Building the Don Still Stuka

Hi I just recently joined the forum here, I aquired the plans to the Don Still Stuka stunter a while back and had a few questions if someone here could give me some helpful hints maybe on building this plane. First off is the canopy for it, any good hints on making it and also that tail wheel bracket that he originally made from tin is there maybe something better that can be done there. I have built a few planes from plans but I really would like to make my Suka as nice as possible as it is my favorite plane.

RSM do a kit of this model:

http://www.rsmdistribution.com/kits/kit-stuka.htm

They may sell you a canopy - also Bill Sawyer? (on this site) did/does Stuka canopies!

Also do a forum search for "still stuka" to find loads more good stuff about this design!

Tony

Check the 'Classifieds' section under "Canopies" and you find a source for that part. Pretty cheap and good work I hear.

IMHO if you want a really nice Stuka just copy the tail wheel thats on the plans. Whats cooler than that? Most builders just go with some variation of the usuall wire/tail wheel setup.

In general, the Stuka is pretty straight forward. If necessary, you can easily locate a copy of the original mag. article from several sources.

Just take your time and do it right, one step at a time.

Bigs

" What constitutes the dignity of a craft is that it creates a fellowship, that it binds men together and fashions for them a common language. For there is but one problem - the problem of human relations."

I have one of Bill's Stuka canopies, and they are first rate.

If you want your Stuka to look like one of the later ones (it essentially is a jet-like canopy but with all the "greenhouse" lines and separations on it), just get a Sig one of the correct length, and a lot of 1/16" tape. And an X-acto.

Canopies are available

Hi Randy,
I was hesitant about the tail wheel on the plans, but did it anyway. It has held up for close to 10 years now, and it does look cool!
Bil Sawyer does nice work on his canopies, and I used one like that for mine. That canopy is from the Ambroid kit, IIRC, so it looks a "little" different from the plans, but it fits the '52 plane just fine.
I really like mine, I just took it back out this year and had forgot how well it flies. Just use good wood to keep it light, and you should really enjoy it. Mine now has a '50s 3 bolt backplate Fox 25, but it started life with a Fox 35.
Bill <><

Hi everyone, thanks for all the tips and also for the info on canopies, I was wondering what to do to get a nice looking one for my plane, I was curious Bill how the Fox .25 does in the Stuka, I know that I had been thinking of using a Fox .35 but I also have a Fox .25 as well that I could use here.

I used an LA25 in a take-a-part Don Stills Stuka last fall and this spring in Arizona. Performed amazingly well. got a 522 in Phoenix. But alas lost that good plane do to wake turbulance. My understanding is if you use a fox 25; it should be the old style housed in a fox 19 crankcase. That is the motor originally used in Don's plane. The LA25 or derivatives thereof do well. I have seen two stukas with fox 35s. They flew ok.

Don Still did have a stuka with a 3/4 inch shorter nose. My plane was so constructed and I had to add some nose weight. It weighed 32 oz and had a very light tail. Currently I am building a kit stuka standard nose length. Hopefully to repeat the same performance. I was very pleased with the first one.

Again will power it with an LA25. What I like about this plane is that you can fly it in OTS, Classic and PA. And you can learn to land it smoothly with practice.

Bob Smiley

>I was curious Bill how the Fox .25
>does in the Stuka, I know that I had been thinking of using
>a Fox .35 but I also have a Fox .25 as well that I could use
>here.

Well, I started out with the 35, but decided to switch over mainly due to the fuel tank size.

I am using the 25 that was built in the 19 case. If you have one with the 3 rear cover bolts, I would definitely use it. If it is the later 4 bolt rear cover, then be aware that it will run in more of a 2 cycle and not the 4-2 break. They are also heavier by a little bit than the original 25. The first style 25 does a 4-2 break as good as a very good Fox 35, is a touch lighter, and uses a little less fuel for the PAMPA pattern than the 35 does.

Mine actually flies a bit better with the 25, the Stuka is a small plane and will build light with minimal effort.

Good Luck!
Bill <><

I just weight mine tonight. It is under construction, paint and finish. Wings and control sufaces covered, doped, filled, primed, puttied, filets. etc. Body about 85% constucted. Projected finished weight should between 28-31 Oz. with the OSLA25. They can be light.

Bob Smiley

Bill,

What sort of muffler did you use with the Fox 25?

Hi Tom,
So far, haven't used a muffler.
Bill <><

Hi guys

Since we are talkikng about building Still Stukas, I wonder about the reduced plan published in Aviation Modeller International a couple of months ago. The airfoil looks to be a polywog. Is this correct?