liked the straight wing for easy building, the licensed kit versions all had dihedral. Graupner, of Germany, was one of those licensed kit manufacturers. They kitted the plane as the Middle Stick and were respon- sible for the “Stik” craze in Europe. In the May 1968 issue of RCM, a construc- tion article appeared for Das Liddle Stik. Larry Leonard, proprietor of a hobby shop in California and a very active flyer, and his buddy, Bud Anders, built and flew the Jensen Ugly Stik and both liked the plane very much. Then the idea came to them that this ship might be even more fun if it were reduced in size. They would have a more compact airplane, which would, hopefully, provide even more fun.
They decided that a 25 percent reduction in size would provide a nice, small airplane with enough wing area remaining to keep it airborne. While cutting out the parts for the first Liddle Stik, Larry Leonard decided it was almost as easy to cut out six sets of parts as it was to cut one set. As a result Larry and five of his friends built “Liddle Stiks”. The plans listed the engine size as .19 to .45, quite a range. The February 1969 issue of RCM carried the first ad for Das Little Stik. This was a 46-inch wingspan version of Das Ugly Stik for .19 to .35 engines. It was kitted by Mid- west Products. Interestingly there was no price on that ad. In May 1985, RC Modeler, finally got around to publishing plans for the Das Ugly Stik. The plans were of the version original- ly kitted by Jim Jensen. As I mentioned earlier, Das Ugly Stick has been the most copied plane of its day. Just put “Ugly Stik” into Google and you will find a list of Stiks in all sizes large and small. Power ranges from glow engines to gas engines and electric Stiks have been showing up more these days.
Members of the Valley Flyers of California with their Liddle Stiksas they appeared on the cover of the May 1968 RC Modeler magazine.
Joe Bridi kitted the “Bridi Stik” which is an 80-inch gasser. Bud Nosen has plans for a 101- inch wingspan version he calls “Big Stick”. Midwest even kitted a biplane version they called, appropriately enough, Das Bipe Stik. It has a 43-inch top wingspan and a 37-inch low wingspan. Midwest also kitted a 54-inch wingspan design they called “Sweet Stik”. Of course someone had to produce a low wing version and Midwest Products did it with their 54-inch wingspan “Sweet’N Low Stik”. Midwest also kitted a “Giant Sweet’N Low” with an 86-inch wingspan. Hangar 9 of- fers a 52-inch version of Das Ugly Stik in an ARF version.
While Googling I even found a Four Motor
Stik and a Turbo Stik from New Zealand. You will even find mention of modelers scratchbuilding “Foam Stiks”. So, if you have never built a Stik before, now is the time. I must admit that I never built one because I thought they were ugly and I like pretty planes. However, I will build a Stik of some variation as my VRCS Theme Plane for 2014. Why not build one yourself and join the fun as well as attend a VRCS event somewhere around the country. The 2014 VRCS challenge is to see which event will have the most Stiks in attendance.
Midwest kitted a 54-inch wingspan version of Das Ugly Stik (above) which they called the Sweet Stik. Midwest also kitted a biplane version of Das Ugly Stik(at right) which they called appropriately Das Bipe Stik. It had a 43-inch top wing and a 37-inch bottom wing.
FLYING MODELS 43
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68