Author Topic: Lost another one .... F.F. RIP (Read 1890 times)

Scott Richlen · « **on:** June 30, 2020, 06:58:39 AM »

A winner at Brodaks back in 2000 and 2001 (1st in Adv Profile and then 3rd in Exp Profile) my Fixed Fazer has finally gone out in glory.

Sometime back in the last century, having acquired a SIG Fazer kit (designed for RC) I took on the challenge of modifying it for control line stunt. By the time I was done, every dimension of the initial RC design had been changed. And it came out a winner.

I flew it for many years and it always gave me its best.

It then passed through multiple hands in our club. I found this picture of one of subsequent owners, John L.. holding it in its pristine glory. He took it to the Nats multiple times to fly in Intermediate.

It was then flown by others including John M. and finally by Peter.

Like the thoroughbred that it was, it didn't end up gathering dust hanging "on the (water) pipe" in someone's basement. Instead it continued contest campaigning. Last weekend, practicing for its next contest, it caught the wrong gust of wind and went out in glory!

No tears for this one! The worst thing that can be done to a stunt ship is to let it languish, gathering dust and balsa termites in a basement or attic. A true champion deserves to go out in glory!

RIP Fixed Fazer.

John Lindberg · « **Reply #1 on:** June 30, 2020, 07:24:16 AM »

That's sad! Took that plane to the Nats in 2006, when I could still move around, sorta!

Peter in Fairfax, VA · « **Reply #2 on:** June 30, 2020, 07:34:06 AM »

Served me well.

Steve Fitton · « **Reply #3 on:** June 30, 2020, 07:52:06 AM »

Mail it to Artie from the Norfolk Aeromodelers. Artie can fix anything!

Ken Culbertson · « **Reply #4 on:** June 30, 2020, 09:50:26 AM »

Quote from: Steve Fitton on June 30, 2020, 07:52:06 AM

Mail it to Artie from the Norfolk Aeromodelers. Artie can fix anything!

Actually it doesn't look all that bad.

Ken

FLOYD CARTER · « **Reply #5 on:** June 30, 2020, 10:46:01 AM »

Anything can be fix........

Oh. It's a profile.

Never mind.

Scott Richlen · « **Reply #6 on:** June 30, 2020, 10:50:39 AM »

Quote

Actually it doesn't look all that bad.

Ken: Uhh, was that before or after?

Ken Culbertson · « **Reply #7 on:** June 30, 2020, 11:03:21 AM »

Quote from: Scott Richlen on June 30, 2020, 10:50:39 AM

Ken: Uhh, was that before or after?

Most definitely after.

The before says "Fly Me"

Ken

After looking at the pix again, you can do wonders with cf tubing.

But I don't see any way to not add weight so maybe a well deserved retirement is in order.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #8 on:** June 30, 2020, 12:56:19 PM »

Has the refinements been documented so some one can make another one? Too bad to see the demise of a winner.

Ken Culbertson · « **Reply #9 on:** June 30, 2020, 03:35:11 PM »

Quote from: john e. holliday on June 30, 2020, 12:56:19 PM

Has the refinements been documented so some one can make another one? Too bad to see the demise of a winner.

All but one of these had "trophies", The Endgame II was just a baby. All gone in under 3 minutes. You want to have a crash that lasts - have a fire!

Ken

Peter in Fairfax, VA · « **Reply #10 on:** June 30, 2020, 04:32:49 PM »

The Fazer was an interesting plane. As I understand it, the plans did offer both R/C and U/C versions, though Scott did take things further, I'm sure.

The plane was intended for R/C "Fun Fly," an event which often involves doing loops as quickly as possible, as I understand it. Low aspect ratio and thick airfoils are typical.

Compared the Fazer to a Brodak Cardinal. The Fazer wing is about 2-1/2" thick, where the Cardinal is about 2-1/8" at its thickest point.

Scott Richlen · « **Reply #11 on:** June 30, 2020, 05:04:14 PM »

Quote

Has the refinements been documented so some one can make another one?

Yes, I marked up a set of the Fazer plans as I built. I almost never build "per plan" and am famous (infamous?) in our club for getting out the white-out and marking up plans before I start building. The youngsters reading this probably don't know what white-out is or what it is used for.

I got the kit for really cheap since it said "for RC or CL". When I opened the box and looked at the plans I started laughing. The Fazer is for RC; and for CLers who don't know anything about what you need to have a good flying airplane. It had wonky moments, barn-door wings, flaps, stab, and tail with no taper. First thing I did was CA the rib punch-outs into place and recut all the ribs to give myself a tapered wing. And it went downhill from there. The guys gave me a hard time for wasting so much time building it ("you coulda built something really nice in the time you spent on that thing!"). But it was a self-made challenge ("build it with the balsa in the box") and in the end turned out pretty good with a long, long service life.

Dan McEntee · « **Reply #12 on:** June 30, 2020, 07:53:47 PM »

If it did that well in so many different hands, it is worth offering up some details, either here or an article in Stuntnews. I have a kit stashed away, and remember several of them flying at the SIG contest. It did fly fairly well as it was designed as a sport fun fly model,, but could be improved to a purpose built contest airplane. I would like to see some other photos that show the profile and such. You can't tell a whole lot looking straight down at the top of the airplane.
Type at you later,
Dan McEntee

Peter in Fairfax, VA · « **Reply #13 on:** June 30, 2020, 08:54:34 PM »

Dan,

There are a lot of photos of the plane, as I've been flying weekly this year and took photos to share with fellow club members. Most of my flying has been off a stooge. My visits to the field have been combo flying / maintenance. There are even a couple of videos that I entered in an online contest.

Peter

Peter in Fairfax, VA · « **Reply #14 on:** June 30, 2020, 08:57:17 PM »

Another pic

Peter in Fairfax, VA · « **Reply #15 on:** June 30, 2020, 08:59:09 PM »

Another pic

Peter in Fairfax, VA · « **Reply #16 on:** July 01, 2020, 10:28:09 AM »

Update: Compared the Fazer to a Brodak Cardinal. The Fazer wing is about 2-1/2" thick, where the Cardinal is about 2-1/8" at its thickest point.

john e. holliday · « **Reply #17 on:** July 01, 2020, 04:58:03 PM »

Back when I was using the twiddly sticks to fly I got a Fazor kit at whole sale. It was a different build and I leaned fast don't run it out of fuel unless low to the ground.

Scott Richlen · « **Reply #18 on:** July 02, 2020, 06:40:32 AM »

Here is the as-designed SIG Fazer. Compare it to my re-design in Peter's posting previously. Big difference!

Ken Culbertson · « **Reply #19 on:** July 02, 2020, 08:29:08 AM »

Quote from: Peter in Fairfax, VA on June 30, 2020, 08:59:09 PM

Another pic

Bit off thread but what is the genesis of that Evo-X in the picture? I really like it's lines. Looks like a "Bear" that went to a beauty parlor.

Ken

Peter in Fairfax, VA · « **Reply #20 on:** July 02, 2020, 12:53:59 PM »

The Evo-X belongs to another NVCL member. I think it was purchased from someone in the NY-NJ area.

Elwyn Aud · « **Reply #21 on:** July 18, 2020, 01:16:56 PM »

Brodak Fly-n '07 0r 8