What Full-Fuselage Kit?

Half the fun of a new project is planning for it; and since I am an incurable planner by nature, I need your help.

While it will be sometime down the road, I do intend to build a C/L model; if nothing else, to keep my buddy off my back.

Profiles leave me rather cold. I was seriously considering a Brodak Nobler, but now that The Empire has come out with an ARF, everybody and his brother will have one (my buddy included- his arrived two days ago...)

Brodak used to have some really nice full-fuse kits besides the Nobler (one was a Tanger, or something like that?), but I don't see them on the site any more.

What's out there? I am an experienced builder, so complexity doesn't frighten me. I guess a .35-.40 size would be what I'm looking for, although I will consider slightly smaller offerings.

So, in the vernacular of my youngest daughter (who will, thankfully, be out of my pocket in a few years- then I can really buy some modeling goodies}> )...

Hook me up!

Start out with an "Oriental" from Brodak. You can fly it in both
Classic and PAMPA classes. The "Tanager" is a profile airplane.
The "Accentor" is the same plane but with a full fuselage.

The Stuka or Nobler can be used in all three classes. However, as you say, the Nobler has now been "overdone" and the two kits I have here may just sit here and rot.

However, you never said you wanted to enter it in competition, nor that you wanted to enter it in more than one class (or which class, for that matter).

Asking for which kit to build is to open the preverbial can of worms as everybody has his favorite. However, Brodak still has every kit available except one which they redid. You might even want to consider someting like the Vector 40 or the Legacy (going a little bigger) to get a "modern" design with more updated "numbers".

It is all a matter of what you like, not what any of us like or what we would do.

I have neither the intention nor desire to compete.

What I'm looking for is a smooth-flying, good-looking model. Yeah, I know; beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

R/C is my first priority, and will doubtless remain such. This model will only be flown on the infrequent occasions I get together with my pal Alan. While there is a healthy C/L presence here.

I like the looks of this forum's namesake. Does anyone cut a kit? But wait; it's a profile, yes? Guess I better look again.

Any recommendations for kit manufacturers besides Brodak?

RSM kits a nice version of Don Still's original Stuka. Small airplane, but flys well with a .25. Try:http://rsmdistribution.com/

Walter Umland does some nice kits. His Barnstormer is easy to build and flys well with just about any .35. His website is: http://www.builtrightflyright.net/
Larry Richards does some really nice kits of the old Veco airplanes, but is in the process of moving so his stock is low right now. You can contact him from Walter Umland's website.

There are a few others around selling kits depending on what you want to build.
Steve

Steve,
You sound like you have my original attitude towards CL. Originally I just got into it for a little fun (Fox Racing), intending that RC would remain my main thrust. I never really considered going into Precision Aerobatics (a somewhat inaccurate term when applied to my version of the pattern!). However Fred Krueger convinced me to at least try the beginner pattern, and so I bolted a K&B 28 onto my Fox Racer, a Sig Skyray--that was probably 4 to 5 years ago.

So began the my fitful progress towards learning to fly the pattern. I've had more than my fair share of engine problems, crashes, etc. but at least now I can fly something which can be interpreted as the full pattern.

The irony is that last year I barely flew any RC (3 flights total if my memory serves me correct). I think the challenge of the pattern just keeps me trying-almost leaving no time for other flying activities. I actually hope to fly a little rc next year, just to relax a little.

So watch out, it is addictive!

<<...Watch out, it is addictive!..>>

That's what I'm afraid of. I have a NIB vintage Cox ME-109 stunter due in any day, and I'm looking forward to that more than the H9 T-34 ARF and Sig Kougar kit I have on the floor, waiting for the decision on which one to do first.

Probably just a passing cheap thrill, right? Just another manifestation of Cloud's Syndrome, where a middle-aged man subconsciously desires to return to his youth. Yeah, that's it. Just an aberration; R/C still rules.

Right?????

Steve,
I am sure it is just a passing fancy........ yeah right!
You might just find that actually being in contact with the plane as you begin to *scribe* manuevers is very, very addictive. There's nothing wrong with wiggling your thumbs , but having the plane connected to you, it really becomes an extension of your persona through which you can be creative. Kinda like watching someone else perform, or actually performing yourself.
Don't get me wrong, I have had some R/C, still do, but it just isn't the same experience. When you actually fly a real good manuever the feeling is kinda esoteric.
Bill <><

My vote is for the Brodak Oriental. Its a nice kit to build, the wood is great and they are one of the nicest flying airplanes around. You can power it with most any good 35 or 40 engines.

I agree, Rob; that is a very pretty airplane.

Thanks for the links, gentlemen; that is exactly the sort of info I was looking for.

The Accentor you mentioned above is a very nice airplane. I built one last year. Looks nice and flies pretty well. Its just the full bodied fuselage of the Tanager. I use an LA 46 in mine with 70' .018 lines. With 60' it flies to fast.

>I agree, Rob; that is a very pretty airplane.
>
>Thanks for the links, gentlemen; that is exactly the sort of
>info I was looking for.

Why not try the Bucaneer 740 from Ultra Hobby Products?

Designed by Allen Brickhaus, the Buccaneer 740 is an excellent flying 40 size, full bodied stunt ship. This plane can be flown by beginner, expert, or anyone in-between. The Buccaneer 740 has a wing span of 54.5 inches, wing area of 575 sq. in., and uses a .32 - .40 size engine. The kit contains laser cut: ribs, fuselage sides, fuse formers, 1/32 ply fuselage doublers, flaps, stabilizer, elevators, rudder, and wheel pants. A complete hardware package from RSM Distribution is also included.

The Buccaneer 740 sells for ………$135.00 plus $8.00 shipping U.S.

With an LA 46 its a killer.

Brodak Vector 40 is my choice. Modern design, many engine choices.

BRODAK Smoothie! Pretty,and Leonard can get you 20% off.

<<...Buccaneer 740...>>

Hmmm... another prospect. I really like that one too.

54" is a bit more wing than I was thinking about; it would take up all the room in the back of my truck. But then again, where I'll be flying C/L is not conducive to R/C planks (airplanes), so I'd probably have a helicopter with me anyway.

I've never flown one of these larger stunters. A Ringmaster Junior (.19 engine) is the largest C/L model I've ever been behind the handle of. If I'm going to build one, might as well make it a "real" one, right?

However, I have this thing against the LA series of engines. Right or wrong, they have a reputation in the R/C side of the house for being marginal. The LA 46 R/C engine I briefly owned and operated certainly met that description. So, again, right or wrong, an LA would be about the LAST engine I would choose.

Sounds like a topic for yet another "newbie question"...

Thanks for the look at the Buccaneer 740. Its definitely on the short list.

><<...Buccaneer 740...>>

>Thanks for the look at the Buccaneer 740. Its definitely on
>the short list.

Steve, I had an early one made by Custom Models, I believe. It is a great flying midsize stunter. Very capable, but friendly, too.
It's got my vote! And an OS 46LA WOULD be very appropriate for it! As a stunt engine, they work very well.
Bill <><

Just FYI, Doug Moon won Expert in Dallas a couple of years ago flying this Buc with an LA 46. I ended up with the airplane and flew it for almost a year with an LA 46 and it was awesome. It is now in the hands of an up and coming youngster who is going to be a real contender next year, still with the LA 46. Control Line Stunt makes different demands on engine performance than RC and it works well. If you just can't do an LA find a Super Tigre 46.

Thanks for the additional info.

The idea of a four-stroke on a C/L plane is very appealing, and I'll probably go in that direction.

Saitos are great engines, and since it will be running wide open all the time, there won't be a concern about potential flame-outs at low throttle settings. Some do, and some don't; you just never know until you try a particular engine/installation.

That Buc looks better every time I look at it...

You reading this, Alan? Eat your heart out; and you can have your steenkin' Fox 35 stunt...

LAST EDITED ON Dec-20-03 AT 00:17 AM (CST)
 
Steve,
Have a look at the JD Falcon. A Brodak 40 is a 4-2-4 engine.

http://www.clstunt.com/htdocs/dcforum/DCForumID9/75.html
http://www.clstunt.com/htdocs/dcforum/DCForumID9/11.html

So many choices.

<<...So many choices...>>

No kidding.

Still like that Buc, though.

What is the group's opinion on the Sig Super Chipmunk?