Arf Nobler Shipping Date............

Arf Nobler Shipping Bummer!!!

In keeping with precidence there was another one month jump on the Tower webb site this AM.....now it sez..."late September". Mine was ordered mid April, missed the 1st batch.

Time to get busy on the RSM Nobler dope job and just finish it. 'been thinking of waiting for the ARF and putting air time on it before flying my high man-hour invested baby.

My old Zen Master would say "Ahhhh.... Patience Hibhopper!".

Nitro Fumes!...Hib

Odd, when I sign on, it still says late August. Not complaining, mind you.....

Larry!,

Too weird!!!!...In my backorder account on line it said Sept. This AM........Now it's back to late August!..

I'm gonna call 'em!!!!...

More Later......Hib

LAST EDITED ON Aug-26-03 AT 01:57 PM (CDT)
 
Well,

After a call to Tower.. they have some slight conflicts on the info.

It may be mid to late Sept, yet.

My order of April 18 was in the 1st week of back orders. So, we shall see what transpires.A very nice customer service lady did some digging for me.

I take solice in the phrase.."Time waits for for no one, but it won't wait for me".

Wasn't that a quote by a great English philosopher?

Hueristics and Nitro Fumes!......Hib

To any central & south Texas CL types, if I don't know you somehow & haven't passed the word yet, Rex O'Conner has a Nobler ARF right at the front of his store, priced with Tower, at $99.99. He sold an ARF Streak for the Tower price of $59.99, last week. Rex had always kept more CL hardware on hand than any other LHS, but I think Rebel now is carrying as much or more . .

Maybe Rex grew tired of the unofficial nickname that some other locals had sometimes referred to him by: "Retail Rex". The Hobby Center is on Fredricksburg Road near the HEB Personnel and Training Center (so it's in San Antonio's near-in NNW corner, also close to where Vance Jackson Road starts off on its own more northward path).

.
Kiwi

They must be in the pipeline. I just got another Flite Streak from my LHS and it was to fill a backorder.
I haven't checked out Towers site to see if the F.S is listed as in stock, however it is.
Dennis

One of the problems I'm seeing here in the Western States is that the stores are not getting any of the Noblers or Flite Streaks. I ordered mine though the LHS in April. But Tower shipped all the stock they got out of the central warehouse. There were non left to send to Reno, the western warehouse,after they filled the orders through central. So no one, as far as I know, of the western Hobby Shops got any for their orders.

I'm afraid that the second shipment will wind up about the same way. My LHS is rather upset about this, as they are supposed to have the same special deal with Tower as other large dealers out east.

Those western modelors who ordered direct from Tower got theirs, but the dealers were left out. Hmmmm no wonder the LHS is getting squeesed out of the loop. Does Tower really care about their dealers? Makes me wonder.

I'm wondering why everything is spinning around?

I had an order in for the Nobler since forever at Tower, and I certainly didn't get one yet. I sure hope they ship mine in the 2nd batch.

I know Tony Nacarrato is mightly POed, as he PREPAID for the ones for his shop and got zip.

John, purty sure D.Dirt got his FS from the LHS (don't know which, maybe Abernathy's in Bellevue). Neither of the two shops I get to with any frequence (Ultimate in Auburn and ???? in Parkland) knew anything about the TF ARF FS and Noblur until just recently. I think the issue is either TF not getting the word out, or the dealers just not paying attention, your choice. Steve

FANTASIA HOBBY WORLD AT 1 718 460 5671 HAS FLITE STREAKS FOR READY SHIPMENT, THE NOBLERS WERE SOLD OUT BEFORE THEY CAME IN . GOOD FLYING TO ALL NEAL BEEKMAN

I received 3 from the first shippment. Already distributed them to our club members.

Hub Hobby, Little Canada, MN (the town just north of St. Paul) had a Nobler on the shelf today. Sorry I didn't catch the price.

http://www.hubhobbycenter.com/

LAST EDITED ON Aug-26-03 AT 10:57 PM (CDT)
 
>John, purty sure D.Dirt got his FS from the LHS (don't know
>which, maybe Abernathy's in Bellevue). Neither of the two
>shops I get to with any frequence (Ultimate in Auburn and
>???? in Parkland) knew anything about the TF ARF FS and
>Noblur until just recently. I think the issue is either TF
>not getting the word out, or the dealers just not paying
>attention, your choice. Steve

Thanks for the info Steve. Da Dirt may have gotten his locally, if so it's about the only ones west of the Rockies I've heard about. But, Something in the back of my mind seems to remember that he ordered his in.... hmmmm, perhaps the infamous cat tracker will clarify this for us.

I'm reasonably sure that, in the case of my own LHS, the order went in in mid April. I bugged them no end to make the order. It's true they had not been notified at that time, but they called Tower and verified what I was telling them. I know they made the order. It was promised for mid, then late May, later delayed again. and finally we were told that the shipment was gone. When asked why they didn't recieve their order, The nice Lady told them that the orders they had at central were filled first, and none were shipped to Reno for distribution to the western hobby shops.

I appreciate that some are still available back east, wish you guys the best, but I don't want one so bad that I'd bypass my LHS. He's been good catering to my needs, and I won't leave him holding the bag when these planes finally do arrive. I could have ordered one directly in the first place, but I need my LHS to be here for my needs.

I just wish the folks at Top Flight, or Tower, or wherever they are recieving them, would be so kind as to take care of their dealers out here. It wouldn't hurt them to make sure these long standing orders out west were taken care of before they re-stocked everyone back there would it?

I won't be surprized if they sell out of the second shipment before we see any out here.

Bitter, naw, it's just toy airplanes. Upset about a distributing company, who owns their own retail mail order establishment, the largest hobby shop in the world, aren't supporting their dealers. No small wonder why more dealers are finding it hard to stay in business.

I'm wondering why everything is spinning around?

Well I wish they would make up their minds! The Tower backorder sheet now says Mid September. Bummer.

I may have to actually BUILD something ..... aaaaaaag!

My back order page now sez..."Invoiced processing in warehose"....

Hmmmmmmmmmm......I have no idea what-so-ever about what's going on there.

Let's hear it for the information age!!

Nitro Fumes..Hib

Yup, mine just switched to that statement too. See what threats will get you?

That should mean that your going to get them like really quick.

LAST EDITED ON Aug-27-03 AT 06:10 PM (CDT)
 
Yup, the notation is now switched to being picked and packed! I am all atwitter!

I just got email notice from Tower that my Noblurs are being packed and shipped. I need to go check the tracer, to see where they started from. I did get the $10 discount that I sent (the code) in with the online order. Pretty sure I'm gonna put the GMA 2Star .40 in one, and have been thinking about a Brodak .40, but can't find one. Anybody know where to get one online? Steve

PS: Hey, our website's back online! http://www.nwskyraiders.com/index.html

>
>PS: Hey, our website's back online!

Steve,

Uh, oh. You sure enough got the NW Skyraider site back up and running. But there seems to be no mention of this weekend's contest in Portland, Oregon. Scott Riese will soon be (once again) complaining of a clique mentality along with some sort of conspiracy.

You are right, my ARF Flite Streaks came from a local hobby shop, Tim's Hobbies in Everett, Washington. I ordered one just as soon as it was clear one of the Moon brothers wasn't kidding. And in picking it up I stole Jim Booker's right off the shelf.

Unfortunately, they have not been quite as good with the ARF Nobler I ordered at the same time. Not a problem, just a little annoying. When they get it I'll go pick it up. No lack of stuff to fly at this time...

LAST EDITED ON Aug-29-03 AT 05:39 PM (CDT)
 
OO..OO...OO!!

Out of Sparks Nevada!...Mine's in Salt Lake as of 2:37 PM !...Due here in Boulder on the 3rd according to the UPS tracking thingie!

Baited Breath and Nitro Fumes!..........Hib

Hah at least yous guys are now getting something shipped.
They have now moved the Cox Hyper Viper back from mid August to mid October. Why do I have this feeling I may need to make skis for it by the time I can get one?

Bud Morrison

Tower message says Nobler shipped 8/27 and left Phoenix for Tucson at 2:35 PM today. Even with heavy traffic and a monsoon storm or so it should be here tomorrow. Too late to fly on Sunday, but even I should be able to get it ready for the following Sunday. I plan to use an OS Max S 35 with a small (.265) venturi so I can try it with the factory tank. Anyone tried the tank that comes with it?
Steve

My last post, Aug. 28, I said that my (two) ARF Noblurs had shipped from Tower. They were here waiting for me, when I got home from work and various errands. Friday, Aug. 29. Never had a chance to check the tracker number! Musta come from Reno. Have been working on the website, took a couple of hours to get logged in here at SSW, etc. Maybe soon, I'll slip downstairs and rip open the box! Steve

Steve,

I am using the tank that came with the Nobler and I am using a OS Max 30S engine. The 30S seems to be plenty of power but I also have a 35S that will bolt right in if I decide to go that way. The only problem I have encountered is the engine vibrated loose on one flight so I took some advice from some flying buddies and added a piece of motor mount maple crossways between the engine bearers just behind the engine. We havnt flown the Nobler since I beefed up the nose but I have ran the engine a couple of times and it has not vibrated loose again. Good luck with your Nobler.

I mean no offense whatsoever to any modeler on any site, but now that Steve Helmick has a couple ARF Noblers I look forward to a series of observations from a skilled modeler I know and trust.

For example, I am prone to out-tricking myself. So is Steve. Better that he bear the burden of extra costs and work in "improving" these guys.

Steve, I keep thinking that whacking off the stock mounts and installing a radial-mount "RC" setup to be the hot tip, especially when considering a selection of different engines. Comments?

LAST EDITED ON Aug-31-03 AT 00:24 AM (CDT)
 
"Steve, I keep thinking that whacking off the stock mounts and installing a radial-mount "RC" setup to be the hot tip, especially when considering a selection of different engines. Comments?

Dan Rutherford"

Dan...No. I'm not a fan of radial mounts. If it was designed and made to be used that way, maybe, but unless you are willing to strip off the Monkeykote and then fiberglass and paint, I wouldn't do it. I intend to fill between the bearers with sheet balsa, cross grain, replace the controls to some extent, maybe the LG. I am thinking of cutting the cowl up, cutting the firewall out, and making the tank slide in through the front. The bottom of the cowl under the tank would be glued on, the top of the cowl would be glued to the engine bearers or replaced with block, and the cowl would be restored to near stock configuration, just covering the engine below the bearers and back to the firewall. Maybe. The engines I have in stock and am considering are: 2Star .40 reworked by GMA, Tower .40, Magnum XL .28 and .36. I'm pretty sure that I'll just use the 2Star & Tower.40.
Steve

This photo was lifted off SSW, posted by some kind soul, from the first batch of kits. Maybe I'll find out mine are yaller! Or red. But they'd better not be red and yaller. I will see about setting one up for both the Magnum .36 and the 2Star .40. The bolt pattern is very close, and the length is close if using an extension on the 2Star. I should be able to fix any differences with a bit of machining.

Steve,

If the Double(Trouble)-Star 40 doesn't work out, you can always sell it to Heavy Stunt; he only has 5 or 6 of the things, buying more being his solution of choice when the first units did not work as hoped. Go figure...

Why not the Magnum 36? You and I both have them, PTG will be quite miffed if one of us doesn't soon put one to use.

From what I have seen so far, use of radial mounts may not have been part of the specifications for the model; but they would certainly work well.

Haven't all the pictures I've seen for this plane heretofore shown white cowls?

I believe the white cowl was on the prototype as in the original Nobler from 1952, but this sucker is based on the 57 green label version. Go figure! The cowl is a pain, but it is light.

LAST EDITED ON Aug-31-03 AT 10:11 PM (CDT)
 
A phone call this AM told me of a small gathering at Riverwalk Park today, so I wandered down there about 3pm, with an unopened TF Nobler under my arm. We opened it with a multitude of interested observers, including Shawn Parker, Mike Potter, Mike Havenick, Chris Gomez and myself. It was blue, all blue. It comes with a nice set of stars 'n bars, NAVY, etc., stickers. All were impressed with the quality of the work, the light weight of the parts, and the fact that the tank and wheels come with it. The cowl is molded fiberglass, done with epoxy and painted, not gel coat. It doesn't fit worth beans, but otherwise is nicely made. There is no provision for cooling air through the cowl, either inlet or outlet. I am pretty sure that mine will end up with a Big Jim "V-Deflector" type front end assembly, which won't be so easy to do with tapered wood beams and the fact that the thing is already assembled. The wood engine beams appear to be oak or something similar...actually looks like that cheap silkscreened faux oak laminate...and they don't look to be a full 3/8 x 1/2, either. Adjustable leadouts would be a nice touch, and these are pathetically thin and fragile looking. There are 1/16" plywood nose doublers that go back just past the TE, with cutouts here n' there for lightness. The aft fuselage sides have the big windows cutout, like the greenbox kit. The fin/rudder has some offset built in. I will remove that. The top and bottom of the fuselage are very neatly sheeted, perhaps molded, but with a small square reinforcing stringer down the CL. All visible parts are lazer cut and labled in English, stamped with a QC inspection bug, etc. Pretty amazing, for $100. I didn't notice the control system hardware, or look at the instructions. Everybody present was pretty impressed, even if it is blue. Steve

PS: Has anybody figured out what color of Monokote this is? I will need some for patching the wingtips after installing the adjustables, and a piece to fair the fin into the fuselage.

It tells you on page 4 of the instructions Sapphire Blue