Chick stick inside the glove....

Bring back the Imperial Ringmaster,or some of it's obscure brothers?
Mike

Sorry John,I meant JOHN.
Mike

I'd rather see him make an OTS legal standard Ringmaster.
Nils

Guys: I know John a bit, and he gets the "bums rush" about hundreds of projects every place he goes.... "build this...you'll sell a bunch".... build that..."it'll be HUGE", buy my design, import widgets, etc. I am embarrassed at times by the audacity of folks. John loves the hobby, but wants to realize a retunt on his investment! Probably not quick enough for his estate planner, but there should be "light at the end of the tunnel".

There are many who seem to feel that it's easy to tool for something, and that there is a huge market for all things controline.... but, I believe that many of the "nostalgia" type kits are not built....

My bet is that, if John was to create a list of all of the "guaranteed good sellers", every cl model produced would be on it. We should be thankful for the time and effort that John expends!

See Ya

Why should you be embarassed by this? All it does is reflect the growing (re)enthusiasm for our hobby. Any suggestions for models presented to John are submitted in good faith.

Thank goodness we have people doing this. Most realise that getting their favorite model remanufactured is a long shot anyway. What we really have to worry about is when people STOP bugging John! My opinion, anyway.

Not only what Currell said,but I only thought it was a cool idea.I didn't expect him to jump at my lowly opinion.His bringing back the smoothie has my attention for now.Also,I have looked through his catalog,and realize that he has done a tremendous amount for us! Hopefully he won't start importing wigets!!!!!
Mike

No hard feelings, I hope. None intended.

Returning to the subject at hand, how much did the original Palmer Smoothie deviate from the kitted version?

Sure is one of the best looking planes, and I like the option of an upright or inverted engine. Currell

Currell, in answer to your question, the Brodak Smoothie will most closly reasemble the original "Air Trails" version. There are some minor differences, but the main difference is the use of a NACA type airfoil. BTW, This version, unlike the Veco kit, shows only the upright engine mount.

John

I recall the Veco kit plans as showing both the upright and inverted engine installation. Currell

Yes, indeed they do, but Veco kitted the wrong design over Bob's objections. Bob's first Smoothies, and the one published in Air Trails, had upright engines. Bob also has said that the upright engined versions flew better as the vertical CG was more correct than the inverted version from the Veco kit.

It won't be hard to make one of the kits into the inverted version, but you'll have to look at the Veco instruction sheets to do it as it's not on the plans.

Best to ya, John

I have 3 Smoothies right now. One I got at a swap meet that required a total restoration. It has an upright engine and a Fox 35. I've flown it a couple of times-flies well.

The second one was pretty rough. It sat in a guy's garage for years, and was powered, oddly enough, by one of those wide mount Fox 40s from the 70s. I haven't finished painting it. Inverted engine.

The third came from an estate sale, and was in excellent shape, although the paint had aged some. Probably was built at least 30 years ago. Also upright engine. The drillouts matched some sort of Veco that I didn't have, so now it will fit a K & B Greenhead. Haven't flown it.

Both the Smoothie and the T-Bird have those patented Palmer good look features, with the elliptical tips being so easy on the eye.

This ia all well and good but I want to see the Smoothie project
finished. I'm really looking forward to this one. Anyone know any details on when Brodak's will have it out?

Bill

Hi Bill,
John Brodak e-mailed me and told me to look for it in september.
Mike

Hi Mike,

Yes were bring back the Smoothie. We hope to have it ready by the first of
September. We're also bring back the up-right engine Thunderbird.

Your friend in CL
John
This is the actual e-mail from John.

Mike

>Hi Mike,
>
>Yes were bring back the Smoothie.
>We hope to have it
>ready by the first of
>
>September. We're also bring back the
>up-right engine Thunderbird.
>
>Your friend in CL
>John
>This is the actual e-mail from
>John.
>
>
> Mike

John,

Tell me when, where, how much - I'll send you payment for a preorder!!!

Steve Scott
Minneapolis Piston Poppers
Arden Hills, MN

In answer to the original question, i'd love to see all control line planes re-kitted in the modern era. Trouble is that with only two major kitting firms these days, it will probably be next to impossible to accomplish such a monumental task. However, there are many designs now kitted that were not kitted during the golden years of "Stunt", Some Mackey designs, the orginal Nobler and now we even have the 57 Nobler back in production. We now have so many more kits to choose from than we did back in the sixties and seventies it's incredible. I have some old 68-70 MAN's and Flying Models that you have trouble finding advertisements for a Top Flight Green Box Nobler. I sure like RSM's add for the '57 Nobler "winner of 12 Nationals and two Worlds, if you include Grondal's; he did call his a "Nobler" that would be three worlds. As far as Smoothies go, The very first trophy I ever won was with a Smoothie, so it does have a special place in my heart. Even though mine was built straight from the kit with kit wood and weighed 45 ounces and didn't fly all that well because of it's weight, I'd sure like to build another one and have it come out around 36 ounces. Bet it would fly better!