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Author Topic: Improved Brodak Buster  (Read 1923 times)

Offline Harry Rountree

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Improved Brodak Buster
« on: March 26, 2025, 06:54:25 AM »
Has anyone improved the Brodak Buster 40 inch? Im sorta new what can be done to improve it? Anything?..bigger elevator and stab? or Just leave it alone? HR

Offline Motorman

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Re: Improved Brodak Buster
« Reply #1 on: March 27, 2025, 10:45:57 AM »
Make it 2" longer between the wing and stab. Use a 4" bellcrank and carbon fiber push rod. Leave off the plywood nose doublers and use .025 carbon fiber plates on both sides. How far down the rabbit hole do you want to go?


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Offline Ken Culbertson

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Re: Improved Brodak Buster
« Reply #2 on: March 27, 2025, 12:14:52 PM »
Let's agree on the CF stuff then head for the rabbit hole.  It was a long time ago but I had several Busters. They were fun sport fliers but really not stunters by today's standards.  Applying what I know now, I would increase the stab span by about 4" 2 on each side but not make the fuselage any longer.  The reason for a 4" bellcrank is leverage but at the Buster's size and weight a 3" is probably OK.  It is inline which means that you don't have much tank room.  Personally, I would increase the nose an inch because they build tail heavy, and it will give you more tank room.  If you are not a purist and are building from plans rather than a kit make the airfoil thicker.  About 3/8" at the high point.  Tip weight box and adjustable leadouts are "duh" additions and make a part of the rudder adjustable.

Had a lot of fun with the Buster and it's sibling the Shoestring.
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Offline Brett Buck

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Re: Improved Brodak Buster
« Reply #3 on: March 27, 2025, 03:26:14 PM »
Has anyone improved the Brodak Buster 40 inch? Im sorta new what can be done to improve it? Anything?..bigger elevator and stab? or Just leave it alone? HR

   The choice of engine has far more to do with the performance than anything you can do aerodynamically. A modern high rev/low pitch engine will *drastically* improve the performance compared to, say, a Fox or McCoy. Something like a "new" 25LA, 20/25FP, etc, swinging a 9-4.

     Brett

Offline Dan McEntee

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Re: Improved Brodak Buster
« Reply #4 on: March 28, 2025, 03:35:59 PM »
Has anyone improved the Brodak Buster 40 inch? Im sorta new what can be done to improve it? Anything?..bigger elevator and stab? or Just leave it alone? HR

     Just what do you wish to improve on it?? What skill level are you flying at? The Brodak kits are just re-engineered versions of the Goldberg, Shoestring, Cosmic Wind, and the Buster. The word on them back in the day was that most thought the Buster was the best flying airplane of the three, so you could have that going for you.  From what I have seen of the Goldberg kits compared to the Brodak kits, they already look to be a  bit better wood quality wise, and have a different type of wing structure, so should build lighter.  The room for a typical tank has always been an issue with the Goldberg models and will be in the new ones also, I would guess.  Making the tail surfaces a little bigger would not hurt. I would say that even built stock it would fly as well as any beginner or intermediate level pilot could fly it  And as mentioned, the power plant choice is part of the recipe also.
   I have collected the Goldberg kit and the Brodak kits, with the intention of building them and flying them just for giggles and grins. Along with the Midwest War Bird Series airplanes!! I guess I had better get to that soon!!.

  Type at you later,
    Dan McEntee
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