Nobler ARF with DS 40

Finaly got my Nobler working well with my Double Star 40 . Had to add two head gaskets to get a very good 2/4 break with Sig 10 % nitro with 20% castor . Kept the 3" belcrank, changed the leadouts to solids, changed the flap and elevator horns . No tail weight needed and this plane will turn a corner . Embarrassingly after building control line planes for years this ARF is one of my best flying planes . Also with the 3" belcrank and the great 2/4 break , this is how I imagined flying in 1950's was like .

Bill Barber

WoW thats great Bill,
Did you stick with the stock venturi or have you replaced it with something a little larger???...........LOU

Lou , using the stock venturi , seems to have enough power with a TopFlight 11/6 power point prop.Haven't weighed my plane yet but seems very light . Interesting that flying with an ARF my bottoms all got lower . My buddies tell me that the Nobler ARF is the plane I fly best .Now just going to check all my clevis .

Bill Barber

Mine weighed in at 38 ounces with an OS 40 LA. I sure hope you didn't use the stock pushrods and clevises though. I did and it cost me a plane on it's maiden flight. It flew great for the first 6 manuevers, but on the outside squares, it did not turn on the second corner and went straight in. I was able to push the clevis back on over the threads. I can't do that with any American made clevis.
I had plenty of power with a .246" venturi on an OS .40 LA and 11 x 5 prop.
Bill Calkins

My Nobler ARF was an early kit . So I replaced the tank , the leadouts , the clevises , the pushrod , the flap horn and bushed the stock bellcrank , Also reinforced the motor mounts with wood and micro-balloons and CA .I have about 10 flight so far and it just seems to get better with every flight . But will keep a eye on the flight controls .
Bill Barber

Mine was also an eary kit, but I haven't had the time to monitor this forum like I would want to. Cost me a kit.
Bill

LAST EDITED ON Jun-27-04 AT 11:50 PM (CDT)
 
>Interesting that flying with an ARF my bottoms all got lower .

Yeah, Kinda like flying over grass, your bottoms get lower.
What line length are you using??.....LOU

Lou , right now I am at 59' which seems right , haven't taken lap times yet . Just added the head gasket last night and flew at the basin this morning . The last head gasket really sweetened the Double Stars run.
Bill

Yeah, Bill had it goin' Sunday all right. Engine sounded perfect and he insisted on doing all the maneuvers. Except for getting lost in one of the overheads...everything was lookin' real good. Nice slow pace, but the plane seemed to be hanging out there just fine. Seemed like it started right up too. (Lots easier than the Cox .020, right?)

Now you have to realize this is a very different story than the FIRST day Bill brought out Mr. Noblarf! Wrestled with that engine all day. Couldn't keep the prop on. Couldn't keep the engine running without the battery. Tried a plug from everyone's flightbox. Fooled around with 18 ways to choke an "over-cowled" engine. Even brought the thing back the following week with a test stand to break it in. So are we happy to see this all come together? You bet!

Bill made the other two Noblarf fliers look like beginners we are! I had a new Sullivan tank to replace the stock plastic one that split. (Did you know that you can't buy a replacement tank?) Had to carve on the gear mount and the firewall to get it in. Had to patch the top of the vertical and the cowling from my very smooth (but inverted) landing resulting from flying without fuel. Now I just gotta learn to fly....

Sorry to rat you out Bill....but you're right, it was a fun day!

Dave , thanks for the glo plug and the ecouragement .Looking forward to next weekend .
Bill

That's great Bill,
You are The Man, Mr. 2-4-2. I can't wait to see it fly and hear that sweet 2-4-2 dance. Music to the ears.