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RE: TOM BRETT'S DESIGNS-UPDATE
[quote]ORIGINAL: stefanP Duane,Is there any chance the TBX could get into a set of plans? Or did Tom do a lot of scratch pad notes& sketches.This is one kooooooooooooool thread.stefanP [/quote] TBX plans were drawn, but are not available at this time. As I said above, the quality of the existing plan is not the best...parts of it are faint or quite dark. The plans really need to be faithfully redrawn or put in CAD by someone with skill and a love for this plane. The plans are very complex. It would take an excellent builder and a lot of time and work to reproduce. Anyone with serious interest should PM or e-mail me and we can discuss it...we never know what the future holds. Duane
Posted on: 8/27/2012 5:50 AM by Author "kingaltair"
in the forum "Classic RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11207398
RE: SIMLA BUILD THREAD
Will send you a PM
Posted on: 8/21/2012 5:01 AM by Author "kingaltair"
in the forum "Classic RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11200654
RE: SIMLA BUILD THREAD
[quote]ORIGINAL: UStik Yes, and it is an especially well suited one (remember it's an aerobatic motorglider). [:)] [/quote] Remember I said the engine quit on a flight at a VR/CS, (Vintage R/C Society) event and the pilot was narrating as the plane descended...first he said it wouldn't make it to the runway...then he said maybe...and by the time it reached the small 50 foot "hard surface pad", the Simla touched down within the pad as several onlookers were cheering it on. [8D] See post #784 on page 32 for a picture as Simla landed nose-high in a beautiful touch-down. Simla DOES like to glide. Duane
Posted on: 8/20/2012 12:45 PM by Author "kingaltair"
in the forum "Classic RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11199883
RE: SIMLA BUILD THREAD
[quote]ORIGINAL: stefanP Well after much thought I will use the stock colors on mine too.BUT I will fly the plane on a ASTRO FAI 60 Cobalt motor direct drive.Yes mine will be electric powerd.Only moderen aspect is that the plane will use Lipo batteries. stefanP [/quote] I am quite partial to Ed's color scheme and design...to me it just seems right. Electric is the up-and-coming method of propulsion...good luck. [:)] That is going to be one LARGE plane being powered electronically.[:)] Duane
Posted on: 8/20/2012 9:37 AM by Author "kingaltair"
in the forum "Classic RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11199705
RE: TOM BRETT'S DESIGNS-UPDATE
Yes you would think so, but it seems to have been a "one-hit-wonder". Thanks for all the nice comments in your earlier post...they were very much appreciated. BTW...check out the August issue of Model Aviation for my article on SPA's 20th Anniversary contest
Posted on: 7/30/2012 12:29 PM by Author "kingaltair"
in the forum "Classic RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11174745
RE: TOM BRETT'S DESIGNS-UPDATE
BTWYou need to get one of Chuck Winter's revised videos, with the new section on Tom Brett. It is the ONLY footage I know of of the TBX in the air. Duane
Posted on: 7/30/2012 7:34 AM by Author "kingaltair"
in the forum "Classic RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11174402
RE: TOM BRETT'S DESIGNS-UPDATE
You are so very welcome...like discovering a "lost" treasure, I've tried to document as best I can everything that Helen has made available to me having to do with Tom, and his planes. Helen is Tom's #1 fan. Everything you said about Tom's nature is correct....attention to detail, and a meticulous builder. He even had a plug for his aileron servo in a recessed socket designed and built into the wing structure on the Perigee...it's part of the plans though I wonder how many kit builders actually did it. That kind of detail says a lot, and goes way beyond anything I would do. The same attention to detail is seen in everything Tom did..his models are the closest to "perfect" in building quality of anything I've ever seen. That kind of building is hardly seen today...I hope somebody young is out there learning to build like Tom did. The closest person I know to Tom's characteristic of attention to detail and immaculate building is Kevin Clark, a friend I worked with when building the Simla, (another thread). The TBX is an immensely complex plane with complexly drawn plans. Someday I want to make it a "project" to build one...and it WILL be a project. It will take everything I have and then some. Duane
Posted on: 7/30/2012 7:22 AM by Author "kingaltair"
in the forum "Classic RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11174381
RE: SIMLA BUILD THREAD
[quote]ORIGINAL: bem Hi, Here is a nice Simla plane shown at F3A Retro Day in Schwitzerland July 7, 2012 - see image below. Link where it is shown: Built from the Simla kit I assume? /Bo [/quote] It's nice to see these kits finally being built and completed. He apparently doesn't believe in white paint judging by the rest of his Kazmirski collection, but very nicley built. beautiful location for a model show. I know just enough German to not be able to quite understand the captions. [;)] Duane
Posted on: 7/30/2012 4:50 AM by Author "kingaltair"
in the forum "Classic RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11174248
RE: SIMLA BUILD THREAD
[quote]ORIGINAL: billberry189 stephanP, Perhaps it would be better if Duane commented here, but apparently at least one of the proto types had a different finishing scheme. I personally chose to follow the original scheme in the spirit of trying to recreate a Simla similar to Ed's. My second Simla will have a paint scheme considerably different from the original. Bill [/quote] The short answer to StefanP's question is "YES". [:D][;)] You have to keep in mind what we were trying to do in the Simla project, and that was to create the original Ed Kazmirski Simla as close as possible to the "look" of Ed's original model. To us that meant the exterior appearance, and of course the paint scheme. A lot of improvements have come "down the pike" since 1965. The interior workings reflect a modern CF wing tube, and a different method of wing attachment than Ed used, (which would no doubt be thought of as crude and very heavy today). Our intent from the start was never to absolutely duplicate Ed's model as he originally built it...just the exterior model and its shape and dimensions. Our original hope was to have all three prototypes finished at the same time, (with the same Kazmirski paint scheme), and included in a photo for the magazine article, however by the time Kevin's Simla was ready for finishing, the original prototype used in the article had flown, and the article was already published. For that reason Kevin "went wild" with his scheme (which I think is Monokote, and is lighter). I decided to use fabric and paint, (which I almost never do) in this case just because of the model, the article, and the historic significance of the aircraft itself. Notice in the pictures below..... Ed with his plane, the original dimension photo, the magazine prototype, and finally Kevin's own color scheme for his model which flew a few months later. A second Simla when it comes may have a "Kazmirski-like" scheme in the same colors, but the plane may be modified quite a bit. Kevin and I have talked a lot about what a "modern day" Simla [b][u]would have looked like[/u][/b] if Ed were designing it now...something for 2-meter AMA competition. We were thinking of the mods we'd make, (as if we were modern-day "Ed"s), to build a 2-meter plane. That would be a fun project for us with a completely different goal in mind, which will give a totally different outcome.
Posted on: 7/23/2012 5:32 AM by Author "kingaltair"
in the forum "Classic RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11165514
RE: Ed Kazmurski's Taurus
LF Yes, as someone who was a member of that club, (my first club) when I was a teen, you have all of your directions "right on". You have obviously relocated. How do you know the field and club so well. Duane
Posted on: 7/13/2012 4:51 AM by Author "kingaltair"
in the forum "Classic RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11153564
RE: Flying with Cataract's
[quote]ORIGINAL: JCINTEXAS [size=3] I have a lot of ''Floaters'' swimming around in my eyes (the aquaeous humor I'm told). Sometimes a large floater will park right over my airplane as I'm flying. It looks as if I'm seeing my plane through cloudy water. [/size] [/quote] I don't have the cataracts, but I DO have a "floater" problem, and similar to you, I have a large one that is attached and doesn't settle. It moves around..blinking a lot helps some, but it's frustrating....especially when I'm trying to fly SPA pattern with the plane moving over 100mph. At times it looks like I'm looking through a plastic sheet, and I'm told any kind of surgery is too risky to do...so there you go. Maybe it will do better if it detatches. Some people describe before/after cataract surgery as just short of "miraculous"..agree you should have it done ASAP. Duane
Posted on: 5/22/2012 12:17 PM by Author "kingaltair"
in the forum "Classic RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11090642
RE: SIMLA BUILD THREAD
[quote]ORIGINAL: thom25 Duane, I get many compliments. A few people have asked if it is a Taurus. ... All are impressed with the looks and size of the Simla and how nice it looks in flight. Thom [/quote] That is pretty much what I hear, particularly the "looks like a Taurus" comment. That is an opening and I tell them a "refined Taurus", and really a "research plane" with adjustable wing position, (high, mid, and low wing position), adjustable dihedral, and stab. Then I'll tell them that Ed would fly the Taurus II, then the Simla...then turn to the crowd and say "they fly Sim-la". There are a lot of comments about it being a "pretty plane". I knew the interest was there back in 2007 when I included a small version of this picture as part of an article that discussed "researching your plane...finding out about its history". I received more comments about that small picture of the Simla than the rest of the article combined. Late 2007 was when I first wanted to re-create the Simla. After giving up a few months later due to lack of evidence and expertise, the idea faded some until after Ed's passing when those small 3X3" black & white photos arrived from Chuck Noble, the person who handled the auction of Ed's estate. What a great day that was..this large envelope with 7 little unassuming pictures at the bottom. The number of known photos of Simla about doubled that day. The day of the first flights Kevin was the "test pilot". He basically said, "...it flies like a large Taurus, only better...". Looks like an airliner when coming in for a slow landing, doesn't it? Duane
Posted on: 5/17/2012 10:12 AM by Author "kingaltair"
in the forum "Classic RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11084222
RE: SIMLA BUILD THREAD
Thom What kind of comments are you getting at the field when you show up with the Simla? Nothing bad I hope.[;)] Duane
Posted on: 5/17/2012 4:34 AM by Author "kingaltair"
in the forum "Classic RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11084112
RE: SIMLA BUILD THREAD
[quote]ORIGINAL: patternflyer76 Congratulation on your award Duane. You deserve it. You put your heart into this project. Ed would have been proud. Kevin [/quote] Thanks Kevin, and thanks for actually LISTENING to me as "lead cheerleader" for the project. [8D] Talk about the term "team effort"...if anything can be called a team effort, this certainly was. Each member of the Simla Development Team not only contributed, but was CRITICAL to the success of the project...and you, Jeff and I still managed to stay friends over that 1-1/2 year time period...right...er, uh...right?? Included are pictures of Burkhard, Evan, and Ray...without them it would have been slow-going, or impossible. The Simla project was one of the most interesting, fun things I've ever been involved with, and everything came together almost perfectly in order to make it happen. We had just enough in the way of clues, and we had the right people, (worldwide) in the right places, with the proper abilities. As I think I said before, I wanted to do this a couple years earlier, but we simply didn't have the information, (photos) or the talent to make it happen then. These kinds of projects don't come down the road every day, so let's enjoy the end results. Thom...I've been meaning to ask you...what kind of comments are you getting at the field about the Simla?
Posted on: 5/15/2012 5:04 AM by Author "kingaltair"
in the forum "Classic RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11081259
RE: Knoxville SPA contest this weekend (May 19-20) UPDATED WITH PICS
KNOXVILLE HAS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF MY FAVORITE PLACES TO FLY...Second only to Asheville for a mountain "backdrop". Hard surface runway...land slowly.[;)] Duane
Posted on: 5/14/2012 1:16 PM by Author "kingaltair"
in the forum "Classic RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11080530
RE: Ed Kazmirski's Taurus
[quote]ORIGINAL: gene6029 Congradulations Duane! I emailed you the article written by Ed Kazmirski on the Taurus in 1962....Gene [/quote] The article Gene is referring to is the Champ Chats article which has been referenced in this thread several times. It was good to have my own complete "copy" at home. Thanks Gene. Duane
Posted on: 5/14/2012 5:05 AM by Author "kingaltair"
in the forum "Classic RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11080004
RE: SIMLA BUILD THREAD
[quote]ORIGINAL: Ryan Smith [quote]ORIGINAL: kingaltair ...I just returned from Greensboro, NC attending a VR/CS ''Glory Days'' event Friday night and Saturday... [/quote] Off topic Duane, but what field is that? I recently moved to Champaign after living most of my life (18+ years) in Greensboro and do not recognize that field. [/quote] OKYou got me...it wasn't
Posted on: 5/14/2012 4:59 AM by Author "kingaltair"
in the forum "Classic RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11079998
RE: SIMLA BUILD THREAD
Don likely would have been familiar with the original Simla...I know they were both at the Detroit Invitational meet in 1965. There were two planes Ed was flying at the time, (tha I'm sure of), the Simla and the Taurus II. He had the Taurus II with him at that contest. It would have been "cool" to have seen the Simla, but then I never would have seen the Taurus II, so what can I say? I like them both, and the T-2 has survived to this day, and has flown once more. Lucky dog to have Don Lowe as your test pilot...I think Don can handle it OK. [;)] What is your Simla's final weight...tell me when you know? Duane
Posted on: 5/13/2012 12:58 PM by Author "kingaltair"
in the forum "Classic RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11079325
RE: Ed Kazmirski's Taurus
[quote]ORIGINAL: Falcon6667 Thats a great looking plane you have there.What was the flying weight? Falcon [/quote] I believe it's 10.5 lbs. I wanted it to be more like the World Engine stated weight of 9-3/4 lbs, but I believe the covering and paint added too much weight. Ed told me an accident with a floodlight falling on the plane before its first flight led to repairs that added a performance-robbing 12 oz. If that's the case, Ed's weight and mine is about the same. Duane
Posted on: 5/13/2012 12:48 PM by Author "kingaltair"
in the forum "Classic RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11079316
RE: SIMLA BUILD THREAD
Bill; I was just taking another look at your paint scheme and "where the lines fall", and it looks prett darn good to me. My black stripe on the bottom isn't all that different from yours. I think the stripe should end past the stab, so it basically isn't all that visible anyway. [b]SIMLA UPDATE:[/b] I just returned from Greensboro, NC attending a VR/CS "Glory Days" event Friday night and Saturday. I took the original Simla prototype, which hasn't even been flown since last year. Because it was my "article project plane", and original prototype, and since it was painted and I have no paint left for repairs etc etc, I was a little nervous flying it at my skill level. Simla has only about 10 flights total on it, and had mostly been flown by Kevin Clark and the editor of Model Aviation. I didn't need to be concerned. I got in 4 nice flights there in Greensboro, and now feel much more comfortable with it. [u]A few additional flight observations: [/u]Sealing the ailerons is a MUST..it made a huge difference in roll rate and responsiveness. The OS .91 FX was very adequate as a powerplant; it "perked along" at a good clip and had good vertical performance with that engine. I still haven't tried Simla with the original .60 in the nose, but I believe that a "hot" .60 will fly it adequately but with limited vertical performance. I can imagine that those of you flying with a 120 will have a super-performer on your hands with unlimited vertical [X(][:D]...yet it slows down to a "walk" and is very forgiving and predictable. "Flies like a Taurus anly better..." is something I've heard more than once. At 102" wingspan, it's such a huge plane that it was a real attention-getter...lots of comments during the meet about how beautiful and graceful it looked, (even when I flew it). In the hands of a good pilot the Simla really shines and is literally a JOY to watch perform. An expert, was doing Rolling Circles with it. With full rudder, Simla would not quite hold Knife Edge...we either need a little more rudder throw, or mor speed, (which that 120 would certainly provide). Because it has such a high-aspect wing ratio, (long wing), it behaves a lot like a glider, (just as UStik predicted it would back in the Ed Kazmirski's Taurus threadway to go Burkhard). There was an incident that proved that point...a dead-stick landing, and a long approach. The expert pilot happened to be flying it at the time, and told us he thought it would land short of the 50X50 foot hard surface landing pad that everyone wanted to touch down on, but he kept slowly raising the nose to extend the glide, and in the end, Simla was still a few inches above the deck as it passed the pad edge, and landed in a beautiful nose-high touch-down on the mains amid applause from onlookers. It was [b][i]very slow and graceful[/i][/b] as it touched down like an airliner on full flaps, (there are no flaps on Simla...doesn't need them). Those of you who have purchased a kit and are building the plane....YOU WILL LOVE IT, and be the "envy of the flight line". I've included a few pictures from the event. (BTW...Cees might be interested to learn that it won the VR/CS "Concours Award" for the plane closest to the original). [8D] Let's get some reports and photos!! Do we have two more in the air now besides the prototypes? Duane
Posted on: 5/13/2012 10:56 AM by Author "kingaltair"
in the forum "Classic RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11079221
RE: Ed Kazmirski's Taurus
[quote]ORIGINAL: Michaelj2k I can't just help to notice that sleek, skinny fuselage and that very big tail! You can see where Simla came from. [/quote] Speaking of Simla, I just returned from Greensboro, NC at a VR/CS "Glory Days" event Friday night and Saturday. I took the Simla, which I haven't even flown since last year. Because it was my "article project plane", and original prototype, and since it was painted and I have no paint left for repairs etc etc, I was a little nervous flying it. Simla has only about 10 flights total on it, and had mostly been flown by Kevin Clark and the editor of Model Aviation. I got in 4 flights there in Greensboro, and now feel much more comfortable with it. At 102", it's such a huge plane that it was a real attention-getter...lots of comments during the meet. (BTW...Cees might be interested to learn that it won the VR/CS "Concours Award" for the plane closest to the original). [8D] Because it has such a high-aspect wing ratio, (long wing), it behaves a lot like a glider, (just as UStik predictedway to go). There was an incident that proved that...one dead-stick landing. An expert pilot happened to be flying it at the time, and told us he thought it would be short of the 50X50 foot hard surface landing pad that everyone wanted to touch down on, but he kept slowly raising the nose to extend the glide, and in the end, Simla was still a few inches above the deck as it passed the pad edge, and landed in a beautiful nose-high touch-down on the mains amid applause from onlookers. It was very slow and graceful as it touched down. I've included a few pictures from the event.
Posted on: 5/13/2012 10:23 AM by Author "kingaltair"
in the forum "Classic RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11079199
RE: TOM BRETT'S DESIGNS-UPDATE
I have no idea about other brands of engines, (or other ST engines), but the ST .56 Ed used were not designed for use with a muffler. Maybe it didn't breathe right, or and it tended to overheat, (these were notorious for having less than great carbs...I think ST used several over a short period, and modelers frequently performed their own mods, such as drilling out the hole in the carb). We eventually came to the comclusion the muffler was the problem, (check the EKT thread). I eventually went to a present-day ST carb, (which still fit the opening perfectly), but it just wasn't happy with the best strap-on muffler I could find, (I had one custom-made for it). Glad your Veco works...don't know about the K&B Tom used. Duane
Posted on: 5/4/2012 9:29 AM by Author "kingaltair"
in the forum "Classic RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11068255
RE: TOM BRETT'S DESIGNS-UPDATE
Do they work with modern mufflers? Duane
Posted on: 5/3/2012 9:40 AM by Author "kingaltair"
in the forum "Classic RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11066875
RE: TOM BRETT'S DESIGNS-UPDATE
The K&B .45 in the nose would sure LOOK good, but one thing I discovered when I was trying to find an authentic engine for Ed Kazmirski's Taurus II is that looks and authenticity isn't everything. I located a ST .56, and it looked fine, (but it never [b]RAN fine[/b] when coupled with the obligatory muffler). The muffler messed up the way the engine ran, and it tended to run hot and unreliable. We had to richen the mixture to keep it running, and I never felt completely comfortable with that engine in the nose. Maybe the K&B is better in this regard, but the engine will always look "funny" with the muffler, even if you have the right engine. Back then these engines came muffler-less with baffle plates, but unless you fly in the middle of nowhere, you can't get away with that anymore. I'd [b]DISPLAY it[/b] with the K&B, and [b]FLY it[/b] with a modern engine. Duane
Posted on: 5/1/2012 9:27 AM by Author "kingaltair"
in the forum "Classic RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11064083
RE: TOM BRETT'S DESIGNS-UPDATE
Jeff; I didn't notice at first, buit it looks like Tom didn't finish the stab plan in this rendering...only the outline. We'll fix it. You build the rest, and I'll furnish you with what you need for the stab. Let me look at the plans and kit again and we'll figure out the best way to do it. After all, we want the whole plane to be accurate. I'll take care of you. We need more Perigees in the world. [:D] Duane
Posted on: 5/1/2012 8:45 AM by Author "kingaltair"
in the forum "Classic RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11064029
RE: TOM BRETT'S DESIGNS-UPDATE
While preparing to send JeffH a PDF of the Perigee plan we found by accident included with Tom's TBX paln, I wanted to take a closer look at the difference between them, primarily the wing plans, and the way the spars were drawn. I had always thought that "someone" (whoever that might be), once-upon-a-time had said the original Perigee plans were different from the kit that Tom's Perigee employed, (more complicated) bent spars, while the kit didn't "for ease of building". Upon closer examination of the original article plans from American Modeler (Jan-Feb 1963), (in miniature), compared with the De Bolt kit plans and finally this plan, [b]THEY ALL APPEAR IDENTICAL TO ME[/b]. They all use gently bent spars toward the center. You can tell these three plans were all drawn at different times. One way you can tell is that Tom used different designations for W-1, W-2 etc. (perhaps this plan was the preliminary drawing for the De Bolt kit because the designations are the same). There might be some subtle difference between the three plans, but except for the [u]aluminum cowl hold-down ring, and nosewheel details[/u] Tom used not being included in the kit, I don't know what they are off hand. If anyone (for example Evan, who has a particular knack for pointing out tiny differences as he did when studying differences between the Meyer vs Taurus kit plans), can find any, this might be a good time to point them out. When I [i][u]actually build[/u][/i] the Perigee kit, I'll make a closer comparison between them. I have decided to include the PFD here. In truth, they are actually much easier to follow than the original kit plans which contain the balsa grain lines that tend to hide details of the plan.
Posted on: 4/29/2012 1:06 PM by Author "kingaltair"
in the forum "Classic RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11061432
RE: TOM BRETT'S DESIGNS-UPDATE
[quote]ORIGINAL: pimmnz ...this stuff is all your (U.S.) R/C history. Given the amount that was forgotten in the short time since Taurus was designed I would like to think that some sort of archive of this stuff was being carefully considered, cause we ain't got time to go through all this again...It all needs to be preserved and published, just to make sure that the facts are plain and it's all in one place. Sure as eggs, someone's gunna ask again...As for Toms' airplanes and reference materials, well, someone will have to make a decision, hard as it will be, but that too needs to be preserved somewhere safe before it gets lost or scattered. Is this stuff important enough to spend the time/money to do this? Again, a question that needs to be considered by the U.S. guys themselves. Evan. [/quote] Evan, I can certainly appreciate what you're saying. The natural first place to think of for us here in "the States" is the AMA Museum in Muncie, Indiana, and they are trying to archive R/C's past, but their resources and space are limited. I'm not sure if a formal bio on Tom has been submitted to AMA, as of a few years ago, it hadn't. Helen reads this thread, and can comment on that. I'd be happy to do it if it hasn't been done. R/C Universe (maybe without really intending to), has made [i]informal[/i] documentation on R/C's pioneers possible through these threads. A "keyword search" will bring up a lot of information. The text and pictures from this thread, for example can be printed and kept, which is a lot better situation than we had just a short time ago. The thread on [u]Ed Kazmirski's Taurus[/u] is another example of excellent informal documentation on Ed. In fact AMA took a distilled version of the thread. I wrote for it for them for an accompanying document to go with the Taurus when it was donated to the museum. The Kaz thread badly needs to be culled and edited into a booklet on Ed. As long as RCU maintains the forums, the information will be preserved. If they discontinue this service someday, I hope they will give us ample notice so that those of us who care can take steps to preserve on paper what's there. I don't know what the demand for historical information will be in the future, but I'd enjoy preserving the memory of those pilots I have a particular interest in. As for Tom's planes and original plans, Helen will make that decision. They mean a great deal to her, and I'm certain she will make sure they have a good home. Duane
Posted on: 4/27/2012 9:30 AM by Author "kingaltair"
in the forum "Classic RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11057327
RE: TOM BRETT'S DESIGNS-UPDATE
I've got one more observation from my visit with Helen, and a more detailed look at Tom's planes. This might seem like a small thing, and I don't know if it's something we should all be doing, but it's something I've seen on the TBX. After years of storage without being touched, all Tom's planes (while looking great), had a stuborn layer of dusty grit on them that comes from 30 years of storage, but it was easily cleanable with a little TLC. Back in 2009, Willie McMath and I carefully spruced-up TBX and Apogee before taking the photos posted early in this thread. It took a while, but it was like dusting off Alladdin's lamp to me. The painted finish cleaned up so well that they looked like new pennies with a little 409/Windex. You can see from the photos just how well they cleaned up. Note the interior shot of TBX that shows what looked like patches of blotchy mold on the interior balsa. Still it wasn't too bad for all the time in storage. During this latest visit, Helen and I took another look at the INSIDE of TBX...the balsa interior looked its age...again, not bad, but not pristine either. For whatever reason we decided to get out the 409 again to try to clean up the inside dust without hurting anything in the process. I wasn't expecting much success on the 40 year-old, [u][i]bare balsa[/i][/u], but lo-and-behold, the inside cleaned right up to reveal a nicely honey-colored wood interior that looked a lot like Ed Kazmirski's "Unfinishd" fuselage which had been silked and doped...ready for painting, (see photo). It turns out Tom had coated the interior of TBX with something...I don't know if it was coated in dope, fiberglass resin, varnish, or even thinned epoxy, but whatever it was, it perfectly preserved the balsa all this time. You can see a little shine on the interior balsa pieces. My best guess would be that he used a couple coats of clear dope which is light in weight, yet hard...and it seals the wood. All this, while a small thing, again reminds me of Tom's attention to detail, and meticulous building style. Nice picture to come[8D] Duane
Posted on: 4/25/2012 7:51 PM by Author "kingaltair"
in the forum "Classic RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11056916
RE: TOM BRETT'S DESIGNS-UPDATE
Finally, a year ago Helen allowed me to go through her family album of Tom and all his R/C achievements...about four inches thick. She let me photograph the scrapbook page by page, (Helen's patience was to be admired), but I've observed on each visit that she always seems happy to take the time when it comes to Tom, and sharing his memory with others. I have posted many of the interesting photos from that afternoon a year ago, but there are still some I haven't gotten to yet. I was going through those photos the other day and came upon one particular photo I really loved. Tom was posing with his pride and joy in the ready box before a flight. Forgive me if I posted this photo earlier, (I don't think I did), but even if it was posted, it never hurts to see a good photo again. To me the picture illustrates his personality and meticulous nature that made Tom such an accomplished engineer, designer, builder, and pilot. Till next time Duane
Posted on: 4/25/2012 7:35 PM by Author "kingaltair"
in the forum "Classic RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11056954
RE: Ed Kazmirski's Taurus
[quote]ORIGINAL: Michaelj2k I can't just help to notice that sleek, skinny fuselage and that very big tail! You can see where Simla came from. [/quote] I remember seeing Ed fly this plane back in 1965 at the Detroit Invitational...the same year that Simla came along. Apparently he flew BOTH that season, (which turned out to be his last season where he was actively competing). He must have picked the plane for the particular contest or weather conditions at the time. There is a short segment on Chuck's video, (if you don't have one of Chuck Winter's videos and you're interested in vintage pattern, what are you waiting for???[8|]), that shows Ed fueling up the Taurus II prior to a flight...that is so cool to see. Also see the still picture taken by my father at the same contest, (wish the whole plane was there). This is the Taurus Ed was referring to when he told me, "I'd fly the Simla, then the Taurus, then tell people that they fly sim-la". To me, this Taurus was the "ultimate Taurus"...it was at the end of the four year evolution line in Ed's attempt to get the very best pattern plane possible. The Simla was more of an experimental plane with adjustable wing position, diheadral, and stab. Ed knew it was too heavy to be competitive, (especially after it was damaged and the repairs added 12oz to the plane's weight). The T-II was the same general size as other pattern planes he competed against, and I believe Ed felt the Taurus II was the most competitive plane he had. The interesting thing about this plane is [i][u]it is the only plane we have actually witnessed flying!![/u][/i] For a 71inch wingspan plane it is quite fast and sleek in the air, yet very capable of slowing down, (check it out on You Tube..keyword Kazmirski or Taurus) I can't wait to build this one and actually compete with it in "Antique" SPA events...it should beat anything else there, (except maybe the Perigee which was ahead of its time performance-wise IMHO. Duane
Posted on: 4/24/2012 11:23 AM by Author "kingaltair"
in the forum "Classic RC Pattern Flying"
http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/fb.asp?m=11054989
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