FMS PT-17 STEARMAN 41"WING

[Iowa54]

build the fms pt17 yet? its a quick build until you start the rigging wires and springs...its kinda a slow build if you are half blind like me lol

Actually I started it last night. Got it about 80% done. Got the wings on and glued the tail and landing gear on and that's when I stopped. Need to do the lights and control horns yet and then of course the rigging. I might try to talk the misses into doing that for me.!! got a busy weekend going so it might be next week before I finish it.

[boomer108]

It's like the rigging on the ROC HOBBY Waco. It's tedious work but once your done you look at it and know it was well worth it. The second one you do will be easier.

[Iowa54]

I did my Tiger Moth and it wasn't fun but, not as bad as I expected it to be. And yes it does look nice when rigged..

[Loneflier]

I ended up buying some stretch thread from Amazon that worked much better than the thread supplied in the kit. The thread was the same diameter as the supplied rigging, but much easier to tie, and I put a drop of CA on the knot to make sure it holds. I've got quite a few flights on the PT-17 now, and the rigging does look great. I also cut some scrap foam packing "paper" for a scarf around the pilot, and it looks really nice on those low, slow fly-bys.

[Ron1950]

like lone said the packing material works well for scarfs...not sure this pic shows them well but there aren't cold that's for sure

[Ron1950]

something else I had to do was cut the esc wires to the battery side....got tired of tring to stuff 9 inches of wire into the tiny battery compartment....also was a good excuse to change the plug so I didn't need an adapter to my xt60 pluged batteries

[Ron1950]

cracked up my plane today doing some low and slow flying in a breeze lol dumb I know split lower wing and busted all the wing supports out of the foam...all fixed now with med ca....

[Iowa54]

Sorry to hear that.. Mine is still waiting for that maiden.. Looks like the weather /winds are starting to calm done so hopefully I can get mine in the air soon.

[Ron1950]

no problem,,,,we have 3 or 4 days of heavy rain comeing up so ill test it late next week and see how the repair did....

flew pt17 today and all is well... flew as well as before crash

[Sky Wolf]

Had the opportunity to see a "really big" Stearman today at the field. This thing is awesome up close!

https://youtu.be/NG1thVJGV4g

[Ron1950]

sky think I saw the same stearman today at the warbird flyin at Austin its huge

[Sky Wolf]

Yeah, he's on a travel caravan with a few others. Must be nice to be retired and can enjoy this hobby at will. Part of the goal to reach at some point in life!

[Ron1950]

ya I am retired also but don't think I like anything bigger then the electric foamies....weather here in killed tx is going to be bad for next two weeks (20mph winds) so retired or not I wont be flying

[Sky Wolf]

Same weather here in Irving too. Will be flying in whatever breaks the weather gives us.

[Ron1950]

true early morning will be probably only time to fly on certain days

[Iowa54]

I still haven't flown mine yet. What little decent weather we have had I seem to be busy with other things to do. I did maiden my Flyzone Beaver and that's a nice flying plane.

[Iowa54]

Finally got the maiden done on the PT-17 Flew pretty well but, need to trim her out. Seemed tail heavy with a 1800 and nose heavy with a 2200. Had my Mobuis mounted to low on my hat so not much usable video. Did get lucky though as when I landed the last time I noticed the prop nut was gone!!

https://youtu.be/OoVAYz7gP_s

[Ron1950]

not too bad there iowa I use a zippy flt max 2200 battery pushed as far as it will go in the battery comp (I also cut the esc wires as there is way too much stuff to tuck away in that small battery comp) and don't have any problems in flight etc...I will say that my pt17 does fly different every flight (trim wise) lol some batteries (they might be weaker then the others) I use don't need any trim at full throttle and flys great while others with same trim can only go level at half throttle....still a fun plane to fly though

[skillett]

Well, finished all the repairs from crash, now can't find the battery compartment door. Not shown in spare parts. Stuff foam in compartment with rubber band wrapping or what?

[skillett]

something else I had to do was cut the esc wires to the battery side....got tired of tring to stuff 9 inches of wire into the tiny battery compartment....also was a good excuse to change the plug so I didn't need an adapter to my xt60 pluged batteries

Ron,

approximately how much did you shorten. May shorten up mine also.