1st WOW Completed

Andrew Raney of Dallas, Tx, is the first to complete a WOW from the Blue Sky Models kit.He did it less than a week!

Look at the product review section for more. or [email protected]

Hello Tom
Andrew did a great job with the kit I like the colors and that he used the original paint scheme.I have been looking at my kit everything looks excellent. I really liked your Cad plans they are nice not like some other Cad plans I seen.I hope to be building mine in the future.
Juan

Thanks for the pic Tom, I'll be in touch soon for mine.

Andy Borgogna
Mine is nearing completion, it is almost framed up. Has anyone flown one yet. I plant to put a Fox .35 with the ABC Hemi setup.

I think I'm gonna go Fox .25 or O.S..25 LA-S.
Hopefully the pics will keep coming on these.

Tom,

Check's in the mail!

Hello everyone
I flew my WOW today. It flies great, very smooth! Running an 8-6 prop and 60ft/.018 lines was getting about 3.5-4 second laps. With a few more flights to trim it out it will be awsome!!
I would recomend 3/4oz tipweight for flying in the wind.
Andrew

Andy Borgogna
Well here is my WOW it is almost ready for paint. I have decided to leave off the skids on the bottom as I did all them years ago on my original. When it is painted I will update this with a new photo. Glad to hear someone has flown a WOW sounds like they fly great, with a little luck I should be ready by Saturday.

LAST EDITED ON Aug-15-06 AT 01:04 AM (CST)
 
Great to hear that Andrews' WOW is in the air. The 1/2 oz tip weight is per the original plans, with .018 lines more weight is no surprise.

Andy's looks great too! What is it covered with? My kit prototype has the skids, but in the past I never used them either. Hope to see finished pictures soon!

Andy Borgogna
Tom mine is covered with Polyspan and right now about 4 coats of Nitrate dope. Last night I installed the elevator and attached the vertical fin. Need to put some sealer on the them and then paint it, I plan to spray it with black Rustoleam. Simple paint job, I want to fly it now!

hey tom check your pm

Is that a .25 on the nose?

Andy Borgogna
Well Tom here it is I just finished it this morning. I need to give the paint a few days to cure and I need to add some lead to the tail. It came out a little nose heavy. The engine is a Fox .35 with the ABC/Hemi upgrade, I will let you know how it flys when I get a chance to fly it.

Andy,

Looks great. Look at Andrew's post on the CG. You.might be safe as is.

The CG on the drawing is calculated, but being forward probably won't hurt as a start. The real world bottom line is an actual flying CG is in most cases where it is comfortable.

Feed back from everyone on this will help me a lot.

Is that a .25 on Andrew's plane? If so, why the .018 lines?

Wayne,

Andrew told me that his lighter lines were too short, so basically he used what he had available at the time. The .018s are certainly too heavy with a .25.. It is a OS.25 (FP I think)

Andy Borgogna
Hey Tom if I am not being to nosey how many of the WOW kits have you shipped. Are we a small force or a mighty force to be feared?

Cool, I was wondering if it was a .25 because that's what I'm planning on putting on mine. Andy's is an LA-S then, it's blue.

Thanks!

Andy Borgogna
Ah I think "Andrew" used the LA-S where as "Andy" (that's me) used a Fox .35. Too many Andys around here;-)

Andy B.

There will be about 14 WOWs out there, si it is a small airforce.. There will be more, but I have no idea how much larger the final figure will be.

LAST EDITED ON Aug-27-06 AT 04:43 PM (CST)
 
Andy Borgogna
Hey Tom, the WOW flys! Only flew it once, yep it is nose heavy but nothing I can correct. It flew very stable (some might say too stable) but it flew great. My son had one reaction, "dad that thing is fast". The Fox ABC/Hemi .35 works great in the WOW. I will add some lead to the tail and get somemore flying in next week. We should start a WOW squadron complete with patchs and secret hand shakes. I know, I know go take a pill Andy..... I swear it's like being seventeen all over again.

Andy,

That's great! Makes me feel that the work on the drawing and kit was worth it.

I don't know about the squadron though. Do you think we will need a Captain Video decoder ring?

My past WOWs had a Fox .35 and an early blackhead combat special.
My new one will fly with a Fox .25 BB

My "Scorpion" which was published in one of the last Aircraft Modelers, in the early '70s, was clocked at 128 mph, and the current ships are even faster... Your son should see them.

Hello WOW fans
Mine is the one at the top of the page.
My CG is 8 inches in front of the hinge line, and it turns a respectable corner. I found my spool of .015 wire so I have lighter lines now, but since I always fly in 15mph wind (Dallas) the extra tip weight will stay.
The engine is an O.S.25LA with a Mac's(6300) muffler (1/4 wave pipe), with a 10/5 Master Airscrew, I'm getting about 4 second lap times.
I hope to get some more pictures this weekend with my stooge.
Andrew

>Hello WOW fans
>Mine is the one at the top of the page.
>My CG is 8 inches in front of the hinge line, and it turns a
>respectable corner. I found my spool of .015 wire so I have
>lighter lines now, but since I always fly in 15mph wind
>(Dallas) the extra tip weight will stay.
>The engine is an O.S.25LA with a Mac's(6300) muffler (1/4
>wave pipe), with a 10/5 Master Airscrew, I'm getting about 4
>second lap times.
>I hope to get some more pictures this weekend with my
>stooge.
>Andrew

Hi Andrew, your "WOW" looks exactly as I fantasized one should look
like. I didn't order a kit but I have access to CAD plans. When I was
flying Combat in the mid fifties,there were very few "WOW"s but lotsa
Half-Fasts and Reactors flown locally. For really great Combat perfomance;
and using a modern .25, I suggest you try an 8x6" Taipan and forget
the 4 sec laps. take that model down into 3 secs or high 2's...He..He..
Darn! I want one now.
Tony

>>Hello WOW fans
>>Mine is the one at the top of the page.
>>My CG is 8 inches in front of the hinge line, and it turns a
>>respectable corner. I found my spool of .015 wire so I have
>>lighter lines now, but since I always fly in 15mph wind
>>(Dallas) the extra tip weight will stay.
>>The engine is an O.S.25LA with a Mac's(6300) muffler (1/4
>>wave pipe), with a 10/5 Master Airscrew, I'm getting about 4
>>second lap times.
>>I hope to get some more pictures this weekend with my
>>stooge.
>>Andrew
>
>Hi Andrew, your "WOW" looks exactly as I fantasized one
>should look
>like. I didn't order a kit but I have access to CAD plans.
>When I was
>flying Combat in the mid fifties,there were very few "WOW"s
>but lotsa
>Half-Fasts and Reactors flown locally. For really great
>Combat perfomance;
>and using a modern .25, I suggest you try an 8x6" Taipan and
>forget
>the 4 sec laps. take that model down into 3 secs or high
>2's...He..He..
>Darn! I want one now.
>Tony

Gee I wish that someone would kit the Half Fast again. Sure I can scratch build but with todays laser cutting I'm getting really spoiled. Also the quality of kits today is so good that you really can build a good plane from a kit.
Besides if there is a nostalgic stunt movement why not nostalgia combat models. Lord knows that most of us built a few of them in our time.

Andy Borgogna
Just as soon as someone creates a nostalgic combat someone else will get a Wriley Whooten Voodoo and the game will be over. I would love to get in a circle with someone flying a Half Fast that would be fun. Never built the full size Half Fast but did ever have fun with a Cox Baby Bee powered "Little Half Fast".

Last night I added 2oz. of lead to the tail to get the balance to 9.75 inches from the trailing edge of the elevator. This is close to where the plans call for. Should be a whole lot more fun the next time I fly it.

>Andy Borgogna
>Just as soon as someone creates a nostalgic combat someone
>else will get a Wriley Whooten Voodoo and the game will be
>over. I would love to get in a circle with someone flying a
>Half Fast that would be fun. Never built the full size Half
>Fast but did ever have fun with a Cox Baby Bee powered
>"Little Half Fast".
>
>Last night I added 2oz. of lead to the tail to get the
>balance to 9.75 inches from the trailing edge of the
>elevator. This is close to where the plans call for.
>Should be a whole lot more fun the next time I fly it.

Hi Andy,
That Cox powered 1/2A Half Fast had to be really nose heavy, so if anything it was stable. I flew them with Atwood and Holland Wasps and shrikes and that was not a bad combination. The plans are available and I have a few Atwoods and Holland motors left so maybe I'll relive yet another childhood memory.
Dennis

Andy Borgogna

Dennis
You are probably right on the Lil Half Fast CG with the Cox Baby Bee, I remember it being very stable and easy to fly. One afternoon my brother and I spent a couple of hours in a light rain right in front of our house fueling, flying, and fetching. Over and over just as fast as we could. I have no idea how many times we put that plane in the air, but we were both soaked the plane was alway covered in rain drops and we had a ball. I think we finally ran out of fuel.

>Andy Borgogna
>Just as soon as someone creates a nostalgic combat someone
>else will get a Wriley Whooten Voodoo and the game will be
>over. I would love to get in a circle with someone flying a
>Half Fast that would be fun. Never built the full size Half
>Fast but did ever have fun with a Cox Baby Bee powered
>"Little Half Fast".

Andy not necessarily. The Voodoo was a very fast,okay turning model,
but it's really small in wing area. there are many fifties designs
that are bigger and have lighter wing loadings that will be slower but
out turn the Voodoo. Riley Wooten's flying abilities really helped the
Voodoo. I guess it took a long time for many combat modelers to give
combat design priority to wing loading and maneuvering verus top speed.
It helps a lot in combat if you can follow your opponent, and
are able to out turn him. When I recover my Half-Fast with nylon I'll
be glad to fly in the same circle with your Wow and just gently chase
and follow each other...I live in Corona...
Ps: I'd like to build and fly Scarinzi's Killer combat model, I inherited
one in about 1958, it's about Voodoo sized and flew beautifully with
my OS Max-1. Bare also has plans for it. See You later;
Tony G

Andy Borgogna
Tony good to hear from you and buddy you are on, get that puppy cover and lets have some fun. Also my appologies to Riley Wooten foe spelling his name wrong. I had my first Voodoo in the the earlies sixties with a Johnson .35 that had the factory hop up job. It must be stated that combat was never my stong suit but I did enjoy going fast and turning tight. Anyway back to the match up of my Fox powered WOW and your Half Fast I thing that would be great fun. I say we put some streamers on them for looks and so you have fun cutting mine up. Anyway let me know when you are ready, also lets get together and do some flying my place or yours. Send me a map to where you fly, look forward to hearing from you guy.
Andy

>Gee I wish that someone would kit the Half Fast again. Sure
>I can scratch build but with todays laser cutting I'm
>getting really spoiled. Also the quality of kits today is so
>good that you really can build a good plane from a kit.
>Besides if there is a nostalgic stunt movement why not
>nostalgia combat models. Lord knows that most of us built a
>few of them in our time.

Hi Dennis, Andy and et all, Barry Baxter has plans for both magazine
and Midwest kit versions. M.A.N. plans are for a smaller and a bit
different(earlier) version. I have a Half-Fast Midwest version that I
desecrated by covering with cheap plastic. I've decided to strip the
plastic and recover with nylon(chiffon...lots of sources actually).
Most of my combat models back when were either silked or nylon covered.
Nylon was cheaper and much stronger, but not nearly as pretty.
As for sombody kitting the Half-Fast, either version is okay
with me. I built mine from a short kit that Barry had put together.
I think Bare may still have his hanging in the garage.
Tony G

>>Gee I wish that someone would kit the Half Fast again. Sure
>>I can scratch build but with todays laser cutting I'm
>>getting really spoiled. Also the quality of kits today is so
>>good that you really can build a good plane from a kit.
>>Besides if there is a nostalgic stunt movement why not
>>nostalgia combat models. Lord knows that most of us built a
>>few of them in our time.
>
>Hi Dennis, Andy and et all, Barry Baxter has plans for both
>magazine
>and Midwest kit versions. M.A.N. plans are for a smaller and
>a bit
>different(earlier) version. I have a Half-Fast Midwest
>version that I
>desecrated by covering with cheap plastic. I've decided to
>strip the
>plastic and recover with nylon(chiffon...lots of sources
>actually).
>Most of my combat models back when were either silked or
>nylon covered.
>Nylon was cheaper and much stronger, but not nearly as
>pretty.
> As for sombody kitting the Half-Fast, either version is
>okay
>with me. I built mine from a short kit that Barry had put
>together.
>I think Bare may still have his hanging in the garage.
>Tony G

Hi Tony,
Being young and of course broke as in absolutely NO MONEY, I used to go to the 5&10 cent store and buy ladies scarfs for about .69 cents. I particularly liked the pale blue with the butterflies on it. Nah I really liked the 69 cent price tag. But the kicker is that they were 100% silk.
Perhaps thats why we like these old designs they kick up a lot of old pleasent memories.
Dennis

Tony
The first flight was with an 8/6 prop and 52 ft lines!!
The lap time was under 3 seconds, I'm glad it is such a stable flyer.

Thanks for the kind words on the color scheme, all Monocote, Black Orange and Chrome.

I would highly recommend the Blue Sky Models kit, very light balsa and everything fit perfectly!

Andrew

>Tony
>The first flight was with an 8/6 prop and 52 ft lines!!
>The lap time was under 3 seconds, I'm glad it is such a
>stable flyer.
>
>Thanks for the kind words on the color scheme, all Monocote,
>Black Orange and Chrome.
>
>I would highly recommend the Blue Sky Models kit, very light
>balsa and everything fit perfectly!
>
>Andrew

Andy, That's great news; as you can tell your Wow will fly really well
on 60' lines, and probably not much over 3 seconds per lap. Joy be to
You Sir!
Tony G

>Hi Tony,
>Being young and of course broke as in absolutely NO MONEY, I
>used to go to the 5&10 cent store and buy
>ladies scarfs for about .69 cents. I particularly liked the
>pale blue with the butterflies on it. Nah I really liked the
>69 cent price tag. But the kicker is that they were 100%
>silk.
>Perhaps thats why we like these old designs they kick up a
>lot of old pleasent memories.
>Dennis

Dennis, ain't it the truth! My combat models were really crudely finshed
back then. I think silk was about one dollar a yard and nylon even less.
I also didn't brush a whole lot of dope on them either. Barry recalled
that he flew many a model just hours after building and covering them
and the dope and probably the glue were still wet. I was an adolescent
in the mid fifties and also usually fundless. It's truely amazing just
how many modelers there were in my area then.
Tony G

Andy Borgogna
Dennis don't feel alone on the scarf thing. I would go to Penny's and buy nylon scars and use them. They worked, in fact my first WOW was covered with the most god-awful Pasily (sic) pattern with nothing buy clear dope. The crazy part was I thought it looked so cool! Yep even at a dollar a yard in 1963-64 that was too expensive, who cared about weight the nylon worded great.
Andy