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Author Topic: Best 36 size Combat plane?  (Read 3370 times)

Offline kevin king

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Best 36 size Combat plane?
« on: September 29, 2021, 01:29:08 AM »
What would be some suggestions for the best flying, best designed and best looking 36 size combat plane?
Kevin

Offline Ken Culbertson

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Re: Best 36 size Combat plane?
« Reply #1 on: September 29, 2021, 09:49:25 AM »
What would be some suggestions for the best flying, best designed and best looking 36 size combat plane?
Kevin
What era?  Best looking - old time - Flight Streak, best designed/flying - 60's Sneaker.
I am not fluent in current designs.

Worst in all categories - T-Square

Ken
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Offline Howard Rush

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Re: Best 36 size Combat plane?
« Reply #2 on: September 29, 2021, 10:58:30 AM »
Nemesis 2  Ain't bad.


Motorman 8)

That’s my vote.
The Jive Combat Team
Making combat and stunt great again

Offline phil c

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Re: Best 36 size Combat plane?
« Reply #3 on: September 29, 2021, 03:45:34 PM »
I'll nominate my Psycho III circa 2012.  (sorry for calcuation errors)  I had the privilege of flying a couple practice matches with Don Cranfill(God rest his soul) , probably at the 2011 NATS.  We had a good match.  I got a couple of quick cuts prompting him to something like "how'd you do that" and then came back with a kill.  Don was very smart and experienced.

The Psycho III has a 54in. span, wing area of 540 squares.  The aspect ratio is 5.4. The span loading is 0.5 oz/in.   The wing loading is 0.41 oz/sq.in.  The root chord
 is 12.5 in., the tip 7.5.  It makes for a pretty plane.  It's big advantage is that with the high aspect ratio the plane bogs down less in maneuvers.     

With a decent Nelson, which I still have, it goes well over 100 mph on 15% fuel and an 8/5 Apc prop.  28,000 rpm.  Henry will probably chew me out!  The only problem is the rpm starts to destroy the prop reinforcing.  So after4-5 flights just bend the blade .  If it breaks, throw it away. Looking closely you can see very thin flex marks building up around mid blade.

Just for a compare, at 16 oz. 340 squares- A meticulously built nemesis 39in. span Nemesis, very light, carries 0.047sq.in./oz  The aspect ratio is about 4.5.  The span loading .48-.5 oz./in. 

The span loading, a measure of maneuver drag build up as the wing turns harder.

Just fix my arithmetic, please don't complain!  I've had enough trouble last spring to last me the rest of my life!
« Last Edit: October 03, 2021, 02:42:26 PM by phil c »
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Offline pmackenzie

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Re: Best 36 size Combat plane?
« Reply #4 on: September 29, 2021, 05:27:26 PM »
Best looking, easy  - Bosta.
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Offline Tom Luciano

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Re: Best 36 size Combat plane?
« Reply #5 on: September 30, 2021, 06:43:15 AM »
Going back to the Vintage era, Howard's Nemesis(both) probably best overall performing! Coolest looking is probably Scarinzi's Werewolf. Current models are superior in performance but are more of function and not of looks. I agree with Pat, the Bosta is another good looking bird. 60's era slow combat you can't beat a flite streak!! I have to mention  my favorite the Super Satan! The first of the high aspect wing combat planes of the mid to late sixties. Phil's Psycho is a very good flying modern plane that one can aquire and build.

IMHO,
Tom
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Offline bob whitney

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Re: Best 36 size Combat plane?
« Reply #6 on: September 30, 2021, 11:01:52 AM »
Best looking old time  Lancer
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Offline Chad Hill

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Re: Best 36 size Combat plane?
« Reply #7 on: September 30, 2021, 04:01:00 PM »
Carl Berryman's Super Twister was another good looker.

Offline Fredvon4

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Re: Best 36 size Combat plane?
« Reply #8 on: October 01, 2021, 05:53:26 AM »
"A good scare teaches more than good advice"

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Offline Bob Mears

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Re: Best 36 size Combat plane?
« Reply #9 on: October 01, 2021, 09:10:20 AM »
Sweet Sweep  is one of the best looking combat planes. Doesn't fly bad either. But I would think newer engines might blow it apart.
Home of the control line combat museum.

Offline Tom Luciano

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Re: Best 36 size Combat plane?
« Reply #10 on: October 01, 2021, 09:38:05 AM »
Hunt has an electric sweet sweep. He loves the way it flys. It really looks like a B52 in the air. Vey cool!!!
« Last Edit: October 01, 2021, 11:22:30 AM by Tom Luciano »
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Offline EddyR

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Re: Best 36 size Combat plane?
« Reply #11 on: October 03, 2021, 01:04:57 PM »
 I vote for the super twister as it was the model I used for a log time. I found it to be fast as it was small. It looks fragile put it held up well.
Ed
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Offline Paul Smith

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Re: Best 36 size Combat plane?
« Reply #12 on: October 03, 2021, 02:24:26 PM »
Remember, the life span of a combat plane could be well under five minutes.  It was NOT a beauty contest.

A pair of Combat Cats (two for $4.95) was a good buy in 1964 and a better flyer than a Double Voodoo. Of course, you needed to center the engine mount.

Based on my visits to England in 1974 and 1976 I was made to believe that Richard Wilkin's Superstar was the best design of it's time.  I used them in five different events (fast, slow, FAI, 1/2A and Fox 35).


« Last Edit: October 05, 2021, 07:43:47 AM by Paul Smith »
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Offline phil c

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Re: Best 36 size Combat plane?
« Reply #13 on: October 03, 2021, 03:00:41 PM »
.......... I agree with Pat, the Bosta is another good looking bird. .........
I have to agree with Tom, despite the bribery,. the Bosta is probably the best looking design.  It also was amazingly strong for a fast ship flying over grass.  I've seen several go straight in with very minimal damage.  The build time was  slower and more critical than tapered wings.  The Bosta, even with a jig, took longer to build.  The best you could do was build a couple of jigs and a mold - one to frame the plane, and the other to shape the wing leading edge sheeting.

Phil's Psycho is a very good flying modern plane that one can aquire and build.

IMHO,
Tom


Well, being a sleepy head lately I missed the mark.  I agree completely with Tom.  As pretty planes, especially, well proven ones, the Bosta is right at the top.  Very strong, maneuvers with anything in its weight/wing are class.
A  bit later, when other top pilots started going to bigger planes, it took more skill to keep up.  But, practice, awareness, and very good ability to avoid vertigo helps a lot too.
Too bad nobody has tried a 48in. Bosta II.
« Last Edit: November 24, 2021, 07:02:05 PM by phil c »
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Offline Al Ferraro

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Re: Best 36 size Combat plane?
« Reply #14 on: October 04, 2021, 06:24:30 PM »
Super Satan  VD~ and The Slasher  ;D
Al

Offline Mike Greb

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Re: Best 36 size Combat plane?
« Reply #15 on: October 04, 2021, 10:22:23 PM »
My favorite model from the early "80s was the Buckstaff  "Mirage" , it flew under other names. It had an airfoil more like a stunt model. With it's vertical spar, it was an easy model to rebuild.  The leading edge sheeting, ribs and seemed to come and go, but the center section lived on.  Stubblefield flew a couple of Buckstaff's  original models at the Oklahoma city contest a few weeks ago.

Offline Gordan Delaney

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Re: Best 36 size Combat plane?
« Reply #16 on: October 17, 2021, 12:59:06 AM »
How about my Challenger. Looks good two.
Gordy

Offline kevin king

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Re: Best 36 size Combat plane?
« Reply #17 on: November 04, 2021, 09:21:29 AM »
The Super Satan, are there plans for it?

Offline Tom Luciano

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Re: Best 36 size Combat plane?
« Reply #18 on: November 05, 2021, 03:02:41 PM »
The Super Satan, are there plans for it?

Yes Bob Mears has them at controllineplans.com
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Offline pmackenzie

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Re: Best 36 size Combat plane?
« Reply #19 on: November 05, 2021, 04:12:24 PM »
The Super Satan, are there plans for it?

Plans and original article are also on Outerzone:

https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=8661
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Offline kevin king

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Re: Best 36 size Combat plane?
« Reply #20 on: November 11, 2021, 01:01:50 AM »
Best looking, easy  - Bosta.
That Bosta is NICE, but the odds of having a warp seem to high. With my luck anyway.
Kevin

Offline kevin king

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Re: Best 36 size Combat plane?
« Reply #21 on: November 11, 2021, 02:29:16 AM »
How about this one? If only I could reproduce all the decals. I just read his bio and liked it.
Kevin.

Offline katana

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Re: Best 36 size Combat plane?
« Reply #22 on: November 11, 2021, 02:54:09 AM »
Based on my visits to England in 1974 and 1976 I was made to believe that Richard Wilkin's Superstar was the best design of it's time.  I used them in five different events (fast, slow, FAI, 1/2A and Fox 35).

That takes me back to a Model show held at Sandown Race Course at Esher, UK, where some combat flyers were asked to do demo's using the Horses Parade ring which couldn't have been bigger than 100 foot diameter, so short lines needed. Some fool also bought a couple of 'big & fast' combat planes - fast combat being very unusual in Europe. The speed coupled with the short lines was amazing to watch but probably also the cause of plenty of destruction LOL! I wouldn't be surprised if one of the flyers wasn't Rich Wilkins! And I still have a foam Superstar, completed and never flown - the ST G20/15's long since sold to fund something else!

Offline Gordan Delaney

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Re: Best 36 size Combat plane?
« Reply #23 on: November 13, 2021, 04:19:20 PM »
How about my Challenger. Looks good too.
Gordy

Here are a couple pictures of my Challenger designs.  The 1973 version is around 360 square inches (I think) and used a OS Max 36, and Super Tigre 35 ball bearing.  The 1980 version is much larger at 48" span, deeper chord and 501 square inches.  The larger plane used TWA 36 and Fox Mk IV 36.   

« Last Edit: November 14, 2021, 03:47:11 PM by Gordan Delaney »

Offline Paul Smith

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Re: Best 36 size Combat plane?
« Reply #24 on: November 13, 2021, 07:10:50 PM »
How about this one? If only I could reproduce all the decals. I just read his bio and liked it.
Kevin.

A Matador kit came to me in a sellout.  I built it with a Cox Conquest 15 and liked it.  It was far too small foe the 35's of the day.
Paul Smith

Offline kevin king

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Re: Best 36 size Combat plane?
« Reply #25 on: November 14, 2021, 12:37:56 AM »
Thank's everybody for all these awesome suggestions. In the end I pulled the trigger on a Voodoo from Vintage Performance and a Fox 36x. on bladder pressure.

Kevin King

Offline Al Ferraro

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Re: Best 36 size Combat plane?
« Reply #26 on: November 21, 2021, 04:31:29 PM »
  My Slasher tearing up the sky at over 120 MPH!
          Fox 36XBB providing the muscle. Roy Glenn on the handle.
Al

Offline kevin king

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Re: Best 36 size Combat plane?
« Reply #27 on: November 24, 2021, 01:34:44 AM »
Pretty cool Al.
So did all Fox 36X come with ball bearings
 or only some?
Kevin.

Offline Tom Luciano

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Re: Best 36 size Combat plane?
« Reply #28 on: November 24, 2021, 02:38:29 PM »
Kevin,
  The standard version had needle bearings which what appears you have. The BB version in the early years was polished but that changed at some point. box was light gray with purple writing say fox 36x bb fitted for combat. The pressure tap was usually already tapped for the fitting.
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Offline kevin king

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Re: Best 36 size Combat plane?
« Reply #29 on: November 24, 2021, 06:38:01 PM »
Kevin,
  The standard version had needle bearings which what appears you have. The BB version in the early years was polished but that changed at some point. box was light gray with purple writing say fox 36x bb fitted for combat. The pressure tap was usually already tapped for the fitting.
Thanks Tom. I got work bench and 1.5" thick slab of granite cleaned off for it.  Kit should be here in a couple weeks. Still haven't decided on what to cover it with yet.


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