Discontinued Kits
09-16-2003, 04:14 PM
#29
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RE: Discontinued Kits
SportPilot,
For a while, Tower sold the Great Planes Super Kaos in 40 and 60 sizes. They dropped both sometime in the 90s.
The Tower Kaos 40 is a re-designed version of the GP offering. Basically, they made the fuselage a bit larger for easier radio installation, and made the nose into an "open" style, like a trainer.
Personally, I think the latter modification destroys the classic Kaos lines, although the wing was left unchanged, and the model flies as good as an "original".
There were many versions of the basic Kaos design. The one I have is a Bridi kit, circa early 70s, and has a slightly different, more squat nose than the later Great Planes version. That one, I think, is the best-looking of the lot; closely followed by the Killer Chaos pictured above. I keep an eye out for a NIB Great Planes Super Kaos 60 every time I look at swap shops, etc. One day, I'll find one.
One thing they all have in common: they fly beautifully. Lately, it seems that hovering and thrashing about is all the rage among sport flyers. Personally, I have helicopters for that sort of thing. Give me a smooth, stable and predictable fixed wing model any day. The Kaos is that; in spades.
Steve
For a while, Tower sold the Great Planes Super Kaos in 40 and 60 sizes. They dropped both sometime in the 90s.
The Tower Kaos 40 is a re-designed version of the GP offering. Basically, they made the fuselage a bit larger for easier radio installation, and made the nose into an "open" style, like a trainer.
Personally, I think the latter modification destroys the classic Kaos lines, although the wing was left unchanged, and the model flies as good as an "original".
There were many versions of the basic Kaos design. The one I have is a Bridi kit, circa early 70s, and has a slightly different, more squat nose than the later Great Planes version. That one, I think, is the best-looking of the lot; closely followed by the Killer Chaos pictured above. I keep an eye out for a NIB Great Planes Super Kaos 60 every time I look at swap shops, etc. One day, I'll find one.
One thing they all have in common: they fly beautifully. Lately, it seems that hovering and thrashing about is all the rage among sport flyers. Personally, I have helicopters for that sort of thing. Give me a smooth, stable and predictable fixed wing model any day. The Kaos is that; in spades.
Steve
09-16-2003, 04:22 PM
#30
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RE: Discontinued Kits
The question was, what discontinued kits would you like to see back in production? There are plenty of ARF's around but, a lot of us would like to see the old reliable, tried and true kits back on the shelf of the LHS. I know its hard to believe, but some of us still prefer kits and especially the ones that were predominant in the market early on when ARF's were junk. My all time favorite planes have always been the vintage pattern airplanes of the 70's and early 80's. With todays more reliable engines and computer radios those kits are hard to beat.
You ARF guys have a far greater selection to chose from today then us kit builders, especially when it comes to the old standbys like ugly sticks.
You ARF guys have a far greater selection to chose from today then us kit builders, especially when it comes to the old standbys like ugly sticks.
09-16-2003, 04:27 PM
#32
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RE: Discontinued Kits
Lately, it seems that hovering and thrashing about is all the rage among sport flyers. Personally, I have helicopters for that sort of thing. Give me a smooth, stable and predictable fixed wing model any day. The Kaos is that; in spades.
09-16-2003, 04:30 PM
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RE: Discontinued Kits
In 1988, in the black and white small print section of the Tower Mag, I bought a Sterling R/C Ringmaster-40 kit. It was the sweetest balsa sport plane I ever flew. I had never seen it before, and have never seen it since. I never should have sold it.
09-17-2003, 12:15 AM
#35
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RE: Discontinued Kits
P-51B, Not with the Autograph on it'
The Patricia 60 size pattern plane was another good one, IMO
ORIGINAL:
CCRC1
The question was, what discontinued kits would you like to see back in production?
CCRC1The question was, what discontinued kits would you like to see back in production?
09-17-2003, 08:11 AM
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RE: Discontinued Kits
The Dave Platt BF-109, FW-190, and Mustang B.
Yeah, I know, you can still get "short kits", but dang it, that's not a full kit!
Yeah, I know, you can still get "short kits", but dang it, that's not a full kit!
09-17-2003, 01:09 PM
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RE: Discontinued Kits
Big Stick, Ugly Stick, Sweet-N-Low Stick....... You get the picture
Ultra Sport 60 (I want to bash it into a mixmaster twin like Larry Hill did on the cover of RCReport a few years back)
Stafford Ercoupe. I always wanted an Ercoupe model......
Ultra Sport 60 (I want to bash it into a mixmaster twin like Larry Hill did on the cover of RCReport a few years back)
Stafford Ercoupe. I always wanted an Ercoupe model......
09-17-2003, 09:25 PM
#40
RE: Discontinued Kits
Perhaps a little bit off-topic, but . . .
If you have a great "old" kit and are getting ready to build it, I suggest making templates of all the kit parts, and a list of all the kit parts as well, just in case of a "gravity attack". This way (if you have also saved your plans and instructions), you can make another "kit" with little additional effort, and keep those great kits of the past in the air. I do exactly this with all aircraft I build and it also makes repairs easier.
Regards,
Al Parry
[email protected]
If you have a great "old" kit and are getting ready to build it, I suggest making templates of all the kit parts, and a list of all the kit parts as well, just in case of a "gravity attack". This way (if you have also saved your plans and instructions), you can make another "kit" with little additional effort, and keep those great kits of the past in the air. I do exactly this with all aircraft I build and it also makes repairs easier.
Regards,
Al Parry
[email protected]
09-18-2003, 01:00 AM
#41
RE: Discontinued Kits
....anything that says Kaos, Super Kaos, or Killer Kaos.
Thank Heavens....I picked up a couple Killers, right before
Joe closed it down....
....Steve Campbell2 ....
....trust me on this one....bide your time, and look for an
OS .61RF (rear pipe) pattern engine for the Kaos. I've
been flying this Super forever....with a K&B (piped) .61,
an OS .60 FSR (my favorite engine of all time)....and the
RF. If you like to see a plane go vertical, the RF is it.
Dave.
Thank Heavens....I picked up a couple Killers, right before
Joe closed it down....
....Steve Campbell2 ....
....trust me on this one....bide your time, and look for an
OS .61RF (rear pipe) pattern engine for the Kaos. I've
been flying this Super forever....with a K&B (piped) .61,
an OS .60 FSR (my favorite engine of all time)....and the
RF. If you like to see a plane go vertical, the RF is it.
Dave.
09-18-2003, 09:23 AM
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RE: Discontinued Kits
I have another vote for the Goldberg Skylark 56 and Sr. Falcon. I would also like to see the Top Flite Zero again.
CCRC1: I have the Sr Falcon plans if you want to use them.
CCRC1: I have the Sr Falcon plans if you want to use them.
09-18-2003, 10:19 AM
#45
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RE: Discontinued Kits
Dave,
Thanks, but Steve don't do pipes. And as I get older, my flying style becomes more sedate. I'm not looking for a performance monster with this airplane; all I want is a great flying model, that I built (as opposed to assembled), that isn't the same as most of what's sitting in the pits.
I've been perusing the classifieds and e-bay, but the more I think about buying a used engine sight-unseen the more I back away from that idea. Putting a vintage engine in it would be nice, but the effect would be spoiled, I think, by my Futaba 9Z radio...
Anyway, I've got plenty of time before I even start construction, and I won't need an engine until well after that happens. I like the looks and light weight of the Mecoa RJL/Kraft 61. Those OS engines are just too heavy for this design. On both the Super Kaos 40s I've built, I had to add tail weight to offset the heavier engine.
Yeah, I know; build a hatched compartment just behind the wing saddle for the battery. But why complicate things when you don't have to???
Steve
Thanks, but Steve don't do pipes. And as I get older, my flying style becomes more sedate. I'm not looking for a performance monster with this airplane; all I want is a great flying model, that I built (as opposed to assembled), that isn't the same as most of what's sitting in the pits.
I've been perusing the classifieds and e-bay, but the more I think about buying a used engine sight-unseen the more I back away from that idea. Putting a vintage engine in it would be nice, but the effect would be spoiled, I think, by my Futaba 9Z radio...
Anyway, I've got plenty of time before I even start construction, and I won't need an engine until well after that happens. I like the looks and light weight of the Mecoa RJL/Kraft 61. Those OS engines are just too heavy for this design. On both the Super Kaos 40s I've built, I had to add tail weight to offset the heavier engine.
Yeah, I know; build a hatched compartment just behind the wing saddle for the battery. But why complicate things when you don't have to???
Steve
11-10-2003, 11:00 PM
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RE: Discontinued Kits
I had a Sweet N Low Stick. One of the best flying planes I ever had. I think it was made by Midwest. I built it in about 1981. I would also vote for Jensen's Das Ugly Stick..."The Original!"