Over Size Sterling Ringmaster

As I recall Sterling once made an over sizes version of the 42" profile Ringmaster. The wing span was something like 50". What was it called and what was the wing span?

I changed the elevator on my 42" Sterling Ringmaster. I replaced the original curved elevator with a straight elevator that is 2.5" wide. The Ringmaster will now out fly my Flite Streak. Turns are very sharp. Inside loops appear to be 10 ft circles. I swapped out the OS Max 25 engine for my Brand NEW Fox 36x engine still in the original box that I bought about 1967 or 1968. I bought the Fox 36x at the Hobby store in Mt.Carmel Illinois on the corner near Hadleys drug store. Inside loops are now about 15 ft circles with the Fox 36x. The Fox made the airplane nose heavy or heavier.

The Fox 36x started and ran like a charm the very first flight. I refueled and tried to start the engine. It started but would not run over 1500 rpms on the second run. After several minutes of experementing I noticed a small screw laying on the asphalt. It was a screw out of the Fox 36x crankcase cover. All the screws on the crankcase cover were unscrewed about 2 turns. After tightening all the screws I checked the engine head screws and they were all loose too. I tightened the head screws 1/2 turn each. The engine started and ran like a charm again. I got in 12 more flights. The OS Max 25 BB SF engine flies much better on the Ringmaster than the Fox 36x. I will experement with the Fox 36x on the Sig Twister I am going to build.

There was a Sterling "Ringmaster Imperial". It was a full fuselage, competition stunter, 50" or more and about 610" sq. NW Skyraider's John Hall has one, scratch build, light, with a Fox .35S. He says it flies quite well, but more power would always be a help. An OS .46LA would be a good fit. Why don't you use the OS .25FX on your Twister? Steve

The plane you may be thinking of is the Customized Ringmaster. This kit is highly sought after and was a great plane to fly. Wingspan was varible from 48"to 54" depending on how the wing tips were made. The kit came out around 1963. I still have before and after pictures of the one I flew at Lucky Waller park near Otay Mesa in San Diego. We called the park "The Wing" as a B-52 wing is there to comemerate Montgomery's historical glider flight from this hillside before the Wright Brother's. We used a K&B .35 GH and flew it wide open, I was just starting to fly inverted and was showing off when I gave it up instead of down. About the same time we started to see signs on school yards saying "No Model Airplanes", but not at The Wing, sometimes as many as 20 guys were there every Saturday, mom would drop us off and we hung out there all day, this was 1969. Jim J

Gary,

Jim mentioned that you might be thinking of the the Customized Ringmaster. Does this look like what you were asking about?

This is one rare kit, and can bring prices north of $300 on ebay. Currell

The name that came to mind was Imperial but I wasn't sure if that was correct its been to long. I have forgotten more than I ever knew. Steve confirmed it when me mentioned the "Ringmaster Imperial". Anyone got a picture?

I have an idea. If I copy a set of 42" Rinmaster plans on 119% the copy will come out with a 50" wing span. Will this be equivelent to the imperial?

I assume it will fly like the original ringmaster and look like it too. The Fox 36x might be the perfect engine for it.

I am still looking for an airplane that I LOVE to fly best. I like to build about as much as flying.

I see there is a Custom Ringmaster for sale on ebay. hummm....I can't find it now. It was listed weard, I think it was customized ringmaster or customized sterling. My searches keep finding jewelry.
Maybe it was customized kit or airplane.

Hi Gary,
The Imperial is a built up fuselage stunter, not a profile.
I have an original yellow box kit in real rough shape. To fly well they need to be built real light, which the kits do not lend themselves to.
No reason a 119% Ringmaster shouldn't fly well!
Give it a shot.
Bill <><

Mike Garmon had a really neat 120% Ringmaster scaleup with an FP-40 for power. It flew great. No idea what happened to that plane after he was lost.......

Yep, and Mike also had a Fancy Pants 40 full fuselage job, and I think a profile of it, too.
I do miss him.
Bill <><

>The name that came to mind was Imperial but I wasn't sure if
>that was correct its been to long. I have forgotten more
>than I ever knew. Steve confirmed it when me mentioned the
>"Ringmaster Imperial". Anyone got a picture?
>
>I have an idea. If I copy a set of 42" Rinmaster plans on
>119% the copy will come out with a 50" wing span. Will this
>be equivelent to the imperial?
>
>I assume it will fly like the original ringmaster and look
>like it too. The Fox 36x might be the perfect engine for
>it.
>

The Ringmaster Imperial is a different animal. I have the plans for it if your are interested. The original Sterling kits never had full size plans with them. These are a new autocad drawn by Pat johnston.

>The name that came to mind was Imperial but I wasn't sure if
>that was correct its been to long. I have forgotten more
>than I ever knew. Steve confirmed it when me mentioned the
>"Ringmaster Imperial". Anyone got a picture?

Gary,
No pic right now, but it had the same side and top views as the profile Ringmaster. The kit had a strange slope inward from the bottom to the top of the fuselage sides. Swept forward trailing edge/flaps to give it a plan view like the "Ring". Stab/Elev/Rudder had the same shape, and it used the same bubble canopy as the Sterling "Spitfire Stunter". Had wing mounted gear, and about a 52" WS. Small tank area, and many small wing spars. Built light, which the kit wouldn't do (!), it flew pretty good with a good Fox 35.
Bill <><

>The name that came to mind was Imperial but I wasn't sure if
>that was correct its been to long. I have forgotten more
>than I ever knew. Steve confirmed it when me mentioned the
>"Ringmaster Imperial". Anyone got a picture?
>

[photo not recovered: 3fbdd52e22b90216.jpg]

From the kit plans.