Cox NaBOO - Just in time for Halloween

rsv1cox Mon Oct 21, 2024 3:25 pm

Jim started it with his Three Stooges post then CLG and roddie chimed in with Cox Star Wars models featuring the NaBoo whatever it is and I was hooked. Big departure from what usually captures my attention. Kid stuff, weird but extremely interesting. I like style and the Naboo has gobbs of it.

I looked for the cheapest example on ebay and made a low offer which was accepted. Four star seller, within seconds he accepted my offer, then within minutes he was on the way to the Post Office with it sending me a tracking number. Next door to West Virginia in Maryland I got it almost the next day.

Happy with it. It needed some disinfecting but cleaned up well. Model encased in a plastic bubble, control handle/line and instructions never touched. Cox flight kit never opened and I can hear fuel slopping around.

A little nasty here and there. Vacuumed the stuff out of the no window box, some Windex on a wet towel followed by dry did wonders.

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Price progression, (regression) started at $39.95 in 1998 dollars, dropped to $29.95, then $15 which probably was flea market money.

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Tis a beautiful thing and I like it. Goes to my Grandson (eventually) who is a Star Wars walking encylopedia.

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1975 control line guy Mon Oct 21, 2024 4:15 pm

Of all 4 I too like the Naboo Fighter the best.

Elchappo Mon Oct 21, 2024 4:58 pm

Do you think the grandson will will fly it, or will it be a museum piece? The price you paid was significantly less than the 250 they normally go for. I have one of the federation drones and every day I change my mind about flying it or not flying it.

roddie Mon Oct 21, 2024 5:04 pm

rsv1cox wrote:Jim started it with his Three Stooges post then CLG and roddie chimed in with Cox Star Wars models featuring the NaBoo whatever it is and I was hooked. Big departure from what usually captures my attention. Kid stuff, weird but extremely interesting. I like style and the Naboo has gobbs of it.

Price progression, (regression) started at $39.95 in 1998 dollars, dropped to $29.95, then $15 which probably was flea market money.

Tis a beautiful thing and I like it. Goes to my Grandson (eventually) who is a Star Wars walking encylopedia.

It's a coooool model Robert.. Cool

It looks more like an aircraft than any of the other models in that series.. IMHO

Sad to know how these "RTF" models died on retail-store shelves.. but now; one of them can finally be appreciated by you Robert! Very Happy

CLG recommended a control-sys. mod.. so make sure that you address that..

Here's an image of a Naboo N-1 that's currently my laptop's wallpaper..

Cox NaBOO - Just in time for Halloween Naboo_12

1975 control line guy Mon Oct 21, 2024 5:43 pm

Elchappo wrote:Do you think the grandson will will fly it, or will it be a museum piece? The price you paid was significantly less than the 250 they normally go for. I have one of the federation drones and every day I change my mind about flying it or not flying it.

The Trade Federation Droid Fighter will fly "better" if the tip weight is taken out of the inboard and relocated next to the outboard side tip weight (double tip weight outboard). Flying in any winds over 3 MPH is courting disaster.

The most I have paid for any Star Wars plane was $80.00 and the least $35.00 with shipping. However we may be improving the market Eyebrows

rsv1cox Mon Oct 21, 2024 6:52 pm

However we may be improving the market

It happened with the Cox Mercedes Benz, for a month or so there were several of us bidding on any example. If I remember I had 17 at one time, sold about 10 mostly at a loss. Doesn't matter, most were basket cases which I restored having my fun. After that I just lose interest. But I kept several of the best most interesting examples. Got one that has all the boxing intact even the top locator which got MudHens attention.

Old #2, I still have it.

Cox NaBOO - Just in time for Halloween Old_2_10

Cox NaBOO - Just in time for Halloween Cox_me13

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The sellers price for the Naboo was $95.00. I contacted him and offered $75 which he accepted. I felt like I over-paid, still do but I wanted it. My usual offering is $35 or less for most anything................except chainsaws,, Smile

I will have my son checking flea markets for a cheap one, maybe crashed or without a box. I would love to fly a Naboooooo on Halloween under a full moon. Smile

KariFS Tue Oct 22, 2024 2:26 am

Star Wars Episode I was released in 1999, so the model is probably from year 2000 or a little later. I guess control line craze was pretty much ”over” already, as far as mainstream/toy stores were concerned. R/C and electrickery was already on their way in.

My wife and I lived in St Louis in 1998-1999, and in Atlanta from 2000 on. We went to see the movie in a theatre, but not sure in which city Smile

Anyway, I remember being fascinated by the sleek lines of Naboo fighters and also the Queen’s spacecraft. No reason why you wouldn’t consider style and aerodynamics, even when you travel in space Cool

Bob, I’m sure you could whip up a twin engine version from balsa by Halloween Smile

Just look at the photo Roddie posted, all you need is two big aluminium spinners and go from there.

rsv1cox Tue Oct 22, 2024 7:44 am

Thanks Kari, I'm waiting for roddie to build his own version. I bet it would be spectular. roddie crosses all of the t's and i's in his builds. I only cross some of them. Sad

The date on the boxes SKU thingy says 12/98.

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I would think the box printing predates the Naboo's manufacture by a few months so 99'/2000 is probably correct. I don't remember the movie. I will have to look it up.

The box is a mess, I will have to find a window and do some repairs, but I have one ahead of it.

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I went looking for old #2, found it and others. I had a lot of fun with those things. I left one in "as found" condition. Someday I will tear into it.

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rdw777 Tue Oct 22, 2024 12:41 pm

NaBoo is a radical but attractive design Bob….Interesting to note how Cox evolved to try and keep up with what it perceived to be interesting to the culture of the time…. I’m guessing it was toward the last of their offerings…. The last Cox model I received for a gift was the Mantis, like the one in the photo below…. Around mid 80’s ….It was actually a decent flyer for being plastic….. I rigged it once for “round the pole “ on about a 10’ line inside of a building…. A little mischievous but exciting Very Happy

Cox NaBOO - Just in time for Halloween 367d6310

roddie Tue Oct 22, 2024 4:42 pm

rsv1cox wrote:Thanks Kari, I'm waiting for roddie to build his own version. I bet it would be spectular. roddie crosses all of the t's and i's in his builds. I only cross some of them.

Yes.. it would most definitely be spectular...

roddie Tue Oct 22, 2024 6:03 pm

........... I do want to build one in the worst way.. and even started cobbling-up materials.. to see if they might fit the bill for a preliminary design/prototype that I am envisioning.

Twin-engines would be a must... for me anyway. It would be a Control-Line model.. which I'd think would be easier to have success with.

yes... absolutely a twin-engine..

Cox NaBOO - Just in time for Halloween N-1_bf10

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I see an "L-T-L" framework working for what I'm envisioning. I have that Baltic Birch plywood gusset-stock which I could use to form the central "Tee".. as well as the two arms which will each support a non-throttled Cox engine.

I'd try making a "skin" using .020" (thin..) Stirene which would NOT need to be structural.. but would need to conform to a symetrical airfoil shape.

The "elevator" control-surface might mimic the Cox design.. using thin-gage clear Polycarbonate.

It would be a tail-dragger (R.O.G.) design.

The wheels are turning.. Eyebrows

rsv1cox Tue Oct 22, 2024 6:04 pm

roddie wrote:
rsv1cox wrote:Thanks Kari, I'm waiting for roddie to build his own version. I bet it would be spectular. roddie crosses all of the t's and i's in his builds. I only cross some of them.

Yes.. it would most definitely be spectular...

Mark was over today, informed me that the thing behind the NaBoos cockpit is R2D2 (if I have that right). I thought it was some kind of nuclear power boost for the engines. I'm learning. Spectacular even..........

1975 control line guy Tue Oct 22, 2024 7:02 pm

roddie wrote: ........... I do want to build one in the worst way.. and even started cobbling-up materials.. to see if they might fit the bill for a preliminary design/prototype that I am envisioning.

Twin-engines would be a must... for me anyway. It would be a Control-Line model.. which I'd think would be easier to have success with.

yes... absolutely a twin-engine..

I see an "L-T-L" framework working for what I'm envisioning. I have that Baltic Birch plywood gusset-stock which I could use to form the central "Tee".. as well as the two arms which will each support a non-throttled Cox engine.

I'd try making a "skin" using .020" (thin..) Stirene which would NOT need to be structural.. but would need to conform to a symetrical airfoil shape.

The "elevator" control-surface might mimic the Cox design.. using thin-gage clear Polycarbonate.

It would be a tail-dragger (R.O.G.) design.

The wheels are turning..

May the Force be With You Flying

roddie Tue Oct 22, 2024 7:05 pm

rsv1cox wrote:
Mark was over today, informed me that the thing behind the NaBoos cockpit is R2D2 (if I have that right). I thought it was some kind of nuclear power boost for the engines. I'm learning. Spectacular even..........

rsv1cox Tue Oct 22, 2024 7:20 pm

Thanks for that roddie. I'm up to speed. Smile

I wonder what happened to all the mock-up's used it those films, kid riding in the Naboo for instance. I'm guessing that 90% of the movie was computer gens. I still think that it's pretty slick. I would love to pop the bubble and fly the thing. Yeah, museum piece, but I still have hopes that Mark will find me a well used example that I can disect.

roddie Wed Oct 23, 2024 2:49 am

rsv1cox wrote:Thanks for that roddie. I'm up to speed.

I wonder what happened to all the mock-up's used it those films, kid riding in the Naboo for instance. I'm guessing that 90% of the movie was computer gens. I still think that it's pretty slick. I would love to pop the bubble and fly the thing. Yeah, museum piece, but I still have hopes that Mark will find me a well used example that I can disect.

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Here's some Cool

info on the N-1 Starfighter Robert..

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See below link for eye-candy..

Link to N-1 studio model images

rsv1cox Wed Oct 23, 2024 10:30 am

Thanks for that link roddie, I spent several minutes thumbing though the pages. I read all the comments too. Reminded me that there was a preguil to the original Stars Wars movie where they dug up Luke's father? maybe. All I remember is Harrison Ford at a pub jiving it up with Jabba the Hut and others..... maybe.

I would love to see a clone. I guess it was originally conceived in wood. It would be hard to do as you describe, that long thin tail - very difficult. I thought I saw a hint of ailerion on the "wing", would be interessting in the emptyness of space.

roddie Wed Oct 23, 2024 11:27 am

rsv1cox wrote:Thanks for that link roddie, I spent several minutes thumbing though the pages.

I would love to see a clone. I guess it was originally conceived in wood. It would be hard to do as you describe, that long thin tail - very difficult. I thought I saw a hint of ailerion on the "wing", would be interessting in the emptyness of space.

I'm working on a nacelle design that will "key-into" the central (fuse) section. Thin plywood discs; cut using hole-saws.. and aligned using 1/4" dia. dowels running through the hole made by the 1/4" drill used in the hole-saw mandrel. It won't be a scale model.. but more; my own interpretation.

Photos coming soon..

rsv1cox Wed Oct 23, 2024 12:14 pm

roddie wrote:
rsv1cox wrote:Thanks for that link roddie, I spent several minutes thumbing though the pages.

I would love to see a clone. I guess it was originally conceived in wood. It would be hard to do as you describe, that long thin tail - very difficult. I thought I saw a hint of ailerion on the "wing", would be interessting in the emptyness of space.

I'm working on a nacelle design that will "key-into" the central (fuse) section. Thin plywood discs; cut using hole-saws.. and aligned using 1/4" dia. dowels running through the hole made by the 1/4" drill used in the hole-saw mandrel. It won't be a scale model.. but more; my own interpretation.

Photos coming soon..

Anticipation is making me wait......Simon.

rsv1cox Mon Oct 28, 2024 11:00 am

Oh,oh.

I am smitten, or is that bitten by the S/W's Naboo bug. Bought a second boxed Naboo. Made an offer (75.00) which was accepted w/$15.99 shipping. I can't find a cheap unboxed unsealed example and I just have to get my hands on one. I will carefully break the seal on the worst. I think the flight box inside will still be intact. A big plus.

Cox NaBOO - Just in time for Halloween 2nd_na10

I also made offers on these two rocket examples - $10 and $15 respectfully. I'm down to a donut and a cup of coffee each.

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rsv1cox Thu Oct 31, 2024 3:37 pm

Have you ever been left feeling a little empty..............

I usually give my purchases a great deal of thought. This one not so much. I knew that you needed the rocket engines etc. but my son was into this stuff back when the space program was really taking off and Estes sold a lot of it. I thought he must have engines left over. Maybe, maybe not.

Makes a good desk ornament though. Made in China back when. Not much to it. Estes must have made a killing even after paying off the royalities. For $10 I have had my fun.

Naboo still on it's way.

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Got my Corsair canopy at the same time so all is not lost.

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roddie Thu Oct 31, 2024 4:01 pm

Here's a pkg. of 4 "middle of the road" engines through Amazon.. not cheap though.. (it's because it's through a 3rd party)

Amazon link

Walmart is a LOT cheaper.. (comparing apples to apples...)

Walmart link

rsv1cox Thu Oct 31, 2024 6:09 pm

roddie wrote:Here's a pkg. of 4 "middle of the road" engines through Amazon.. not cheap though.. (it's because it's through a 3rd party)

Amazon link

Walmart is a LOT cheaper.. (comparing apples to apples...)

Walmart link

Thanks roddie, I have found that Walmart's on-line shopping to be cheaper as well.

I will wait to see if Mark has some engines, I might just shoot the little thing off. It's interesting to note that the Naboo flys higher.

roddie Thu Oct 31, 2024 7:01 pm

A quick query on the web lists the same size engines for the Estes Naboo fighter.. as for the Estes Droid fighter; 1/2A3-2T, A3-4T or A10-3T... so if you sprang for the 24pk. of A3-4T's.. you could use them for both models.

A3-4T engine bulk 24pk.

You will need a launch pad though.. and Walmart has just the one you need..

Estes Mini Engine Launch System

Estes made a Naboo Fighter "Starter Set".. which I found a review for on the web..

Estes Naboo Fighter Starter Set review

rsv1cox Thu Oct 31, 2024 7:14 pm

roddie wrote:A quick query on the web lists the same size engines for the Estes Naboo fighter.. as for the Estes Droid fighter; 1/2A3-2T, A3-4T or A10-3T... so if you sprang for the 24pk. of A3-4T's.. you could use them for both models.

A3-4T engine bulk 24pk.

You will need a launch pad though.. and Walmart has just the one you need..

Estes Mini Engine Launch System

Estes made a Naboo Fighter "Starter Set".. which I found a review for on the web..

Estes Naboo Fighter Starter Set review

Thanks roddie, a whole world that I never knew existed. I bookmarked the Naboo starter set, if I ever find one..............

Hey, I just realized...........it IS Halloween. Out in the sticks here I never get Trick or Treaters. Quiet as a Mummy out there. They head in-town for the richer pickings I guess.......better candy. My Son in Virginia get's crowds of kids every Halloween.

naBOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO to all of you out there. Pumpkin

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May the Force be With You

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