Author Topic: Ringmaster ARF (Read 6084 times)

peabody · « **on:** September 03, 2015, 06:06:49 PM »

I received a Ringmaster ARF from Brodaks today.
A cursory look says it's great! The fuselage is solid balsa (not the lightest, but quite serviceable.
It appears to have a "polywog" airfoil (the covering isn't stuck....per usual on a Polywog)
Two piece wire gear....comes with light wheels
It uses the traditional plywood elevator horn, but also the nylon/paper hinges...
It's cool...

Retail is $109.95

There is an electric version for $10.00 more.

Have fun

Bill Burton · « **Reply #1 on:** September 03, 2015, 06:38:19 PM »

Is the fuselage and tail painted or covered with Monokote? What is a polywog airfoil?

Thank you
BB

peabody · « **Reply #2 on:** September 03, 2015, 07:16:36 PM »

Everything is film covered.....

A Polywog airfoil is distinctive to several early airplanes...

Have fun!

Jim Kraft · « **Reply #3 on:** September 03, 2015, 07:22:18 PM »

The polywog airfoil was slightly concave top and bottom after the high point in the airfoil. Does the Brodak version of the Ringmaster have top and bottom spars or the center spars of the original?

peabody · « **Reply #4 on:** September 04, 2015, 03:52:00 AM »

Jim
I believe that it has a center spar....it's an ARF, so I am not going to dissect it to reveal construction....

Have fun!

Peabody

Bill Burton · « **Reply #5 on:** September 04, 2015, 07:49:17 AM »

Thank you for answering my questions.

BB

peabody · « **Reply #6 on:** September 04, 2015, 08:09:07 AM »

More investigation:
I wouldn't be surprised if the ARF is constructed with the same parts that are in the laser cut kit.....
It is INCREDIBLY straight and true!
Adjustable lead-outs and a tip weight box.

Have fun!

John Tate · « **Reply #7 on:** September 04, 2015, 08:26:47 AM »

I received the Ringmaster ARC and it looks good to me.

Dennis Leonhardi · « **Reply #8 on:** September 04, 2015, 12:53:25 PM »

Thanks for reporting, Rich. How about the control system - metal bellcrank? As nicely as many of the ARF models are done, I wish they'd spend 2 cents more and put in a control system that will last more than 5 flights ...

Dennis

Jim Kraft · « **Reply #9 on:** September 04, 2015, 01:48:09 PM »

I can only tell from what I can see on the Brodak website but it looks like the Ringmaster is done like the original with center spars and single piece leading and trailing edges. The ARF is only $20.00 more than the laser cut kit. I have built a couple of Sterling S-1 die crunched kits and a laser cut kit would be a shock.

peabody · « **Reply #10 on:** September 04, 2015, 02:17:42 PM »

Dennis:
I would imagine a nylon bellcrank.....
I believe that the only "metal" bellcranks used by top level fliers are the Brett Buck replicas, which would be cost prohibitive for an ARF.
Of all the failures that I have read about with ARFs, I cannot recall a single bellcrank failure...leadouts, yes, but no bellcranks

Have fun!

rich gorrill · « **Reply #11 on:** September 04, 2015, 02:34:26 PM »

How's the weight, they say the best Ring's are light Ring's.?

Rich

Dennis Moritz · « **Reply #12 on:** September 04, 2015, 03:32:44 PM »

Steve D just got one. Should be at our picnic.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Motorman · « **Reply #13 on:** September 05, 2015, 03:55:18 PM »

Why are these 110 bucks? Wasn't the Flight streak about $60.

MM

Bill Burton · « **Reply #14 on:** September 05, 2015, 04:02:31 PM »

Quote from: Motorman on September 05, 2015, 03:55:18 PM

Why are these 110 bucks? Wasn't the Flight streak about $60.

MM

Ask John Brodak.

BB

dennis lipsett · « **Reply #15 on:** September 05, 2015, 07:33:52 PM »

Quote from: Bill Burton on September 05, 2015, 04:02:31 PM

Ask John Brodak.

BB

Does not matter what they cost. After a year or more of build up for the 2 new models they sold out in about a week and a half it seems. So now you will wait at least another year to get one and I'd suggest you get your name on the waiting list to make sure that you do get one. If he has to buy a full container and these arf's did not come in multiple color schemes of each model. Including the ARC's then how many did he get in. Apparently not enough to satisfy the demand.

Dennis

Brad Smith · « **Reply #16 on:** September 05, 2015, 07:49:56 PM »

Flight streak about $60 yea that was about 10 years ago.

Motorman · « **Reply #17 on:** September 06, 2015, 08:48:41 AM »

What does Tom Morris get for one made in USA?

MM

John Cralley · « **Reply #18 on:** September 07, 2015, 06:37:35 AM »

Quote from: dennis lipsett on September 05, 2015, 07:33:52 PM

Does not matter what they cost. After a year or more of build up for the 2 new models they sold out in about a week and a half it seems. So now you will wait at least another year to get one and I'd suggest you get your name on the waiting list to make sure that you do get one. If he has to buy a full container and these arf's did not come in multiple color schemes of each model. Including the ARC's then how many did he get in. Apparently not enough to satisfy the demand. Dennis

Dennis,

Brodak Manufacturing does have the ARF/ARC Ringmasters in stock!!

The WEB catalog shows them "Out of Stock" but that is NOT correct! You can order them by phone and I ordered an electric version just Friday (Sept 4th)! The nice lady on the phone said that the "Out of Stock" was due to a shipping issue but that mine would ship on the 8th!

It is really unfortunate that they don't (can't??) edit the WEB citation to simply say "call to order"!

So for anyone that wants to grab one for the Fly-A-Thon get on the phone (I have no idea how many they received from China so don't wait around).

Brodak: (724) 966-2726 or (724) 966-9131

Mark Mc · « **Reply #19 on:** September 07, 2015, 08:16:31 PM »

Is the quality of these better than the previous Brodak ARFs? I bought an electric Super Clown ARF and was extremely disappointed. So much so that I put it away for some future date. The build quality was terrible. I'll have to rebuild the nose and cut some new wood for the tail surfaces. I'd like to buy an electric Ringmaster ARF, but am leery of pulling the trigger.

Mark

Bill Burton · « **Reply #20 on:** September 07, 2015, 09:06:30 PM »

Most of these ARFS are built by 13 year old kids in a sweat shop in China. The mark up on them is huge and the quality is horrible.

BB

Dennis Moritz · « **Reply #21 on:** September 07, 2015, 10:14:14 PM »

New Brodak ARFS and ARCs look very good. Straight. Different covering that will stick. The older Brodak ARFS and ARCS created a revolution in this hobby despite their well known flaws.

Dennis Adamisin · « **Reply #22 on:** September 08, 2015, 07:10:44 AM »

The new ARF/ARC Ringmasters are built like the full build kit; that includes the 3-piece LE shell and planked TE, aft spar centered on rib, and the pollywog - see attached picture from the website. The payoff for the built-up LE & TE is MUCH straighter and lighter than your daddy's Ringmaster. There are 4 color variations available for the ARFs.

These are built by a new supplier. Build quality is excellent, frankly better than most of the Ringers I have ever seen at the field. Controls are robust.

The covering is new, the repair colors are all in stock.

Brodak also has the P-40 in ARF, ARC & Electric ARF versions -the ARF's are available in two versions of Camo colors.

As noted above, they had a problem with shipping. As called out on the website, "Out of Stock" was one of the "canned" responses they could use to pull back while they get it fixed.

Call to order - still time before the Fly-a-Thon!

Al Ferraro · « **Reply #23 on:** September 08, 2015, 05:15:38 PM »

I ordered the Ringmaster ARF today, not only was it in stock but I had my choice of three colors.

Al

Mark Mc · « **Reply #24 on:** September 09, 2015, 12:29:11 PM »

Okay, I took the chance that my last Brodak ARF experience was a fluke and went ahead and ordered an electric Ringmaster today. Hoping it will change my outlook on control line ARFs.

Mark

John Cralley · « **Reply #25 on:** September 11, 2015, 10:20:14 AM »

Got my ARF Ringmaster yesterday and it looks great BUT they sent me the regular ARF and I ordered the Electric version. It is on its way back and another is supposed to have gone out yesterday.

Patti was very nice about it and promptly got the replacement out. Looking for it Saturday or Monday.

Motorman · « **Reply #26 on:** September 12, 2015, 10:00:02 PM »

What is the engine spacing, is there maple in the motor mount?

MM

peabody · « **Reply #27 on:** September 13, 2015, 01:40:38 PM »

I had to cut back toward the wing 3/16" to accommodate an OS 25.....mounts appear to be some type of hard(er) wood, but the doublers on both sides are good, multi layer ply.

Mark Mc · « **Reply #28 on:** September 15, 2015, 11:51:12 PM »

Well, I got my Ringmaster Electric ARF today. The build quality looks okay. Only a couple of things I'm not sure I like. But the funny thing is, this didn't come with assembly instructions. I'm sure I'll be able to guess at all the construction details, but still. It's funny because the crappy Electric Super Clown I got was built poorly, but had a great build manual. Is this ARF supposed to have come with an assembly manual?

Mark

John Cralley · « **Reply #29 on:** September 16, 2015, 12:51:00 PM »

Mark, The same deal here. My RM ARF came without an assembly instructions manual. It does have a sheet referring as to how to do the electric portion. The word is that none of the electric RM ARFs have assembly instructions packaged with them.

Mark Mc · « **Reply #30 on:** September 16, 2015, 01:13:31 PM »

** SIGH **

Larrys4227 · « **Reply #31 on:** September 16, 2015, 02:37:38 PM »

It was already explained in the other RM thread that Brodak's is aware of the missing instructions .... just call them and they'll send one to you.

Will Davis · « **Reply #32 on:** September 20, 2015, 03:11:34 PM »

Quote from: Motorman on September 12, 2015, 10:00:02 PM

What is the engine spacing, is there maple in the motor mount?

MM

The motor mount spacing is perfect for the fp 20 , I am not using a spinner, so no material was removed to mount motor, should be same for fp, la and Brodak 25, will fly this weekend

The wood drilled like very firm tight grain hardwood, not oily mystery
wood like some other ARF, probably not maple , but close . Good all around ARF