Nobler

Gents, I have a strong desire to build another Nobler, (Since I
drove my last one into the ground do to a mean cross wind)!
The ship I wrecked was a Top Flite kit from 20 years ago, It
built a lot better than some of the kits today, and seamed to be a lot more ruged!
Are these kits still available through a mail order distributer? Would appreciate any information.

Thanks,
G. Man

The "original" Nobler ('52 variety?), as designed and approved by George Aldrich, is produced by Brodak Mfg.

The '57 Top Flight 'Green Box' Nobler is being produced by RSM Distribution.

Both of these are very nice kits with good wood. The Brodak kit is band sawed and die cut, the RSM kit is all pin routed.

The "Gieseke Nobler" variant can be found on eBay and occasionally in 'for sale' postings. My local hobby shop, G&D Hobbies, in Sandwich, IL, has one on the shelf.

I believe that Tom Dixon cuts kits for both common Nobler variants. I think that Tom's are foam wing kits.

Fred Krueger

Fred: I'm not familiar with the term "pin routing".

Would you explain? Thanks. Currell

Currell,

To my knowledge, this refers to the relative size of the router bit used. It is very small diameter. Someone recently informed me that pin router setups are often automated and driven by the same software that is used for laser cutting.(???)

I have one of the RSM 'Green Box' Noblers that have been cut in that manner. The router cut parts are superb.

Pin Router

For a working unit go to"Popularmechanics.com". Do a search for "pin router" . This will show a small unit for home use. With a pin router, a template is mounted under the piece of material you wish to cut and by following a pin inserted in the table you route to the shape of the template

Fred what you are refering to, is a CNC driven router table. I've built a CNC plasma table with a pair of servo motors for "X","Y"
travel. By mounting a router in place of the plasma torch, I would have a router table. The shape of the objects on a CNC table is primarily limited by what ever drawing you input to the computer.

Hope this helps

Charlie

"G"

Build either the Brodak or RSM kit, you won't be disappointed.
Leave the Top Flight Kits for the collectors, that's all their good for anyway!

Yet another option in Nobler kits is the SATURN HOBBIES kits from Australia. They have the '57 and the Junior. Also both T-birds, Smoothie, Hurricane and Mars, and a bunch of Aussie designs, one of which is the JETCO SABRE STUNTER...I didn't know that, did you? Two sources have told me the quality of the wood is unparalleled, and the kit quality superb. Look on Phil Brown's Master List of CL Linkx. Steve

Steve, you are 100% right about Saturn kits quality. I have a Hurricane and can vouch for the great wood. As good as or better than any I have seen anywhere. The kits also have nice hardware, a large bottle of CA and beautifully cut parts. Instructions for the Hurricane are the original Veco item. The kit is very reasonably priced, postage is in the thirty some dollar range from Australia and the box is wrapped to survive most anything the post office can give it. Tony has done a great job to give you your money's worth! Not to knock American manufacturers, but
try one of Saturn's Noblers. Don Boka

Don, what was the duty (dooty?) on that kit? They make some dandy Yankee designs and some Ozzie stuff that is also very kewl. You can be almost certain that nobody else would have one of those Ozzie designs at your local field. Steve

Steve, the total shipping including duty and postage and whatever else involved was about thirty five dollars American to my door here in Michigan. The kits are not cheap but are a good value, you get what you pay for!! The Australian exchange was about sixty cents on the US dollar around Christmas time when Santa, rather my wife, contacted Tony Cincotta regarding the Hurricane. You can either e--mail Saturn (Tony) or phone him and use credit card or various bank checks or whatever you feel comfortable with to send payment. He is quick and very pleasant with the reply. Hope this helps. Don Boka

Don

Which Christmas was that?

I was caught in August last year when the AUD dropped from US$0.58 to US$0.52 in a couple of weeks. I had overseas orders out for over AUD500 at the time and it stung! For you guys Stateside the AUD is currently about US$0.51 and the talk is it could drop to US$0.48 real soon.

Good for you, bad for us! Cheers, Geoff

Don, what kind of shipping did you opt for? Obviously not ship, but air freight or air mail? I think there could be a serious difference. Maybe Tony would know and do the right thing? If what Geoff says is correct, this may be a good chance to get a fine and unique kit at a reasonable price. Letsee, Centaur or Mars? Or T-Bird II? Ah, just get all three! Steve

Geoff, the Hurricane was the Christmas of 2000 and that is the exchange rate that was explained to me by my wife.
Steve, I don't have the shipping container anymore and the wife doesn't have a clue as to how it was shiped. I believe Tony took care of that end of things. Sorry I can't be more specific in these areas as my main concern was to get the kit and pay whatever it took. I have a Veco Hurricane I built in 1962 and originally had a Johnson Stunt Supreme 35 in it. It flew OK at about 50 plus ounces but was not one of my favorites due to its weight' A few years ago I repowered it with a Silver Fox 40 and what a difference! Always wanted to build it again and keep the weight down and here was the chance. Windy had some pictures of the first one in Stunt News a few years ago.