Snorky Revisited

It seems as though if you wait long enough, every idea you have will be accomplished by someone else. In this case I refer to the "First Flights" trainer in the January 2004 issue of Flying Models. For some while I've been wanting to build a trainer in this configuration to teach my dad and wife to fly CL, and to brush 20+ years of rust off my "Skills" . My concept is to use a stupid simple foam wing that is essentially disposable. The fuselage can be hacked together out of Home Depot wood products and finishes. The great features of this design configuration are the fuselage-mounted control system, upright engine, and nearly indestructible construction. There was a model like this marketed long ago (by Midwest?) called the Snorky.

The sticking point has been the foam wing. There are a lot of foam wings available, but the problem is that they are all too fancy. I just need a constant chord. I could go ahead and make up a simple hot wire bow, attack a passing train transformer, and start hacking up some type of Home Depot foam. Maybe that's a good solution. But even better if I can just find a *cheap* dumb foam wing that will work and design around that. I also want a larger model in the 19-35 class, since that's the range of available powerplants.

Any suggestions as to where I can buy such a dumbed-down foam wing?

Thanks,

Ace RC used to offer a couple versions of molded--versus cut--foam wings which might work. I think one version was tapered, the other constant chord. I also believe they were intended for 1/2A RC models, but would check before writing them off due to this.

Pylon (A.K.A. Sullivan) at one time offered a substantial molded foam wing, molded reliefs and all. I have no idea if it is still available.

If you can adapt your design to tapered wing panels, Rush has an immense stack of rejects which are so close to perfect several of us have mumbled about his sanity.

>Ace RC used to offer a couple versions of molded--versus
>cut--foam wings which might work. I think one version was
>tapered, the other constant chord. I also believe they were
>intended for 1/2A RC models, but would check before writing
>them off due to this.
>
>Pylon (A.K.A. Sullivan) at one time offered a substantial
>molded foam wing, molded reliefs and all. I have no idea if
>it is still available.
>
>If you can adapt your design to tapered wing panels, Rush
>has an immense stack of rejects which are so close to
>perfect several of us have mumbled about his sanity.
>
>Dan

Dan,

Thanks! I'm very familiar with the Ace Mini Foam wings, and even have some. Problem is, ACE is long gone. Further problem is that they are way too small for a 35 type ship. Killer for 1/2 A- A sized stuff though. A tapered wing is OK as long as it is cheap and ready made.

Howard's rejects intrigue me...

LAST EDITED ON Dec-05-03 AT 02:56 PM (CST)
 
The Ace wings can still be purchased:

http://www2.mailordercentral.com/quantummodels/

This is under "Aircraft" and "Wing kits".

And I have this link:

http://www.dbalsa.com/index.html

These guys look to have every variety of foam core on the planet. Perhaps there is something there that would be usable.

>The Ace wings can still be purchased:
>
>http://www2.mailordercentral.com/quantummodels/
>
>This is under "Aircraft" and "Wing kits".
>
>
>And I have this link:
>
>http://www.dbalsa.com/index.html
>
>These guys look to have every variety of foam core on the
>planet. Perhaps there is something there that would be
>usable.
>
>Kelvin

Kelvin,

BINGO! The Dynamic Balsa wings look like excellent candidates. And it is great to know that the Ace Mini-Foam wings are still available. I have a real soft spot for them. I learned to fly RC with an Ace Pulse Commander RO set and a Dick's Dream.

I didn't have either of these links, so I am now WAY ahead.

Much Obliged!

> I learned to fly RC with an Ace Pulse Commander RO
>set and a Dick's Dream.

And the little 020 powered sailplane (can't recall the name off-hand), Owen Campen, and the Mach None, Pacer, Littlest Stik. Those rudders flapping in the breeze! I shed a little tear when the old Ace RC got bought out.
Kelvin

The Snorky was brought up on Flightlines last year, too. There were actually two generations of these ugly models, beginning with the ones like that shown below from 1948. I have that kit, and it consists of a preshaped balsa wing, a few sticks and hardware. On my web site I nominated it for "Ugliest CL Kit of all Time". Simple is good, though, and they don't get much simpler.

Today, with a simple foam wing it would be very easy to build.

http://www.classicaircraftmodels.com/Snorky.html

Bill Groman

[email protected]

Phil makes all sorts of foam wings for CL combat. Almost any of these about 400 sq's would work.

LAST EDITED ON Dec-05-03 AT 10:14 PM (CST)
 
Hmmm... I've been looking at these electric 3D RC sites for a couple days now, and I think a really simple foam wing could be made out of blue Dow Styrofoam. There's this "fan fold" foam that you can get in 1/4", and some tongue-and-groove sheets you can get in 1/2" and more. I think 1/2" flat plate would work well for this type of plane. No spars, just use strapping tape top and bottom. Cover in laminating film or clear box tape (iron it down if you use the latter - makes it really stick).

Simple, easy to make, cheap, and tough.

I'd also look into SPAD wings, too. 2mm Coroplast. Flat bottom.

No spars, just use strapping tape top and bottom.
>Cover in laminating film or clear box tape (iron it down if
>you use the latter - makes it really stick).
>

Isky,

My thoughts *exactly*. This is precisely what I had in mind, right down to the box tape covering. BTW- box tape varies considerably in thickness and tack. Any particular type/brand that is recommended for covering wings?

Thanks,

Hmm.. that's a tough one. I've been using laminating film, myself, for actual wing covering, but I do use tape to seal the trailing edge before the covering goes on (that way I don't have to have the covering wrap around the TE, and it makes it easier overall).

I've noticed there's two main types of tape that you can get in Wal-Mart/K-Mart/Target (is K-Mart still around? I heard they went bust shortly before I left the States). One is pretty thin and not very flexible (and cheap), the other sort (usually marked "Ultra Clear" or something of the sort) is a lot more flexible, is thicker and might be stronger. I think the adhesive is better, too.

I use the thin stuff for patches and around the trailing edge, and the thick stuff for emergency repairs (it seems to stick better when there is oil around) and for reinforcing bladder holes on my 1/2-As. I've never tried either for fully covering a wing, but I'd definitely iron it down if I were going to use either.

A totally different animal is the tape the USPS uses, with the US Priority Mail logo on it. Very aggressive adhesive, and I think a much thinner and stronger tape. It has the advantage/disadvantage of having "US Priority Mail" written on it, and you should be able to get a roll or two free from supplies.usps.com. (It's supposed to be used for legitimate purposes, i.e. sending Priority Mail packages - I was using it to mail out packets of stuff I was selling on E-bay. While you're at it, ask for their triangular mailing tubes also - they're great for mailing plans, balsa wood, etc., and they are also free.)

http://shop.usps.com/cgi-bin/vsbv/postal_store_non_ssl/display_products/productDetail.jsp?OID=1003557

http://shop.usps.com/cgi-bin/vsbv/postal_store_non_ssl/display_products/productDetail.jsp?OID=1003548

In addition - some of the blue foam comes with plastic attached to it, so you might use that as covering. Also check out the other brand - Foamular - it comes in pink, and there's a slightly less dense version (1.5 lb. ft.^-3 instead of 2 lb. ft.^-3).

Incidentally, Doc Passen flew, for a while, blue foam sheet-wing airfoil combat planes. Heavy, but very very tough.

Hmmm. Looks like a trainer I just read about in Flying Models or was it in Model Aviation??

I had the second version of the Snorky about 1971. It looked much the same as the first pictured above, except for the fact that it had a symetrical molded foam wing which was secured to the fuselage via rubber bands, It was an extremely docile trainer that would actually fly. It was not the prettiest plane I have seen, either.

However, my vote for ugliest plane, even after viewing the original Snorky, still goes to the Ringmaster Sportster.

http://www.protech-aero.com/
Look at the Stunt Stick.
It flies like a Flite Streak
MM

>http://www.protech-aero.com/
> Look at the Stunt Stick.
> It flies like a Flite Streak
> MM

Thanks! Looks like an excellent option...

Hmmm.. I've never been able to get to the Protech-Aero web site. Is anyone else having problems getting to it?

C:\>tracert www.protech-aero.com

Tracing route to protech-aero.com <64.202.162.37>
over a maximum of 30 hops:

1 * * * Request timed out.
2 * * * Request timed out.
3 * * * Request timed out.
4 * * * Request timed out.

We finally wore one of these out this year after multiple full speed slams into the ground. I've got a special kid out there that is remarkably strong. It took quite a beating. I have an old combat ship built off this design, I had the wings cut for a different one and just made the KISS fuse instead, that I'm gonna put the gear on to continue for next year.