Top Flite Nobler

That is a wide range of power. I wonder if the instructions give you some ways to target the weight as you go, or if you choose your engine after you weigh the finished airframe. With an older kit like this, it should be easy to replace a lot of the wood with lighter balsa.

The Nobler still flies with the best stunters. I hope you'll document the build, since I wimped out on my Oriental plans and bought an ARF. I'd like to see what goes into building a full fuselage by someone other than all of the world champions  at Stunthangar... not to suggest you're not extraordinary also.
Rusty

The green box Nobler is a sought after kit. If you can copy the parts do that instead of building it.

I'd go with a .40 on it these days. The box said it is the winningest model ever designed and at the time it was. Totally changed the face CL back in '52.

Like Rusty said it's still competitive today.

I would buy one, but the design does not appeal to me. I have crashed one. Ask Doug!

Edit: one last thing....that scale is telling you what your target weight should be for that particular engine. So if using say a Fox .35 don't go over 53oz or it won't fly well. When built the model should fall within that min/max range for that particular engine.

I can tell you right now though 53oz is a lot for a Fox .35! Build it light as possible and use a .40 or an electric equivalent.

That's a very nice kit Ian!! I have an un-built Top-Flite "Gieseke" Nobler kit. I don't know if there's any difference between the two.

Here's a few control-line engine weight/price comparisons.  

Fox .35 weight w/muffler=7.0 ounces-price $69.00 (Tower Hobbies)
Brodak .25 weight w/muffler=7.2 ounces-price $109.00
Brodak .40 weight w/muffler=8.5 ounces-price $109.00 (out of stock)
O.S. .25 LA-S ABN weight w/muffler=7.93 ounces  price $79.98 (Tower Hobbies)
O.S. .40 LA-S ABN weight w/muffler=12.28 ounces price (?? no longer available from O.S.)
O.S. .46 LA-S ABN weight w/muffler=12.08 ounces  price $84.98 (Tower Hobbies)

Oddly.. My Fox .29 Stunt weighs more than my Fox .35 Stunt (probably more weight in the .29's cyl. liner.. both engines share the same case)
my Fox .29= 6.6 ounces
my Fox .35= 6.35 ounces
(neither have mufflers)

Here's some info. on my Nobler kit (circa 1978)

Hea Doug did Ron CRASH one of those    .... My thought on the subject would be not knowing what wood may have went into kits being sold the weight will mater when building ? say spruce, bass , balsa denseness ?? my   of coarse I am sure depends on how you intended on flying it .  

Roddie,

That too is a nice kit. I do know the airfoil is thicker than than the Aldrich version and there are styling differences as well.

You are correct. Your .29 is heavier as less material was removed from the liner than the .35

Thank you all for the input. It was really the minimum weight that perplexed me - I could see that the bigger the engine then the heavier the plane would be but as Ron said - 53 oz seems heavy for a Fox 35.

As you may guess - selecting an engine isn't a problem for me and, if I were to go I.C. then I would have difficulty straying away from fitting a diesel. I.C. may be an option as I have discovered a club near where I visit when I go to the North of England - they can fly I.C. but a lot depends on the noise regulations and the degree of silencing.

Unfortunately my visits haven't given me enough time to visit the flying club although it is only a couple of miles from where I stay.

I also still have to get back into control line. Weather has not permitted me to smash the Wizard yet. I have another vintage (British) 1/2 A kit for Cl and a  vintage (British) kit for a .15. These are both repros and they were more expensive than the Nobler. They will definitely be electrickeried!

I will progress upwards in size but like to be prepared and ready. I did the same with motor cycles - began on 50cc and now have a 1200cc.

I know people collect vintage kits and don't build them but are pure collectors. Everyone has their own fetish, hobby, trait but when I see a box of parts or materials - I want to build it!

The only plane I have built more than once is the Dominator combat flying wing. They took some breaking but I managed it a few times!

It will be a while before I build this one - my next CL build will be the 1/2 A repro ready to replace the Wizard. I still have to finish my "mystery" RC biplane - I got sidetracked with a few other projects (Miss Tally Biplane (finished), the foam board Bloody Wonder (finished), a couple of engine builds one 75% and the other 50% finished.

The weather here has been against flying - rain and wind! It is frustrating. I flew for the first time in months on Saturday but the ground was so muddy it was slippy and unpleasant. Landings ( that appeared perfectly lined up) in the very soft, sloppy ground took its toll on the plane.

Anyway, enough blabbering, when I do build it I will document it.

Thanks again

Ian