proptop

My Feedback: (8)

Anybody remember the Nomad?
I'm talking about the first version...
It has about a 45" span, polyhedral, and has a pod mounted .020...it looks like a powered glider.
This one was built in the early 60's and is silk 'n doped...an old friend passed away, and his wife gave it to me...escapement radio and all.

I know House of Balsa re-did the kit sometime in the 70's, but does anybody know who made the first edition back in the early '60?

BTW, Bigchap...thanks...I can get the .020 running again now

RCPAUL

My Feedback: (1)

If my memory serves me (hey, I've olny got two brain cells left and one is sick!) this was a Ted Strader design - published originally in one of the mags.

Paul

BMatthews

That's right. It's quite possible that it was built from the magazine plans. We used to do things like that back in the old days.....

Andrew

Quoted from the original plans in an ECKTRONICS kit -- ECKTRONICS was a major player in the RC market with their escapements and receivers:

"The NOMAD, designed by Ted Strader, first appeared in Flying Models Magazine (Aug-Sep '61) and R/C fliers everywhere immediately gave it an enthusiastic reception. Now is your chance to build this famous model from some of the finest die-cut balsa ever included in a kit. Take your time, build it well, and the NOMAD will rewqrd you with many fascinating hours of true R/C enjoyment. Excerpts from the original article are reprinted on the plans through the courtesy of "Flying Models Magazine".

This was my first R/C -- escapement, superhet RX and Citizenship vacuum tube TX. Flight was mostly freeflight with an occasional blip from the escapement -- range seemed to be about 50'.

I build mine around '63, I think.

ptulmer

My Feedback: (5)

Flyswatter has one the he flies! Very neat little airplane. I've got his plans and templates right here beside my desk. The peewee would fly it, but was limited in altitude. The TD will take it up to speck height! I really liked flying it with the peewee because it was a challenge.

proptop

My Feedback: (8)

Thanks guys!
It really is a nice little bird...and my O.F.B. did a beautiful job on it...
I'm thinking of maybe putting a Feather Rx. in it, and an HS-55 on the rudder.
I remember him telling me stories of the escapement radios, and "mostly free-flight" flights

It has a Bramco Tx. and a Super Regen (is that right? ) Rx. and a tiny escapement in it now...with a petrified loooonnnggg rubber band going going back to the tail.

He was a Navy pilot in WWII, and taught me how to fly in the mid 70's (when I was a middle teen ) and now I'm teaching his grand son how to fly...

fritzke

My Feedback: (1)

The Nomad and other Strader designs were also done (later) by Special Edition Plans, which I think Ted ran.
I think SEP was also run as Kuston Kits for a time.
It was an Ecktronics kit in the early 60's as you said, they were sold by Ace R/C back then too.
Ecktronics, 2109 S. Wright Street, Santa Ana CA

foamdave

Dave Fritzke: Do you know if plans for the Nomad are available anywhere now?

Thanks; Dave Gettman-

build light

AMA plans service has this plan (Ecktronics kit) for $10.00 Plan number 32807

Robert

dennis

My Feedback: (90)

Ted strader is alive and well and does sell copies of his designe. I can't remember the contact address at the moment but perhaps someone else will jump in with it.
Dennis

Andrew

It's listed at the bottom of Dave Fritzke's page: http://my.pclink.com/~dfritzke/index.html

CoosBayLumber

My Feedback: (1)

There is also a small discussion over at the forum RCGroups on this subject at present time.


Wm.

foamdave

Thanks to all who responded. I will follow your leads.

Much appreciated; Dave-

skaliwag

My Feedback: (1)

If some one has one ... How aboiut a picture.

foamdave

I'll try to upload a picture........Dave

build light

Thanks for that Dennis, Things being what they are these days, I would feel best about ordering direct from Mr. Strader! He certainly deserves the cash! Whatever he charges would be deserving.

The same goes for any of Walter Muciano's fine designs and all the rest who are still around and still are willing and able to provide plans.

We should do this while we are able!

Robert

fizzwater2

My Feedback: (61)

I know this is a really old thread, but I recently purchased this Nomad at the LHS, it was hanging on the ceiling there on consignment. Came with a TD .020 and an Ace R/O system. Notice the sales receipt tucked under the hatch.. it was already mine at this point.

I've swapped the TD for a Park 280 motor, 10A ESC. Installed a Savox SH-0350 servo in place of the actuator, but am using the original torque rod to drive the rudder. It'll have a Spektrum AR400 RX, probably a 500 mah or so battery - or a little bigger if needed to balance it.

Should be fun, on those rare days in Kansas when the wind's not blowing too hard!

The .020 has been cleaned up and stored, it's not going away. For now, it'll be e-power so I can put it in the car with minimal support equipment, and maybe stop at the flying field on the way home from work when the sun starts staying up a little longer.

I also just scored a copy of the original August-September 1961 Flying Models magazine with the Nomad published in it. Should be a fun read!

GallopingGhostler

I built a House of Balsa Nomad back in the 1980's, but made the fatal mistake of using Monokote for covering all over the plane, big mistake, made it too heavy to fly, Tee Dee .020 struggled to pull it in the air. It became a shelf item, until succumbed to moving damage.

Had I covered the wings with clear doped light silk and clear doped the wood surfaces with color trim, it would have been light and flew well. Wing was designed for silk or silkspan, provides tautness and strength. Good discussion in another forum, else needs a hardwood spar or wing will snap. With a spar a lightweight covering like Polyspan or Coverite Coverlite would work.

fizzwater2

My Feedback: (61)

this one is right at 10 oz with the motor, battery, radio installed. Considering the original back in 1961 was about 9.5 oz, that's not too bad.

Andrew

Good for you. Restoring an old classic back to flying condition certainly deserves kudos. I hope the Kansas winds are kind. The wing design is a little on the light side, but a calm afternoon should give you lots of fun.

proptop

My Feedback: (8)

Wow...it's interesting to see this old thread pop up after 10 years...
Flew the Nomad, and gave it away several years ago..
My old flyin buddies grand son has graduated college and I heard that he was married...
ob-la-di ob-la-da life goes on...as the Beatles say...

Elec. power has evolved a lot in 10 years...if I had it do do again now...I sure would go electric...

I still love the small engines, but for a quick flight after work or something the E power is so much more convienient...and cleaner...aye?

fizzwater2

My Feedback: (61)

For something like this, e-power has it's place - but the vast majority of my planes have glow power. Mostly I pylon race, this Nomad is a TOTAL change of pace from what I normally fly!

And yes, with the winds in Kansas, this will be one of those "gee, it's a great evening, time to squeeze in a flight" things.. i.e., relaxing!

GallopingGhostler

FYI, Outerzone has the Ted Strader plan from August 1961 Flying Models Magazine. Outerzone Plan #6264 Strader 48" Nomad RC Glider
If I were to build today, I'd add a wing spar per recommendations and use a lighter tissue appearance covering like Coverite Coverlite, going easy on the Balsarite.

speed2004

The HOB was my first RC airplane ever. BB .049 and Hitec radio. Hit a Telephone pole first flight! I gave plans to a buddy, he sent them to me after 25 years from his collection!!! I really need to build one again for old times sake. I have a Black Widow that would be perfect.

ffkiwi

Having seen the Outerzone plan I'm very tempted to build it and put one of my small diesels on it instead of a PeeWee-perhaps the VA Elfin 0.25 or a Schlosser 0.25...for some relaxed flying!

ChrisM
'ffkiwi'