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Need help with C/L kit choice - 10/1/2003 2:06:11 AM   
CaptainHook



Posts: 1103
Joined: 12/24/2001
From: Swartz Creek, MI, USA
Status: offline 		My Daughter has put a C/L plane on her list of X-Mas gifts this year. I am an avid R/C guy but have not flown a C/L in a very long time. She enjoys building things so a kit will be ideal for her. Do any of you have any suggestions on a easy flyer/builder of the .049-.09 size? I need input on all the goodies, engine as well. Thanks in advance.


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Carey Hook
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RE: Need help with C/L kit choice - 10/1/2003 2:14:25 AM   
ajcoholic



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Joined: 6/22/2002
From: Kirkland Lake, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		Try a Brodak rekit of the Flite Streak Jr. (George Aldrich design, originally kitted by top flite)

Its a great trainer, and stunter. Can be flown on an 09 but really much better with a .15 IMO, an OS LA 15 would be a nice match on 50 - 60 foot lines.

I have used/abused mine for years and its still going strong. And a nice fairly easy kit to build.

AJC


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Andrew J. Coholic
Engine reviewer for FLY RC Magazine - andrewc@flyrc.com

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RE: Need help with C/L kit choice - 10/1/2003 2:25:53 AM   
CaptainHook



Posts: 1103
Joined: 12/24/2001
From: Swartz Creek, MI, USA
Status: offline 		AJ,

Can you tell me where I can find an online store with this or any other kits. Tower doesn't seem to carry any.


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Carey Hook

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RE: Need help with C/L kit choice - 10/1/2003 2:36:48 AM   
Elwyn



Posts: 105
Joined: 12/22/2002
From: Broken Arrow, OK, USA
Status: offline 		If you want to start off with something dirt simple you might consider a Sig 1/2A Skyray. You can minimize the elevator movement to make it a little less sensative for training. Even though it's a plank wing ship it is capable of loops, figure eights, and inverted flight etc. when set up properly. It's easy to trace around all of the parts and make copies of the kit for 2 or 3 bucks. The only downside is .049 ships usually turn a fairly quick lap speed

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RE: Need help with C/L kit choice - 10/1/2003 3:19:26 AM   
ajcoholic



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Joined: 6/22/2002
From: Kirkland Lake, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		Here in Canada, Great Hobbies ( www.greathobbies.com ) stocks them, I imagine you can get the Brodak kits directly from them in the USA? With your stronger US dollar it may be better to buy from Canada!

I also fly 1/2A, and they are fun, but not too much building. At least with the Flite Streak Jr. you have a wing with ribs and sheeting, enough building to keep it going for a while, not a 1 evening project. You also get her started in covering.

Actually, if you check out the kits they have lots for 09-15 size. A Ringmaster would also be sweet, makes a good trainer too.

http://www.brodak.com/ for all the kits they sell....

AJC


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Andrew J. Coholic
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RE: Need help with C/L kit choice - 10/1/2003 2:59:49 PM   
Kiwi



Posts: 26
Joined: 3/7/2003
From: The Alamo City, TX, USA
Status: offline
quote:

ORIGINAL: ajcoholic

I also fly 1/2A, and they are fun, but not too much building. At least with the Flite Streak Jr. you have a wing with ribs and sheeting, enough building to keep it going for a while, not a 1 evening project. You also get her started in covering.

Actually, if you check out the kits they have lots for 09-15 size. A Ringmaster would also be sweet, makes a good trainer too.



SIG produces two "09-15" size Goodyear kits with plank wings that should work well as trainers with a modern 10-size engine, such as the LA. I have added the quote marks around the engine suggested size because MODERN 15's are enough heavier & more powerful that they are a less-useful choice on older designs that were fine when powered by the much lighter weight baffle 15's.

The Ringmaster Jr, on the other hand, was always stretching its own claim when it said 09-15 on the box, since it was more suitable for 074-09 engines. Now that Estes is referring to the same plane as a "Ringmaster 19" the situation is much worse for it!

Brodak sells a repro kit of the Streak Trainer design that TF once kitted. It is larger than the two SIG kits mentioned, and worked fine with the older baffle 19's, so it's still going to balance well enough with a modern 15. Over the last year or so, something on the order of half the LHS's across the country have finally gotten around to getting web sites up.

Go to the library and check the yellow pages for the cities in your state. The ads will include the URL's.


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The K.

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RE: Need help with C/L kit choice - 10/1/2003 5:55:13 PM   
Sport_Pilot



Posts: 7728
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From: Acworth, GA, USA
Status: offline 		Knowing what I now know I think I would try a SPAD C/L trainer. Somewhere there is a site for a 1/2a platter as well as a C/L SPAD of a F114. It would be easy to convert many of the 15 sized combat SPAD's to C/L. Even a PBF could be put to use!. I think I would try a 18" to 20" PBF with a modern .15. Maybe make it more rectangle than square say 20" wide and 16" long. Reduce the elevator so that it does not extend all the way to the tip and is only about 2" long. Mount the Bellcrank to the spline just aft of the CG, and go fly!

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RE: Need help with C/L kit choice - 10/1/2003 10:22:01 PM   
ajcoholic



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From: Kirkland Lake, ON, CANADA
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quote:

She enjoys building things so a kit will be ideal for her


My personal way of thinking is that to get her some building experience go with a built up wing kit. Otherwise, heck, go for a Bradak 1/2A trainer or a Sig Deweybird that you can slap together in an hour.

I have used coroplast flying wings to teach youngsters but man, they go round FAST and flying on 50 or 60 foot lines is so much easier and the 1/2A's dont pull strong enough to "feel" the plane.

IMO when you get a decent 15 size model on 50 foot lines you get enough feedback from the plane to make it easier to fly, and also you arent spinning around too fast. I actually fly my Flite Streak Jr on 60 foot .011 lines. Its a blast and quite easy to control, especially if you leave it a bit nose heavy.

The Aldrich design Peacemaker is another excellent plane - I am not sure if a kit is available but I have plans for it (originally published in a British mag and also in MAN). On a 15 glow or diesel it is AWESOME! Easy to fly but oh so manouverable.

AJC


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Andrew J. Coholic
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RE: Need help with C/L kit choice - 10/2/2003 2:39:24 AM   
Kyle Entzel



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Joined: 3/31/2003
From: Jamestown, ND, USA
Status: offline 		I think the site "Sport_Pilot" is talking about is:
http://www.aeromaniacs.com/index.htm

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RE: Need help with C/L kit choice - 10/2/2003 3:20:11 AM   
CaptainHook



Posts: 1103
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From: Swartz Creek, MI, USA
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quote:

My personal way of thinking is that to get her some building experience go with a built up wing kit.



Thanks for all the input, this site and members never fail when it comes to info or helping out others. AJ, you are right on with your thinking, a kit that is built in a couple of nights will not satisfy her. The flight streak jr should be a good choice for her building skills and interest in the hobby. If all goes well, maybe she can help finish my FW190 for me.


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Carey Hook

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RE: Need help with C/L kit choice - 10/2/2003 11:33:41 AM   
gcb



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From: Port Ewen, NY, USA
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quote:

ORIGINAL: ajcoholic

...The Aldrich design Peacemaker is another excellent plane - I am not sure if a kit is available but I have plans for it (originally published in a British mag and also in MAN). On a 15 glow or diesel it is AWESOME! Easy to fly but oh so manouverable.
AJC


AJC,
Although the profile Peacemaker builds up like a Flite Streak the full fuselage version is probably more than a beginner should tackle as a first project. Although it uses a wing with same size ribs, it also has flaps and a somewhat complicated fuselage (look at the engine compartment).
Remember that after it is built it must be trimmed for flight.
Beautiful ship though!
Just another opinion.

In general:
If you decide to go 1/2A, check the Brodak site for a good line of planes. Pay attention to the front of the fuselage. Some are built for radial mount (such as a reed valve Cox) and some are built for beam mount (Tee Dee, Norvels, etc.).

George

< Message edited by gcb -- 10/2/2003 11:35:17 AM >

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RE: Need help with C/L kit choice - 10/2/2003 12:25:27 PM   
ajcoholic



Posts: 4042
Joined: 6/22/2002
From: Kirkland Lake, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		I was referring to the profile Peacemaker, no flaps. Thats the only version I have seen... perhaps you are thinking of the Nobler?

AJC

< Message edited by ajcoholic -- 10/2/2003 7:25:40 AM >


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Andrew J. Coholic
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RE: Need help with C/L kit choice - 10/2/2003 11:46:28 PM   
gcb



Posts: 2422
Joined: 10/24/2002
From: Port Ewen, NY, USA
Status: offline 		ajcoholic,

Nope, two completely different planes. The only things they share are the name and the fact that both were originally powered by Oliver Tigers.
The Model Airplane News version is a full fuselage ship with flaps and an upright engine.
Don't know why GMA chose the same name for both. The profile version was published in 1958 and the full fuselage version in 1960.

George

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RE: Need help with C/L kit choice - 10/3/2003 1:33:49 AM   
ajcoholic



Posts: 4042
Joined: 6/22/2002
From: Kirkland Lake, ON, CANADA
Status: offline 		Well I am an idiot then! I have the full size plans from the Aeromedeller (thats the one we flew) but also have the old issue of MAN, but never really noticed or had a good look at the article, just assumed it was the same plane.... Doh!

OK then, lets go with the British PEacemaker. That one is simple as the FSJ but a larger wingspan and rugged as all heck. We have flown them on anything from an old glow 15, PAW 15's up to 35's. I think a 15 is excellent.

Thanks for the info, now I will dig up the MAN magazine and take a closer look at the "US" peacemaker.

AJC


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Andrew J. Coholic
Engine reviewer for FLY RC Magazine - andrewc@flyrc.com

(in reply to gcb)