Quigleywins

Hope this may help some one with an intrest in Marks Models. Yours Paul T
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MARKS-MODELS...t_11373wt_1399

Out of intrest I have included the final price of this item from Ebay In the future some one reading through this thread might need to know what the value of the Kit is.
Ended:Apr 07, 2013 17:00:39 PDT
Winning bid:US $187.50 [ 18 bids ]

Joe Nagy

My Feedback: (3)

Hi Everyone;

Greetings to All from the ever warm 'Valley of the Sun'.

Last week I scored a supposed Mark's Models kit on eBay called the TOP CAT. I had never heard of it; it arrived this past Saturday and I had a look-see to check out what I had purchased. It is an all Balsa structure with preshaped polyhedral wings, a la his Pitts Special build, 2 meter span, and on the plans which are only about 1/3 size, indicated the designer as Dave Thornberg, and manufactured by Mark's Models /Southwest Sailplanes; the kit box itself simply has a BW photo with the words TOP CAT, 72 inch 2 meter sailplane written on it, no mfg or anything else, and I could find no date marks anywhere. The kit is of very high quality, just like MM, Dynaflites, Jemco and Soutwest Sailplanes kits that we all love. Possibly someone else herein RCU knows a bit more about the TOP CAT, and can shed more light onto it.

I was sad to hear of Mark's passing, as the last time we spoke with him was at a late 90s IMS in Pasadena wherein I purchased his giant scale Spitfire from him; still have it, may build it one of these days. Will close for now, best regards from Glendale, Arizona,

Joe Nagy.

Tepid Pilot

Joe - I had a Top Cat, never built it, used the wood for other projects though. Been a long time, but as I recall the wing had no ribs, just solid sheet arranged in an undercambered airfoil-like configuration so a conventional plan sheet was not really necessary.

TP

fokker20planes

I think it was designed more as a slope soaring plane. That's how I flew mine 30 years ago. I had a 1 hour flight on a cliff over looking Lake Michigan. I think the plane is a bit heavy for thermal flying.

spaceworm

The unbuilt Mark's Models NIB Pitts I have uses the same wing design, called, I think the Jedelsky or Jedelesky design.

Quigleywins

ONE MORE FOR SALE ON EBAY (NOT MINE) IT MAY BE OF INTREST tO JOE.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/MARKS-MODELS...ht_7797wt_1141
Like all things there is a final selling price.....Winning bid:
US $229.49
[ 41 bids ]

missmilesquare

I remember Mark Smith when he was a teenager working at Bolden's Hobbies in Westminster, Ca. I was younger and would take my first radio to him for repair. Can't remember everything now but I had a single channel with a wind up escapement actuator. Mark was always nice to me and my mom. I think I remember him building the first prototype of the Wanderer and later the Bushwacker. In any event, I always needed help since flying a CG Falcon on Single Channel at the school field on Knott Ave and Chapman was a certain crash back in the day. I think all of this was around 1969.

I was glad to see him be so successful in his field since he was always so nice to me.

DELTAFLY

Hello.

My name is Norberto and I'm from Argentina.
I recently bought a original Marks Models Scorpion IV kit. The model is powered by an OS MAX .40 FSR ABC with an APC 10x6 prop. I had initially placed a Enya 40 but it did't work well.
Today was the maiden flight and I must say that the Scorpion has excellent flight !!!
Here you can see the build thread. http://s804.photobucket.com/user/del...0Scorpion%20IV



Regards,
Norberto

Aresti-RCU

My Feedback: (1)

I am desperately looking for plans for the Scorpion IV. I really learned to fly with one of these. I still have very good memories of my first fully controlled flight! I built two Scorpions using the same wing, for the second one I just copied the patterns of the fuselage and tail section directly from the plane! Took some liberties in the internal structure and made it really simple (slab sides, a little bit of plywood here and there and voila!)

Anybody knows where to locate the plans? I remember the ribs were not drawn. I guess I can live with a foam/balsa sheeted wing!

Eddie P

My Feedback: (4)

Wow I stumbled onto this thread and have to say I really missed out in being able to say thanks personally to Mark for his work in the hobby and sharing his dreams to so many in physical form with his designs. So many times I've been inspired by his Wanderer 72 - that was one of the first RC planes I was exposed to as a 7 and 8 year old in the late 70's early 80's. I new the CG Gentle Lady was a knock off of the Wanderer as I was told immediately when I bought one as an upgrade to my tired second hand Wanderer (what's an 8 year old kid with RC budget by way of grass mowing service to do, CG kits were what was what was on the shelf at Sheldon's Hobby in East San Jose, Alum Rock Ave. at the time). It was especially interesting to hear how brisk those Wanderer sales were before "the change" crept into the hobby at the time - 145,000 kits!! And how that model also inspired other greats in the business to copy (the sincerest form of flattery).

One of the first posts in this thread brought up Johnathon Livingston Seagull and how interesting it is that he was involved in the seagull flying of the 70's movie to the same name. I had to go to Amazon and buy a hard copy of that book for my 7 year old immediately after reading this thread; what a perfect time to introduce that book anyway.

WornBoots, thanks for starting this thread. I think it's so cool that Mark Smith saw it and was able to contribute and enjoy the memories years before his passing.

I notice that Mark Smith is not listed on the AMA hall of fame. This was asked previously but now I have to believe this is a major oversight.

http://www.modelaircraft.org/museum/hoflist.aspx

trainermaster80

My Feedback: (5)

have a marks models hellcat kit nib for sale any interest trainermaster80 pm me or email me [email protected]

dreadnaut

My Feedback: (5)

I met Mark in the early seventies when I was learning to fly (on a Windward), at Torrey Pines, where he was a regular. I agree on the HoF thing.

Quigleywins

Did you ever get a set of plans for this model as I to would love to build a model with these great lines Paul T

DELTAFLY

Hello Paul,

Yes, I have the plans and I built another plane by scratch for a costumer. Here the pìctures of the second plane. The canopy is the standard Great Planes 10" canopy adapted to this plane. The engine is OS MAX .35AX.



Best regards,
Norberto

Quigleywins

Thanks for that quick reply,its always good when you get quick responses My next question is how can I get a copy of the plans Yours Paul I will pay the all expenses

DELTAFLY

I sent a PM.

Regards,
Norberto

motoman326

Hello,

I just recently found this thread as I was looking for info about a kit I am building. The Marks .60 P-51 mustang.
We have a build contest every winter and I "won" this plane after the maiden flight of my last winter build...needless to say it didn't go very well....
Looking forward to getting this one done. I can post photos of the build if anyone is interested.
Also the plans are in pretty decent shape. I've already had them copied once.

John

Quigleywins

Yes to the photos from me. This is one of those threads that is found by people in the end that respect and like what was started so long ago.

motoman326

The box








The beginning

motoman326

This is the covering scheme i will be attempting..
This plane was piloted by Dr. Clayton Kelly Gross

He came to one of our club meetings and talked about his experiences as a fighter pilot.

He wrote a book if you are interested. Excellent reading!! http://www.ww2livebait.com/
Sadly he passed away at the beginning of this year.

here are some links to some stories.

http://archive.jsonline.com/news/wis.../99516449.html

http://www.columbian.com/news/2014/j...ancouvers-cla/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWfAd7KZoks

motoman326

Making good progress on the fuselage but I have come to hate the words "sand to shape"...ugh!!

motoman326

Vertical stabilizer.

motoman326

Started on the wing..

It's going together rather quickly.

Quigleywins

Keep the reports going motorman326

motoman326

Almost ready to start the covering