Super Combat Streak

[David_Ruff]

A pre ZIP code Top Flite Super Combat Streak kit.  How bad or good was the wood?

[Dave Harmon]

A pre ZIP code Top Flite Super Combat Streak kit.  How bad or good was the wood?

I found 2 original TF kits decades ago.
I built one of them and had to replace most of the wood....it was pretty bad....rock hard, warped and heavy.
I wanted to use a Fox CS MK something so I had to widen the fuse a little....just made the formers a little wider.
It was too heavy to do much with other than roar around and screw me into the ground!
I still have the second kit and have been thinking about it a little except this time....with a lot less smash!

[Dave_Trible]

The Combat Streak can be a good flying airplane.  Caution though.  Last year I built two from plans but put stunt .35's in them to be stunt trainers while working with a new pilot.  They were silked which made them able to take a number of wallops into the dirt  without damage.  The caution is this;  what DID eventually break in BOTH with ground impact was the bellcrank mountings broke loose.  I'd suggest you beef that up with two plywood plates-one over and one under,  epoxied and gusseted well to the spars.....

Dave

[Dave Harmon]

The Combat Streak can be a good flying airplane.  Caution though.  Last year I built two from plans but put stunt .35's in them to be stunt trainers while working with a new pilot.  They were silked which made them able to take a number of wallops into the dirt  without damage.  The caution is this;  what DID eventually break in BOTH with ground impact was the bellcrank mountings broke loose.  I'd suggest you beef that up with two plywood plates-one over and one under,  epoxied and gusseted well to the spars.....

Dave

Noted!!
Thanks Dave.....I just remembered I have a brand new Fox tank in the bag for this airplane.
Probably rusted solid by now!!

[Dave Hull]

I don't know if this repro kit has the same bellcrank installation as the original Flop Tite...?

I motor mine around as a stunty deal using a Max-S, not a screaming combat thing so the line pull is pretty mild. No issues so far....

[David_Ruff]

I guess that one of Stan Fronabarger's new laser cut kits would be much better than an original. 

[Dave_Trible]

I don't know if this repro kit has the same bellcrank installation as the original Flop Tite...?

I motor mine around as a stunty deal using a Max-S, not a screaming combat thing so the line pull is pretty mild. No issues so far....

Dave that is much better and different than the original.  They were like many of the time period-one platform glued to one spar between the two center ribs. 

[Dennis Toth]

Dave,
If you build the original the wood is hit or miss. If you want to build it you could add a vertical brace between the upper and lower spars and cover the wing and tail with film to keep it light, paint fuse should be good to go.

Best,    DennisT

[john e. holliday]

I guess I have been lucky as I have built both the Combat Streak and Flite Streak.  Using the kits to clone them.  Even my first Flite Streak back in the late 50's was box stock with K&B .35 Greenhead was very manueverable.  in fact I had to use small E-Z Just handle.  But I did get to fly both of the planes That I cloned with McCoy Red Head .35's.  To me they flew great.  They both reside in Oklahoma awaiting flights. Only draw back to me was not enough room for fuel tank in the Combat Streak.  But as Riley Wooten once told me you only need enough fuel to kill your opponent.

Now the bellcrank mount had strips of balsa on each end of the ply glued to the ribs.  Never had one come loose.

[Tom Luciano]

I built an Umland kit in '13. Excellent kit! I splatted it on the asphalt at Pal Park in NJ. I rebuilt it an fly it occasionally.  Mine is powered with an LA 25. It's a great flyer!
.

[David_Ruff]

Thanks for all the great input.