A couple of videos, the IDS and the Rescue Nobler

[RknRusty]

A couple of years ago, 2013 I think, someone at Joe Nall abandoned a Nobler ARF. Dave Wenzel and Wayne Robinson looked it over and found it had its hinges epoxied together, the Monokote hadn't been removed to glue the wing to the fuse, and other unfortunate problems. Nobody wanted it. But Wayne found it in the bed of his truck while packing out on Saturday, so he brought it home. Later that summer, outfitted with new leadouts, hinges and properly reassembled he brought it out to our local flying field at Fort Jackson for some trim flights. We got it flying wings level and turning nice corners and back to the shop it went, put aside for more important projects. At the time, I was still flying profiles and trying to learn the Beginner pattern with my old Goldberg Shoestring.

Fast forward to this summer, and I'm flying an ARF Oriental, practicing for another shot at Intermediate. Wayne gave the Nobler to me for a backup plane, since I only had the one full fuse model other than the good ol' Magnum, but she's not up to the job of an everyday flyer. So I bolted an OS .35fp in it and tried it out. It drives like a truckload of potatoes compared to the Oriental, but some wider handle spacing and a half ounce of tail weight later, it's hauling pretty well at 43 ounces. The FP was overheating, but some extra cooling vents fixed it, and now it has a really sweet engine run, launching at about 10.9k rpm, with an APC 10.5x4.5 prop.

I took it out this weekend to practice with, and decide which plane is going to be my #1 and #2 backup. Wayne brought his Intermediate Death Star, or IDS. It's a cross design between a Ukey and a TEOSAWKI, with mostly TEO dimensions and moments, and a Gotcha Streak wing, with an LA46. We took the opportunity to get a couple of flying videos.

I've been working on shapes and intersections for so long now, and had finally gotten pretty consistent intersections and round equally spaced 8s, etc. and was so happy congratulating myself... but now that I started trying so hard to get my bottoms and pullouts down consistently to 5' high, I'm blowing my intersections and my loops are out of shape again. This PA practice never fails to remind me how much there is to a good pattern. Last week with the Oriental, I was thinking, "Yeah boy, this is starting to look closer to Advanced." Then, this week, trying to polish one little thing has once again cut me down to size. The wind shifted, so Wayne had to do some trotting with the camera to get the best perspective, but it turned out pretty good. I gotta say, it looked better from center circle than it does on the video, which never lies, and proves I'm still very much Intermediate. But this was my first day of serious practice with the Nobler, maybe I'll smooth it back out.
So here is the evidence:




Now here's a truly great profile plane, the IDS. Shown next to my Ukey for comparison. The same pic in another thread got some interest via e-mail and PMs, so I'll post it here again.




Rusty

[john e. holliday]

Well done.   The ARF Nobler does not like heavy engines.   

[RknRusty]

Well done.   The ARF Nobler does not like heavy engines.   

Thanks, Doc. No it doesn't, but since that picture was taken, I have put one of Eric Rule's tongue mufflers on it to lighten it a bit. And with the extra 1/2 oz. on the tail it's still well within good weight limits for a Nobler, about 43 oz.

It sure is in need of some beautification though. The canopy came loose so I cleaned it up, and I think I'm going to shoot the inside with some silver paint. And maybe put some striping on the wings. It'd be nice to be able to see it against the pine trees.
Rusty

[Tim Wescott]

The IDS looks good.

On getting your bottoms down:  this is just my opinion, but you should only be trying to get your bottoms down to five feet if they're at six feet or so.  Otherwise, just work on getting them down more than they are now, without messing up the rest of your pattern.

At least around here, even most of the Advanced guys are ground-shy.  I'd stick with keeping the shapes & intersections good while letting those bottoms creep down on their own.  Not only will you not otherwise mess up your pattern, but you'll crash less -- trying to get your bottoms to 5 feet when your pullouts are still sometimes 5 feet lower than you want can be bad for the finish.

Of course that's the exact strategy that I took, and now my bottoms tend to be too LOW, earning me gasps from the peanut gallery and snarky comments from the judges (but not, so far, scrapes on the plane).  If it ain't one thing, it's another.

[Steve Helmick]

Rusty, have you got shoulder problems? I ask, because I noticed that your flying arm is not aligned with the flying lines and pointing toward the model when you're flying level. I mention this because I found myself doing it earlier this year, when using a new set of lines. A neutral adjustment fixed it. What I was doing was (apparently) trying to get the model to fly lower in level flight. You don't want to subconsciously try to fix something and develop a bad habit...one that you'll eventually want to break yourself of.    Steve

[RknRusty]

Thanks for the input, Tim. I thought I was getting lower lately until Wayne told me I was hitting bottom at about 12'. I hadn't realized I was still that high. So this was the first day I've tried hard to get even lower. Wayne stood with his arms outstretched, which is about 5', he's a tall guy, and I zeroed in on that height for the rest of the day. I think like everybody, I just need practice.

Rusty, have you got shoulder problems? I ask, because I noticed that your flying arm is not aligned with the flying lines and pointing toward the model when you're flying level. I mention this because I found myself doing it earlier this year, when using a new set of lines. A neutral adjustment fixed it. What I was doing was (apparently) trying to get the model to fly lower in level flight. You don't want to subconsciously try to fix something and develop a bad habit...one that you'll eventually want to break yourself of.   Steve

Yes, Steve, my shoulders are eaten up with osteoarthritis and a torn rotator cuffs. To add insult to injury, the vertebrae in my neck(I learned today) aren't much more than a pile of garbage and compressing my spinal cord... worst when I look up, I stumble a bit in the OH8s, and it's hard to look back down quickly. Yeah, I'm a mess, but... I am a survivor and loving life. 29 years on dialysis is part of the bone loss.

All of this gives me a sense of urgency that maybe makes me to try and take on too much too fast. I flew Beginner in late 2013, won it in May '14, moved to Intermediate later in '14, and am still there. My modeling goal in life is to belong anywhere in Advanced, and I expect by then, I'll be about done. I sorely hope to hang in there that long. Sorry if that was TMI, but I've really been working on my flying posture. I was tired on my last flight Sunday in that video, so more slumped than when I started the day. Wayne has been on me to lift the arm as an extension of the lines, but I lose control when I try. Next time maybe I'll add a touch more down at the handle.
Rode hard Rusty

[Steve Helmick]

Rusty, like you, my neck is trash, after getting smashed in a rear-ender...arms numb, etc. And for the last 20 years, I've been gradually acquiring "peripheral neuropathy", so my feet are numb...plus they hurt like blazes.
I have a terrible time with a rough pilot's circle, and even a smooth/flat one isn't a cakewalk. But at least my left shoulder is the one that is buggered, and I'm right handed.

Anyway...trim those planes to not pull so much and hang in there as best you can. I'll do the same, and maybe we can fly together sometime in the future!  Steve

[Will Davis]

Rode hard Rusty

Well Rusty you have done it now, ..... you started out two years ago by showing up at 1/2 a day, you got tagged with the name " Rusty nail"

Then you improved more than any other flyer I have seen lately  and we just started calling you " Rusty "

You Resurrected a very used up nobler, built a couple nice stunters, practice, practice , practice , improved,  became good student of Wayne Robinson , won intermediate

And now you  are  "Rode Hard Rusty"

Good job my friend

[Randy Cuberly]

Hi Rusty,
Given your experience I'd say you're doing very well.  Just keep practicing the proper shapes...the bottoms will come eventually.  Watching the Nobler fly I noticed two things.  The corners look pretty sluggish which could be a nose heavy condition given the FP40 and the large muffler...I would reccommend even another half oz of weight in the tail even with the tongue muffler you say you have now.
If things start getting a little twitchy for you adjust the handle to a smaller spacing but keep the better response of the airplane.  You are using an adjustable spacing handle, Right?  If not, get one now!  Very necessary trim tool!

A Nobler needs good response and very free controls to perform precisely.

Also it seemed from watching that you were flying pretty fast.  I don't know your line length but I did get out the stop watch and time several laps and at the beginning of the flight your lap times were 4.5 seconds and near the end of the flight they were 4.2 seconds.  Really fast even for an expert trying to fly blazing corners.  I would reccommend you slow things down a bit to maybe about 5.1 second laps, by either running a bit richer or using a prop with about .5 inch less pitch or maybe a combination of both.  It will make things a lot easier especially when trying to learn the proper shapes and bottoms.  It may not sound like much but 1 second on the lap times makes a big difference in reaction time required.  Simply using longer lines might help but that depends somewhat on conditions and the airplane trim.

Doing great keep up the good work!

Randy Cuberly

[RknRusty]

Thanks guys. Steve, if I ever make it back to Seattle to visit my Sis in Law, I'll look you up for sure.
Will, you're a hoot. That's a great picture of me and two of my favorite flyers, both still are today. Nothing like a bladder-fed Tee Dee and a 6 oz. plane to make you grin!

You're being a little generous though. I haven't won Intermediate yet. Last October Shug and Dennis Lipsett edged me into third, and in May my own buddy Wayne took first. It was cool that we won first and second though. Brian Malin took third, so I'm still looking over my shoulder. I hope Shug is flying Advanced this time around. Lol

Randy, I should have timed it. I didn't realize I was slinging it around quite that fast. I need to get a pressure tap for the tongue muffler. I usually run pressure to hold it rich for longer into the flight. That 35fp will run a couple hundred rpm richer and still break 2 in the climbs. It's not as distinct as the break of the Oriental's 40fp. I'm on 61' lines, and I'd rather slow it down with engine or prop than length. I feel like I have better control that way. I actually have tossed a couple more weights into the flight box to try next time. I'm using a Tom Morris cable handle. I like those and use one for the Oriental too. When I first flew the Nobler I had to widen the lines, so with the added tail weight, I'll adjust accordingly. As well as consider Steve's advice in addressing my arm position while flying neutral.
Y'all take care,
Ride'n hard Rusty

[Randy Cuberly]

Randy, I should have timed it. I didn't realize I was slinging it around quite that fast. I need to get a pressure tap for the tongue muffler. I usually run pressure to hold it rich for longer into the flight. That 35fp will run a couple hundred rpm richer and still break 2 in the climbs. It's not as distinct as the break of the Oriental's 40fp. I'm on 61' lines, and I'd rather slow it down with engine or prop than length. I feel like I have better control that way. I actually have tossed a couple more weights into the flight box to try next time. I'm using a Tom Morris cable handle. I like those and use one for the Oriental too. When I first flew the Nobler I had to widen the lines, so with the added tail weight, I'll adjust accordingly. As well as consider Steve's advice in addressing my arm position while flying neutral.
Y'all take care,
Ride'n hard Rusty

Rusty,
Are you using a Uniflo tank?  If not by all means get on and use it.  That will give you much better runs and more constant speed to the end of the flight.  If you are using a uniflo tank then the engine probably need a head shim.  Just get another head gasket and put it in with the one that's already there.  That will help stop the tendency for FP's to break hard.  More nitro in your fuel can also help that tendency.
Most of all, of course, just keep flying but practice smart.  Slow down and concentrate on each maneuver!

Best of luck!
Randy Cuberly

[RknRusty]

Randy
No, my 4 oz. wedge uni tank was too wide. For now I have a 4 oz Dubro clunk. It's standard vented with both tubes soldered together and turned straight up to the narrow side of the tank, staggered 1/8", chamfered and soldered at the ends. Pressure goes to the lower of the two. The other stays capped while running. Its pressure tube is pointed forward on the inboard side. As soon as I get a tap in the tongue I will hook it up. Until it starts to leak, I like its engine run if the pressure will hold it rich at least until I get to the hourglass. I kinda like the extra HP at the end. It's always very windy where I fly. In fact I don't like flying in light air anymore. If it won't do that, I'll get a narrow 4 oz. uni.

This engine had uniflow on an earlier contest plane, Ol' DirtyBird, my Ray Copeland Skyray that graduated me out of Beginner. R.I.P. I about whipped a tear over that one. It had a soft break on the profile, but I don't know if that's even relevant. I've got head shims, but I'll take it one step at a time. First up; muffler pressure. Right. Practice smart, I have had a problem with that in the past, but am tired of learning the same lesson over and over. It did result in a funny video I posted in another thread.
 
Thanks for the advice,
Take care,
Rusty