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Classic Designs => Classic Planes => Topic started by: Fred DiMaria on February 22, 2014, 08:13:21 AM
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I am a little late starting a building thread on this airplane, but what the heck. Has anyone build one?
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I have both kits of the Tomahawk by Brodak. I bought the first kit off the bay which said it was the Original Tomahawk and showed that on the box. Needless to say when I got the kit it was the newer version. Contacted John and told him what happened and within a week had a new kit of the Original Tomahawk. Was told the first kits were made and sold before he was enlightened. Yes I paid for the second kit. They will get built in time, need to get the Brodak .25's broken in.
Thanks for the construction photos.
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Hi John, how do I know whether I have an original or new version? I don't know that much about the original except that it was kitted by Veco. I have never seen one on eBay. This kit built up nicely, but the trailing edge of the wing needs to be modified from the kit, it is much too flimsy. I used the stock piece and it was very weak, so I added webbing. It was still too flexible, so I added a second layer of balsa sheeting, which can be seen in one of the pictures. That seems to have stiffened it up, but it has added some weight.
What really attracted me to buy this kit was the appearance of the finished model on the box cover. I do. To actually know how well they fly.
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The Original Veco Tomahawk looks almost similar to the Sig Akromaster (different rudder). The "New" Veco Tomahawk was "Jet styled"; Forward canopy, swept back rudder.
The Brodak "Original Tomahawk" remake builds differently. The Notched, Solid LE and TE are gone and spars are different. There are a couple of lines drawn different here and there but probably not enough to be noticed unless you look closely to the Brodak and a Veco side by side.
I built a Brodak one from plans and my buddy built one traced from a Veco kit. Can't hardly tell the difference by looking.
Nice flying model with a OS .20FP, .25FP or .25LA. Also a Veco .19BB does very well. These engines are almost too much, but with a 3"-4" pitch prop and about 4.8 lap times on 58' eye to eye .015s they will fly a decent pattern! My Tomahawk uses an OS .20FP with an APC 9-4 (yes the BBTU set up! LOL!!)
BIG Bear
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Yes, the pictures you have look like the original version of the Veco Tomahawk. Now you say the trailing edge was flimsy and you added more sheeting. May not be a mistake, but I would have went ahead and finished the model per Brodak instructions. It is amazing how stiff a wing can get once it is covered. I am finishing a Bi-Slob for Melvin and the wings were very flexible. Got the rest of the covering on with out breaking the spars and ribs. Even I-Beam wings will be flexible until the covering is on. I can see boxing in the trailing edge, but why the extra sheeting? As Big Bear says the newer Tomahawk had a more jet style look to it. It was my sons first .35 size plane.
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Finally getting around to completing this airplane. I am attempting a traditional dope finish, please wish me luck. Getting close to color coats.
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A few pics
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Nice job...patience and light sandpaper, that's the key to dope finishes...or one could say, building in general. 8)
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I agree, it is looking good. H^^
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Thanks - I am trying to figure out how to mask the color scheme, this one is going to be challenging. For color coats of dope, is it a 60/40 ration, 60% dope and 40% thinner?