Want projects? Bring a truck

KIm can relate

We had a 80 year modeler in our RC club around 2012 who died and his wife had no idea of the value or what to do with that many planes and equipment (like in the photos in the CL ad)

The club helped get it, sort it, and hold a swap meet and then took much more to other swap meets...rock bottom prices but still netted her I think $19,000 dollars...... he had multiples of just about every engine..one on the plane and one spare never opened

Besides being speechless wow is the only thing that comes to mind.

RIP we lost another one sad to see his treasures piled up in a room. All a dying man can hope for
is his gear and planes are enjoyed and appreciated by the next RC pilot and not just trashed.

7 plane solute!

1/2A Nut wrote:RIP we lost another one sad to see his treasures piled up in a room. All a dying man can hope for
is his gear and planes are enjoyed and appreciated by the next RC pilot and not just trashed.

7 plane solute!

           

Well said and done!

1/2A Nut wrote:RIP we lost another one sad to see his treasures piled up in a room. All a dying man can hope for
is his gear and planes are enjoyed and appreciated by the next RC pilot and not just trashed.

7 plane solute!

           

Yes,  I thought the same.  I think it takes a special sort of person to collect, build, fly or enjoy modeling whether it be cars, trains, airplanes or what ever.  It takes dedication and patience, to say nothing of foresight and innovation.  Although I have been in the hobby for many years and have few of those attributes.  But there are exceptions to every rule.

Each time I obtain one of "somebodyelses" - Scout, PT-17, Aircrate, 1/2A P-51, Camel, Corsair, and my latest yet to be identified project through Kim, I think of the original builder and the construction methods that they used learning from their experience or correcting faults from their inexperience.

Kim's example is especially interesting.  Stitched control surfaces, I'm not a fan but these are so nicely done and operate so smooth that I might try them on my next model.  Nicely layered monocoat in an interesting design. Hi viz yellow on the underside of the fuselage, transparent so you can see to guide the controls into their proper position.  A really unorthodox way to secure the cowl.

Then there are the head scratches.  Why no steerable nose gear?  Why a solid balsa nose with a thick basswood base that was to high to mount any kind of engine? (I had to hog out about a half inch to mount the Enya .19.)  Why the home built clevises and control horns?  Why the unsecured mains?  Why no exit hole for a R/C antenna.  Did he fly it with the antenna contained within the fuselage.  Why a nose gear so short that it would have a difficult time getting airborne?  

Don't get me wrong, I love this plane.  It has been a rewarding experience for me to tidy it up.  I'm pretty sure that an engine had been mounted and ran, but I'm not sure if it ever got airborne.  But how the PO ever got an engine mounted on it is a mystery to me.  There was just not enough space under the engine to mount even an .09 and there is no sign of a radial mount.  



But getting back to the topic at hand:

To an enterprising young man there is money to be made here.  Wonder how far away Centerville Va. is from Julian NC.   Little/Ugly sticks, T-34's, Trainers, Go fast, even a helicopter or two.  Looks like mostly R/C stuff though.  It would be perfect for a Mom & Pop LHS or resales on ebay.

Bob

I hear you Dad ,, That is some thing for a man with $$$ to go after but right now I am down with it and its up around Washington area VA. Beach Area 4 hrs. from here but ..... if I was more able I probably would lol Eric