Since I can't find a Blue Angels, Aurora or Curare kit(s), and I doubt that 8178 would sell me his (wonder if there are parts for a 2nd...) I had pretty much given up on trying to get a Classic Pattern Plane flying. But while I was up here in NJ at a flying event, my friend Paul Papendrea (hope I spelled that right) was trying to sell a RTF Tipo (Giezen... retracts and OS-60) we started talking about the classics. He happened to mention that he has a Miss Norway kit and a Trouble Maker kit. Never heard of the Miss Norway, but my dad had a Trouble Maker kit, so I knew that one. I am now the proud owner of the Trouble Maker kit.

Anyone have any thoughts, ideas, comments on any possible changes/improvements that might be needed to improve the plane or building of it? I hope to have it flying for the Tangerines in December. And if you have any pics of one, please feel free to post them. I haven't decided on a scheme yet, and didn't see a pic of the wing/tail on/in the kit.

Thanks,
Jason

Oh yea... keeping with the classics, while I was at the event up here, this kind man came up to me, Ed Runkle (sp?), and told me a little story about a young kid he remembered flying at the Jamesburg flying field in NJ many years back. He said the kid would be flying all around and loving every minute and never getting enough. Then he said that he showed up to his pattern contest in 1981 and had a blast. Well, that kid he was talking about... is a bit older now. I told him it was all his fault for getting me hooked on pattern. I thanked him dearly.

Don't know about the Troublemaker (I've heard about it, but never seen it or flown one), but I do know the Miss Norway. I flew one from a fellow club member back in 1979 or so, and if I recall correctly, I think it was a swept wing design. RCM has the plans and there is a photo there also (looks swept wing there also, but from the angle of the photo, I can't confirm it).

Take a look; you might want to purchase this one from your friend also. If not, then I would be interested in purchasing it, if the price is reasonable.

Hi Jason:
I had a Troublemaker, fixed gear, HP .61 in the early 80's. I didn't do anything at all to modify it and it was a very honest flying airplane. It always felt locked, didn't have any bad habits. One thing I discovered was that you could a nifty flat inverted spin for as long as you dared, with an instantaneous hands off recovery. Started it with a positive snap and a half from level upright and full throttle. You quickly push full down and cross the ailerons over and hang on. Absolutely fool proof entry and exit, full throttle the whole time. Not your standard fare for a pattern bird, but it was fun.

Have fun with yours. I also hope to build another one someday.

Ed

PAPANDREA........you spelled it much closer than they pronounced it during the givaway over the bullhorn! Lol.........Paul @%$@$%%.....?????? Lol! TRy this..Pap.....and......rea! Lol! Oh well..it's all good.

PaulP

Hi Jason,

Finding an Aurora kit should not be a problem : Singapore Hobby Supply still has them, and they are used to exporting all over the world. Have a look at www.singahobby.com and even better : drop them an e-mail.

I visited the shop last year, and they even still had an MK Joker kit! I wonder what treasures are hidden in their basement!

Good luck finding a kit, and pls let me know what came out of it. If Singa does not work, I may be able to help you still.

Best regards,

Kris G

I have photos of the original Troublemaker Toni flew back in the early 70's as well as one photo from the cover of an old model airplane magazine I have laying around here. I have not figured out how to post photos yet! I could email them to you if you PM me with your email address.

I have the Troublemaker EXT from Eureka Aircraft which is a 10% enlargement of the original. This stays within the limits of the Senior Pattern Association of which I am a member. The larger version is less pitch sensitive and of course a little slower.

Jon

Paul,

Sorry about that... but you're right, it was much closer than Stan was trying to announce...lol.

Kris,

I emailed Singapore Hobbies about the Blue Angel and Curare and they didn't have them. A friend emailed them about the Aurora and they also said they didn't have them. I can't imagine that there are many of these in the 60 size still around.

Jon,

I didn't even know there was a slightly larger version. I haven't looked much at this one, but I'm hoping to be able to fly it with a sub-60 so I can keep it really light and get good fuel economy from it...lol. When you get a chance to send the pics, that'd be great. I'll post them here when i get them.

Jason

Jason

Pics sent -- the wife had the .rar thing on so I resent the photos as .jpg. The first pic is the Original Troublemaker and the second is the later version Tony flew in the mid to late 70's. I think a good .45 2 cycle would fly it ok (( Jet or Rossi )) vertical would be the only question but then you could do a 60 to 70 size 4 cycle and I think the vertical problem would be eliminated. All up weight is the final determining factor!

Do you fly at the RCACF field? I go there to watch the pattern events.

Jon

Thanks for the pics Jon. Here they are. I do practice/fly out at RCACF. One thing I noticed is that they look like 2 different designs? Any thoughts or knowledge on this?

If my memory serves me right the one on the M.A.N. cover is a later revised version with a
stretched fuse and an anhedral stab. The Troublemakers I saw fly were super fast and the
longer fuse tamed down the pitch sensitivity somewhat.

tommy s

Jason

I don't know how far Tony went with the development of the Troublemaker. I know that he competed with a Troublemaker II, but I think the one on the cover of Model Airplane News is a further refinement. I have that issue here somewhere but I'm not able to locate it! Yes, we moved in February and everything is SOMEWHERE!@%#$ and I will find it in the next few days!! Then I will update the thread.

Jon

The Troublemaker II was called the Double Trouble, if memory serves me right.

Is Tony still around? I met him at the 1980 NATs (the first year Chip was there).

JAS, if you check 8178's build thread you will find that a short kit (plans, canopy, foam) for the BA is available. I imagine a pro builder could put one together for you.

Hi Jay,
Sorry I missed you last weekend. I was away.
The "Troublemaker" on the magazine cover where Tony poses with Miss DeFrancesco was really one of the later versions that was probably called an Intrepid.
There were a couple of numbered Troublemaker versions in there too.
The picture on the right is a real Troublemaker.
The Miss Norway was a tall fuse/gobs of side area design that was before its time. As I remember, it was not swept, but had a close to double-taper wing.

later,
Dean Pappas

I was discussing the 2 pics at dinner tonight with Paul and my grandfather and I remembered, Tony is around. I'll give him a call next week and get the scoop. Oh yea, Paul... thanks again for the flight sim time, I know one VERY HAPPY man (and grandson). Oh yea... I'll take that Miss Norway...lol. Someday it'll be legal for SPA.

---------------


Your description for entering the flat spin with a Troublemaker is the same technique that some planes need for entering a tumbling end-over-end Lomcevak. I had several planes that would perform this particular Lomcevak very well, but only one excelled at it. Believe it or not, it was a little Peppermint Pattie .15 powered mini patternship. You should have heard the air noise it generated when tumbling end over end.

Jason,

From what I understand, the Miss Norway is already legal at SPA.

Ok..that's it! When my fat ass get's posted up on the net now I know it's time to get skinny again! LOL! Anyway, I am really glad you and your Grandfather had a good time! I hope the experience stays with him for a long time! If time permits next time your around I see no reason we can't do it again (maybe with the motion off next time...vbg!).

As for the Miss Norway.....I have to check with Mr. Brioski...er.....Joe Lachowski first! He has suggested that he wanted it. I'll let you know.

Thanks,
Paul &$%#@%$^ (lol)

Joe's already got 4 pattern planes, he doesn't need another. It'll get built and flown in FL, not stored longer in NJ...LOL. Let me know.

OK, I'm feeling a little sentimental after reading about all these old pattern airplanes, so I thought I might share my current project (well, one of them anyway). Attached you should find pictures of my Gator Flea. This is a Rhett Miller design. The Gator Flea is actually a .40-sized version of the .60-sized Compensator. Both designs were manufactured and distributed by Southern R/C (you know, the company that Dave Brown Products based soooo many of their products off of). We lived in Pensacola when Southern R/C went out of business, and my dad bought a lot of stuff from their inventory. When I started flying in the late 80's I dragged my dad back into it with me, and he flew the Compensator until it finally went in. I pulled this one out of the attic and I plan to do the MonoKote job the same as his old plane was... a little bit of a tribute to days past. I haven't decided on the power plant yet. I have a Saito .52 4-stroke that I might put in it. I bought a .45 YS rear exhaust, but feeling how light the airframe is, I think it would probably be more of a rocket than an airplane with that in it, but it would sure be a hell of a lot of fun...

I still have a NIB Gator Flea kit that I bought about 15 years ago at a swap meet. I have been trying to find a NIB Southern RC Compensator kit for several years without success. A couple have shown up on EBay but I am always a little late finding them (story of my life <G> ).
Gordie

Well, I don't have a Compensator, otherwise I would be building that. I do however have 2 sets of cores for the compensator along with a glass fuse that my dad is not sure what it is for. I've always thought it was a Tiger Tail fuse, my dad just refers to it as a glass-fuse version of the Compensator. We probably still have the plans for the Compensator somewhere in one of our many boxes, with that and a set of cores it wouldn't be too tough to build one.

Not the best quality, but I have usable files nonetheless (not the ones posted here).

I appreciate the thoughts and effort. Since I have lived in Tallhassee for many years, flew with Rhett Miller when he was in high school, and had 4 different Compensators. I was hoping to build the Southern RC kit for nostagia reasons. I have a couple of good pattern models now, my YS 110 powered Excelleron, and a YS powered Focus 2, both of which will out fly a 60 powered Compensator but I surely would like to find a kit to relive the good parts of a somewhat mispent youth.
Gordie