Star Duster tug (4-Star origin)

[tree2tree]

After attending one of Jim’s and Dave’s aerotowing seminars at a Toledo show about 4 years ago, I decided to give this aspect of RC flying a try. Our club does a scratch build project almost every year. One project was based loosely on the 4-Star 60, that one of our members redesigned to meet our needs. It was called the All Star.

I decided to kit-bash mine into a crop duster looking plane. The name – Star Duster – has obvious origins, although some club members thought because it looked like a Pawnee, it should be called the PawnStar! The pictures show the Star Duster and the All Star prototype that our club member (re)designed.

This has proven to be an excellent tug for learning aerotowing and has successfully tugged up to 3 meter sailplanes. Most of its duty though has been on the Easyglider and Solius. A number of club members have received their first taste of aerotowing with my beat-up Easyglider behind the Star Duster. That combination has also been used at the MRCA event to give more modelers a taste of the enjoyment.

I thought I’d share details of the Star Duster here, as I think a 4-Star 60 with a few modifications could be worth considering as a smaller tug.

[tree2tree]

While my kitbash included a lot of changes, here’s the items that really make for success:

Engine: I used an O.S. Surpass II 90, four stroke engine, combined it with a 15x6 prop (finer pitch). This combination has stump-pulling grunt for it’s size. And it is relatively quiet – always welcome at an aerotow event.

[tree2tree]

Tow Release: Pretty standard item, mounted at the rear of the cockpit canopy into a reinforced rear turtle-deck.

[tree2tree]

Wings: One of the features of the 4-Star series was the stringered leading edge, rather than a sheeted LE. The stringers are said to enhance flight characteristics. Perhaps they do, but I sheeted the LE for strength and the plane flies just fine. I added struts like the full-size Pawnee has, but they are purely cosmetic. I quite often fly without them.

[tree2tree]

Tail Feather bracing: I added 2-56 pushrod stays between the horizontal and vertical stabilizes to keep the tow line away from the rudder and elevators.

Flaps: Probably not needed, but I like using them to float in for landing.

My Star Duster’s first flight was in July, 2012 and now has over 300 flights. It is still going strong.

Video of a Star Duster / Easyglider flight: https://youtu.be/WP4382kc4Pg

Hope this provides some ideas for a possible tug.

[Steve P]

Very nice! Thanks for sharing!

[JimD]

I had a Four Star 60 with an OS .91 four-stroke back in the mid-1990's...it was a great airplane (kind of sorry I sold it). Love this kit bash and can certainly see that it would make a perfect towplane for this size class. Thanks for posting, I am having a rush of nostalgia!

[lenb]

Wow.
Really nice looking job. It's always exciting to hear about another pilot introducing members to aerotowing. Congratulations and keep going!!!
Looking forward to seeing this one at an event soon.

LEN

[Sinkhappens86]

Great looking Four Star bash, always thought it would make a great towplane!

[ARUP]

That looks great! I built a 4*40 with flaps, lights, retracts and 'v' tail. I like yours better!