Noblers

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Noblers

Nobler 1 - Nobler 2 - Nobler 3 - Nobler 4 - Nobler 5 - Nobler 6 - Nobler 7 - Nobler 8 - Nobler 9

My first real acquaintance with the 'Nobler' design was when Brian Horrocks built one to take to the world championships in Hungary in 1960. I was very much a follower of Bob Palmer at this time and was flying Bob's 'Chief' and 'Thunderbird' designs. I knew of George Aldrich and that his approach was rather different to Palmer, with larger flaps which had more movement.

The Palmer approach was to have flaps which had rather less movement than the elevator - typically 45 degrees elevator movement (each way) and 30 degree flap movement. Bob's later designs also tended to have quite small flaps. The result was a model which would turn very tightly and is considered 'twitchy' by modern standards.

The Aldrich approach was to have larger flaps with more movement. This gave a slower turning, smoother flying model. George started with a modified 'Chief' with larger flaps, sometimes known as the 'Super Chief'. This led directly to the 'Nobler'. George told me that his original model had 45 degrees elevator movement and 50 degrees flap movement.

When Brian Horrocks needed a model for the world championships, he produced a kit 'Nobler'. Brian told me at the time that the 'Nobler' was ideal for a flyer who was low on practice as it was easier to fly than the average model of the time.

My first model was built for the 1961 Criterium of Aces in Belgium, from a copy of Brian's kit plan. This had a removable undercarriage to facilitate being taken on an airline flight as cabin luggage! It was powered by the OS 35 'Max 1' which was a feature of many of my models at this time (no silencer) and decorated in my favourite 1930's US Navy colours.

My method of filling a single vent tank required that I stand the model on its nose

At the time, I had serious doubts about the lifting fin that was a feature of the design. When the model was written off while flying in very strong winds, I felt that it was partly to blame. Most subsequent models had offset, or moving rudders, although I have recently returned to the fin as originally designed.

Number two was again built to the kit plan, but with a separate, offset, rudder. This one had the inevitable OS 35 and was finished in the later, dark blue, US Navy colours. While being flown at an SMAE Centralised meeting, the elevator pushrod detached itself from the horn at the bottom of a square loop. The result was an inverted landing with no more than a broken prop! Unbelievable though this may seem, I had an almost identical experience with a later model.

The luck didn't continue, however. At the 1963 Criterium of Aces, the motor stopped dead halfway up the first part of the reverse wingover and the model was totally destroyed. The American writers, Bill and Betty Bell, described this as 'instant garbage'.

Number three actually started life as the wing and tail of 'Iroquois IV'. This model had a wing-mounted undercarriage, which may have caused some aerodynamic problems. The result was a model which turned much tighter inside manoeuvres than outside. I thought that this might be related to the tubby fuselage, with radial cowl, so I rebuilt the model into a 'Nobler'. This did not solve the problem.

I then resorted to offsetting the flaps downwards in the hope of softening the inside turns (more flap) and tightening the outside turns (less flap). This was partially effective, but resulted in the model adopting a markedly nose up attitude when inverted. Despite this, it was a fairly successful model. While it never actually won anything, it had numerous seconds, including the 1964 Gold Trophy.

In the early 70's, I acquired a standard kit 'Nobler' which had been built by Mike Gagg. This had a tatty blue doped finish and I covered it with a coat of red polyeurethane to spruce it up a little. It kept my interest in C/L flying going while I was mainly concerned with R/C pylon racing. After suffering some minor damage, it was given away to a youngster in the Wolves club in 1974.

We now jump to 1978. After a long period of flying mostly R/C, apart from yearly appearances in the Gold Trophy flying my old 'Spacebird', I decided that I needed a new model. Lacking practice, I took Brian Horrocks advice and built 'Nobler' number five. Like the previous model, this had a wing-mounted undercarriage, but was otherwise standard, apart from a separate rudder. This was an Al Rabe style 'kicking rudder'. For recognition purposes, I always referred to this one as 'Nobler Still'.

One other innovation was that it was covered with 'Kwik-Kote' film. Having noted Mick Reeves use of film covering on his 'Dictator' design and having used film extensively for R/C models, I felt that this was acceptable. The whole model was covered with this material, including the fuselage, and it was entirely successful. This was mainly due to the superior nature of this particular film, which did not tend to become detached at the edges. The biggest gain was that the finished model weighed 38 ounces.

Once again, the old faithful OS 35 'Max 1' was used. This was the main problem, however, as it was well over the hill and refused to run consistently. This model also had an inclination to turn tighter insides than outsides.

For 1979, the motor was replaced by an ST 35, actually an R/C motor with the carburretor removed. This motor is still in use in various machines. This marked my return to serious stunt flying with 7 events entered during the year.

1980 got off to a good start and the model won the first SMAE Centralised meeting of the year. Flushed with this success, I decided to build yet another 'Nobler'. Some people never learn!

Number six had a number of changes from the standard kit. Apart from a wing-mounted undercarriage, the wing and tail were fully sheeted. Once again, I used an Al Rabe type rudder, but this was operated by a separate pushrod which went right back to the bellcrank, giving better control. Like both it's predecessors, it turned better on inside turns. This one became 'Even Nobler'.

At that time, the rules allowed various other control systems to be used provided they were done solely through the lines. Initially, I incorporated a system which would cut the motor after a predetermined number of control movements. This was never reliable and was replaced by a timer system which was initiated by the first up movement of the handle.

Finally, the model had an epoxy finish, This involved the use of a professional spray booth. While quite impressive, it was heavy! This was, by far, the heaviest 'Nobler' I built and weighed some 56 ounces. This was also a conspicuously unlucky model! It's contest history was marred by a succession of strange incidents. It also proved almost impossible to produce a good photo of it. When I gave it away to the previously mentioned Mike Gagg, the first thing he did was to break it. After repairs, it was stolen from his garage!

We now arrive at 1989 and the 'Nobler' contest held at the British Nationals and attended by George Aldrich himself. I needed a model, sans modifications, but didn't want to build yet another model from that old kit plan. The solution came in the form of the plan of George's original model which was being distributed by Ian Ward (since kitted by Brodak). This time I used the Merco 35 which had powered my 'Spacebird'.

Never one to follow the easy route, I started the model just 9 days before the contest. Having found a superb piece of wood from which to produce the tailplane and fin, I proceeded to carve a fin for clockwise flight! Serves me right for returning to that aerofoil rudder that I never liked.

Having flown number five in the Gold Trophy (a lowly 29th), I returned home on the Saturday night to finish and fuelproof the new model and returned to the Nats on Sunday morning. It's first flight was in the contest, in a thunderstorm, and it achieved first place. Good omen?

This model won the Nationals Classic event for the next five consecutive years (bringing the Merco's tally to 8 Nats wins). Henceforth, this was 'Noblest', short for 'the noblest Nobler of them all'. While it was certainly at it's best in very windy conditions, it was never a good-flying model. This was mainly due to the large difference (2.5 inches) in the length of the inner and outer wings. This caused the model to roll noticeably on square manoeuvres. I tried various ways of dealing with this, including a large tab on the outboard flap, but the difference was just too great.

Being built in a hurry meant that the model was never properly finished and it soon began to disintegrate. After nearly 200 flights it was scrapped.

When the opportunity arrived to abtain the die-cut wood parts from the Top-Flite kit, together with a new plan, from Medusa, I literally jumped at it. I still wonder why. There were several 'good' reasons at the time. 1996 would be my fortieth Nationals and also the fortieth anniversary of Georges US Nats win with the original. Thus we had 'Nobler 40'.

So, we return to square one with a totally standard 'Green Box Nobler'. Well, not quite. The kit wing features two identical sets of die-cut parts with the instruction 'cut here for outboard wing'. This gives an inner wing which is one inch longer than the outboard. I removed just half an inch. The lesson of number seven was still with me.

With coloured tissue covering and coloured tissue trim (shades of Frank Warburton), the weight came to 38 ounces with the old faithful Merco 35. This is by far the best flying of all eight examples that I have flown and the least successful in terms of results.

On it's first Nationals appearance in 1996, while on it's first flight in the Classic event, the bellcrank to flap pushrod failed while in inverted flight. The next thing I knew, it was sliding along the runway. Damage was restricted to fin, outer wingtip, and the top of the nose. Deja vu.

For a brief period, I resurrected the shut-off from number six, mainly to prove that the device still worked after 20 years. There was also a little matter of showing that the current rule was unworkable, since there was no way of knowing that it was fitted and working. Having been persuaded to enter the F2B event at the 2000 South Midland Area Rally, I couldn't legally use it. The resulting over-run left me vainly trying to stop the motor. Result, a hefty thump and the removal of the nose. Will I repair it? Who knows?

After nearly 4 years thinking about it (I came close to scrapping it a couple of times), I decided to build a new nose onto, the otherwise perfectly sound, number 8. As the Merco had seen better days and I had a spare ST 35C, I decided to use that. The joint between the old and new bits was reinforced by the introduction of 1/64" ply doublers between the fuselage sides and the standard 1/8" balsa doublers. I also added filets (epoxy and microballoons) between the fuselage and all the flying surfaces to clean things up a little. The model picked up a couple of ounces and weighed 43 ounces. With a new nose and a different motor, I think it qualifies as Number 9. So, it became 'Nobler OMT'.

I realised, rather late, that the ST was heavier than the Merco and the model never turned well until I added an ounce of tail weight. So, now it weighed 44 ounces (6 ounces more than when new).

This was not a successful combination and it was clear that the ST, which had never been run in a cowling, was not happy. There were also vibration problems, so I went back to the Merco and removed the tail weight. I'm in the process of playing around with props and spinners to get away from what is obviously some resonence in the new nose. Meanwhile, stress cracks are appearing all around the joint area...

Will I build another? When it snows in the Sahara.

No. Model No. Name Type & Mods Motor No of Flights First Flight Written Off Comments

1 17 (numbered 16) Nobler Built from Top-Flite kit plan, with removable U/C OS 35 Max 1 22
15/4/62 Wanstead Flats 30's US Navy colours

2 18 Nobler 2 Built from Top-Flite kit plan OS 35 Max 1 39
23/8/63 Genk Dark Blue US Navy colours

3 20 (numbered 1) Nobler 3 Built from Top-Flite kit plan OS 35 Max 1 41
21/5/66 Started life as 'Iroquois IV'. 30's US Navy colours.

4 None Nobler Standard Top-Flite kit built by Mike Gagg. OS 35 Max 1

Given away 12/5/74 Model used as a hack for about 3 years. Red polyeurethane over original blue dope finish.
5 80 Nobler Still Built from Top-Flite kit plan, with wing-mounted U/C. OS 35 Max 1/
ST 35

Broke up in air 26/8/89 Film covered. All white with red letters.

6 84 Even Nobler Built from Top-Flite kit plan, with wing-mounted U/C. Fully sheeted wing & tail. ST 35/
Merco 35

Given away 21/9/88 White epoxy finish, with orange/red/yellow trim. Ill fated!

7 130 Noblest
(Aldrich Nobler) Built from GMA plan. Merco 35 189 27/8/89 Scrapped 15/3/97 Red tissue finish, yellow lettering with black shadow.

8 167 Nobler 40 Built from Top-Flite kit plan and die-cut parts. Merco 35 126 23/8/96 10/09/00
crash removed nose Yellow tissue finish with red/orange trim. 40th anniversary special.

9 167 Nobler OMT Built from Top-Flite kit plan and die-cut parts. ST 35/
Merco 35 13 22/7/04
New nose and cowl built and grafted on.

No.	Model No.	Name	Type & Mods	Motor	No of Flights	First Flight	Written Off	Comments
1	17 (numbered 16)	Nobler	Built from Top-Flite kit plan, with removable U/C	OS 35 Max 1	22		15/4/62 Wanstead Flats	30's US Navy colours
2	18	Nobler 2	Built from Top-Flite kit plan	OS 35 Max 1	39		23/8/63 Genk	Dark Blue US Navy colours
3	20 (numbered 1)	Nobler 3	Built from Top-Flite kit plan	OS 35 Max 1	41		21/5/66	Started life as 'Iroquois IV'. 30's US Navy colours.
4	None	Nobler	Standard Top-Flite kit built by Mike Gagg.	OS 35 Max 1			Given away 12/5/74	Model used as a hack for about 3 years. Red polyeurethane over original blue dope finish.
5	80	Nobler Still	Built from Top-Flite kit plan, with wing-mounted U/C.	OS 35 Max 1/ ST 35			Broke up in air 26/8/89	Film covered. All white with red letters.
6	84	Even Nobler	Built from Top-Flite kit plan, with wing-mounted U/C. Fully sheeted wing & tail.	ST 35/ Merco 35			Given away 21/9/88	White epoxy finish, with orange/red/yellow trim. Ill fated!
7	130	Noblest (Aldrich Nobler)	Built from GMA plan.	Merco 35	189	27/8/89	Scrapped 15/3/97	Red tissue finish, yellow lettering with black shadow.
8	167	Nobler 40	Built from Top-Flite kit plan and die-cut parts.	Merco 35	126	23/8/96	10/09/00 crash removed nose	Yellow tissue finish with red/orange trim. 40th anniversary special.
9	167	Nobler OMT	Built from Top-Flite kit plan and die-cut parts.	ST 35/ Merco 35	13	22/7/04		New nose and cowl built and grafted on.