(updated 8/15/97)
I built a kit in the early '70s because of the potential '30s racer look and because I was intrigued by the coupled flaps. I flew the plane for a few years with a K&B .40 until other time demands forced me to give up the hobby. The plane hung suspended in my son's room for over 15 years. The photo above is how it looked after the engine and landing gear were removed (and a good dusting off!). In my infinite wisdom and anticipation of an electric conversion over 20 years ago, I built the plane as a tail-dragger.
When I first got into electric about two years ago I immediately thought about converting the Nobler. Conventional wisdom said that it was too heavy and that it would require at least an Astro C40G ($$$). At KRC '96, Doug Ingraham suggested the possibility of running a C15G on 20 cells and a 10x6 prop. I already had a C15G, two ten-cell 1700SCRC packs, and the 10x6 was the same size prop as I used on the K&B. I can take a hint!
Now that I had all the major parts with no $$$ investment, the fun part began. The weight had to somehow be kept under control. My ground rule, based primarily on laziness, was to do a minimum of surgery, and leave the Monokote as intact as possible. After all, this is kind of like an ARF. This means that weight reduction cannot be obsessive. Preliminary estimates indicated that I would have to expunge over 10 ounces to end up at 6-1/2 pounds. This is a wing loading of 27 oz./sq.ft. This is a bit high, but hopefully the coupled flaps will help here.