Author Topic: Brodak Kits Announced (Read 9458 times)

Balsa Butcher · « **on:** December 06, 2010, 05:00:27 PM »

Opened up this month's Flying Models Magazine and saw that Brodak is advertising the release of the Bearcat, Blue Angel, and full bodied Corsair.

. I heard the release date was going to be around the end of the year and it appears that they are right on time.

EddyR · « **Reply #1 on:** December 06, 2010, 05:30:09 PM »

Brodak site shows this under classic
http://www.brodak.com/shop_productdetail.php?ProductID=8659
Ed

Balsa Butcher · « **Reply #2 on:** December 06, 2010, 05:51:11 PM »

Just checked the web site, thanks Ed - says Bearcat in stock, others coming soon. Still, a print add announcing all as being released is a good sign for WWII and classic stunt fans.

Jim Oliver · « **Reply #3 on:** December 06, 2010, 07:32:45 PM »

Good candidates for War Bird Stunt at the Clanton, AL contest!!

wwwarbird · « **Reply #4 on:** December 06, 2010, 09:35:22 PM »

Neato!

Glenn (Gravitywell) Reach · « **Reply #5 on:** December 07, 2010, 01:04:12 AM »

Is the Bearcat full fuse or profile? The photo is full fuse but the description says machined fuselage.

Richard Grogan · « **Reply #6 on:** December 07, 2010, 02:12:38 AM »

Quote from: Glenn (Gravitywell) Reach on December 07, 2010, 01:04:12 AM

Is the Bearcat full fuse or profile? The photo is full fuse but the description says machined fuselage.

G-Well, This is the long anticipated full fuse version.(Pat Johnston)

They apparently have not finished the ad, as the needed accessory list isn't in there yet. The description is rather generic though, it was used for the other full fuse offering also. This is going to be a good one!

Glenn (Gravitywell) Reach · « **Reply #7 on:** December 07, 2010, 10:22:11 AM »

Hi Richard.....If its the full fuse version (and I have no reason to doubt you! LOL) then I am saving my xmas (can I still say that?) money for her. I already have the Spitfire and she's a beauty, the F*F should be as well. Somebody hurry up and buy one and start a building thread!

Balsa Butcher · « **Reply #8 on:** December 07, 2010, 11:30:26 AM »

I'm thinking the machined fuselage may refer to the fuselage sides which are may be band-sawed (machined?) as they may be too long to cut with a lazar cutter. Brodak may want to educate the person who writes their add copy though as in the magazine add the Bearcat is referred to as "The first real fighter,...". Ohhhhh K.

EddyR · « **Reply #9 on:** December 07, 2010, 02:41:21 PM »

Here is the link to the Bearcat.

Is this the Pat Johnson model?

It is not much larger than a Nobler

Ed
http://www.brodak.com/shop_productdetail.php?ProductID=8112

Balsa Butcher · « **Reply #10 on:** December 07, 2010, 02:59:03 PM »

My understanding is that the Bearcat is the smaller Pat Johnston design. The original profile Corsair (not kitted) was also. I don't know if the current full-bodied Corsair is a Pat Johnston design or not.

Richard Grogan · « **Reply #11 on:** December 07, 2010, 03:52:13 PM »

Quote from: Pete Cunha on December 07, 2010, 02:59:03 PM

My understanding is that the Bearcat is the smaller Pat Johnston design. The original profile Corsair (not kitted) was also. I don't know if the current full-bodied Corsair is a Pat Johnston design or not.

Pat told me this started out as a profile for John Brodak. John changed his mind after Pat had drawn them for him, and decided that he wanted a full fuse version instead..I have both plans and 2 sets of ribs, with the (built-up)profile one about 60% finished. They share the same wing.(562sq) has 2"dihedral to compensate for CL/low wing position. Designed for the Brodak 40, but I think a .46 would be a better choice for the full fuse version.I doubt we will ever see the profile version kitted.And yes Pete, it is the smaller version of Pat's big cats. As mentioned earlier, this new kit has a nice price for what you get. When I get some dough, I want to get this one!

edit: I just noticed they added the supply list and the scratch builder's list to the ad. They did a really nice job on the canopy, or at least the picture here shows a nice one: http://www.brodak.com/shop_productdetail.php?ProductID=8336
I am getting really excited about this one! (bearcat nut!)

Randy Powell · « **Reply #12 on:** December 07, 2010, 03:54:53 PM »

Pat designs nice planes and his warbird series is particularly cool.

I just wish he'd finish the full fuse Spitfire he's had under construction for the past, what? Three years? All tha moving and getting married stuff is getting in the way.

wwwarbird · « **Reply #13 on:** December 07, 2010, 10:06:32 PM »

I just wonder when the Corsair will actually be in stock and available. It's been "Coming Soon" for what, like two or three years???

Douglas Ames · « **Reply #14 on:** December 07, 2010, 11:22:47 PM »

Quote from: wwwarbird on December 07, 2010, 10:06:32 PM

I just wonder when the Corsair will actually be in stock and available. It's been "Coming Soon" for what, like two or three years???

Took the words right out of my mouth, ...err off my keyboard. I'll believe it when I see it.

dennis lipsett · « **Reply #15 on:** December 08, 2010, 07:21:06 AM »

Quote from: Douglas Ames on December 07, 2010, 11:22:47 PM

Took the words right out of my mouth, ...err off my keyboard. I'll believe it when I see it.

Oh I don't know, the Bearcat was anticipated for just as long a period. Takes time when you change your mind and redesign a model. Then you have to build a prototype. My only complaint with the Bearcat is the wing is a letdown. Itdoesn't complete the illusion of a Bearcat. The Corsair will also be somewhat off for me if it is the same as the profile. Leadout wires sure have a habit of ruining the appearance of a gull wing model.
dennis

Douglas Ames · « **Reply #16 on:** December 08, 2010, 09:00:43 AM »

Quote from: dennis lipsett on December 08, 2010, 07:21:06 AM

Oh I don't know, the Bearcat was anticipated for just as long a period. Takes time when you change your mind and redesign a model. Then you have to build a prototype. My only complaint with the Bearcat is the wing is a letdown. Itdoesn't complete the illusion of a Bearcat. The Corsair will also be somewhat off for me if it is the same as the profile. Leadout wires sure have a habit of ruining the appearance of a gull wing model.
dennis

There's a big difference between posting "Coming soon" with a part# and price for almost 3 yrs. and "Under development" (What Brodak should have done)
If the leadouts are IN the wing (most likely) the asthetics shouldn't suffer. Look forward to a nice semi-scale Corsair!

Jim Oliver · « **Reply #17 on:** December 08, 2010, 09:34:14 AM »

I was told, during a recent phone conversation with an undisclosed source at Brodak's, that the plan is to have the Corsair and Bearcat ready to ship before Christmas (this year!). Good to see that they have the Bearcat ready.....

The Bearcat fuse looks too long in the nose (for balance, I suppose), and the wing looks to be too high aspect ratio for the Bearcat design. However, it won't be mistaken for a Nobler or whatever......and Stunt ain't a scale event anyway....

Jim

Balsa Butcher · « **Reply #18 on:** December 08, 2010, 09:40:34 AM »

I'm just disappointed I didn't order a Bearcat the first day when they were listed for $109 on the web site. Second day, price went up to a (still reasonable) $129.00. Oh well, you snooze, you loose.

wwwarbird · « **Reply #19 on:** December 08, 2010, 06:45:21 PM »

Quote from: Douglas Ames on December 08, 2010, 09:00:43 AM

There's a big difference between posting "Coming soon" with a part# and price for almost 3 yrs. and "Under development" (What Brodak should have done)

Exactly. I'm definitely not trying to bash Brodak here, I really do appreciate their commitment to us, but c'mon with the teasing.

Dennis Moritz · « **Reply #20 on:** December 08, 2010, 07:21:15 PM »

I've seen built prototypes of the Blue Angel and Corsair kits. They were given to the builder in order to check fit of parts, alignment and so forth. Since John laser cuts in-house, it seems to me that any improvements necessary can be programmed in efficiently. Planes looked ready to fly. I believe the builder said there were no construction issues.

Bob Reeves · « **Reply #21 on:** December 09, 2010, 06:41:50 AM »

Getting a quality kit from drawing to ready for prime time isn't as easy as some think. I'm on the 3rd prototype build for a project I can't talk about yet and still finding small things that would make it easier for the builder and fit adjustments. Just shooting and editing photos for the instruction manual is very time consuming plus making revisions to the plans.

I am handling everything on this project from plans to prototype and instruction manual. Pretty easy for me to make changes and it's still taken me months to get this far. Can imagine if you have 3 or 4 people one working on the plans, one building etc. how much time it could add to the project. Anybody can send a set of plans to a laser cutter and say I now have a kit but to do it right takes much more planning, prototyping and care.

The kits referred to in this thread were probably announced too early and would guess it was an honest assumption of when they would be released. I would rather wait for something that had the time taken to make it right than something that was less than ready for prime time. I've purchased 3 kits that were obviously rushed to market and got chastised for reporting my honest evaluation... None of them were Brodak kits....

Pat Johnston · « **Reply #22 on:** December 09, 2010, 10:52:42 AM »

The Brodak Bearcat was a reduced model of my large Bearcat II. That was a 700+ incher for 60's. The whole series for Brodak is slated to be in the 560 inch range. This Bearcat is intended to provide the flavor of the Bearcat without being a scale model. Many people actually prefered it over other scale like versions. The nose is longer to get the CG to work out well. An LA46 is a perfect engine for all this series.
The Corsair is actually a little more scale-like, yet still very competitive if built with good wood selection. John Brodak's prototypes are coming out in the sub 40 ounce range, so that is amazing for this type of model. The Corsair wing's dihedral angles have been shallowed up to allow the leadouts to run through the wing and not hit the internal parts. Once again, the flavor is there, without demanding it to be actually a scale plane. Gerald Shamp has my Profile Corsair, which he loves to fly. One consideration is that heavy winds will tip the outboard wing up when the plane is directly upwind. People need to know that this sort of plane will not be a stromy wind flyer, but is a very fun, high performing plane in reasonable weather.
There is a Spitfire and Mustang out in this series, along with a FW 190 on the drawing board right now. That should be a cutie, too. The FW 190 is a fairly slender plane for a radial engine design. Another fun one...
Pat Johnston
Mad Design Studio
Skunk Works

dennis lipsett · « **Reply #23 on:** December 09, 2010, 11:30:08 AM »

Watch your door when you order one of these. I ordered on Tuesday and it's here already.
Dennis

Steve Scott · « **Reply #24 on:** December 09, 2010, 06:43:21 PM »

Way cool! Now, where do I find a long nose Fox .59 stunt???

wwwarbird · « **Reply #25 on:** December 09, 2010, 11:23:42 PM »

Quote from: Steve Scott on December 09, 2010, 06:43:21 PM

Way cool! Now, where do I find a long nose Fox .59 stunt???

Steve,

They show up on Ebay every so often. Just make sure you have a big fat pile of cash ready to vaporize from your Paypal account.

Bob,

I agree, and you're exactly right with your points mentioned above. I'd rather wait for the quality too, as I would hope most here would. Brodak simply announced the Corsair way too soon is all.

Douglas Ames · « **Reply #26 on:** December 09, 2010, 11:45:38 PM »

Quote from: Pat Johnston on December 09, 2010, 10:52:42 AM

<snip> The Corsair is actually a little more scale-like, yet still very competitive if built with good wood selection. John Brodak's prototypes are coming out in the sub 40 ounce range, so that is amazing for this type of model. The Corsair wing's dihedral angles have been shallowed up to allow the leadouts to run through the wing and not hit the internal parts. Once again, the flavor is there, without demanding it to be actually a scale plane. Gerald Shamp has my Profile Corsair, which he loves to fly. One consideration is that heavy winds will tip the outboard wing up when the plane is directly upwind. People need to know that this sort of plane will not be a stromy wind flyer, but is a very fun, high performing plane in reasonable weather. <snip>
Pat Johnston
Mad Design Studio
Skunk Works

What are the specs. on the Corsair?
Al Rabe proved that dihedral isn't a detriment to a C/L model and I believe he uses excess tip weight to increase line tension and keep it stable in the wind. (Correct me if I'm wrong on this)
I would think the verticle CG would be critical with the anhedral/ dihedral of a Corsair too.

Pat Johnston · « **Reply #27 on:** December 10, 2010, 04:59:32 AM »

Doug,
The Corsair is 561 squares, 55" span, and a target weight in the 40-45 ounce range. The wingtips are indeed lined up with the vertical CG. The fuselage is about 5.5" tall in the nose just behind the engine, while it is 5" wide at the front in the plan view. (Hope that allows enough room for a tank)! The TVC is .460 and the wing has no flaps. Make no mistake, this creates a plane with terrific stability and an incredible corner. That is because the elevator does not have to overcome the lifting component of the flaps. The airfoil is the same as my Brodak Shark 402 which is very efficient. Building the Corsair without flaps makes it much more builder friendly. installing flaps would turn into a nightmare with the wing configuration. The result is a wonderful flying plane with amazing looks. Possibly one of the most scale appearing planes I have done. I also have drawn up an iteration of the Goodyear Corsair with the bubble canopy.
Pat Johnston
Ever Designing
Skunk Works

wwwarbird · « **Reply #28 on:** December 11, 2010, 06:39:09 PM »

Where can we see some good pics of a prototype or something? Maybe a peek at the plans too?

Bill Little · « **Reply #29 on:** December 11, 2010, 07:28:50 PM »

Quote from: dennis lipsett on December 09, 2010, 11:30:08 AM

Watch your door when you order one of these. I ordered on Tuesday and it's here already.
Dennis

Ok, Dennis, which ONE?

dennis lipsett · « **Reply #30 on:** December 12, 2010, 07:54:31 AM »

Quote from: Bill Little on December 11, 2010, 07:28:50 PM

Ok, Dennis, which ONE?

Bill,
When you live as close to Brodaks as I do anything will get to your door pronto.Still his customer service is next to none and I'm sure that my remark is true for anyone who orders from them that they have fast service.
Dennis

Bill Little · « **Reply #31 on:** December 12, 2010, 09:36:07 AM »

Quote from: dennis lipsett on December 12, 2010, 07:54:31 AM

Bill,
When you live as close to Brodaks as I do anything will get to your door pronto.Still his customer service is next to none and I'm sure that my remark is true for anyone who orders from them that they have fast service.
Dennis

HAHAHAHA!!!!!!!! There are three different models referred to in the original post. You said you ordered "ONE" and it arrived in like two days. Has nothing to do with John's service, which is legendary. I didn't go back and search which ONE is currently available as the polite courtesy is to ID what you are talking about.

But you never identified WHICH "one" of the three......................

Pat Johnston · « **Reply #32 on:** December 13, 2010, 12:15:39 PM »

Here is a shot of my Profile Corsair just before first flights.
Pat Johnston
Dang! Can't figure how to post a photo! Any help?

Bill Little · « **Reply #33 on:** December 13, 2010, 12:40:34 PM »

Quote from: Pat Johnston on December 13, 2010, 12:15:39 PM

Here is a shot of my Profile Corsair just before first flights.
Pat Johnston
Dang! Can't figure how to post a photo! Any help?

Click on "Additional Options" just to the left under the message window. Before the

"shortcuts: hit alt+s to submit/post or alt+p to preview"

Balsa Butcher · « **Reply #34 on:** December 13, 2010, 06:20:07 PM »

There is a picture of the full-bodied Corsair in this month's "Flying Models" magazine. That is the only pic I have seen of it. If you like Corsairs, you will like this kit!

dennis lipsett · « **Reply #35 on:** December 13, 2010, 06:54:23 PM »

Quote from: Bill Little on December 12, 2010, 09:36:07 AM

HAHAHAHA!!!!!!!! There are three different models referred to in the original post. You said you ordered "ONE" and it arrived in like two days. Has nothing to do with John's service, which is legendary. I didn't go back and search which ONE is currently available as the polite courtesy is to ID what you are talking about.

But you never identified WHICH "one" of the three......................

Bill, Your correct,
I should have said which one,however in my defense it really didn't matter which one as they all would have got here in 2 days. :-)

wwwarbird · « **Reply #36 on:** December 13, 2010, 09:35:37 PM »

So which one did you get Dennis?

dennis lipsett · « **Reply #37 on:** December 14, 2010, 07:22:54 AM »

Quote from: wwwarbird on December 13, 2010, 09:35:37 PM

So which one did you get Dennis?

The bearcat

It's the only one of the new kits announced that is available at this time.
Dennis

Tom Rounds · « **Reply #38 on:** December 14, 2010, 05:21:28 PM »

Just ordered my Bearcat! Freight only 9.99 to Florida, cant beat that.
I need another kit like you guys up north need more snow!

proparc · « **Reply #39 on:** December 14, 2010, 05:24:47 PM »

I may be going out on a limb here but, I think this Brodak Bearcat kit may become one of the hottest selling Full fuselage CL kits since the Nobler.

Pat Johnston · « **Reply #40 on:** December 15, 2010, 07:34:35 AM »

One more time. When I hit "Alt S", the message sends automatically.
I have it! I think I am on a roll. I converted a set of PDF files to provide gazing stock of the Corsair plans.
Here it goes!
Pat

Pat Johnston · « **Reply #41 on:** December 15, 2010, 07:35:54 AM »

I guess it is just one at a time. Let's try the fuselage view

Pat Johnston · « **Reply #42 on:** December 15, 2010, 07:38:30 AM »

So far, so good. Now lets see it it will take a photo. Profile Corsair.
For the above attachments, just double click on them and the plans should be viewable. This is nice for those who do not have ACAD on their computers.
Pat

afml · « **Reply #43 on:** December 15, 2010, 07:46:02 AM »

You did it!!!

GREAT looking Corsair!
Are these the plans that the Brodak kits will be based on??

"Tight Lines!"

Wes

john e. holliday · « **Reply #44 on:** December 15, 2010, 08:08:57 AM »

I need another kit like you guys up north need more snow!
[/quote]

Just like kits. We can always use more snow. Dad Always stated that the deeper the snow and the more of it, the better the crops. Of course city people don't think about such stuff.

Pat, those plans make me want to order a kit.

Bill Heher · « **Reply #45 on:** December 15, 2010, 08:25:38 AM »

Hey Doc-

Deep snow = good ground moisture level = good crops, minus bugs, hail, drought.

Deep snow + fast warm spring thaw + a little rain = big floods where I'm from- you've seen it on the news- Grand Forks and Fargo ND. They get clobbered about every 5-10 years when Old Man Winter and Mother Nature have a spring fling!

I learned to store my kits on high shelves, hopefully on the 2nd floor- basements are prone to high water levels!

Douglas Ames · « **Reply #46 on:** December 15, 2010, 08:37:09 AM »

Very nice!! Look forward to it.

Jim Oliver · « **Reply #47 on:** December 15, 2010, 12:56:30 PM »

Pat, you gotta stop this madness!!! (I have to blame it on somebody......)

I don't need any more kits---got the Bearcat today and now I see the plans for the Corsair......
Well, maybe I can get just one more.

Thanks for your work.

Jim

Tom Rounds · « **Reply #48 on:** December 15, 2010, 02:08:34 PM »

Just got home and got an email from Brodak, " Out of Bearcats until after Christmas or the first of the year". "Waiting on Wood"
Oh well.

Gerald Schamp · « **Reply #49 on:** December 15, 2010, 05:39:13 PM »

Hi, Gerald Schamp here, and I do have the Proto profile Corsair that Pat Johnston built. It flies really well, especially for a plane this size without flaps. I changed power plants from the orginal LA .46 to a Saito .40 four stroke with Pat's carb mods. Engine just loafs along with this plane. I have not had the opportunity to try it in the wind, as Pat has cautioned about that. Although at our Salem, Oregon flying site, one can get almost any kind of air at any time. Having said this, I have not had any problems with line tension or anything. What I have learned with this plane, if it does something funny on the end of the lines let it fly and don't try to over compensate, it will motor on through. Landings are really tough, when the engine dies, just let the plane land, its a really nice two wheel landing and roll out, just like the real thing. Now if I could just figure out how to build one of Al Rabe's torsion landing gear for it, that would be really cool.