Author Topic: I Beam wing construction video (Read 9430 times)

Clay Schmidt · « **on:** April 19, 2006, 10:16:34 PM »

Can anyone tell me where I can purchase the video/DVD "How to Build I Beam wings with Bill Werwage"? I understand it was produced by Bob Hunt and sold through Robin's View at one time.

Clay

Bill Little · « **Reply #1 on:** April 20, 2006, 10:37:12 PM »

Yes, Robin's View Productions is still up and running.

Aaron (my son) built his first "big time" stunter (an Ares) while running the video back and forth in the basement! Just about wore th evideo out.

He ended up winning Intermediate Classic at Brodak's with it.

Clay Schmidt · « **Reply #2 on:** April 21, 2006, 10:33:07 PM »

Thanks, I've got the video on the way.

I just got a Cobra short kit in the mail from Brodak. I've never built a I-Beamer before and I sure want to do this project justice. Brodak did a wonderful job with the laser cutting and wood selection.

Clay

Jay · « **Reply #3 on:** April 21, 2006, 10:43:09 PM »

Tell us more about this Cobra kit. You say it's from Brodak, but there is nothing on his site about this kit. Is it new?

Jay Williams

Clay Schmidt · « **Reply #4 on:** April 21, 2006, 11:27:33 PM »

Hi Jay,

Well, I emailed Walter Umland about the Cobra and he told me he sold his entire kit line to John Brodak and advised me to contact him. I emailed John and he said he'd wip one out for me. 3 weeks later and 89.95 + shipping I had the kit. I am most pleased with the service I got from Brodak. I really wasn't expecting such a fast response.

Clay

Jay · « **Reply #5 on:** April 23, 2006, 04:53:31 PM »

What come in a short kit? Are the parts laser cut? How are the plans? Can you post a picture?
Thanks

Jay

Clay Schmidt · « **Reply #6 on:** April 23, 2006, 08:51:20 PM »

Jay,

The plans come on 3 sheets and are drawn up with CAD. The first sheet details the fuselage and stab. The second details the wing. The third details all the part patterns.

The kit is laser cut. There is no block or stick stock. There is no hardware or any instructions other than what is mentioned on the plans.

Clay

Bill Little · « **Reply #7 on:** April 23, 2006, 09:19:55 PM »

Quote from: Clay Schmidt on April 23, 2006, 08:51:20 PM

Jay,

The plans come on 3 sheets and are drawn up with CAD. The first sheet details the fuselage and stab. The second details the wing. The third details all the part patterns.

The kit is laser cut. There is no block or stick stock. There is no hardware or any instructions other than what is mentioned on the plans.

Clay

If it's your first I-Beam, get the video!

Clay Schmidt · « **Reply #8 on:** April 24, 2006, 05:25:17 AM »

Yep, the video is on the way. I just got another nice surprise this morning. Walter Umland emailed me a set of building instructions for the Cobra. Thanks Walter you are a classy guy!

Now it's off to KC for 2 days of meetings.

Clay Schmidt

Jay · « **Reply #9 on:** April 24, 2006, 12:35:55 PM »

Keep us up to date on your build. Not sure if you do what I do.... Buy a kit and let the wood dry out for a year or two. That's what Johnny says I do anyway. It really sounds interesting about the Cobra kit. Also it looks like Brodak might be offering all of Walter's kits that he bought out. I built an Umland Super Duper Zilch and the kit was great. I also have his All American Sr the I won in a door prize.
Good luck with your build.

Jay

Clay Schmidt · « **Reply #10 on:** April 26, 2006, 11:50:45 AM »

I certainly will Jay. The Cobra will be next winters building project. I haven't decided about power yet so any suggestions are welcome for a rock solid setup. I'm considering a Aerotiger .36 or maybe a PA.40 lite with a header muffler setup. I want to keep the front end as clean looking as possible.

Clay

Tom Dugan · « **Reply #11 on:** April 26, 2006, 01:06:29 PM »

What is the website address for the I Beam video?

Clay Schmidt · « **Reply #12 on:** April 26, 2006, 01:36:34 PM »

This where I ordered mine:

http://www.airbornemedia.com/home-main.htm

Clay

Jay · « **Reply #13 on:** August 23, 2006, 07:50:59 AM »

Quote from: Clay Schmidt on April 21, 2006, 11:27:33 PM

Hi Jay,

Well, I emailed Walter Umland about the Cobra and he told me he sold his entire kit line to John Brodak and advised me to contact him. I emailed John and he said he'd whip one out for me. 3 weeks later and 89.95 + shipping I had the kit. I am most pleased with the service I got from Brodak. I really wasn't expecting such a fast response.

Clay

I called Brodak asking about the kit and they had no idea what I was talking about. Do you have the item number for the Cobra kit? If so post it here so some of the other guys can get one.
Thanks
Jay

Bill Little · « **Reply #14 on:** August 23, 2006, 07:54:23 AM »

Quote from: Jay Williams on August 23, 2006, 07:50:59 AM

I called Brodak asking about the kit and they had no idea what I was talking about. Do you have the item number for the Cobra kit? If so post it here so some of the other guys can get one.
Thanks
Jay

Jay,

Talk to John, personally. He can get it for you if it is available.

Bill <><

Tom Dugan · « **Reply #15 on:** August 23, 2006, 09:06:28 AM »

Jay,

Let us know what you had to do to order one, I want one too. John may be more receptive to making 2 than just one.

Thomas

Ironbomb · « **Reply #16 on:** August 23, 2006, 12:47:35 PM »

Quote from: TJDNC on August 23, 2006, 09:06:28 AM

Jay,

Let us know what you had to do to order one, I want one too. John may be more receptive to making 2 than just one.

Thomas

Make that three short kits, I have wanted to build one since the first time I ever saw one.

Jay, I think I found where I read about the short kit

Greg

Randy Powell · « **Reply #17 on:** August 23, 2006, 03:58:11 PM »

My Cobra was built from the Walter Umland kit. If it's anything like that, it will be good. Walter's kit was a killer.

Lyle Spiegel · « **Reply #18 on:** August 23, 2006, 05:26:50 PM »

How do the Cobra and Argus compare? and where Does Ares fitin the lineup? Which would be best choice for first I beamer? My real wish is to build a Ballerina- does anyone have the kit for that?

RC Storick · « **Reply #19 on:** August 23, 2006, 05:47:55 PM »

Any I beam wing is the easiest wing to build! While it may look complicated once you see how its done you wounder why you haven't built all your wings that way.

EddyR · « **Reply #20 on:** August 23, 2006, 05:57:33 PM »

Steve mentioned that the Argus was better for the old time patern. He built the Cobra to be used for the modern patern. A Cobra can be built for less thsn $15 from the best contest balsa so why buy a kit. As some others have said they are very easy to build. I have built 4 Cobras and most of them are ready to cover in less than two weeks.
Ed

Clay Schmidt · « **Reply #21 on:** August 23, 2006, 07:23:28 PM »

Hello Everyone,

Email John Brodak directly about the Cobra asit is not a regular production kit. I'm sure he'd be glad to take care your orders as he did mine.

Clay Schmidt

Leester · « **Reply #22 on:** August 23, 2006, 07:35:56 PM »

Sounds like John Brodak should announce a Stunt Hangar Exclusive cutting of the Cobra short kit. Have a sign up sheet with an order cut off date, I'll bet he makes more than three kits.

Tom Dugan · « **Reply #23 on:** August 23, 2006, 08:05:06 PM »

Through this forum I have sent an email to John Brodak about the availability of a Cobra short kit. I will keep those interested advised through this thread.

Thomas

UPDATE 1 Have not heard directly from John Brodak yet. I did talk to his office and they will pass the message on to him about the interest in the Cobra Short Kit. I will update again as soon as I get more information.

Bill Little · « **Reply #24 on:** August 24, 2006, 05:16:22 PM »

Quote from: Clay Schmidt on April 26, 2006, 11:50:45 AM

I certainly will Jay. The Cobra will be next winters building project. I haven't decided about power yet so any suggestions are welcome for a rock solid setup. I'm considering a Aerotiger .36 or maybe a PA.40 lite with a header muffler setup. I want to keep the front end as clean looking as possible.

Clay

HI Clay,

The Aero Tiger 36 is an excellent fit for the Cobra which was originally powered by a Fox 35 Stunt..

Bill <><

Bill Little · « **Reply #25 on:** August 24, 2006, 05:26:43 PM »

Quote from: Lbs on August 23, 2006, 05:26:50 PM

How do the Cobra and Argus compare? and where Does Ares fitin the lineup? Which would be best choice for first I beamer? My real wish is to build a Ballerina- does anyone have the kit for that?

The Cobra is around 55" wingspan, and is subsequently a little longer in the fuselage than the Argus. The "published" Argus was just under 50" WS.

The '59 Ares ia a 50" WS and carries a completely different airfoil than either of th eother two.

The Cobra and '59 Ares have an inherent better corner than the Argus, which is why Steve designed the Cobra. Steve actually built a different Argus to fly in the '60 World Championships with improvements to increase the corner.

The published Argus does some of the prettiest round manuevers you will ever see.

The only difference in buiolding either of them is that Steve used a "flat" leading edgfe stock while Billy used a more normal vertical LE. Otherwise they build th esame.

I have built an d flown all three. For the modern pattern (lots of squares!) the Cobra and '59 Ares will be ahead of the game. The Cobra, since it is bigger, can definitely use a stronger engine. An OS 46LA, ST 46, Aero Tiger 36, etc., would be good choices. We have flown the Argus wioth a Weber 32, Fox 35 (stock), L&J Fox 35, and Double Star 40.

In the Ares we have used an OS 32, Weber 32, and a square head Magnum 36, which was the best engine we used in it.

Bill <><

BTW, The Argus has minimal prop clearance in "stock" configuration.

Jay · « **Reply #26 on:** August 24, 2006, 06:25:10 PM »

Quote from: TJDNC on August 23, 2006, 08:05:06 PM

Through this forum I have sent an email to John Brodak about the availability of a Cobra short kit. I will keep those interested advised through this thread.

Thomas

UPDATE 1 Have not heard directly from John Brodak yet. I did talk to his office and they will pass the message on to him about the interest in the Cobra Short Kit. I will update again as soon as I get more information.

I did the same thing and got a second phone number for John. I forgot about making the call as they advised to wait an hour or so.

Jay

Tom Dugan · « **Reply #27 on:** August 24, 2006, 06:56:53 PM »

Jay,

That's great! One way or another we will get the current info on this kit.

Thomas

Clay Schmidt · « **Reply #28 on:** August 24, 2006, 09:53:34 PM »

Bill,

Thanks for the info about the Cobra and the other Wooley designs. I just think the Cobra is COOL and I look forward to building it later this winter.

My kit did not come with any written instructions. Walter Umland emailed me the instructions he supplied in his kit. So if anyone needs written instructions and Walter doesn't mind I'd be glad to send them to anyone who needs them.

Clay

Bill Little · « **Reply #29 on:** August 24, 2006, 10:08:09 PM »

Quote from: Clay Schmidt on August 24, 2006, 09:53:34 PM

Bill,

Thanks for the info about the Cobra and the other Wooley designs. I just think the Cobra is COOL and I look forward to building it later this winter.

My kit did not come with any written instructions. Walter Umland emailed me the instructions he supplied in his kit. So if anyone needs written instructions and Walter doesn't mind I'd be glad to send them to anyone who needs them.

Clay

Hi Clay,

The Cobra is wicked lookng, that's for sure! The Argus was voted the "Most Beautiful Model in the World" at the '60 WC. Steve also had a few other variations of the Cobra.

Billy Werwage had the Ares, and there were a couple versions of it. The '59 was so designated later. Ambroid bought the rights to kit the Ares, but didn't do something that they had agreed to, so Billy sent them the '58 version. He won the Walker Trophy as a Senior with the Ares in '59. He had modified the airfoil and rudder/fin.

He also built what is called the '62 Ares now. It is a pretty different airplane from the earlier Ares, with a thicker airfoil and bigger. He could not power the "'62" Ares like he wanted to, so he didn't use it much. The Super Ares was next and it is a pretty big plane as far as Classic planes go. It needs a ST 46, ST G51, or similar engine.

Billy's "ultimate I-Beamer" would probably be his USA-1 which he won the NATS and two World Championships with. A LARGE airplane. It served as the basis for his Junar and Geo XL where he basically used the USA-1 wing.

Can you tell I love I-Beam planes?

Clay Schmidt · « **Reply #30 on:** August 24, 2006, 10:41:27 PM »

Yes sir. They are beautiful indeed.

Clay

Tom Dugan · « **Reply #31 on:** August 25, 2006, 02:51:46 PM »

Quote from: TJDNC on August 23, 2006, 08:05:06 PM

Through this forum I have sent an email to John Brodak about the availability of a Cobra short kit. I will keep those interested advised through this thread.

Thomas

UPDATE 1 Have not heard directly from John Brodak yet. I did talk to his office and they will pass the message on to him about the interest in the Cobra Short Kit. I will update again as soon as I get more information.

UPDATE 2 I received a call today from John Brodak which was left on my answering machine because I was at work. I returned the call and found that they are willing to make the "short" kit. I wont be able to get a price until I talk with Jan in the manufacturing section this Monday, 28 Aug. I will move this post into its own thread to make more aware of the availability of the Cobra short kit.