ShadowAero reincarnates the FATBOYS!

[ShadowAero]

PRESS RELEASE:

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CA
10/5/2011

ShadowAero is extremely proud to announce the 'reincarnation' of two very special products: Emerging from the shadows of western rocketry legend, ShadowAero will begin production of the 'FATBOY' and 'ULTRA FATBOY'!
'I fondly recall my time at Lucerne and many other western launches in the mid to late 1990's, and one constant from those events was the presence of Roy Weid's 'PUBLIC ENEMY ROCKETS', and especially the enigmatic 'FATBOY' and 'ULTRA FATBOY' designs. They were tough, relatively inexpensive kits that were extremely simple to build, and very easy to customize and personalize. You can fly them on J and K motors all day long, with no fussy electronics or delicate components. I think it is time for these extremely rugged, inexpensive, and fun designs to fly again. It's all about the raw enthusiasm of rocketry ', recalls ShadowAero owner Dave Triano. Roy Weid states: 'The Fatboys look great! I am proud to see them back in action again and have many fond memories of flying rockets out in the Lucerne dry lake bed.' The new 4" diameter kits will be produced under the 'PUBLIC ENEMY by ShadowAero' name, and will begin shipping by Halloween.
Fans of the FATBOY series will instantly recognize the silhouette, four fins, and original PUBLIC ENEMY cones. A few small improvements have been made to the structure, with standard 54mm motor capability, a forward motor retention bulkhead and stainless steel u-bolt recovery attachment, rail guides, 36" chute by Top Flight, large waterslide decals and a disk with current rocksim files, history, pictures, and FATBOY graphics included. The pre-beveled high quality 1/4"baltic ply fins remain the same, and the centering rings are now made from the same 1/4" ply. The standard FATBOY kit will sell for 94.99, and the good-looking ULTRA FATBOY will sell for 118.99.

Further information is up under 'flight vehicles' at https://www.shadowaero.com, or contact Dave Triano at [email protected]. Have a great 2012!

 

[GregGleason]

Wow!

Uber cool graphics.

Greg

 

[maxvelocity]

I like them. The paint especially. Too bad I could never get my paint to look that cool.

 

[atxcple]

wow glad to see these.. i love public enemy kits

 

[Highpowerrocketyahoo]

Very nice!

 

[stickershock23]

I like them. The paint especially. Too bad I could never get my paint to look that cool.

 

[dixontj93060]

I have an original Fatboy I purchased from Roy years ago--love it!

 

[sodmeister]

Now that`s a cool looking rocket and the color scheme is absolutely wild !

Public Enemy were always nice kits.

Paul t

 

[gdjsky01]

Always wondered what happen to Roy. I remember Kurt Whiting and Jeff Murdoch kickin a$$ with all manner of Fatboys in the late 90's. Thrust66.com

Great times when Roy would attend the Hemet Valley Rocket Club launches. Those were soooo laid back.

I still fly my Fatboy. Had a lawn dart years ago and had to cutoff, then add some tube. So it became T-boy. Still have it, still fly it. Hell you can still see the PE sticker on the bottom.




I cert'd L2 on a PE Gladiator.

I know I'd love to get an ultra with a Stickershock scheme like those shown.

 

[rstaff3]

I agree this is good news. Dave, those Fatboys look AWESOME! I got a PE 3" Baby Fatboy in 1999 and certed L-1 on an H242. It was later lost in the trees for a couple of years. When it returned, I had to replace the tube and fins. It's still flying!

 

[edwinshap1]

and we still fly out at lucerne, jeff's pic is, ifik, at NSL in june?

you should swing by, only a 6 or 7 hour drive for 3 days of rocket fun

 

[UPscaler]

Whoa, something from Shadowaero I can afford (on occasion) :tongue:

Just kiddin' Dave, I know why your prices are where they are, and if I had the money, I'd buy one of those Shock kits :grin:



Those look very cool, I've admired public enemy kits for a while, but obviously never had a way to get one.



Braden

 

[atxcple]

Whoa, something from Shadowaero I can afford (on occasion) :tongue:

Just kiddin' Dave, I know why your prices are where they are, and if I had the money, I'd buy one of those Shock kits :grin:



Those look very cool, I've admired public enemy kits for a while, but obviously never had a way to get one.



Braden

you want to see a shock up close i will have one at the next AARG launch (whenever that is)

 

[dixontj93060]

Picked up an Ultra Fatboy from Dave Triano a few weeks back (along with some other stuff). Always liked Public Enemy kits and been drawn West Coast rockets in general as I first learned about High Power Rocketry when I was out in Silicon Valley. Began building last night. I am impressed with the quality of materials. Stainless steel hardware and take a look at the 1/4" plywood for the fins--if I count right there are 11-ply in a 1/4"!!! Did a sim on the material and geometry for the fins--this stuff will go up to 2.5 Mach without reinforcement. Wow, impressive for a sport flyer.

 

[powderskierman]

Can you produce vinyl like this? Checkers, neon fade? If so, I'll be ordering.

Cheers

 

[BLKKROW]

Anyone have the rocsim file for the Ultra fat boy?

 

[stickershock23]

I am working on something for them.

Unfortunately I cant do NEON and Checkers together. but a Cool checker wrap is in the works.

YOu paint on the neons I make the checkers..

I sent a set out to a customer with the Kit and he is going to beta test them for sit. once I know how they do (bar any huge changes to be made) there will be an offering very soon.

And YEAH I gotta get one of these kits.. too cool

View attachment 101584
Can you produce vinyl like this? Checkers, neon fade? If so, I'll be ordering.

Cheers

 

[crossfire]

I also had a PE Fat Boy years ago and it was a great flyer. Roy had the Fat boy name on a rocket long before Estes.
gp

 

[dixontj93060]

Thought about ordering from Mark (again...), but realized these faded checks might be an issue. So I'm doing it all with paint effects. I'm halfway through finish coat on my Ultra Fat Boy (going slow), but I'll post it soon.

I am working on something for them.

Unfortunately I cant do NEON and Checkers together. but a Cool checker wrap is in the works.

YOu paint on the neons I make the checkers..

I sent a set out to a customer with the Kit and he is going to beta test them for sit. once I know how they do (bar any huge changes to be made) there will be an offering very soon.

And YEAH I gotta get one of these kits.. too cool

 

[powderskierman]

Just ordered a Ultra Fatboy from Dave last night, can't wait to build her. Such a cool looking bird!!

 

[crossfire]

I put a idea in Dave's head last year for him to build a carbon fiber Ulta Fatboy. Wouldn't that be nice.
GP

 

[dixontj93060]

Thought about ordering from Mark (again...), but realized these faded checks might be an issue. So I'm doing it all with paint effects. I'm halfway through finish coat on my Ultra Fat Boy (going slow), but I'll post it soon.

Well, in hindsight this post was not "soon", but, hey, at least I'm posting... Below is my humble interpretation of the Public Enemy Ultra Fatboy as re-released by ShadowAero. Painting is complete less the clear coat. Although it does not "pop" as much as Dave T.'s expertly airbrushed "show models", I think it turned out pretty well, especially considering I just used rattle can paint and a Parma mask that was available at my local hobby store. I chose to go a bit simpler on the color scheme (neon yellow/black/white) and, after much consternation, held off on putting the Public Enemy & Skull/Bones/Dead Head decals as I didn't want to disrupt up the simple/clean look. I also chose to add more black and extend it through the tailcone area to better integrate with the Aeropack retainer and not abruptly break up the color.

It is built to fly dual deploy with a Raven2/Power Perch mounted on the the nosecone bulkplate and a Defy Gravity tether mounted (on the outside) of the nosecone bulkplate. Also in the nosecone (also on the bulkplate assembly) is space for a BRB tracker, and above that, space for 1 to 5 nine ounce lead muffin weights to provide variable weighting depending on the motor you decide to have this thing "eat." As mentioned before, the kit provided by ShadowAero is extremely high quality, with 11-ply, 1/4" fins (you don't even have to laminate to go past Mach) and stainless steel hardware. I would recommend if you are looking to do a reincarnation of a traditional West Coast rocket with much history.

 

[mjhall]

Beautiful job. Would love to see pics of your avbay/nosecone set up.

 

[powderskierman]

Look sweet. I would also love to see some pics of the nosecone/avy set up.

 

[dixontj93060]

Look sweet. I would also love to see some pics of the nosecone/avy set up.

I'll try to get some pics posted over the next week or so...

 

[patelldp]

Great paint job. Very close to Dave's example!

 

[dixontj93060]

Great paint job. Very close to Dave's example!

Yep, this one was the one I liked best and thus was the inspiration (although besides the other changes mentioned, I thought the larger letters should be on the aft end):

 

[dixontj93060]

Look sweet. I would also love to see some pics of the nosecone/avy set up.

OK, here is the nosecone bulkhead. I quickly mounted the electronics and mocked up some wires for effect/understanding. Electronics is placed so you can screw the bulkhead in and they swing around the 1/4" all thread (shown in this other post along with weighting) while it is screwed in. Position of wiring exit points give indication of where Power Perch magnetic switch sits on nosecone radius so it can be turned on for flight. The bulkhead is 1/8" FG with CF reinforcement and a neoprene gasket (cut out is ugly, but functional) tacked in with screws to seal the fore NC cavity. At the copper cap, copper tubing holds the apogee charge. The Defy Gravity tether then holds the main deployment bag closed until low altitude is reached.

 

[ECayemberg]

Yep, this one was the one I liked best and thus was the inspiration (although besides the other changes mentioned, I thought the larger letters should be on the aft end):

View attachment 106690

Tim, your Ultra Fatboy looks superb! I've been on the fence; it's an internal debate of want vs. need! Definitely want, definitely don't need another 4" kit!

Regarding the lettering, I'm afraid your UF is doomed! Horizontal lettering must always read from left to right in the direction of flight; otherwise the rocket becomes confused and tries to fly backwards:wink:.

-Eric-

 

[dixontj93060]

Regarding the lettering, I'm afraid your UF is doomed! Horizontal lettering must always read from left to right in the direction of flight; otherwise the rocket becomes confused and tries to fly backwards:wink:.

Unless you have spent significant time in the Southern Hemisphere (flushing toilets) or are learning Chinese.