ARF Noblerprogress

Although I can't assemble it yet due to lack of space I thought I'd add some mounting clamps!

Here are an LA40 and Fox 35 in it.

The bearers are faced with 1/32 ally.

Has anyone had trouble fitting the cowl?

If I push the cowl on far enough to get within the 3 5/8 - 3 3/4 range the opening for the prop distorts upwards.

I don't seem to be able to get the cowl on far enough AND keep the crankshaft in the centre of the cutout!

Tony

Tony, glue some balsa between the motor mounts in the tank area and make a balsa cowl similar to the original. I did and it fits and uses one screw to get it off instead of the six for the fiberglass cowl. I used two short pieces of wire on each side of the front that fit into two short pieces of brass tubing. Pretty typical. But it works. I also cut out part of the firewall so I could slide a tank in from behind the engine, of course the engine has to be removed. In other words I made it more like the actual kit version.

LAST EDITED ON May-25-04 AT 03:42 AM (CDT)
 
I might just do that - then I can paint it white!

Did you keep the firewall to cowl front the same length (3 5/8 - 3 3/4) or shorten it?

Tony

I made it to fit my Brodak .40. Very much like the original "green label" Nobler.

Tony,
First thing I noticed in your pictures, a prop extension was present. The second, according to your pictures, the LA40 was sitting to far back on the engine rails.

I positioned my LA40, on the mounting rails, where the Tongue muffler would just clear the fire-wall without cutting any material away for clearence, just like in the building manual. I also installed engine pads between the engine and the rails. The wood used for the engine rails was soft and needs to be protected.

I also see in your pictures a mounting pad system, which is nice but according to your pictures, it looks as if the mounting system under tension is bowed. If this type of hold down system is used, you will need to eliminate the bow with Shoulder bolts or stand-off spacers between the hold down strap and the engine rails.

May I suggest choosing one engine for this airplane and set everything up for that engine. If you noticed that in the Top Flight Building manual, it uses the LA40 during the building phase.
If the choice was up to me, I would use the LA40 exclusively for the Nobler and put the Fox 35 back on the shelf. Be sure to use a tongue muffler with the LA40, it will eliminate all of the stick on weights pictured in the manual.

I you do a search at this site for the ARF Nobler, you will find a lot of building information along with suggested changes that will improve you airplane greatly, if used.

Good Flying
Mike Clark