Smoothie and me

Stuka Stunt Main Forum · 12 of 12 known posts recovered

Tim McTigue · Nov 02, 2003 02:17 PM

Mr. Little, you may have started a trend. This picture was taken yesterday at the flying field, of me and my nearly-finished Smoothie. It's not as fine as your offering, but it is my best work to date. I haven't flown it yet, I was hoping to yesterday but needed a bit more nose weight to balance, and didn't have it. Next weekend, perhaps. After the first few flights I intend to do some more work on the color scheme and finish...

Tim

Look! Up in the sky! It's, it's... oh wait - it's gone. Wait! Look! Up in the sky! It's...

TigreST · Nov 02, 2003 02:41 PM

#1 source

Bravo Tim!!!
There's nothing like first flights and all the gitters that go with them is there. Here's hoping the weather holds for you and the "Smooth One" next week. Rained all day here btw.

Tony

cyberflyer · Nov 02, 2003 03:06 PM

RE: Smoothie and more#2 source

What IS it with the Bob Palmer eliptical wing tip layout and styling that seems so wonderful in a vaguely art-deco kind of way?

The Nobler has all the reputation as the best stunt plane, but I always see its asthetics as a the result of the design process, not the intention.

The Thunderbird and Smoothie both exhibit this subtle sense that Palmer was concerned about the whole plane as a work of art as well as engineering.

Am I a victim of too much Arizona heat or do others see the stylishness I do in Palmer's works?

Circle Burner · Nov 02, 2003 03:10 PM

RE: Smoothie and more#3 source

Looking good Tim!! Really nice work.

John

Tim McTigue · Nov 02, 2003 03:36 PM

RE: Smoothie and more#4 source

"Am I a victim of too much Arizona heat or do others see the stylishness I do in Palmer's works?"

Cy,

I, too, was smitten the first time I saw the picture Brodak uses to show the Smoothie. I just had to build one. That first sighting was about 2 years ago, and I've been working on this one off and on for those two years (mostly off...). I took a long time with it because I didn't want to mess it up. I'm pretty pleased at how it turned out.

I have to say, when I was painting it, I came to love the color scheme even more - it really has a "50's" feel to it, like a vintage Corvette.

BTW, the finish is Brodak dope over silkspan, all done with a brush. In fact, it's mostly freehand, which is why the lines don't look quite straight. I would have used masking tape, but I was in too much of a hurry - I wanted to get it finished before the snow came.

John, thank you! I learned a lot doing it, and I think the next one will be that much better...

Tim

Look! Up in the sky! It's, it's... oh wait - it's gone. Wait! Look! Up in the sky! It's...

Bill Little · Nov 02, 2003 05:09 PM

RE: Smoothie and more#5 source

Tim!
It looks really nice!!

If that is your "first *BIG* plane, you are destined to turn out some beautiful ships.

Hope you *nerves* settle down for the trim flights, it's ALWAYS exciting to put the lines on it and turn it loose the first time.
Thank's for the kind words, but I have some *redoing* in store for the USA-1 this winter.
Keep it up, real nice looking workmanship.
Oh yeah, look at what Randy said to me..... I think we need to "gang up" on him! LOL!!!

Bill

Dont worry about the mule going blind 'til you get the cart loaded!

GLBahrman · Nov 02, 2003 05:16 PM

RE: Smoothie and more#6 source

Smoothie looks Super. What engine are you running? Red and white are always eye ketching

Greg L. Bahrman

Tim McTigue · Nov 02, 2003 05:35 PM

RE: Smoothie and more#8 source

Greg,

Thanks for the kind words. I'm running a Fox 35, 40th anniversary edition. I just got it broken in a few weeks ago. As for the color scheme, wait till I add the blue trim - look for pictures of Bob Palmer's color scheme - that's what I'm aiming for...

Tim

Look! Up in the sky! It's, it's... oh wait - it's gone. Wait! Look! Up in the sky! It's...

Tim McTigue · Nov 02, 2003 05:33 PM

RE: Smoothie and more#7 source

Bill,

Right - we'll corner him in a dark alley some night...

If you want to see the plane's "build history", check out my website at http://home.cogeco.ca/~controlline/default.shtml. Look under "Projects". I haven't added the latest pictures to it yet, but it does show the plane up till the covering and finishing process...

Tim

Look! Up in the sky! It's, it's... oh wait - it's gone. Wait! Look! Up in the sky! It's...

Bill Little · Nov 02, 2003 08:08 PM

RE: Smoothie and more#10 source

Tim,
I have been following your build.

Bill

Dont worry about the mule going blind 'til you get the cart loaded!

D_Pellerin · Nov 02, 2003 08:45 PM

RE: Smoothie and more#11 source

Nice plane, Tim!

I totally agree about the Palmer styling. No accident that my first two stunters coming back into this had to be the Smoothie and the T-Bird. They just look so good together. The Nobler has its own style, but in profile or planform view the Smoothie wins the beauty prize as far as I'm concerned.

- Dave

Tim McTigue · Nov 02, 2003 05:51 PM

#9 source

Okay, here's a picture of the pilot...

Tim

Look! Up in the sky! It's, it's... oh wait - it's gone. Wait! Look! Up in the sky! It's...