Foam Board Master Series PT-17 Stearman- FREE PLANS!

[Jonny Gum]

(GO TO PAGE 11 FOR PLANS AND BUILD VIDEO)


So I have always been around the real Stearman because my grandfather restores and flies them. I decided to make the Stearman because I had a balsa wood kit lying around for a rubber band powered model. I took the plans to Staples and got them scaled up to a 40 inch wingspan and built it. The fuselage uses a box surrounded by formers and outer skin to make a beautiful (completely foam board) fuselage. The wings use a new wingtip technique to make more realistic wingtips, and inside the wing is a box spar. This version only has ailerons on the bottom wing, just like the original, but still has plenty of aileron control. The paint scheme on the plane matches my grandfathers stearman- even the numbers on the side. All my plans are hand drawn but if anyone knows how to make online plans I would love to post them for everyone to use!

Note- I will bring this to Flite Fest Ohio 2019- See ya there!

Flight- This thing flies on rails! It flies amazing in calm weather, but gets bumped around a lot in the wind due to the second wing.

Specs- Power Pack B or C recommended, 40 inch wingspan, 4-5 sheets of foam to build, 9x6 wood prop is my favorite prop.

 

[FastCrash45]

Looks like a factory made RTF with nice details. Excellent job on scratching it out for sure!

 

[Grifflyer]

Looks like a factory made RTF with nice details. Excellent job on scratching it out for sure!

Agreed!!!

That looks INCREDIBLE I hope I get to see it for real at FF.

 

[Arcfyre]

That looks absolutely excellent! 👍

 

[CrazyFastFlying]

That looks amazing!!

I agree with @FastCrash45, It does look like a factory made RTF.

Great job!

 

[A&a rc]

That's awesome!

 

[Jimun]

So I have always been around the real Stearman because my grandfather restores and flies them. I decided to make the Stearman because I had a balsa wood kit lying around for a rubber band powered model. I took the plans to Staples and got them scaled up to a 40 inch wingspan and built it. The fuselage uses a box surrounded by formers and outer skin to make a beautiful (completely foam board) fuselage. The wings use a new wingtip technique to make more realistic wingtips, and inside the wing is a box spar. This version only has ailerons on the bottom wing, just like the original, but still has plenty of aileron control. The paint scheme on the plane matches my grandfathers stearman- even the numbers on the side. All my plans are hand drawn but if anyone knows how to make online plans I would love to post them for everyone to use!

Note- I will bring this to Flite Fest Ohio 2019- See ya there!

Flight- This thing flies on rails! It flies amazing in calm weather, but gets bumped around a lot in the wind due to the second wing.

Specs- Power Pack B or C recommended, 40 inch wingspan, 4-5 sheets of foam to build, 9x6 wood prop is my favorite prop.
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Looks awesome - great job. Video soon or waiting till Flitefest?

 

[Jonny Gum]

Looks awesome - great job. Video soon or waiting till Flitefest?

I may put a GoPro in the pilots seat and make some videos to show, but I may wait until Flite Fest. Anybody who sees it at FF Is welcome to come look!

 

[Jonny Gum]

{ISSUE SOLVED}
Sooooooooo... There's some problem between my transmitter and receiver (FrSky Taranis QX7S and the FrSky V8FRII) where there will be random disconnections (I guess it's a failsafe) for about 1 second where it holds the last known input and I have NO control! I was flying very low at a high speed and started a bank when it failsafed. The wing dipped into the ground and it cartwheeled. The wing where torn backwards but have since been repaired. The plane has some scars but will be flying again at Flite Fest Ohio 2019. If anybody knows what is happening please reply with a possible solution.

 

[Merv]

Sooooooooo... There's some problem between my transmitter and receiver (FrSky Taranis QX7S and the FrSky V8FRII) where there will be random disconnections

I would take a very close look at the antenna(s) on the Rx. Remove the case and look at the outer braid where the coax enters the case. If it’s damaged you need to repair or replace that antenna

 

[Wildthing]

Fantastic build, sorry for the loss of signal.

 

[FDS]

Also make sure your antennae are in two different geometric planes, away from any magnetic or motor interference and components that might block signal in certain orientations. I usually like one hanging out the bottom of the fuselage and one going up into the cockpit at 90 deg to each other.
Got to add my admiration for the quality of your build too.

 

[Jonny Gum]

I did some research and it turns out that there is some kind of unpatched firmware glitch between the Taranis QX7s and the V8FRII that causes short failsafes. I am going to stock up on new, more compatible receivers at Flite Fest so that this glitch will stop. I will put a new reciever in the Stearman as soon as I can so that it can fly. Come say hi if you see it!

This is my stearman next to my grandfather’s stearman that he is restoring. (The real one) They are painted exactly the same

 

[FastCrash45]

I did some research and it turns out that there is some kind of unpatched firmware glitch between the Taranis QX7s and the V8FRII that causes short failsafes. I am going to stock up on new, more compatible receivers at Flite Fest so that this glitch will stop. I will put a new reciever in the Stearman as soon as I can so that it can fly. Come say hi if you see it!

This is my stearman next to my grandfather’s stearman that he is restoring. (The real one) They are painted exactly the same View attachment 135292 View attachment 135293 View attachment 135294 View attachment 135295

Both are beautiful planes. Grandfather is doing an excellent restore! Always been one of my favorite planes.

 

[Fidget]

I enjoyed watching you fly this at Flitefest. It really is a beautiful build, and looks awesome in the air!

 

[Jonny Gum]

I enjoyed watching you fly this at Flitefest. It really is a beautiful build, and looks awesome in the air!

Are you the one that wanted plans?

 

[Jonny Gum]

After almost a year since I started this project, I’ve come back to this amazing airplane to finalize it. I am currently drawing up the improved version in CAD! I will keep updates rolling in. (Hopefully I don’t forget) Improvements include fixing alignment issues and adding more scale details. I will also work on minimizing the amount of panel lines on the fuselage to make less rough.

 

[Figure9]

So I have always been around the real Stearman because my grandfather restores and flies them. I decided to make the Stearman because I had a balsa wood kit lying around for a rubber band powered model. I took the plans to Staples and got them scaled up to a 40 inch wingspan and built it. The fuselage uses a box surrounded by formers and outer skin to make a beautiful (completely foam board) fuselage. The wings use a new wingtip technique to make more realistic wingtips, and inside the wing is a box spar. This version only has ailerons on the bottom wing, just like the original, but still has plenty of aileron control. The paint scheme on the plane matches my grandfathers stearman- even the numbers on the side. All my plans are hand drawn but if anyone knows how to make online plans I would love to post them for everyone to use!

Note- I will bring this to Flite Fest Ohio 2019- See ya there!

Flight- This thing flies on rails! It flies amazing in calm weather, but gets bumped around a lot in the wind due to the second wing.

Specs- Power Pack B or C recommended, 40 inch wingspan, 4-5 sheets of foam to build, 9x6 wood prop is my favorite prop.
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I wanna do it, that Stearman is so cool. I never got to fly one (Guess I still could, there’s one at our local airport for hire.) Looks like the required build skillset is Master Series. Gotta start that high end stuff with something.

 

[Figure9]

I would take a very close look at the antenna(s) on the Rx. Remove the case and look at the outer braid where the coax enters the case. If it’s damaged you need to repair or replace that antenna

Agree, coax connectors are weak points that easily short or open.

 

[Fidget]

Are you the one that wanted plans?

I don't think we talked about it, but definitely interested if you make some!