A Tomboy at it again

Anything with a propeller
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Sunbird
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Joined: 22 Feb 2018, 08:24

A Tomboy at it again

Post by Sunbird »

Hello All

During the Christmas period I knocked out a few Vic Smeed models as light relief after spending the best part of 7 months building a CNC Router for my workshop.

The models I built are a Poppet and a Tomboy.

I had previously built a Poppet back in 1966 when still in school. It was built as a Free Flight plane and it flew exceptionally well, so well in fact that it eventually flew off never to be seen again. It seemed only right to build another one 53 years later.

When building the Tomboy I decide to increase the wingspan by two rib bays overall with a corresponding one rib bay on the stab. Both the Poppet and the Tomboy are powered with refurbished Cox 049 Babe Bee engines which I had accumulated over the years.

The intention with both models was to fly them rudder only using the SC transmitter I had built 18 months ago using Martins single channel transmitter design.

The Poppet is yet to fly however I have been having great fun flying the Tomboy. Testing was done using proportional radio to start with and then switched over to using the SC transmitter once I had a feel for the model.

Using a button again certainly brings back memories of the late sixties with an OS Pixie set flying a Veron Mini Concord.

I attach a link to a short video of the Tomboy flying last weekend.

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Wayne_H
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Location: Temora, NSW. Australia
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Re: A Tomboy at it again

Post by Wayne_H »

Congratulations Ian, the grin at the end says it all :D
I liked the background music, most appropriate ;)
Cheers,

Wayne
Once a Retrobate, always a Retrobate............ ;)
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Sunbird
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Joined: 22 Feb 2018, 08:24

Re: A Tomboy at it again

Post by Sunbird »

Thanks Wayne. Yes having a fun time flying these single channel planes. Its starting to feel strange now when I pick up a proportional set. Progress on the Deacon has been slow but should have airborne in the not too distant future. Cant wait to hear the sound of the Allbon diesel hauling it aloft.
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Sunbird
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Re: A Tomboy at it again

Post by Sunbird »

The Poppet and Tomboy awaiting their turn to fly
The Poppet and Tomboy awaiting their turn to fly
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Sunbird
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Re: A Tomboy at it again

Post by Sunbird »

Another tough day in Africa
Another tough day in Africa
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Wayne_H
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Re: A Tomboy at it again

Post by Wayne_H »

Sunbird wrote: 09 Feb 2019, 11:25 At the field with Zebra.jpg
luv it - only in Sith Efrica :lol:
Cheers,

Wayne
Once a Retrobate, always a Retrobate............ ;)
NeilMac
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Joined: 04 Feb 2019, 22:07
Location: Nth Somerset

Re: A Tomboy at it again

Post by NeilMac »

Not the famous Salisbury Plain Zebra's then..... no, I didn't think so.

So, a question from someone just about to build his first s/c model in 20...erm 30.... erm 40 something years, which is nicer to fly? Poppet? Or Tomboy?
"I'm your huckleberry, that's just my game"
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RON
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Re: A Tomboy at it again

Post by RON »

I used to have a pet Zebra, called spot.

Ron.
G0MBV Class A Radio Amateur, North Yorkshire
Stew
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Joined: 02 Mar 2018, 10:21
Location: Staindrop, Darlington.

Re: A Tomboy at it again

Post by Stew »

The Poppet is the nicer flyer if radio is fitted. I have one at the moment, (my 5th) and it's free flight, but I have made radio versions in the past, rudder is all that is needed.
The Tomboy is another great FF model, but for radio build it exactly to plan apart from fitment of a rudder. Don't over power it. All it needs is a little gentle nudge every now and then to keep it in the field.
The Tomboy duration comps are a different matter, they really need a spruce wing spar for that, and elevators.

Stew.
NeilMac
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Joined: 04 Feb 2019, 22:07
Location: Nth Somerset

Re: A Tomboy at it again

Post by NeilMac »

Thanks Stew, that's just the kind of information I was looking for.

Neil
"I'm your huckleberry, that's just my game"
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