Still Stuka

Just started scratch building a Still Stuka (got the canopy from RSM). The plans show a 3" bell crank - was wondering if a 4" bell crank would be better?

At this stage I plan to use a LA 25 for power. Does anyone have any hints or tips on building this model?

Thanks

Steve

Steve,

The Stuka is a rather small airplane and I believe the 3" would be more suitable. A 4" would cause the lead-out wire to be at a large angle at the wing tip which could cause a bit of binding.

I use a 3" in mine and it seems just right.

Dee

Although we have only used a 3 inch belcrank on the Still Stukas we have built, I think I would opt for a 4 inch if I were building another today. There is not a lot of angular difference between a 50 inch wing span and a 56 inch wing span of the 60 size ships, so if you can fit it in, I would say, "Go for it."

Or, if there are problems, go to a 3.5 inch.

Hi Steve,
Mine is scratch built from a 50 year old set of crumbling plans. The 1952 version, and I used a 3" Brodak nylon bellcrank with reduced flap/elevator throws. Very little control movement, maybe 20-25*, it weights 34 oz. with an old 3 bolt backplate Fox 25 on a 9-5 top flite prop.
It flies very well, and has a great corner without being "twitchy".
So I second what Dee said.
Bill <><

My stuka with OSLA25 weighed 32 oz with a take-a-part fuselage behind the Trailing Edge. Flew great while it lasted. Garnered 523 points at Phoenix this last Feb. But alas, lost it to a hole in the bottom of the inside loops. Build it light and it will fly great on 62 foot lines, 9x4 apc at about 11,300 rpm and about a 4.7 second lap. Used a Hayes plastic 3 oz clunk tank uniflo setup with the intake at the front of the tank (no internal tube for uniflow to the aft of the tank. I had a two lap high speed run warning just prior to an abrupt engine quit. Also cut the nose 3/4 inch shorter per Dee Rice and Don Stills earlier stuka did have a shorter nose (I have a letter from Don re this fact). If your plane is light than the longer nose is ok with the LA25. I had to add 1/2 oz flywheel weight to improve stability. With the Fox 25 three bolt(ie fox 19 case) itwill not be necessary to shorten the nose. My plane flew great without any wingtip weight.

Bob Smiley
A Lancair 360 builder/pilot trying to be a modeler