A View from Broadway

Tim Hobbins of the UK has proposed a new class of control-line Combat for small models using electric power. These are some typical models that could be used in the class. Tim Hobbins photo.

'Lectric Combat

By Ken Burdick

Yes folks, it’s true.

I’m actually writing about an electric event! I’m an internal combustion slimer from way back, but this idea is so innovative and complete that I just couldn’t resist sharing it with you. I may break it up into a couple of articles due to the length of it all.

The designer and author of it all is none other that the master Brit vintage diesel man, Tim Hobbins. His diesel designs are superior to any others I have flown. He’s a real innovator. So here we go, Geezers.

Are you old and grumpy? Longing for the day when 1/2-A Combat was ruled by the TeeDee .049 and not some newfangled monster from the Ukraine that cost an arm and a leg, that frightens you when you run it? All this is before the thing is launched when half the time you can’t locate it???? Is that’s what got you down?

Well, grump no more!

How would you like a clean airplane that flies the same with half the hassle and starts every time?

Tim Hobbins from the UK has been promoting just that. It may not be for everyone, and is aimed at a beginner class or lower performance, but is a complete set of plans, equipment, how to and rules. Tim has engineered the following and is complete in it’s make up. Although the line length is 14 meters (45 ft) our high performance ½-A lines of 42 feet will work perfectly. One thing to remember about eeeeelectric is that the motors have instant torque, so the performance is remarkable. Yes, you can use a better motor and even stronger batteries, but this is meant to be affordable (cheap) and fun. Bruce Tungberg has fabricated a 1/2A Combat similar and it flies surprisingly well after many attempts to get it right. No attempts here lil' Geezers, just follow the instructions.

— Kenny-b

A View from Broadway

'Lectric Combat

The Tim Hobbins files on electric Combat

Electric CL Combat article

Aeromodeller electric CL Combat article 2

Electric Combat proposed rules

List of items needed for Electric Combat Class I

Plan for the Hawk E5 AO

Plan for the Hawk E6

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