Author Topic: Tony bites the dust. (Read 4462 times)

Gordan Delaney · « **on:** November 08, 2014, 08:35:17 PM »

My Semi scale tony broke a lead out today. Sorry to say it`s been totaled. I am really depressed at this time. I`ll post some pictures tomorrow when I feel a little better.

Gordy

At the end of this post Brent William posted a couple of pictures after the crash.

Mike Keville · « **Reply #1 on:** November 08, 2014, 08:48:37 PM »

Bummer! That was a beautiful airplane.

Serge_Krauss · « **Reply #2 on:** November 08, 2014, 09:22:50 PM »

You were justifiably proud of that plane, and I think it was one of the most impressive originals I've seen. Up close it was even better than in its pictures. Darn! I'm very sorry for the loss.

SK

Jim Hoffman · « **Reply #3 on:** November 08, 2014, 10:00:14 PM »

Sad news Gordan.

Here's a nice shot of you at Whittier Narrows w/ the Tony and the USA-1

I remember when you showed me the first drawings in my kitchen long ago. I also recall when it nearly dragged my butt across the circle as I held if for a launch.

Jim Hoffman

Randy Cuberly · « **Reply #4 on:** November 08, 2014, 10:15:59 PM »

Hi Gordy,

All I can say is, RATS!...Losing a great airplane is like losing a good friend. Sorry!

Now...Go Fly!

Randy Cuberly

Brent Williams · « **Reply #5 on:** November 09, 2014, 01:37:08 AM »

Ughhhh, that is such terrible news! Sorry to hear about the loss, Gordan.

These pics do not quite illustrate the effort and quality of the detail and artistry that Gordan put into this ship. Such a fantastic plane in every regard.

I carted my little kids to the park today and we watched Gordan make a few flights with this beautiful plane. We left before the carnage, though.

larger versions of pics:
(http://oi57.tinypic.com/2youwpi.jpg)
(http://oi57.tinypic.com/24xp40g.jpg)
(http://oi61.tinypic.com/2rm87er.jpg)

John Stiles · « **Reply #6 on:** November 09, 2014, 04:11:13 AM »

I feel your pain, it sux when that happens, it happened to me recently:

Dave_Trible · « **Reply #7 on:** November 09, 2014, 06:23:59 AM »

Oh sorry Gordy! Guess you have an excuse now to build a new one.

Dave

Curt D Contrata · « **Reply #8 on:** November 09, 2014, 07:15:02 AM »

Sorry to hear that, I really liked that model and you flew it well.
Was it the same one you set down in the Soy Bean field over a decade ago?

Curt

john e. holliday · « **Reply #9 on:** November 09, 2014, 08:03:57 AM »

It is sad when one loses a plane. That was a beautiful plane as all of your planes are. How many flights did you have on it and where did the lead out break?

Clint Ormosen · « **Reply #10 on:** November 09, 2014, 09:44:28 AM »

Gordon, losing a model sucks, especially one as awesome as the Tony was. But buck up and view it as the good Lord just giving you an opportunity to build a replacement model. You seem to crank out at least one stunning new plane a year, anyway.

RC Storick · « **Reply #11 on:** November 09, 2014, 10:28:55 AM »

I feel your pain. In 2012 when I lost my Tbolt in Memphis I had a 4.5 hour drive home to think about it. It took me a year to cut up the pieces and throw what was left in the trash. I still have the tail section left.

wwwarbird · « **Reply #12 on:** November 09, 2014, 11:12:26 AM »

Sorry to hear this Gordan, that Tony really looked awesome. It sucks to lose any plane let alone a front row job. On a plus note, at least it's timed with the upcoming building season.

Gordan Delaney · « **Reply #13 on:** November 09, 2014, 11:18:08 AM »

Thanks every one for you kind words.Curt good to hear from you. Yes, it was the same plane I crashed at the nats. The flap horn broke.

This time the lead out broke next to the bell crank between the tubing going threw the bell crank and the crimp tubing.John holliday I had only about 120 flights on it. Just getting broke in.

Gordy

Jim Rhoades · « **Reply #14 on:** November 09, 2014, 11:46:55 AM »

I really feel for Gordan as the model was flying extremely well. After trying several different engines with varying success he put the Saito 82 back in the Tony. The first flight showed the power of the engine with his biggest venturi in it. A lap time of 4.8 sec was a bit fast. His smallest venturi was then inserted which gave about 5.2 sec lap time. Just right for this 4600 ft elevation. I got to fly my first flight on it and it was very easy to fly well. It would not take me many flights to get used to it. A great flying model.

Roger Kramar flew it and about 4 minutes into the flight it did three 10' outside loops hitting its wake on the last one turning the model in and hitting the ground wings vertical nose down. It was ugly!!

A sad loss of a great model. Plans are in the works for a replacement. Gordy will have some time to plan this as he goes in for shoulder surgery monday morning and will have his right arm immobilized for 6 weeks. Good luck on 6 weeks, I don't think he can hold off that long.

Jim Rhoades

Brent Williams · « **Reply #15 on:** November 09, 2014, 12:29:49 PM »

Gordan asked me to post up these pics of the remains. RIP Tony!

Larger version of these pics:
http://oi58.tinypic.com/307rtba.jpg
http://oi59.tinypic.com/v45r80.jpg

Clint Ormosen · « **Reply #16 on:** November 09, 2014, 03:28:58 PM »

Wait, I thought it was destroyed? That looks repairable. Bring on the epoxy!

Glenn (Gravitywell) Reach · « **Reply #17 on:** November 09, 2014, 03:56:10 PM »

I was thinking the same thing. Put it away for a little while, then revisit it.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #18 on:** November 09, 2014, 08:13:47 PM »

Well if he is having shoulder surgery he should have time to think about rebuilding it. But, it does look bad.

Steve Helmick · « **Reply #19 on:** November 09, 2014, 10:26:43 PM »

Sorry to hear about the demise of the Tony and also shoulder surgery, Gordan. Maybe a smaller Tony next time? It was very impressive the first time I saw it flying at NW CL Regionals. Take care of your shoulder!

Steve

Scott Richlen · « **Reply #20 on:** November 10, 2014, 09:10:27 AM »

Don't give up on that one! You'll probably need to build a new nose and center section, but it should be a straightforward repair job.

Scott

Bill Little · « **Reply #21 on:** November 10, 2014, 11:15:45 AM »

Hi Gordy,

You probably will not remember when we discussed Tonys a few years ago, I built the Warburton Tony when the magazine came out in the '60s. But, anyway, I hate to see this.

Fix it or build a new one!

BIG Bear
RNMM/AMM

billbyles · « **Reply #22 on:** November 10, 2014, 02:47:36 PM »

Quote from: Gordan Delaney on November 08, 2014, 08:35:17 PM

My Semi scale tony broke a lead out today. Sorry to say it`s been totaled. I am really depressed at this time. I`ll post some pictures tomorrow when I feel a little better.

Gordy At the end of this post Brent William posted a couple of pictures after the crash.

Hi Gordy,

I well remember flying your Tony at the Whittier Narrows contest a number of years ago. It flew very much like my Impact but with about three times the line tension. I had to fly it with two hands after the 4-leaf clover. Great flying airplane, sorry to hear about its demise.

Bill Byles

John Sunderland · « **Reply #23 on:** November 10, 2014, 04:55:24 PM »

Sorry for your loss Gordon...it was a spectacular ship.....mebbe you wouldnt have needed this shoulder surgery were it not for the pull of this plane!

Paul Walker · « **Reply #24 on:** November 10, 2014, 09:43:00 PM »

Sorry to hear about that Gordon. Is that the one I flew a few years ago? Sure was a nice flying plane.

Gordan Delaney · « **Reply #25 on:** November 11, 2014, 08:05:44 AM »

Hi Paul, Yes, it was the same plane. It was flying better than before.I cut the lead out slider so I could move them further forward it got rid of some of the line tension.

Thanks

Gordy

John Leidle · « **Reply #26 on:** November 11, 2014, 11:47:43 PM »

Good luck Gordon .
John Leidle

55chevr · « **Reply #27 on:** November 23, 2014, 07:32:34 AM »

With my extensive experience in crashing and repairing model planes, I think I could have that flying the next day. To restore the finish is another matter.

Randy Powell · « **Reply #28 on:** November 23, 2014, 03:39:15 PM »

Well, that sucks. I loved that plane. Hope your shoulder is better Gordy.