Hey, Schultzie!

Wow,, great picture.  That airplane (the second "Moby Dick" ... named for obvious reasons, too many Sparkies) is pretty much at the crux of my strong feelings about the rolling cut off date in classic.  It's really nothing more than a Nobler with silly wingtips and a quasi jet styled fuse.  But, because the original was built in 1970 (39 years ago), it's not "legal" to fly in classic.  I'd build another in a heartbeat if I wouldn't feel like a cheater flying a sprightly, young 40 year old "design" at VSC next year.  Oi vey.

That airplane still exists and is hanging on the wall of my den/office right behind me as I type.  It hung on the ceiling of J&M Hobbies in San Carlos for about three decades before I pulled it down and brought it home.  Discovered the red on the left wing was almost entirely faded away due to sitting under a fluorescent light for all those years.  This ship was flown to some sort of second ten finals finish at the bi-centennial nats in 1976

The original Moby Dick (which flew to something like 15th place while almost falling apart from old age at the '74 Nats) was more or less in one piece until a month or so ago when it got trashed by the framers doing our home remodel.  It would have been fun to bring both of the oldies but goodies to Tucson along with a fresh version to fly.

The original was powered by a Testor's McCoy .40 and weighed 64 oz (on a Nobler wing!).  The one in the picture wasn't quite so obese and flew with a beautiful running Big Art O.S. .35.  It was a dandy flying ship, good enough that a really nice guy named Bill Rutherford (yes, that Bill Rutherford) sent me a very nice letter after competing against it at a NOrthern California area contest.  He said he thought the airplane and the pilot showed great promise and might someday be pretty good.  That was a particularly important event in my decision to try to fly stunt as well as I could.  Bill is a thoughtful man and a good friend.

I have another picture of that airplane with me starting it and my late, great friend Bill Fitzgerald holding it at the old "Sewer Plant" flying site in Redwood City.  More good memories than I could count, all in a fuzzy snap shot.  Thanks for sharing this picture, my friend.

Ted

That airplane still exists and is hanging on the wall of my den/office right behind me as I type.  It hung on the ceiling of J&M Hobbies in San Carlos for about three decades before I pulled it down and brought it home.  Discovered the red on the left wing was almost entirely faded away due to sitting under a fluorescent light for all those years.  This ship was flown to some sort of second ten finals finish at the bi-centennial nats in 1976

     I say we put an engine in it and fly it again.

     Brett

I'd build another in a heartbeat if I wouldn't feel like a cheater flying a sprightly, young 40 year old "design" at VSC next year.  Oi vey.

That's a shame.

It's reasons like that why I really wish the cutoff date for Classic would be "bumped" up 5 years.  There's a lot of great designs in that timeframe.

Thanks for the Memories Ted, now don't start singing the song.  Stuff like this is what I like and I guess I missed because I was too busy flying other events.  DOC Holliday

PS:Couldn't you fudge a little and say you had the idea for the design in 69,   jeh

Hi Doc,

Don't worry, don't know how to put it on the internet even if I knew the words!

Re the Moby Dick.  It's sort of my own stupid way of demonstrating over the silliness (IMHO) of the fixed cut-off date.  Sure, I could fib about it and probably fly my "nobler" without too much mumbling about the rules, but it wouldn't help with the problem of guys like myself with a lifetime in the hobby who will continue to be legislated out of the best part of engaging in nostalgia style events ... flying their own stuff from when they were ... er, um ... less experienced.

So, I cut off my nose to spite my face.

Ted

I would like to point out that Ted never "lurks". He peruses.   

It might not be a sister ship to the Black Bomber, but is does have the same dates on the wings?
Please explain?

Jim Pollock   

Ted,

I'll bet your noggin was buzzin' in late 69, hmmmmm, what am I going to build to fly in '70 and that Nobler winged heavy was in a corner of that mind somewhere? Right!  I know that in Oct 69 Mike and I were going through some flying mags and a picture of the Akromaster poped into my head as an idea for a simi-scale model!  I've got # 2 near the finishing process now.  Just gotta get it done.....whew!

Jim Pollock