Following Tony’s lead.

[Clunkmeister]

So I ended up doing some horse trading with a friend, and he took some 55-56 Ford parts, and I brought this home.

A very large scale, as in 1:1 project.  For those unaware, it’s a Stolp Starduster Too, a 2 seat plans built biplane from the late 1960s. They are generally considered to be one of the most beautiful and nicest flying biplanes ever designed, and are an incredibly capable machines. They are decent performers, capable of sport aerobatics, and have been powered by anything from a 4 cylinder Lycoming of 150 hp, to a big ol’ Jacob’s radial.  One of the best engines for it is a Warner Super Scarab of 160 hp. I’ll be on the lookout for one, otherwise, we’ll stay with the Continental flat 6 out of a Cessna 310.

It’s one of the most popular homebuilt aircraft ever designed, with over 1000 completed and flying. They’ve been around so long that some are actually being restored. 
This one was never completed, and is of amazing workmanship. She’s set up for a Continental IO-470U 6 cylinder engine of 230 hp. 
I’ve got a couple or three years of semi steady weekends ahead of me to complete her, but there is no rush.  We’ll see.

[Clunkmeister]

The design is timeless, and with a Warner radial, if you cover the front pit, they look like a Boeing F4B.

With a flat 6, they look a little more civilized, but right out of the 1930s.

[PanzerWomble]

Wow , a seriously large scale model . Looks great , love the F4B lookalike . 

You know we expect regular updates , yeah  ?

[HubertB]

Now, that’s a serious modelling project 

Is it finished yet ?

So happy for you Ernie.

Hubert

[Clunkmeister]

The guys who started these project and never finished them are all passing on, and nobody’s interested anymore.  They all want “right now”, not “in a few years”.

Projects like this are simply too often junked.  I had it thoroughly inspected, and the workmanship is second to none, and it’s one of the most popular sport biplanes ever designed, so it’s very straightforward.  There are 4 based within 20 miles of me to use as a reference.

[Clunkmeister]

3 hours ago, PanzerWomble said:

Wow , a seriously large scale model . Looks great , love the F4B lookalike . 

You know we expect regular updates , yeah  ?

It’s cool how changing the engine, slickly modifying the interplane struts from I to N, and paint can give a whole new look.

The other thing is using three piece windscreens instead of simple curved plexiglass.

[BlrwestSiR]

Wow, that's a whole different level in aircraft building. 

The variation in appearance from a few simple (relatively) changes is cool too. 

[JohnB]

Looks to be a real good long term project Ernie.

[Count0]

9 hours ago, Clunkmeister said:

they look like a Boeing F4B.

You have to do the F4B. That is so cool

[KevinM]

Sounds like a good trade to me Ernie and happy for ya get it going and into the skies.

[Peterpools]

Ernie

WOW! Congratulations of trading for a Stolp Starduster Too. I've always been a huge fan of the EAA and Homebuilt airplanes as a GA pilot for many decades. The Starduster Too has always been at the top of my list of favorite homebuilt aircraft and shares the spot in my heart with the Thorp T-18. Hoping you keep a build log for us to follow as you finish the Starduster Too and roll her out on the flight line.

At one time when I was first married, I had the crazy idea of building a Throp T-18, bought the plans but never went any further, as we lived in a town house for a good number of years in the early days. Still can't believe my wife actually let me buy the plans and a few years later, I bought my own plane, a Piper Colt. 

Enjoy the journey and I'll be eagerly waiting for updates and following your journey. 

 

[belugawhaleman]

A wonderful opportunity and an amazing project!

 

[PanzerWomble]

This topic should be moved to LSM WIP 👍

[Artful69]

Oh this looks good Ern … taking that tinkering to a whole new level … given the shape I favour the radial … but that’s just me …

Start up a You Tube channel and you challenge Mighty Car Mods!! 🤣

Rog

[CANicoll]

Wow, what a project.  That will keep you away from the bench for a while.

[Martinnfb]

You lucky bug, you.  The fabrication looks really good, any stress/rot or aging material issues? 

[Clunkmeister]

On 9/14/2024 at 1:06 PM, Martinnfb said:

You lucky bug, you.  The fabrication looks really good, any stress/rot or aging material issues? 

The fabrication looks to have been factory performed, which is impossible, of course.   The fuselage frame was blasted and refinished in epoxy, so it’s good.  I’ll be checking the wings closely. They’re getting the metal parts removed and refinished, and all the wood is being revarnished.

resourcinol was used as a glue, and it’s as good as it gets. 

[Clunkmeister]

On 9/10/2024 at 9:23 AM, Peterpools said:

Ernie

WOW! Congratulations of trading for a Stolp Starduster Too. I've always been a huge fan of the EAA and Homebuilt airplanes as a GA pilot for many decades. The Starduster Too has always been at the top of my list of favorite homebuilt aircraft and shares the spot in my heart with the Thorp T-18. Hoping you keep a build log for us to follow as you finish the Starduster Too and roll her out on the flight line.

At one time when I was first married, I had the crazy idea of building a Throp T-18, bought the plans but never went any further, as we lived in a town house for a good number of years in the early days. Still can't believe my wife actually let me buy the plans and a few years later, I bought my own plane, a Piper Colt. 

Enjoy the journey and I'll be eagerly waiting for updates and following your journey. 

 

The Starduster Too has always had a reputation for being either a bit sporty ranging up to an ungodly terror on rollout if on pavement. It likes to swap ends, but much of that is due to pilots having little tail wheel time. It’s no worse than, say, a Luscombe or a Howard DGA, but definitely more than a Cub or N3N on wheels. 
Half the issue seems to be the lack of forward visibility in 3 point attitude. Guys have no clue what peripheral view mean.

I’ve been told the rear (pilot’s) seat has the same view as the rear seat of a Scout or Citabria, and I have plenty of PIC time from the rear seat of those, so no biggie. 
the other thing is that in the 3 point attitude, the wing is still flying, not stalled, so any kind of firm arrival means a guaranteed bounce. The fix is to either wheel it on, or better yet, extend the mains by a few inches, which was done on this one, guaranteeing a stalled wing at 3 point stance. 
 

[Clunkmeister]

We’re actively looking for a Warner 165 hp Super Scarab.   We have a mount for an injected 6 cyl IO-470 if needed. 

[ScottsGT]

Wow Ernie.  This takes things to a whole new level of “I hope this project doesn’t end up on the shelf of doom!”  Then again, it was already on someone’s SOD.  The radial engine will be awesome!  Congrats on the project. 

[Clunkmeister]

7 minutes ago, ScottsGT said:

Wow Ernie.  This takes things to a whole new level of “I hope this project doesn’t end up on the shelf of doom!”  Then again, it was already on someone’s SOD.  The radial engine will be awesome!  Congrats on the project. 

Just gotta find a decent Warner without breaking the bank.  IO-470s are everywhere and cheap.  Warners, not so much. You need an engine that weighs about 450-500 lbs with prop to keep the engine back close to the firewall and avoid the anteater look 

[Peterpools]

8 hours ago, Clunkmeister said:

The Starduster Too has always had a reputation for being either a bit sporty ranging up to an ungodly terror on rollout if on pavement. It likes to swap ends, but much of that is due to pilots having little tail wheel time. It’s no worse than, say, a Luscombe or a Howard DGA, but definitely more than a Cub or N3N on wheels. 
Half the issue seems to be the lack of forward visibility in 3 point attitude. Guys have no clue what peripheral view mean.

I’ve been told the rear (pilot’s) seat has the same view as the rear seat of a Scout or Citabria, and I have plenty of PIC time from the rear seat of those, so no biggie. 
the other thing is that in the 3 point attitude, the wing is still flying, not stalled, so any kind of firm arrival means a guaranteed bounce. The fix is to either wheel it on, or better yet, extend the mains by a few inches, which was done on this one, guaranteeing a stalled wing at 3 point stance. 
 

Ernie

She is just like a beautiful woman - care and lots of tender loving care.  As we've talked so many times, my first 20 hours so many years ago, were in a J3 Cub and learning to fishtail when taxiing and getting the nose up as fast as possible on takeoff was so quickly learned. Landings in a Cub were a joy and compared to the Starduster, you certainly need to be on your 'toes' and way ahead of her.  

Knowing your past, hours, time and love of taildraggers, your Starduster will be a dream to fly and land whether paved or grass. 

Moving the gear forward seems to be a good solution to getting the wing to stall on landing, so you're not bouncing and floating when landing.

Please keep us in the loop as to your progress and they can never be enough photographs.  

 

[ScottsGT]

19 hours ago, Clunkmeister said:

We’re actively looking for a Warner 165 hp Super Scarab.   We have a mount for an injected 6 cyl IO-470 if needed. 

https://www.trade-a-plane.com/search?category_level1=Piston+Engine&make=WARNER&model=SCARAB&listing_id=2427299&s-type=engine

https://www.barnstormers.com/listing.php?userid=176868

[CANicoll]

I have no idea what you are talking about, but it's cool any way, Ernie!

[Clunkmeister]

Peter, the gear will be moved BACK to take weight off the tail wheel.  That was an early, and successful mod to tame it a bit on the ground. 
plus, as most of them were built with an O-320 and a short mount for aesthetics, they’d end up tail heavy as well, making for some interesting stall/spin characteristics. 
The key is to unload the tail wheel, lengthen the main gear, and use a heavy engine.  
I’m really liking the sound of an IO-470. It’s heavy, it’s powerful, they’re cheap and plentiful, and reliable.  Plus, it’s injected, so no carb ice. 
I looked at two: one off a 182, and the other off a 310.  The 310 one comes with a constant speed prop,.. that’s fully feathering.  Feather the prop on a draggy wire braced biplane and lengthen your glide by what? 10 inches per 1000 ft?