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This OS Max
.35-powered Sterling Ringmaster, built about 1974, was my first
attempt at using Monokote. The plastic film held up well, surviving
28 years of flying, storage and a number of moves. |
One of the first .35-size airplanes I owned was a partially
built Sterling Ringmaster a cousin from Ohio gave me he had started
in the early 1960s. I finished that plane and enjoyed it, and it
prompted me to build this Sterling Ringmaster about 1974. It flew
many flights, powered by one of my K&B Stallion .35s or later, an
OS Max .35. I had purchased an R/C OS .40 engine and flew it on the
Ring for a time, but traded it for the .35 shown in the photo. This
plane suffered through my first try with Monokote; it didn't turn out
well, but it was functional. When returned to modeling in 2001, I
removed the covering from the tail and adjoining areas to repair the
loose tail feathers. I removed the factory landing gear soon after I
built the plane because it interferred with a profile fuel tank. My
older brother launched this thing by hand each time.
Compared to the silkspan covered planes of mine that survived the
past 30 years, the Monokote was superior in its ability to stand the
test of time. As I was repairing the tail, I considered replacing the
missing film, but decided instead to strip the Ring of all its
plastic film covering. I will replace the landing gear and cover it
in with silkspan and dope.
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UPDATES |
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MARCH
2, 2002: The
Ringmaster is down to the bare frame. I've begun filling dents, and
once those are sanded smooth, will cover the wings and prep it for
dope. I still need to bend the wire for the gear and order the
appropriate profile tank from Brodak. |
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MARCH
10, 2002: I've
been working on the Ringmaster this week, and tonight I finished
covering the wing with silkspan. The covering job is coming out
pretty nice. I'm using nitrate clear dope from Sig to apply the
covering. It's working well, too. I sprayed the wing with water to
tighten up the silkspan, and I expect I'll be ready to clear dope the
wing some this week. I'll use nitrate clear on it until it's sealed
and ready for color.
I'm not sure
of the color I'm going to use. I'm thinking of using a scalloped
design, like the classic scallops you see on some of the old Super
Ringmasters. I want a classic paint job, nothing too modern or
garish. I thinking of spraying on the finish, too.
In the
meantime, I've got to installl the landing gear and remove the OSMax
.35, clean it up and put it on a test stand and see how it runs. I
also need to order a brodak profile tank.
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