Boeing-Stearman Kaydet PT13/17 US Airforce / Navy Primary Trainer

Boeing-Stearman 

Kaydet PT13/17 

US Airforce / Navy Primary Trainer 

Assembly and finishing Manual 

for ARF stand-off scale model 

in 1:5 scale. 

Historical data and presentation. 

Model design and construction drawing by 

Göran Kalderén © 

Rev. 2002-08-15

Stearman Kaydet PT17 ARF 2



Boieng Stearman PT-17 ’Kaydet’ 

Nicknamed the ”Yellow Peril” thanks to its 

somewhat tricky ground handling characteristics, the 

Stearman is one of the most easily recognized aircraft. 

Its simple construction, rugged dependability and 

nimble handling made the Stearman much loved by 

those who flew and trained on it. The Stearman Kaydet, 

as it was officially named, was the only American aircraft 

used during World War II that was completely 

standardized for both Army and Navy use as the PT 

13D (Army) and N255 (Navy). Sold by the thousands 

after World War II, the Stearman has had a long and 

full career as a trainer, crop duster and air show performer. 

The famed Stearman Model 75 has its roots 

in the earlier Model 70, which was chosen in 1934 as 

the U.S. Navy’s primary trainer. At a time when biplanes 

were becoming a thing of the past, the Model 

70 offered the fledgling pilot a steady and sturdy steed. 

Designed and built in only 60 days, the prototype Model 

70 could withstand load factors much higher than were 

expected to occur in normal flight training. The U.S. 

Army and Navy tested the prototype in 1934. At the 

conclusion of these tests, the Navy ordered the aircraft 

while the Army decided to wait for the introduction 

of the improved Model 75 appearing in 1936. Over 

the next decade, the Armydecided to wait for the introduction 

of the improved Model 75 appearing in 1936. 

Over the next decade, the Army received nearly 8,500 

Stearmans in five different variants. The difference 

among these versions were the engines fitted; Kaydets 

were fitted with Lycoming (PT 13), Continental (PT 

17) or Jacobs (PT 18) radial engines. The U.S. Navy 

took delivery of their first Stearman (called the NS-1 ) 

in 1934. Powered with the obsolete but readily available 

Wright R-790-8 engine, the NS-1 proved its worth 

as a primary trainer. The Navy purchased several thousand 

of an improved model, the N2S. The N2S was 

built in five sub variants, each variant being equipped 

with a different model engine. Additionally, the Canadian 

armed forces took delivery of 300 PT 27s, a winterized 

version of the PT 17. 

A later, more powerful version of the Stearman, 

the Model 76, was purchased by Argentina, Brazil and 

the Philippines. 


Stearman PT-17 Kaydet 

Length: 25' 7.62 M 

Height: 9' 2" 2.79 M 

Wingspan: 32' 2" 9.80 M 

Stearman Kaydet PT17 ARF 6 

Wingarea: 297.00 Sq Ft 27.59 Sq M 

Empty Weight: 1936.00 lbs 878.00 Kg 

Gross Weight: 2717.00 lbs 1232.00 Kg 

Powerplant: Continental R-670-5, 220 hp

The Model 

We have chosen the scale of 1:5 rendering 

a model size that i easy to fly but also relatively 

easy to transport. Both the upper and the lower 

wing panels can be removed for transportation 

which gives very limited requirement for 

transportation size. With a .1.20 4-stroke engine 

the airplane is capable of most of the manoeuvers 

in the book but still as docile as you can demand 

from a n advanced trainer. 

The finished model is painted in 1939 livery 

and further detailing can be made as per 

documentation. 

Specifications: 

Wingspan cm 193 

Wingspan inches 77.2 

Length cm 149 

Length inches 59.6 

Weight grams 6600 

Weight Lb/oz 14lb. 8 oz. 

Wing surface dm² 118 dm² 

Wing surface Sq.inch 1888 sq” 

Wing load g/dm² 56 g/dm² 

Wing load oz/Sq’ 24 oz/sq’ 

Engine 2-cycle .60 - .90 

Engine 4-cycle .90 - 1.20 

C/G fr. Lead.edge upper wing 15cm / 6” 

Covering and finish 

The model is covered and painted from the 

factory. Where the original had aluminum covering 

panels, the model has the same. This also means 

excellent acces to the various compartments in 

the fuselage when installing or servicing the radio 

equipment. When you have made changes in the 

fire wall and adapted the dummy engine to fit in 

front of the engine, you will have to cover the open 

areas with fuel proof paint. 

Installation of engine. 

Our prototype was tried with an OS 1.20 FS 

surcharge 4-stroke which gave more than ample 

thrust. The engine mounts have been installed 

for this size of engine and in an upright position 

for several reasons. 

The need for adequate cooling. The access 

to the glow plug easily and finally to get the 

carburator in line with the center of the tank. 

1. Drill the holed for the engine in the ½" 

plywood ingine mount. Install blind nuts underside 

of the plywood aligned with the holes 

2. Drill the holes from the tank to the 

carburator, pressure tap and the filling cap. 

3. Install the engine and connect the throttle 

servo. 

No side or down thrust is deemed necessary. You 

can use an flexible exhaust manifold to lead the 

exhaust out under the center bottom panel to give 

a better apperance. 

Installation of servos, tank, battery and 

receiver. 

The aileron servo is installed in the cockpit 

flooring. The elevator servo and the rudder 

servo are also installed in the cockpit flooring. 

The trottle servo is installed behind the 

engine as well as the tank, booth on the 

engineboard. 

Battery pack and receiver are positioned 

in the upper part of the tray. 

The switch can be mounted on the front 

cockpit instrument panel. 

1. Attach a ball link head to joystick and 

rudder bar in the appropriate holes. You may have 

to enlarge the holes to take the screw from the 

ball link (Dubro #189 set of 2). 

2. Install the servos for rudder and elevator 

and temporarily connect the servo arms to the 

ball links. Deflection for elevator is 20° up and 

down and for rudder 30° right and left.. 

3. Install and connect the throttle servo in 

the fashion you prefer. 

4. Install the tank in the available space at 

the right side next to the rudder and throttle 

servos.. 

5. Install the aileron servo in the bulkhead. 

The aileron connecting rods attaches to the servo 

arm. Deflection of the ailerons should be 20° up 

and down. The servo arm should be fashioned to 

take 2 clevices approx 1/8" apart. 

6. Install the radio switch on the dash board. 

7. Place the receiver in the upper part of the 

tray and the battery pack in front of the lower 

firewall, wrapped in foam rubber and secured with 

rubber bands. 

Assembly of the PT17 

All parts have been assembled at the factory 

and only disassembled for transportation. 

Rudder wires and elevator pushrod are 

factory adjusted but may need some tensioning 

adjustment after a while. Aileron bellcranks are 

permanently adjusted to the connecting rod. 

Assembly of the tail unit 

See detail drawing. 

1. Attach horizontal tail(3) to fuselage using 3 pcs 

4 mm nylon countersunk screws. Make sure that 

stabilizer is flat against fuselage. 

2. connect the elevator control rod to the elevator 

horn. 

3. Insert vertical fin and secure to tailpost bracket 

and front of stabilizer. Attach rudder on to the fin 

with hinge pins. 

4. Secure the assembly with screws to the 

stabilizer and to the tailpost. Attach the top 

stabilizer fairing and secure with screws. 

5. Attach fin and stabilixer support wires to top of 

fin using 2 mm screw and nut (from top side of 




stabilizer to top of fin). 

6. Secure and tighten all screws and nuts. 

Check the action of elevator and rudder. The 

elevator is actuated with the joy-stick and the 

rudder with the rudder bar. 

Assembly of wing panels 

1. Push the lower wing halves into the holes 

in the fuselage. 

2. Attach the upper wing center section using 

the 4 Allen 6-32 screws supplied (note that the 

front screws are longer and the rear screws 

shorter). Attach ball links or clevices to the aileron 

push rods. Connect the aileron push rods to the 

servo in the fuselage.. Check the movement of 

the ailerons. 20° up and 15° down throw. 

3. Install the interplane struts. Connect the 

flying wires and the landing wires. Attach the flying 

wires in place. Attach the landing wires in 

place. Adjust if necessary, the rear lower 

incidence adjustment screw and the fasten this 

assembly to the bracket on the lower wing using 

2 mm screw and locknut. 

Should you need to replace a wire, use the 

attachment method indicated in the picture. When 

crimping the cerulet (sleeve) use a flat plier, press 

firmly and don't cut through the wire. 

Landing gear 

Install the wheel shafts and secure with the 

Allen socket locking screws. The landing gear is 

completely built up with oleo spring action and is 


an integrated part of the fuselage. The wheels 

are secured with locking rings and the wheel caps 

are pushed onto the wheel hubs. 

Balancing 

The center of gravity / balancing point should be 

approx. 15 cm (6") measured from the leading 

edge on the upper wing. Make adjustments if 

necessary. 

Flying 

The prototype was flown with a OS 1.20 

4-stroke FS which provides ample thrust. Let the 

engine swing a 18x6 propeller if possible. This 

gives better thrust outside the big dummy engine 

and reduces sound to a more realistic level. 

Flying characteristics are very forgiving 

and will fly hapily on half trottle. Set the elevator 

at zero angle for the first flight but be prepared 

to give down elevator if the model climbs out too 

steep. During the initial take off run you have to 

compensate for the torque with right rudder but 

as the speed builds up the rudder is returned to 

neutrual. This model should fly of the ground and 

not be pulled. 

The landing approach can be rather 

steep as per prototype but the flare out needs 

almost full up elevator. Maintain directional 

heading and remember, the aircraft has a 

stearable tailwheel. 

Happy landings!

The tailwheel is 

coupled to the 

rudder bar and has 

50% throw of the 

rudder 

Rudder and elevator servos in the flooring 

of front cockpit 

Aileron servo in the 

flooring of rear 

cockpit. Note the 

servo arm with 2 

attachment point 

for the clevices of 

the aileron push 

rods. 

The OS 1.2 engine blends nicely with the 

dummy engine 

Push rods from the servos attach to the 

rudder bar and the control column. 


What is in the box: 

The ARF kit contains the parts shown in the picture. 

All the parts are covered and painted. All the rigging 

5 

4 

3 

2 

1. Fuselage with wing cabane 

2. Landing gear 

3. Scale wheels 

4. Dummy engine with mount 

5. Scale propeller 

6. Tail wheel assy (stearable). 

7. Fin with tailfairing / rudder 

8. Stabilizer / elevator 

K&W 

11 

9 


10 

Model 

Airplanes Inc. 

1 

wires are supplied in the correct lengths and need 

only to be clipped to their positions. 

9. Upper wing panels 

10. Lower wing panels 

11. Interplane struts 

12. Wires, turnbuckles and hardware for assembly 

(not shown) 

13. Assembly manual with scale 

documentation 

P.O.Box 1229, Cebu City Centrl. Postoffice 

Cebu City 6000, Philippines 

Visiting address: 

3343 Gun-Ob, Kinalumsan, 

Lapu-Lapu City 6015, PHILIPPINES 

Phone +63 32-340 0772, Cellular +63 917-3200 985 

Telefax +63 32-340 7131, E-mail: kwmairpl@gsilink.com 

Website http://www.kwmairpl.com.ph 

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Boeing-Stearman Kaydet PT13/17 US Airforce / Navy Primary Trainer

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