Wow! This thread really took off (pun intended!) I'm 58 and remember building a Sterling Mambo Special, covering it with silk and dope and flying it with a Orbit reeds system. That was around 1963 or 64, and I learned to fly on that setup. I've built many free flight rubber powered, tow line and control line planes as a young'n. Comet, Guillow's, Jetco and Sterling were the main kits available to kid with a very limited income. The bug has never left me, while like most these days I assemble ARFs, but I still build kits and search for kits that my dad and I built and flew pattern with. Because we competed, we got to meet a lot of the big names in the hobby - Kraft, Kirkland, Grier, Bonetti, Jim Martin were just some we talked to and watched them fly. I have a nice collection of classic pattern and vintage kits for when I retire. Sure are some great memories!
FB