What's a good Class I design?

[brokenspar]

Greetings all,

Any recommendations for a Class I (rudder/throttle) design? A lot of fun-looking ships to choose from (Mambo, Smog Hog, Live Wire, etc.), but are there any stand-outs? I'm leaning towards the Top Flite Headmaster, as my first RC was one of it's little siblings (Schoolmaster I think). And what type of airfoil is best: Flat-bottom, symmetrical, or something in between? I await your comments and pithy remarks.

Pete

[RFJ]

Well Pete, you mention some Ken Willard designs and I can certainly recommend any of the great mans designs. Here are a couple I built recently - Scorcher & Gasser.

I guess they would be called Class 2 though, as they are rudder/elevator/throttle. Both are electric powered and fly great. Color schemes are based on those in original magazine articles. Scorcher has a flat- bottom section and Gasser is thin symmetrical.

Ray

[Gluehand]

Here's my ol' Smog Hog



:)

[JackHiner]

I flew many DeBolt and Ken Willard rudder only designs in the late 1950's and into the 1960's. My best rudder only design was the Milt Boone Charger that I flew when stationed in Japan serving in the USAF 1963-64. I also had a scaled down Smog Hog with a K&B .19 R/C engine. The Smog Hog had elevator but I saw a fellow win a Class I event with a Smog Hog and no Elevator. Dominator and Lancer are a couple of good Class I designs. Later this month the Vintage R/C Society will host a 5 day event for old time R/C models and events at the AMA Muncie flying facility. There will be Class I, II, II and scale events. The contest will be held September 22 Monday - 26 Saturday with the Class I (rudder only) competetion held Friday September 25 morning. Jack

[RandyW]

Milt Boone's Charger, was a real goin' concern in class 1. It won the nationals and scored more points than some of the class 2 models. It was kitted by Ambroid, the glue people back in the day. Used a .15 size engine and was around 48" in wingspan. Towards the end of the "class system" the rudder only ships featured very large engines, some with upthrust. Theory was land at low throttle fly level with medium throttle and loop with high throttle. Steerable nosegear was allowed and many had brakes as engines didn't idle as well as they do today. The Charger would make a great electric conversion, and could be built much lighter today due to reduced battery and radio weights.

[brokenspar]

RFJ, the Gasser and Scorcher look great. Ken Willard did indeed have a good eye for design. Is there much difference in handling between them? (flat bottom wing vs symmetric?).

Gluehand, your SmogHog looks sharp, nice color scheme too.

JackHiner, classic pics! Where in Japan were you stationed?

[JackHiner]

Brokenspar, I was station at Misawa Air Base Northern part of Honshu near the small town Hachinohe. A number of GIs flew U/C and two of us flew R/C. Local Japanese flew U/C and R/C with Enya diesels popular as glow fuel at that time was hard to come by in Japan. We would hold contests on the base and invited the Japanese locals. Jack

[RFJ]

Is there much difference in handling between them?

The models flying characteristics are very similar possibily because both wing sections are quite thin. They were designed to fly fast not float about like some vintage designs. I prefer flying the Scorcher as I think the Gasser is a little underpowered.

Ray