them being semi built.  What I did was build the wing with the bellcrank installed with the leadouts attached, built the fuselage and tail feathers and shipped them out in a guitar box.  The recipient had to glue in the wing and tail feathers, cover and paint the wing, fuselage and tail feathers and install the glow engine of their choice and go fly.

Today we have some addtional choices.  First of all, I can build the Ringmaster as a take apart, covered and painted and five 4-40 bolts and blind nuts will attached the wing, stab and vertical fin and rudder.  In addition, you have the choice of using glow or electric propulsion systems. You just have to specify what kind of power you will be using and the front end will be prepped accordingly.  I can also cover the wing and paint the fuselage and tail so that all you have to do it intall the electrics or glow engine and tank and go fly.  

Here is what I am going to offer as a service and I will try to be as detailed as possible about this.

I will buy the laser cut take apart kits from Eric Rule at RSM.  I will then build the wing, fuselage and tail sections.  The blind nuts will be installed in the correct places so that when you open the box, all you have to do is screw the plane together.   In addition I am going to cover the wings with plastic film and will paint the fuselage and tail pieces.  Basically, you will open the box, screw on the wing and tail pieces, put on your electrics or glow engines and tanks and go fly.  When Eric developed the take apart Ringmaster, it made this a lot easier for me to do.

I will pick a couple of colors of paint and covering and that will be the scheme.  

I am going to try and keep pricing under $120.00 If I can. (do not chisel this in stone yet but it should not vary much from this)  I dont think that is too bad for a ready to put together airplane painted and covered.....

I will have to do some figuring on shipping but when I say $120.00, that is just for the plane ready to be put together and fly.

Anyway, let me know if you think this service might be of value to you or someone you know.  I can only offer this within the United States.....

Thanks

Mike

Mike

[ron young]

 This is $120.00 in addition to the kit price ?
Thanks
Ron

[Mike Griffin]

No Ron.  That is the total price, less shipping.

Mike

[Bill Morell]

Geeeeeze Mike, every time you decide to take time for yourself you figure out another way to bone yourself out of it.

[Randy Cuberly]

Hey Mike,
I think Bill is probably right...but, I also think you have fun at it.

At that price you better have fun because you certainly aren't going to make any money! 

I think it's a good idea, even at a somewhat higher price.

In fact if you do it I'll take one!  It will be perfect for the new Ringmaster event at VSC.

At that price clubs could afford to keep a couple for trainers!

You just might be biting off a very big chunk here, my friend!

Randy Cuberly

[Mike Griffin]

Randy/Bill

I have not pulled the trigger on this yet but I probably will.  It appears from what I a being told that there is a market for this.  I want to keep the price as low as I possibly can so  a club could buy one or two if they wanted to for trainers....these will be nothing fancy....I am thinking of covering the wings with Towerkote yellow flim and painting the fuselage red.  If the end consumer wants to doll them up beyond that, that is up to them.  I have lost count of how many of these I have built so it does not take a real long time to build them.  Keeping shipping costs down is my main concern,  Postal rates on packages just seems to keep going up.  I still have to locate the right size boxes from U Line and see if they have something that will be the right size to pack a model in. 

If I do get a lot of requests for these, I will take orders in the order that I received them and ship them out as soon as I can. 

I will put a post in my Vendor;s Corner section when I get all details done.   

From the looks of the low turnout at VSC this year and a lot of the local contests also suffering from low participation, it is obvious that we have been led into an economy that is really hurting everyone. Not to mention we are all getting older and some of us have health issues.

But anything I can do to help make life a little easier for us, I will give it a shot.  Who knows, Randy might be the only one who wants one.   .  We will see.

Mike

[55chevr]

Mike - I'll take 2.

[Guy B Jr]

Mike,

Count me in.

[steve bittner]

Please let me know what colors are going to be available, thanks.

[KenP51]

I am not familiar with this kit. What are the specs Span area engine?

Ken Pitts

[steve bittner]

Ringmaster has 42 inch non flap wing. It takes a modern 25 or any older 29-35 engine. I just finished one I started 30 years ago and never finished. Im using a new old sand cast fox 35 with the old solid rubber wheels, clear yellow silk and dope finish. As soon as quits snowing, I will run the engine some and break it in. I used the original wire landing gear and made it so I can take it off if I want too. The original decal was still good so I used it. Just going to use it for a knock around plane.

[FLOYD CARTER]

You can hardly go wrong with a Ringmaster.  Everyone either has owned one, or will want one.

I question the need for take-apart.  Unless you are going to the WC by commercial air, and I doubt that. Most every auto will hold a 42" plane.

Floyd

[tim lackey]

Put me on the list for one.
Thanks, Tim

[55chevr]

I would build a case for it and keep a take apart in the car.

[Randy Cuberly]

I think Ringmasters have been used for every conceivable type of CL Competition.

I've personally, at one time or another used them for Combat, Stunt, Racing, Ballon Bust, Trainers, and even tried Endurance with one a long time ago.  I've seen them used for Carrier several times.

I doubt that any other single model airplane design can claim that record.
  
Just wish I could learn to land one without bouncing it!  

Randy Cuberly

[FLOYD CARTER]

OT models are SUPPOSED to bounce!  In the olde free flight days, the L.G. was far forward to save the prop on landing. So this trend continued into early stunt models.  If you don't bounce, you may be accused of moving the gear back for better landings.

F.C.

[Mike Keville]

Yep.  Sometime in the '80s, long before I dreamed-up the VSC, I built a Ringmaster with the main gear pointing straight down from the wing's LE.  Blissfully unaware of the rules, I also installed a tall tailwheel.  Took it to an OTS meet at Whittier Narrows and was promptly told by the CD to bend the main gear forward and bend the tail gear rearward.  Did so, and the model passed his inspection.

Properly chastised, I then flew the event, placing 2nd behind my pal Russ Graves, but sure learned something about design mod's that day....which is probably one reason I'm such a PITA about authenticity these days.

[Brett Buck]

Ringmaster has 42 inch non flap wing. It takes a modern 25 or any older 29-35 engine. I just finished one I started 30 years ago and never finished. Im using a new old sand cast fox 35 with the old solid rubber wheels, clear yellow silk and dope finish. As soon as quits snowing, I will run the engine some and break it in. I used the original wire landing gear and made it so I can take it off if I want too. The original decal was still good so I used it. Just going to use it for a knock around plane.

   A modern 25 is generally way too fast. I think you want a modern 19 or 20, or even a good 15.

   Brett

[Mike Griffin]

OK, I guess I better go ahead and pull the trigger on these pre built Take Apart Ringmasters since I already have 6 orders for them and only posted about this yesterday.  What I did, so I would not upset anyone, was to post the final price and color combinations in my section of the Vendors Corner section.  I am posting the link in this post to make it easier but in case the link does not work, just go to CONTROL LINE FLYERS in Vendors Corner and click on the pre built Ringmaster topic and all of the information is there.  If I forgot anything or you have questions, please let me know.

Here is the link for the pricing and color combinations..

http://stunthanger.com/smf/index.php?topic=34727.0

I have been pleasantly surprised by the requests for these and I thank you all very much.  

Mike

[Mike Griffin]

Mike - I'll take 2.

Sent you a PM

Mike

[Mike Griffin]

Please let me know what colors are going to be available, thanks.

Steve I posted this in Control Line Flyers in  vendors corner but the color combinations you can choose from are as follows:

Wing Colors:  Lemon Yellow, Dark Sapphire Blue and White.

Fuselage colors:  Red or White...

[Mike Griffin]

You can hardly go wrong with a Ringmaster.  Everyone either has owned one, or will want one.

I question the need for take-apart.  Unless you are going to the WC by commercial air, and I doubt that. Most every auto will hold a 42" plane.

Floyd

Thanks Steve for answering Ken's question... I did not see it until just now...

Mike

[Mike Griffin]

You can hardly go wrong with a Ringmaster.  Everyone either has owned one, or will want one.

I question the need for take-apart.  Unless you are going to the WC by commercial air, and I doubt that. Most every auto will hold a 42" plane.

Floyd

Floyd the Take Apart Feature is a LOT easier to ship and all you have to do when it comes to you (since it is already built, painted and covered) is bolt the plane together, istall your engine or elec motor and go fly.  The other benefit is that it will fit in a case for easier carrying if you want.  You are right, a completley assembled Ringmaster will fit in the back seat or trunks of most all cars.  So i guess the answer is that it is a lot easier for me to ship and the customer can put it together without having to glue anything together and worry about things being level and the incidences being correct.

Mike

[Mike Griffin]

Put me on the list for one.
Thanks, Tim

Tim I have you on the list.. just go to CONTROL LINE FLYERS in the Vendors Corner section of this forum and let me know what color combination you want and if you want it for a glow engine or electric system.. and thank you very much.

Mike

[Mike Griffin]

Thank you all.. the response to this has been fantastic for just two days since posting.  I have ordered all shipping cartons and materials and hope to have supplies in a week or so... I have plenty of supplies coming so if you have not put your name on the list yet please feel free to do so...

Mike

[Mike Griffin]

I am having a hard time finding bright yellow film covering for the Ringmasters.  Tower is out and will not have any until May and Brodak is also out.  I am still trying to find it.  I can find Cub Yellow but not bright yellow....

Mike

[Russell Shaffer]

Mike, check this covering from Hobby King.  I have used some and it works fine, just kind of hard to get the backing off.  You get a LOT in a roll so even with shipping it is a good deal.  You could try a couple of different colors and if it doesn't work out well you won't be out very much at all.  Good luck with your project.  http://www.hobbyking.com/hobbyking/store/__45319__Covering_Film_Solid_Mid_Yellow_5mtr_104_US_Warehouse_.html

[Mike Griffin]

Russell I had forgotten about Hobby King.  I just ordered some rolls from them.. Thank you for reminding me of them...

Mike

[Mike Griffin]

Due to a lot of requests, I have added one more color for the Wings and one more for the fuselage.  I am adding RED for the Wing and Yellow for the Fuselage.   

So these are the combinations you now have to choose from:

WING COLORS - RED, WHITE, DARK SAPHIRRE BLUE AND BRIGHT YELLOW:

FUSELAGE PAINT - RED, WHITE AND YELLOW

Now let me issue a word of caution here, other than White, if you try to match same colors on the wing and fuselage, you are probably not going to have a color match.  There are all different shades of colors, so my advice would be if you want a yellow wing, do not order a yellow fuselage because it probably is not going to match.

Red wing and white or yellow fuselage...LOOKS GOOD

Yellow Wing and Red or white fuselage.... LOOKS GOOD

Sapphire Blue Wing and white or yellow fuselage....LOOKS GOOD

White Wing with Yellow, White Or Dark Blue Fuselage...LOOKS GOOD

Just dont order same color wing and fuselage, I dont think you will like the off shade colors....

Mike

[Dick Pacini]

Mike, folks can order a half-dozen and mix and match the take-aparts!

[Mike Griffin]

Yes they can, if I can keep up.  Lol

Mike

[Gil Mc Millan]

Any chance of you producing an electric version?

[Mike Griffin]

Any chance of you producing an electric version?

Hi Gil

I have an electric version right now.  The front end is made to mount an electric motor of your choice.  Just let me know what color combo you want from the ones available and I can build it for you.

Thanks

Mike

[sadams714441]

Hello
Have you come up with a total cost for plane covered and painted.  Would like to order one setup for glow engine.

Steve

[Mike Griffin]

Hello
Have you come up with a total cost for plane covered and painted.  Would like to order one setup for glow engine.

Steve

Sent you a private message Steve.  They are $124.95 plus shipping.

Thanks

Mike

[Mike Griffin]

The Take Apart Ringmaster Kits should arrive here in about a week.  Eric had some laser problems for a few days but it is fixed.  All other materials are here.  Thank you for the orders.  I am going to be busy for a while.

Mike