What are you guys using.....

[Terry Bolin]

  What are you guys using for Stuges to hold your planes when flying by your self. Post pictures if possiable. ...........Santa was good this year.........Two kits!
Thanks to Sam's Hobbies!   Good people!
Terry Bolin
Neosho Mo.

[Bob Johnson]

Hello Terry,
Here is my home made Stooge. Pretty easy to do. There are of course, simplier setups than this. The day glow line/ winding paddle is easy to see, and the lenght is adjustable for different planes. If you want more info let me know.

Bob

[Jim Treace]

Terry:
I am not as creative as Bob and I liked his self contained kit approach and will put some of that into my stooge set. I almost always fly solo and need the stooge. However, I bought the Brodak Stooge #BH848 about $19. Works fine for me. Be careful with the stooge line used for release. I used heavy nylon cord and got tangled in it. Cost me a plane. So now I use very light line that I can break if I get my feet into it. I like the idea that Bob uses bright colored line, too.
Jim

[Bob Reeves]

I also use a Brodak Stooge.  I just stake it directly to the ground with a couple monster nails and use a large line clip on the tail wheel.  Originally had it mounted to a piece of plywood but that raised the tail of some of my airplanes off the ground enough to create prop clearance problems.

One of our club members has one mounted to a large enough piece of plywood to sit the whole airplane on but I didn't want to deal with a stooge that big.

This reminds me.. My stooge is still out on my flying circle, guess I better go pull it up and reel it in before it snows again.

[Randy Powell]

Here's mine

[mark eisenhut]

i know it isn't pretty but its cheap and it works $1.50 i had the string.
mark

[Clancy Arnold]

My stooge is similar to Bob and Jim's but I cut the cost.
Bill of materials:
3  screweyes
1 long nail, point cut off and rounded
1 spring from a ball point pen
1 wheel lock for adjustment
60 feet of strong nylon line
1 piece of wire bent to wind the nylon cord on.
1 piece of 1/4 inch plywood about 12 x 12 inches placed under my 50 lb flight box.  50 lb is good for 1/2 A's, use heaver boxfor larger planes.

A slipknot in the end of the nylon line is placed over the head of the nail and pulled tight.  That way it is easy to remove the line when you are done.  I use mine primarily for 1/2 A's.

Clancy

[James Lee]

I use a stooge quite similiar to the ones shown...   except..   Having heard of several stooge incidents relating to nails pulling out of the ground, I use a 30# lead brick to anchor the stooge...   Yes, it is a B**** to carry but it does NOT move!!!
Just a thought.   Way back in the day I used a brake rod and clevis from a Model A Ford...  1/4" rod about 12" long driven into the ground....  It didn't come out of soft ground either!
Just some thoughts.
thanks
Jim

[Dwayne]

I allways catch some flack for this but I fly off grass so I just use two 10" peices of coat hanger stuck in the ground, I've been doing this for 30 plus years and I've never had a problem.
Dwayne

[Glen Wearden]

My stooge is a 18" X 4' piece of 3/8" plywood with a brodak release mounted on one end of it.  The plane sits on the pad, so it can't move and it doesn't decrease prop clearance.  My release line is a spool of orange mason's line.  After having a disaster with a line getting wrapped around my feet, I now automatically throw the spool out in front of me as soon as the plane releases.  I also use the stooge, with a piece of strong nylon cord, as a run-up pad for my RC planes.   Glen

[Bill Heher]

My version is the el-cheapo, but reliable. 4 angle brackets screwed to a 18" long chunk of 2 X 12, a scrap of tubing to guide / stabilize the pin, and a rubber band for the tension spring. I replace the rubber band each time before I use the stooge.

Stooge release line is a cheap chalk line without chalk ( buy a new one, dont put the chalk in the housing, use it to mark your circle center instead), come in a handy winding reel, under 5$ for the whole stooge package, including the rubber band!

[peabody]

I think that using the tailwheel to attach to a stooge is asking for trouble...and know from watching that a .40 powered Banshee can take off with lines and a handle and spiral out of sight....

I think that you would be a lot better served building one that holds the tail and flops forward....Windy uses one and flys about 1500 flights per year from one incident free....

Have fun

[Terry Bolin]

That looks like a good idea. (holding the tail feathers) I have already started one listed above with the "L" Brackets but I think I will make one of these also since it does not require adding anything to any of the planes.
Thanks, Terry

[Russell Shaffer]

I also have mine mounted to plywood.  It provides a good working surface for fueling, adjusting, starting, etc.  Also keeps the fuel off of the very nice soccer field where I fly.  My stooge line reel is an old garage sale fly fishing reel. 

[Mike Spiess]

When I get home I'll post a pic of mine. I used a chalk line reel for the line and use fluorescent strait line I got at local lumber store. It's a elevator weight used to balance elevators be for service.

[Bob Reeves]

I think that you would be a lot better served building one that holds the tail and flops forward....Windy uses one and flys about 1500 flights per year from one incident free....
Have fun

Eventually I plan to permanently build one like that at ground level on my flying field. Going to use a wireless security remote to trigger it. Just need to work out the design so when it's released it's flush so an airplane can roll over it.

[john e. holliday]

Bob and all others, you have to remember that a stooge should be far enough out that you do not have to worry about moving the pit box or any thing else you are using.  Besides it should be normal to take a step or two back when taking off.  Also what ever is tied to the release should spring back toward the stooge so it does not get tangled up in the feet.  There should be a center marker also.  Don't ask me how I learned all this.  DOC Holliday

[Terry Bolin]

  ::)Doc, For what ever reason, I have always stepped back on take off. We all use a 4"square ceramic tile for our center marker, it doesn't blow away.
Terry