Bret Becker: Mr. Top Gun

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Bret Becker, Mr. Top Gun two years running along with his gorgeous U-2 model and his trophies

As with many ProModeler customers, I first got to know Bret Becker over the phone. Actually, it began with a missed call because I was yakking with someone else at the time so I responded via text, saying;

. . . on the phone, I'll call you back.

Then, wouldn't you know it, we played phone tag before connecting!

Anyway, and not unexpectedly, he was interested in servos and wanted to pick my brain. As is my wont, I inquired about the project and he mentioned working on a Lockheed U-2. Not the rock band U2, U-2 with a hyphen as in the Francis Gary Powers kind of U-2.

U-2, you know - type shot down flying over the Soviet Union toting a big ass camera lens for the purpose of taking - with impunity - thumb in our nose big league, spy photos! This, back when we dared the Soviets with overflights (before hiding from satellites became a thing).

So the U-2 was 'the' tool used for gathering the data. Until they shot one down. Things changed. However, as a camera platform, the U-2 is a highly specialized aircraft. Remains so because they're still in service! Fact.

The model, a U-2

In all honestly, being in this business means I get lots of interesting calls, from lots of interesting people, regarding lots of interesting models, but a U-2 stands out. Party because it's a seldom modeled aircraft. I've never seen one modeled. Not sure, but I don't think I've even heard of anyone doing it. If so, it's rare.

But my interest is not just that it's never seen, but also because it's steeped in the mythos of Kelly Johnson's famed Skunk Works. Seriously, this aircraft doesn't take a back seat to a Mustang, the Baron's triplane, or a Mig.29 for that matter! First amongst equals in my opinion. So he had my full attention.

So in brief, the moment Bret texted the U-2 photo below, he'd hooked me. He had my complete and utter attention. Study it carefully because it shows a deceptively simple balsa structured nestled within a carbon fiber molded wing skin.

Basically, when he contacts me, this guy is at the stage where installing servos is on the horizon because the next step is mating the two skins. Once the top and bottom wing skins sandwich the carefully designed wooden structure within, you get a wing panel . . . no second chances, no going back, capice? Time for servos!

- Balsa structure coming together within a carbon fiber molded wing skin

So we chat a bit. He shared his thoughts and I shared mine back regarding which servos I would be best for a given purpose. To be frank, he didn't learn much of anything from me because he already knew as much about my product lineup as anybody! We had a superb discussion of pros and cons of many things. First  guy ever with whom I didn't have to explain the why regarding decisions I'd made. Knew it cold.

So all in all, my recollection is of someone remarkably well informed regarding my product line. Better than most anybody! Anyway, after bouncing a few thoughts off each other, that's that, we were talked out and hung up.

Something bothered me. Sucked. What? I'd forgotten his name. I had no clue with whom I'd passed an enjoyable hour-and-a-half hangar flying!

I'm blessed in my line of work. In part, because this happens more often that you might think; I get into the flow, a name mentioned early on during a conversation with someone I've never met, and it sometimes never fully registers. But it's immense fun because of how interesting my customers are. However, once a name escapes me and I hang up, with no clue regarding who that was on the phone, then it's time to move on because I really don't have time to ring back.

And to be honest, it usually doesn't bother me, but the guy building a U-2 was special. Special because I recognized an element of driven genius. More of that in modeling than you might think, but this fellow had been special-special. Fact. And I couldn't recall the fellow's name . . . grrr!

So a while goes by (weeks) and I get a follow-on text. This time with a photo of the U-2 once again . . . but now looking like this. Holy smokes, that's an airplane. Wow!

- We live for customer photos of interesting projects, absolutely love them


Well folks, 'now' we're getting somewhere because this looks like a model airplane of a Lockheed U-2. Clearly recognizable as a Lockheed U-2, and nothing else, agreed? So in short order he buys some ProModeler servos. Had a list. End of story, right? Not quite.

Turns out he's been checking on us. Mentions a couple customer names. Names I recognize amongst our more serious customers. High dollar models. You know the type, want the best. These characteristics rarely come together in humans interested in scale. Not where servo counts sometimes numbering into the dozens make you carefully balance a natural desire for the best with price sensitivity. This guy didn't care. Knew what he needed. Placing his order was a very brief conversation. However, over the course of weeks our conversation via text continued.

Note; while nearly all scale-guys talk about grams, most are such gluttons for detail that added weight for a pitot tube, or rivets, or lights, or steps, or antennas, a pilot, instrument panel, cockpit detail doesn't really count in their mind. Like a fat guy reflexively reaching for another chocolate chip cookie to stuff his mouth, scale guys never stop thinking about the next detail. Reflex. The best ones? They never stop adding details to a model (or at least never stop thinking about adding one more detail) any more than I'll stop reaching for cookies until the bag is empty. And like my steadily growing waistline, details weighing grams add up to ounces quickly. And this guy grokked that.

Recall, scale models have a tendency toward getting heavier and heavier over time. Whether it's repairs or added details, they do. Bret focuses on weight differently. Everything is planned. Nothing haphazard. Different kind of guy. Laser focused on performance per gram. Few delve that deeply.


Little did I know what remained in store for me.

Brief recap

So the fellow we're profiling, Bret Becker, walks the walk with regard to saving grams. Usually, the guys counting grams are glider guys. Or maybe F3C competitors (and the really serious 3D guys). Plus free flight guys - but they don't count when you're in the servo business.

So here I've got a scale guy, who is also into weight savings, and maximizing performance. Doing more with less in other words. Less size, just the force he believes is what's needed - no more, no less. Guy's a genuine rara avis, believe me (rare bird, high school Latin). Learned a bit at the end of an 18" wood ruler wielded mercilessly by Sister Mary Margaret. Easier to learn that risk her wrath, but I digress. Anyway, rare bird is highly accurate.

Regarding servos

So Bret's obsessed with enough servo for the job, but not one gram more! For example, early on his focus was on our DS355CLHV mini for the stabs. And if perchance you're familiar with our servo line up, you'll recognize something special about the list of three from which he bought his servos.

Along with the DS355, our bad as they come mini, he also ordered DS150 micros, again unmatched in the class, plus our DS105 sub-micro. Trust me, these are not the usual selections for a 120" wingspan model (even if it does have a passing resemblance to glider). Nope, not by a long shot!

Each of the three servos is unquestionably our best in class (and arguably boss in each of their respective classes as made by anybody on Planet Earth, and at the very least, the best 'we' offer). In the photo below, these three servos are arrayed each progressively smaller in size within our 5-size range.

Flanking, from the left, the largest in our lineup is the DS2685BLHV mega-size. Next is our brutally powerful standard-size DS1155BLHV. In the middle, the aforementioned mini-class leading 355oz-in servo. Then comes our 150oz-in micro, and finally, our smack you silly 16g sub-micro. This minuscule servo outputs 105oz-in - gram for gram, this one is a beast!

- Five ProModeler servos representative by class, from biggest to smallest!

So who is this guy Bret Becker we're profiling? Well, for one, he's putting the most powerful we make within each of three servo classe into a model. And not just any model but an exceptional aircraft, the Lockheed U-2. And did I mention he's molded the whole thing? Yes, I mean not just the fuselage but the stab surfaces, and the entire top and bottom wing skins are molded. He's produced a magnificent model of an incredible aircraft and to be honest, I'm secretly pleased he's come to us for servos because it means the real experts are in tune with what we're trying to do in market utterly dominated by Asian imports.

Sounds dry, let's delve more deeply into this. Trust me, it's worth your time.

Allow me to make another point; this fellow personifies what it is to be a professional in the sport of aeromodeling. Each and every servo he's selected has its own correctly reasoned raison d'etre for being in our lineup. Yet whether it's for the flaps, rudder, ailerons, or elevators, he hasn't missed a trick in selecting our best! I couldn't choose better.

So to recap, Bret's called on us for servos, and as it turns out, he's ordering exactly the servos I would have used. Honestly, a lot of guys would second guess the offered options, perhaps opting for more torque, more speed, or a cheaper price - whatever! This guy? He has the courage of his convictions, and the smarts to stick by his guns. He's made his selections and understand what it means to be using smaller than standard-size servos. Had the pros and cons sussed, meaning he knew what he wanted, really didn't need my advice. Truth.

By the way, Bret, lives in middle-America, Dayton, OH. Regular guy. Into modeling of all kinds. Not just scale. Typical ProModeler customer? In some ways, yes. Definitely a perfect representative of who at the field is a ProModeler kind of guy. Not the typical old fart obsessed with cheaper. Instead, focused on details. Like how his models benefit from the bronze inserts in our servo cases resulting in a tighter gear mesh over time. Understands what the potting compound we use on the PCB brings to the game in terms of reliability. Refreshing in that I didn't have to explain anything! So instead of being a short term kind of guy, he wanted a better way of skinning the cat versus the cheapest. Like I said, defined the new breed of professionals in the sport. And representative of the kind of guys using our servos so we're definitely gaining traction in the right kind of market - yippee!

Anyway, as we stay in touch, he becomes less guarded. Begins to open up during what de facto has by then become an interview. Our texting serves as notes and in a word, and much as Spock would say, it's . . . fascinating!

From banal beginnings, greatness

As we begin yakking about models, his enthusiasm comes to the fore. When I asked how long he'd been modeling he responded in part by texting a photo of himself - youngish at the time - with a biplane model he professed to love. You sense it, good guy, a real modeler! Like you and me.

- Biplane racing was once all the rage and represents a fun facet of flying

What else? For one, take note, this profile didn't all come through in one conversation because we've now been yakking for months! Hard to fool me that long. I've got his essence accurately depicted. For example, there was the model he designed to go 100mph. Micro-size ducted fan. Electric. Yes, EDF . . . Electric Ducted Fan. Really, really, small. Fast!

So what you say? Lots of small EDF jets go 1000mph. Well, the 'so what' is this was from more than 10 years ago! Back 'before' you could buy one off the shelf. That's right, guys like Bret Becker are whom we should thank for these developments.

And thank them sincerely, no BS. My thanks are offered by me to him for being a trailblazer in this development of a branch of the sport. Trailblazer as in the ones who developed an entire class of aeromodeling. Like those who opened the west to the masses using wagon trains by exploring mountain passes on foot. Similarly, pushing the boundaries with micro EDF jets involved thinking on your feet and creating out of whole cloth what couldn't be bought.

This guy's modeling career reads like an adventure novel except I couldn't make this up if alcohol were involved!

Innovative EDF models

You see, more than a dozen years later we're being sold foamy jets made in Asia that go 100mph. So today you may say, 'Ho-hum' (regarding a micro jet hitting 100mph) but take a minute and reflect on what's less known, which is it was just a few someones in America who developed these. Bret was one of the someones.

Bret, plus a small handful of folks of a similar caliber, inveterate inventors and innovators created a whole new class of performance models - micro EDF jets. Aiding this development were hard won skills in crafting thin shells of fiber reinforced plastic plus minimal structure to minimize mass whilst maximizing strength. This guy really is expert in molding - cutting edge stuff.

Eyeball the Electrolyte in the photo below. 100mph. Honest. That small and fast? Yikes! Good pilot, too! Whole thing is light as a feather because of how it's molded.This is important later.

- Located within the AMA museum - a 100mph micro EDF - the Electrolyte

Notes about the Electrolyte EDF model - it was developed by Bret, and he used it to set records. And not only is the model molded out of FRP but the fan unit itself is hand made. No, not father of our country status, but definitely payed a role as one of the fathers of all the tiny EDF jets we're deluged with these days! Truth.

International Aeromodeling Center

Enough so the AMA snagged this particular bit of history for the National Model Aviation Museum! Yes, modeling has a museum and it's in Indiana at the world's finest model flying facility, the AMA's International Aeromodeling Center, near Muncie. Note, within this entire article, this may be one of my favorite photos (below).

It's the one in which Bob Brown accepts Bret's model but take special note, the Electrolyte is a cherished model, and he generously shared it with all of us by gifting it to the AMA. This, expressly so folks like you and me can visit and can see it first hand amongst other of modeling's treasure. I mean, if this were at his home and he died, the model, an important one at that, would likely end up in the trash before all is said and done. Small, fragile, memories, broken, trash . . . happens more often to the good stuff than you might like to believe. For a lot of guys, generalizing, OK? But the stuff they treasure is often just so much junk when they fly west. Fact.

No, the Electrolyte isn't today valued like the almost $300k for Lou Gehrig's glove at Cooperstown, but it's important for modeling. You grok historic? Generous to share it with the AMA, if you ask me.

So the more I've gotten to know Bret the more impressed I became. And I'm tickled he selected ProModeler servos. Is it obvious I'm a member of his fan club? Member, heck . . . I'm VP behind only President Wency, his lovely bride! Read on, maybe you'll become one, also. Good guy. One of us.

This, by the way is my favorite photo in this sequence, Bret with Bob Brown, both class acts.

- This tiny EDF went 100mph and resides in Muncie, IN at the museum


So what else is there to know about Bret Becker? Well, he also fooled around with speed models.

Propeller, speed aircraft

Witness this little number, which he designed and flew. What's not obvious is it too, is a molded model. Not balsa and plywood, but molded fiberglass. Thin shell. Hand launched, fast, not just for going around the patch. Made for speed.

- One look at the wing says it all, this thing was made to fly faaaast!

So the more Bret and I communicate, the more I realize I'm in the presence of, if not ALL there is to know about molded models, definitely a LOT about vacuum molded fiberglass reinforced plastic model construction (FRP). A lot!

We delve deep at times getting into a discussion regarding molded models. He's been doing them forever. He shares photos of molds ready to be waxed (you meticulously wax the molds or the parts never come out in one piece).

Lot of learning going on as I listened raptly. Copious notes when not texting, believe me. Nothing's been off limits, no secrets. We yakked about which wax is better, temperatures, brands and types of resins, vacuum bags, and more.

- Individual molds to create a tiny EDF . . . even the wing skins are molded

As it turns out, this profile of a ProModeler customer is of one considerably versed in many aspects of the sport. As craftsman go, more so than just an expert modeler. Yes, he's an expert in EDFs, the meticulous sort of modeler that actually typifies our customers. Highly expert in electric propulsion. But a focused craftsman sums it up. Meticulous in everything. Details matter, not just lip service.

Ducted fan speed . . . prelude

By meticulous I mean he's über competent in everything he touches. I kid you not. A touch of pride wells in me because he's selected our servos (I know pride cometh before the fall - abbreviated version of 16:18, Proverbs). Nevertheless, I'm delighted he's picked us even if it turns out we're just temporary foot-soldiers in his modeling endeavors.

- Combining a love for speed-400 size models with a shoulder-mounted EDF

What a magnificent model. Wouldn't you agree the above EDF, looking positively WWII-era Salamander-esque (Google the Heinkel He 162 for a look at what I am referencing - the connection is obvious for anyone with eyes) is gorgeous 'and' unique. It's yet another lovely example of Bret's wide ranging interests. Anyway, complete with shoulder-mounted fan unit, it's virtually a flying battery, and this innovative model has also been molded in it's entirety.

It's a sophisticated model by any account and bred to do one thing only, fly fast. Men who fly models like these values precision in all aspects of their path through the world of modeling. For example, do 'you' see the control surfaces? They're there! Precision counts, precision centering with servos, precision hinge lines when building.

Understand what I mean by precision? This time, because the interruptions of the wing and stab surfaces edges are so thin as to be virtually indiscernible it means almost zero drag due to hinge lines! That's serious precision in the art of building.

Note, another ProModeler customer, Alex Hewson of NZ, has a nifty video on his channel. This link to it opens another tab where you can spend a few minutes watching (to gain a further appreciation for molded components and the precision we're speaking of when it comes to hinging). By the way, I claim Alex as another of the new breed, the type I think of as ProModeler-customers.

Higher and higher

Our conversation wandered to prior models. Folks, this fellow, Bret Becker, who is a bonafide expert at moldings for the purpose of creating models for speed, also lives for scale. Yes, there's more than innovative construction technique keenly applied and electric propulsion and speed records in his background because he's also into scale.

Me? I love scale models more than any other, so it's here that I especially reveled in our conversations. Turns out Bret, as is fairly typical of modelers, is an all-in kind of guy. Doesn't really matter 'what' but always all in.

Me? Sure, I recognize some of myself in this outlook, especially the all-in business. I'm all in for lots of things but especially my RC models. After all, whom amongst us isn't fairly described as all-in with regard to some model project, or other, right? Anyway, when he launched into the lifting body project, this too, had to be 100% . . . all-in! Here's what I mean.

Lifting body

All in with regard to this model meant rocket launch, glide to landing. One shot at the landing. And it had to closely resemble the real thing.

Effectively a prototype, so not too much scale detail because while all first flights can be the very last, with most models you pretty much have an idea of what you're going to get because there's plenty of lore. With the lifting body? Not so much!

Lore as in what you get regarding what to expect from a WWI aircraft like a model of the Fokker D.7 with a tail skid - they don't taxi worth beans with crosswind. That bit about miserable crosswind-taxi is lore, you savvy, lore? It's lore within modeling - like tribal elders passing on how to best position yourself for bringing down a stag with an arrow - which is amongst modelers a key to the transference of knowledge. Lore is knowledge so ingrained you don't even know where you learned it because everybody does it that way. Just is. That is lore.

My point? When he mentioned a NASA lifting body he'd modeled, I knew the lore had run out. He was in uncharted territory. More to the point, the guy's so meticulous he's turned to what he knows best, molding for a model where the molds themselves had been intricately scribed to replicate the reentry tiles. Scale details in a prototype! You've seen tiles on the shuttles, right? Developed from these. A model based on this type of aircraft . . .

- a NASA lifting body aircraft that led directly to the Space Shuttles

Thing is, with the lifting body project there's no lore to guide you. Why not? Because NASA's done it but nobody else, maybe the Russians. No modelers I know have done this!

I mean, I've been around modeling the half a century mark and never seen anybody so much as dream of making a NASA lifting body model. Making a model of a rocket-launched lifting-body - not much in the way of wings, understand lifting body? And by radio control, launching it like a Roman candle and gliding to landing - one shot each. Nope, not me. You?

- ca. 2003 Bret's vertical launched NASA lifting body takes flight with fire!

So Bret begins to fill me in on the lifting body series he'd modeled. Created within molds for scale fidelity and weight control - grams, remember? And unsaid, repeatability (in case it ends up in confetti). Most impressive part of this project? Not the launch, which was vertical instead of horizontally like any ordinary model, or even the X-1 slung low beneath the B-29 wing, but upright like a Saturn V.

That's right, at the time of this design there's no Enterprise or Columbia yet. Space shuttles are still nothing but a glimmer in NASA's eye and this is an intermediate step - so Bret sets out to make one anyway? Yup . . . of course! Why not? Want to know more about lifting bodies? NASA details a LOT if you follow this link to a new tab in your browser.

And his effort is really, really scale-like. Remember, he inscribed the detailed lines representing tiles within the mold to recreate the heat tiles protecting the real thing from the heat of reentry! Meticulous. Precise kind of guy.

Lotta tiles, man. You grok butt load? So is this the most impressive part of this lifting-body model aircraft's achievement? Not for me, not even parking it on the centerline after landing garners the attaboy from me!

- Incredible modeling achievement - a lifting body aircraft - rocket launch!

Thing about a rocket launch model is there might be only the one chance to do it before needing to build another model - a significant investment in time - gone in a confetti moment. Little pieces.

An investment, because as was his wont, he had made molds - again! This, by the way, allows him to repair pretty much anything that happens short of a confetti-event. Maybe even something that could be repaired if you just had enough small pieces. Easy when you have molds. Think about it, you could insert pieces into a mold and add what's missing, pop it out, paint, good as new. Hmmm . . . still a lotta work.

So that 'anything' at least in terms of damage, could be up to anything mere mortals like me would gather up, look at briefly and say, 'Nope' and toss into the trash. More to this molding business than meets the eyes. Opportunities if you think a certain way. Anyway, just eyeball what's going on here . . .

- molds permit recovering remains from pretty much any crash for repairs

Background

By now most of us are familiar with Mac Hodges and his Bell X-1 launched by a ginormous model of the Boeing B-29, right? Quite an achievement. Agreed!

Thing is, Mac modeled an earlier innovation than the lifting body craft. The X-1 fired its rocket in a level attitude. After that it was hang on for the ride! I took this photo back in 2001, or thereabouts, at an event.

- the horizontal deployment of the X-1's thrust was relatively predictable

So Mac had an advantage in that the launch of the X-1 was horizontal. When they dropped, it was briefly a glider flying for all the world deadstick with a conventional-ish aircraft. They lit the flame and . . . yee-haw! But a model of a lifting body aircraft, which had to first launch vertically like a rocket, then transition without losing airspeed and stalling, with not much in the way of conventional wings for making the landing? Double yikes because the yee-haw comes first 'and' last!

So after launch it had to transition to glider status. Dangerous moment. Remember the comparison in the movie where Tommy Lee Jones says something along the lines regarding the shuttle landing like a brick? Similar.

With the lifting body aircraft the approach to landing, for the Shuttle, the X-1 and the lifting body is a one shot affair. Thing is, the X-1 looks like a regular airplane. Handles like one, too. The lifting body? Not so much! Even the subsequent Space Shuttles had more pronounced wings.

So Bret gets one shot, no go around for making the touchdown. Nervous Nellies need not apply! So is this the most impressive aspect of this model? Nope, not for me, though the final approach is a work of art as depicted in this photo . . .

- Final approach, no second chances, not when inertia is your motive force

So what was the part that floated my boat with regard to the lifting body project. Go look at an earlier shot of the model. the one of it perfectly aligned on the runway centerline - I'll wait.

Did you notice the little detail of the split rudders? Functioning drag brakes! Folks - that - floated my boat. Servos required, remember?

Back to the U-2 where Bret says how all the while he's been designing the structure, before laying up the panels, or anything, he's been researching available mini, micros, and sub-micro servos.

And then he has a list he wanted to run past me. Honestly, he'd thought of everything. Never have a I yakked with someone who has so thoughtfully reasoned out the servo selection. I must confess that given a year to think about it, I couldn't improve on his list. Says a lot.

So what else is there to Bret before we wrap this profile? How about a brief mention of his scale endeavors involving judged competition. The biggest deal of them all? Easy, that's the Top Gun event held in Lakeland, FL. An innovation of promoter Frank Tiano (deceased following the 2020 event).

It's called Top Gun after the Navy school and it's about the biggest deal on our side of the Atlantic, I promise.

- busy, but not too busy for the future, Frank Tiano with youth at Top Gun

Valkyrie XB-70

How about Top Gun competitor? Yup, Bret's campaigned a Valkyrie XB-70 bomber, yet another little-modeled aircraft. Created by North American as the prototype for the B-70. Molded? Of course he did. No Mustangs for this guy.

- Looks fast sitting still, and featuring all-molded construction -  trademark

It won't go amiss before I wrap this up to eyeball a little bit more about Bret's skills with molding. This photo of Bret in his shop is somewhat typical. However, I warrant what is atypical of modelers is how clean and organized everything is. My shop? A bloody mess . . . stuff strewn everywhere, I promise! Yours?

Note the XB-70 and a speed EDF model mold in the background. And in the corner, some ginormous fuselage - molded, of course.


That we're proud of meeting Brets expectation for centering, precision, and performance goes without saying, but for ProModeler, participating within a Top Gun caliber model is a thrill. Not the XB-70 but the U-2. I mention this as I close because of the text I got from Bret saying in passing, 'I won Top Gun with the U-2, servos performed well, thanks, thought you might want to know.'

That's it. Just a simple thanks. And note, it was a win of legends . . . the model achieved a perfect static score in Expert Class! But that's a story for another time. It's one that may bring tears to your eyes, click the link. Anyway, I leave you with this photo -  Bret with his bride Wency and his perfect score attaining Lockheed U-2. It's the image of a champion and one we're pleased to be associated with.

- David Hart kindly allowed us to share this with you, Wency, Bret, the U-2

For more regarding Bret and his Top Gun entry U-2, click the link to a caseSTUDY regarding how Bret took all the marbles at America's most important scale event. And did it with a perfect static score! It's the Top Gun event where the U-2 was very best. We have loads of details.

OK, I fibbed, one more photo to whet your appetite . . . cockpit details, and once again, courtesy of another consummate professional, David Hart.

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