Want to build a Bi-plane??

Reading the post on the FF and 38 Special got me wanting a Bi plane in the hanger..
I am thinking about scratch building a BIP.
Is there anything special about doing a bi wing design? I ASSUME that you would line up the top wing just like the one on the bottom. Make sure it is square and straight. Any help on this would be appreciated.

1. If you like, experiment with slight negative incidence on the top wing.

2. Make sure that your wing spacing is about = to or > the chord.

3. Adjustable leads are important in a bipe, especially vertical location. This is easy, since you can use the strut. Drill some holes beforehand.

4. Have the strut as close to the tip as you can (aesthetically) stand. This is your leadout attachment point, as stated in 3., above.

5. If you go with thick foils, remember to attach an engine with adequate power. And don't expect extended glide paths while landing.

6. Usually, you don't need flaps. But some designers do incorporate them, and have successful designs. If scratch building more than one model, build one with, one without.

7. Don't expect the highest levels of performance. Enjoy them for what they are, and especially how they look in the air.

An advantage of Bi-planes that I recently learned from our Sky Lancers of Washington (SLOW) Club Bi-plane Guru is that they are very strong when accidently planted from flight into grass fields. I personally observed this, this fall.

Build a Bi Slob , Its a good stunter and its fun to fly . See Ya NEAL

I have it on fairly good authority that the Bi-Slob will be one of the "next round" of ARFs that Brodak produces, along with an OTS T-Bird?

See Ya

LAST EDITED ON Jan-14-04 AT 12:58 PM (CDT)
 
Well I like bipes too. The 38 special is known as a good flyer. I just wanted it in a full fuse that resembled one of the 30's racers. Here is my meager attempt at simply re-shaping and adding a little fluff. Good luck with your building!!!

Wow! Very pretty "Spirit of 76" I am very impressed.
Thanks for posting the pixs.
Nick Vanmatre

If that is your "meager" attempt, I would like to see one of your fine examples... That's is a beautiful work of art! Where did the engine cowl come from?

Thanks for the compliments .... The engine cowl is somethng I made. It is made from 1/2" balsa, 1/4" balsa, 1/4" ply and 1/16" bass wood. To seal the grain it was coated in CA glue 2 times with sanding in between coats.

OK I'll take it!!!
But it will never fly if it's in my hanger. You better keep it.
I can assure you mine will not look like that.
Nice work!

Here is new flyer Daniel DeMartinis, in the Tampa Bay area new 38 Special. We built this plane by email and a couple of phone calls, this is his first scratch effort. He is going gung-ho and hopefully will compete this next season. A real nice guy, hopefully he will get help flying and learning the pattern before he crashes all of his fleet. He also does polishing on any engine and they look new and shiny when he is done, fine workmanship. Jim J