Author Topic: FAVORITE PLANES (Read 5951 times)

raby fink · « **on:** February 10, 2009, 04:10:11 AM »

I was wondering if yall could give me the names of some of your favorite profile (I'm not ready for full fuselage yet) planes that you have had in the past and now. I may be getting another one in the near future and hope yall can give me some testemonies of the planes you have had, and also how you think they did performing stunts. Please include engine size as well. We had ringmasters through the years and I hope to have one flying in a week. I also had a Twister but during a loop maneuver the lines went slack and then it was shovel city for it. If you have any info I would appreciate it.
Thanks
Raby

Joe Messinger · « **Reply #1 on:** February 10, 2009, 04:24:10 AM »

Brodak Cardinal. OS LA .46 with APC 12-4 prop. Sullivan 4 oz. clunk tank with muffler pressure.

Michael Floerchinger · « **Reply #2 on:** February 10, 2009, 06:44:59 AM »

I had several magicians with a Fox 35, I learned the full pattern with a Magician, got my first trophy with a Magician and the first “show quality finish” was on a Magician.

The most enjoyable and most fun profile to build and fly was a 38 Special with a Fox 35, I even competed with the plane, just to see if could be done and for the pure joy of flying. When I get back into the hobby my first plane to build will be a 38 Special.

Mike

Larrys4227 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 10, 2009, 07:50:12 AM »

Quote from: Michael Floerchinger on February 10, 2009, 06:44:59 AM

When I get back into the hobby my first plane to build will be a 38 Special.

Mike

I'm building a 38 Special now. Been getting alot of enjoyment out of the build!, and CAN'T WAIT to fly it! Here are the most up to date pictures of the build.
http://www.pbase.com/lakebiker/38special_build

Currently working on the tail feathers and should be ready to paint in the next week or two.

This has been a long project for me, but my first airplane build since I was a kid. Taking my time and enjoying every minute of it!!

FlySafe! Larry (Larrys4227)

Dalton Hammett · « **Reply #4 on:** February 10, 2009, 08:12:08 AM »

*****************************
Hello

I will have to agree with Michael,,, I have had the most fun with a Magiccian .35 ( 48"). I have had a number of them powered with a Fox .35, an ASP .32 and even a DS .40. My favorite and the first plane I have won anything with was the one with the .32. Also, the plane does not need flaps to fly well.

Good luck.....

Dalton H.

Bill Heher · « **Reply #5 on:** February 10, 2009, 09:30:41 AM »

The Carl Goldberg Shoestring , Buster and Cosmic Wind ( now kitted by Brodak) are all easy to build and make good sport / stunt trainers. The wings have a thicker airfoil than a Ringmaster for a bit more lift at lower airspeed = still able to fly well with a slower lap time. This is helpful when getting back into C/L or learning how to stunt.

Your Twister that suffered an early demise is also a good flying plane- do a search here for "Francherized Twister", this will give you info on some mods to the basic Twister that make it a more capable and friendy plane. You can find plans for all the above listed planes if you want to choose your own wood, etc instead of buing the kits.

The attached pics are of a Twister I am building using the Francher guidelines and a bit of extra wood to make it resemble a Mustang.

Garf · « **Reply #6 on:** February 10, 2009, 09:38:29 AM »

One of my favorites from earlier times is the Shoestring Stunter, now made by Brodak as the Shoestring Racer. It is a perfect match for the Fox Stunt.

Scott Hartford · « **Reply #7 on:** February 10, 2009, 09:39:40 AM »

Quote from: Joe Messinger on February 10, 2009, 04:24:10 AM

Brodak Cardinal. OS LA .46 with APC 12-4 prop. Sullivan 4 oz. clunk tank with muffler pressure.

While the other suggestions are all good, the above setup will fly better than most will admit. It will do anything you ask of it with ease, be extremely user-friendly, and is readily available. It is sometimes the benchmark against which other planes are measured. Ringmasters are cool too!

Roger Vizioli · « **Reply #8 on:** February 10, 2009, 09:42:29 AM »

Larry, Bill,
Both planes looking good.
Hope to see them both at our IRKS East Coast Fly In in April.
But, you know you can come over before that!

Roger

Bill Heher · « **Reply #9 on:** February 10, 2009, 10:19:36 AM »

Hi Roger- thanks for the compliment but the Twister won't make it to your field anytime soon- it is my Phoenix hotel build plane, currently in storage in my buddy's garage. I head back out there soon and will work on it some more, and the plans will definetly come home - even if the plane does not. I will surely bring the Queen Bee and the usual suspects ( Ringmaster, Shoestring, Acromaster) if I get to cruise over for your event- and if I'm in town I WILL be there.

Who knows - I may even get my Brodak Oriental done this year- if I find time to work on it.

Larrys4227 · « **Reply #10 on:** February 10, 2009, 10:33:48 AM »

Hey Roger - I am shooting to have the 38Special ready for your April Fly-In .... As long as I keep working alittle at a time. If not, then I'll bring my Streaks, and the Score (which is flying real good as of late).

I'll be there ... I've got it marked on the calendar!

FlySafe! Larry (Larrys4227)

mike hartung · « **Reply #11 on:** February 10, 2009, 01:30:37 PM »

I had a Sig Banshee with a Fox .35 that flew really well. But my current favorite is the Brodak P-40 with an OS LA .46. different strokes for different folks.

Paul Taylor · « **Reply #12 on:** February 10, 2009, 02:10:52 PM »

I still looking (and building). It is like a never ending search.

But my current Stunt Ride is a Tutor 2 with a LA .46. Goes where I point it, and for now it is all good.

Mark Scarborough · « **Reply #13 on:** February 10, 2009, 02:38:15 PM »

Brodak, (Pat Johnston) P-40 profile, LA 46, APC 12.25 x 3.75 prop, 3/4 to one inch of dihedral ( dont stress its easier to do than you can possibly imagine, there is a thread on here with pictures. Peice of cake, takes an hour to add to an ARF wing!)
great honest airplane, has won expert profile out here with exactly that combination,, uh well except it didnt have me on the handel!

SteveMoon · « **Reply #14 on:** February 10, 2009, 03:07:40 PM »

As far as profiles go, I've always liked the Bob Hunt designed
Prowler. Nice flying 25 - 35 size plane with flaps and a foam wing.

Steve

catdaddy · « **Reply #15 on:** February 10, 2009, 03:53:11 PM »

Quote from: SteveMoon on February 10, 2009, 03:07:40 PM

As far as profiles go, I've always liked the Bob Hunt designed
Prowler. Nice flying 25 - 35 size plane with flaps and a foam wing.

Steve

It's my favorite too!

james dean · « **Reply #16 on:** February 10, 2009, 04:46:25 PM »

Raby,

Here's a pic of my profile 52' Nobler. This design has been around along time and has a proven pedigree. Many examples of the profile Nobler have been seen at contests over the years and should have no trouble being accepted by the contest managment.

One of the cool things about the Nobler is that it can fly in Classic, Profile, and PA contests. With a decent paint scheme it looks pretty good and most certainly will make the pilot look good flying the pattern.

I did a tracing of a fullbody '52 from a kit and drew in the structure of the fuse. and used the rest of the plans to produce the other pieces as drawn. My design incorporated a built -up frame and sheeted fuse. (Read that as "A complicated Profile") but that was not neccesary. It did yield a very stiff and stable after fuse. and allows for little vibration or flexing from the flap line rearward.

The power trane is a OS .40 with an ACP 10.5 x 4.5, 4 0z. tank w/air-ram uniflow, Randy Smith tube muff.. You can also use a OS .46 with a 4.5 oz Tank, 11 x 4 ACP prop, and RS. tube muff. to give you a greater range in power and trim choices. These work great for me and I highly recommend this set up IMHO.

If you would like further details drop me an email.

Regards,

James Dean

Phil Coopy · « **Reply #17 on:** February 10, 2009, 05:16:25 PM »

I'm kinda partial to Fancherized Twisrers.

Phil

afml · « **Reply #18 on:** February 10, 2009, 05:48:27 PM »

Buccaneer 746P
"P" for profile!
Designed by Allen Brickhaus, featured in April 03' flying Models.
PP#50-53 Plan #CD194
Watt Moore built one too.
Mine went through several motor changes.
All flew the plane very well!

Started with a ST46, to a TT 46 Pro, and for the last ?? years, Magnum 53.
Even flew it in Advanced at the Nats when the wind was so so bad.
Held right out there through the entire pattern every time.

"Tight lines!"
Wes

Andrew Hathaway · « **Reply #19 on:** February 10, 2009, 06:26:45 PM »

It's a bit hard to choose just one... But I really like Flite Streaks... Something about that mean tail just grabs my imagination. My preference is for the original TF kit version. The ARF flies fine but the fuselage is a glass jaw, it just breaks too easily. It's easy enough to build from plans. It really responds to a few modern improvements. A slightly longer nose and a stretch in the back makes it easier to fit a 4oz tank, and improves the flying characteristics. Slower controls make the Streak easier to fly.

The Sig Skyray 35 would probably be my next recommendation. The kit falls together very quickly. The plywood wing ribs tend to be heavy and introduce various undesirable side effects, but even built with all the kit parts, to the plans results in a really decent profile sport plane with enough capability to do OK in stunt. The design responds really well to having the plywood ribs replaced with balsa, and substitute full ribs for the half ribs. I also add fixed flaps to the trailing edge of the wing. Plans show fairly fast controls, moving the pushrod to the inside hole in the bellcrank makes the plane easier to fly.

If you want to step up to a flapped plane, Sig's Twister and Banshee are good planes too. The Banshee looks a little funny, but just changing the tail and shortening the nose can give it a completely different look. The Twister is more popular, and easy modifications can easily be found on the forums which make it a really competitive plane. The pro's and con's of both planes when compared to each other works out to almost a wash. The Twister comes with light ply fuselage doubles that should really be replaced with 5-ply birch, and the flat wingtips are a bit unfinished. The Banshee comes with real ply doublers, and wingtips, but can look funny and doesn't have quite the fan base. Truth told the Fancher modifications can be applied to both planes with similar results. Both are easy to build and fly well.

Regardless what you choose to build, you can't really go wrong.

afml · « **Reply #20 on:** February 12, 2009, 04:30:24 PM »

If looking for a smaller plane,

Try a "Super Clown", or "Tomahawk" with an OS FP 25 or similar motor.

Slightly larger planes would be the original "Tutor",
or even larger, the lastest ARF "Tutor".

"Tight lines!"
Wes

Russell Shaffer · « **Reply #21 on:** February 12, 2009, 06:59:52 PM »

Scratch built Flite Streaks.