Hi, I was wondering if anyone has built this kit and flown it...I'm almost done with mine but I cant fly because of the snow so I'm curious to know how it flies...

Brodak, eh? Hmmm... sounds interesting. Got pictures? A link to their URL if they have one? Who makes it (yeah.. Brodak.. but are they a SIG company for instance)?

Is that a Control Line trainer by any chance?

DS.

heres the link: http://www.brodak.com/shop_productde...ProductID=2546

That's a control line trainer alright. I don't know if you can get help here, this is an RC forum.. but many of the people here have done CL. I, for one have not, so I can't offer you any help at all with this.

Stand by, I'm sure someone will pop in with some assist.

DS.

Better ask at the Control Line section:
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/forumid_231/tt.htm

oh, thanks, I didnt know there was a C/L section

Indeed there is a control line section here on RC Universe as there are several excellent CL only online forums. This basic trainer is a simple half-A (.049) powered model with profile fuselage and sheet balsa wing. They are very good for learning how to fly straight and level and surviving many mishaps. Once you get past the training stage they are pretty useless and most move up to a more aerobatic model with a built up symmetrical airfoil. One of the best is the Top Flite ARF Flite Streak. Powered with an OS LA 25 the ARF Flite Streak can fly the entire AMA stunt pattern.

Brodak is an independent company owned and operated by John Brodak and his wife Buzz. Located in Pennsylvania, they are in no way affiliated with Sig or any other company. They kit the former Top Flite Flite Streak, Jr Flite Steak, Baby Flite Streak and Training Flite Streak designs.

I'm going to go ahead and move this thread on over to the Control Line section of RCU.


Ken

Jason,

I built a Brodak Basic Trainer a few years ago. I powered it with a Cub .049A (also bought from Brodak). I used it to introduce some Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts to flying at a "Family Day". After a bunch of crashes the fuselage broke right behind the plastic motor mount. My fix was to splice in some hard sticks (popsicle sticks) that run back as far as the wings. With luck, you will not have that problem.

The plane flys very steady and smooth. Do not expect to do anything other than fly level with it. After all, it IS a BASIC trainer.

A trainer is good to get you used to controls, running your engine, and getting over the dizziness that you will encounter at first.

By the way, what engine do you have in it?

George

I've got a surestart with a tank conversion kit mounted on it. also, what prop size qould you reccomend?

I would suggest a 6x3 for that plane and engine. I would also recommend 15% nitro fuel. You don't need the hotter stuff for a basic trainer.

Of course this is only one opinion. There is seldom only one way of doing things.

George

I've always heard that these engines are harder to start with lower nitro content...Is that true?

Oh yeah, If this plane can pretty much only go in circles, why do they include that stunt flying guide with the kit?

Jason,

I have flown 1/2A engines with 5% and 10% nitro fuel. The 5% is a little harder to start. Standard Cox 1/2A fuel had 15% nitro, their Racing fuel had 25%. Try some different blends and see what works for you.

My Brodak Basic Trainer does not loop. I have it set-up with minimum control for kids to learn on. If you set it up with more control and balance a little further back so it is a bit more sensitive it may loop, but then it will be harder to learn on. Don't expect a lot of performance, the plane has a high wing loading. Give it a try.

Also remember that the Sure Start engine has about twice the power of my old Cub .049A, so you can fly it on longer lines.

George

Thanks for the info. I have a 5x4 prop and 6x3, so I'll try both to see which is better.
Just waitin' for this darn snow to melt...[:@]

got her up in the air today-that corsair blue paint job looking good-did a couple of flights just going in a circle-put a little weight on the back-got through a loop but couldn't pull out of it-BAM!strait into the ground-and no damage!the engine fired right back up! I love this plane! I'm going to buy another soon so me and my dad can try to do a little combat. oh yeah I only had 30%car fuel so that little engine was sceamin'!

the only damage that the plane suffered was those little cheepo plastic wheels split in half so me and dad put some better looking rubber treaded wheels...to help put some weight in the back we used a 1/2 inch tailwheel. We would like to put a spinner on but we cant find one small enough. Oh well.

Jason,

That is the first stunt maneuver that most of us learn...it is called a figure nine.

I am guessing that since the wheels split that you may be flying over concrete or some other paved surface. If you can, I would suggest flying over grass. You can either position cardboard for take-off or position the plane so that you take off over a hard surface and "walk it over grass as you are flying. Another possibility is to have someone hand launch for you.

For a second plane, you might want to build something with more stunt capability. For a kit, perhaps a SIG Skyray, or if you are up to building from scratch, perhaps a Stunt Chimp (free plans available online). Either of these have larger but thinner wings which will provide a lighter wing loading thus allowing a tighter loop with more room left on the bottom. There are also a multitude of sheet wing profile plans available from the "Flying Models" plans service.

If you go with sheet wing profiles, you should review the balsa types (SIG site has good info online). You should use "C" grain or "B" grain if you can't get "C". Do not use "A" grain or your parts will warp.

Another possibility is a kit with built-up wings like the Baby Clown, Baby Lightnin' Streak or one of the other great little planes available from Brodak.

You seem to want to learn to stunt so you may soon tire of the limited capabilities of a basic trainer. Of course only you can make those decisions, the rest of us can only provide suggestions.

Good luck, either way.

George

Are brodak's engines any good? I just put a surestart on this plane becasue it was cheaper

I do not yet have a Brodak .049 or .061. I've read mixed comments about them, but mostly good. Basicly, the original ones were built in Asia, and I understand that the newer (Mk-2) ones are made in Maldavia.

If you go that direction, be aware that you must look for planes with beam mounted engines with an external tank or convert the radial mount planes to beam mount. In the Brodak line, the Baby Flite Streak and the NEW Baby Clown use beam mounts. The "serious stunt" planes are mostly for beam mounted engines.

You can find good discussions about the Brodak engines on the "1/2A & 1/8A airplanes" forum. You can also visit the "Stuka Stunt Works" and the "stunthanger.com" sites for current discussions.

George

I learned something today-never let sisters fly your plane.

She got scrared and let go of the handle, and the plane went up into a tree. It was kind of funny though because the lines slowly lowered it safey to the groudn from about 20 feet in the tree. If the tree wasnt there, it would have gone into a lake.

The AMA safety rules for Control Line has a section requiring a safety thong which ties the handle to the pilot's wrist be worn at all times except for racing events. You may let go of your model but your model isn't letting go of you. The following text is from the AMA Competition Rules book:

Control Line General
4. Safety Thongs. A safety thong connecting the handle of the Control Line models to the pilot’s wrist, and strong enough to prevent accidental release of the model, shall be worn during all flights of Control Line events except all Racing events. The safety thong should have a minimum amount of slack to preclude accidental release or interfering with the controls. Releasing the controls during flight or before the model has come to a complete stop shall constitute a foul if the safety thong restrains the model and lines from flying free; if the contestant releases the controls and the safety thong during flight or before the model has come to a complete stop, the contestant shall be barred from further participation in the event and all of his previous flights canceled.

In those events not requiring the use of a safety thong, releasing the controls during flight or before the model has come to a complete stop shall bar the contestant from further participation in the event and void his previous flights in the event. The safety thong may be a point of attachment for conducting the pull test or the thong may be tested separately from the test of control handle, lines, and control mechanism.

When the thong is tested separately, it must be pulled to the test load specified for the particular model involved. The method of thong attachment shall also be able to withstand the required pull test. Failure to use a safety thong in those events for which they are required shall constitute a foul.

Although safety thongs are optional in Racing events, their use is encouraged in all events, particularly when Junior and/or Senior fliers are involved.

why do you always havee to wear the thong except during racing? that doesnt really make sense...wouldnt you generally be going faster during racing?

Jason,

In some racing events several people fly in the same circle. Sometimes you need to switch your handle to the other hand (or even to another flyer) to prevent the group from getting entangled and cause some crashes.

Pipe Major brings up a good point. Most CL flyers join the Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA). One of the benefits is liability insurance. Although you probably won't cause a lot of damage with your Brodak Basic Trainer, it would be a good thing to join, if only for the insurance.

I am guessing that you are young. If so, the insurance would be good for your parents.

The insurance hinges on to your adhereing to the safety code (like using the thong). You can see more on this at

http://www.modelaircraft.org/

Check it out.

George

Is the cox hyper viper any good? It says that it can fly 3/4 of the maneuvers listed in the AMA aerobatics manual.
I've heard that the fuel tanks have problems, but you can get free replacements from cox if you get a bad tank.
its a nice looking plane for $40, but i dont wanna buy one if they fly like crap