Here comes the Judge!

[Bob Hunt]

I had quite a surprise when I looked at my email bin this morning. Robby Finestein had sent me a photo of the last remaining original Judge!

The Judge was designed by Gene Schaffer and two of them were built; one by Gene and one by Robby Finestein, who was Gene's protege. The year was 1967. Gene's met an untimely demise, but Robby's has been hanging in his home ever since. It's a little the worse for wear over the years. The wheel spats and needle nose spinner are gone and the stab is slightly dinged. Still it is more than intact enough to allow a set of plans to be drawn from it.

The Judge featured a Chipmunk wing that had the tips cut at an angle to allow for a 3-inch wide balsa block to form the swoopy wing tip shape.

The really good news is that Robby is going to lend me this ship long enough to draw some plans! I'm very excited about this one as I know it is a great performer. I actually flew Gene's original many times. Gene flew clockwise so I had to attach the down line of the model to the up line attach point of my handle and the up line of the model to the down line of the handle and then take off inverted. I flew the model just as if it were my own, but started everything from the inverted position in my mind. Confusing? Not as much as you might think. The key was to not look at the landing gear and concentrate on the spinner! I actually placed third in a local meet with the Judge. Of course I waived the appearance points! 

The Judge was originally powered by a Fox .35 without a muffler. Today I'd opt for an AeroTiger .36 with a tongue muffler. Will I build one? You bet! This model is distinctive and solid as a performer. A great choice for Classic Stunt. I will let everyone here know when I actually receive the model from Robby and also when the plans are complete.

Bob Hunt       

[peabody]

Bob...
Looks cool....I appreciate your efforts to preserve the good flying old designs!
A question: isn't the "Chipmonk" wing essentially a Nobler wing?
Thanks

[Dan McEntee]

Bob...
Looks cool....I appreciate your efforts to preserve the good flying old designs!
A question: isn't the "Chipmonk" wing essentially a Nobler wing?
Thanks

   No,the Chipmonk wing is vastly different. Larger and thicker. I think one of the Stlleto series used basically a Chipmonk wing. I have always like the basic planform and airfoil of the design, and scratch built several airplanes around it, as did many people over the eyars. Jack Sheeks published a few designs around it also. It is a good light wing that is easy to build straight and can carry extra weight well if the finish on the model gets a little heavy. The next one I do, I want to try Tom Morris' methods of construction on it to see how that turns out.
  Type at you later,
  Dan McEntee

[proparc]

The "Judge" is back!!  I can't believe it.  All this cool stuff from my misspent youth.  Although, the Judge that I remember was all orange. Hey, who cares; it's back. Bob, you're the man.

[Dwayne]

Here comes the judge!!!!

[proparc]

Bob
Gene had a twin rudder plane with shades of blue and red and swept forward wingtips at Flushing Meadows that was a killer flyer. I believe it was before the Stunt Machine. Do you remember that one?

[proparc]

Bob,
That is exactly the plane I saw Gene flying at Flushing Meadows.  I believe the prop was also painted to match accordingly.  I am starting to learn that the humble Chipmunk was behind a lot the planes at Flushing.  Gene performed some deadstick flying with the Oos amma? that was unbelievable.  We all sat down on the grass and watched in abject awe. 

What is so amazing is that the "cat" with the F-105 would go on to become the Nats AND Worlds Champion in quick succession.  Who would believe it!!  I've always looked upon the "Golden Period" of Flushing Meadows as starting with Bob "Championes" win in 1969 with his Sabre and culminating with your win in 1978 at the Worlds with the Genesis 46,(with the secret prop).  That has got to be one of the most incredible periods of Control Line Precision Aerobatics development in our sports history.

[Terry Bolin]

Refering to the first post by Bob at the top, That would be very confusing for me to have the plane going the right direction with the wheels on top (hand launch I guess) and when it came time to land, to be going the wrong direction with wheels donw! Just sounds confusing to me. Surprising the plane is still around after all these years.
Looks like a great ship though.
Terry Bolin

[john e. holliday]

Terry, you probably won't beleive this, but, I make better landings inverted after engine has quit at improper time than I do upright.  No landing gear to cause the plane to bounce.  DOC Holliday