maxpower1954

This is what I was refering to on the Babcock history thread. The Babcock Aeronca and Tri Pacer were the first R/C ARFs ever produced, way back in 1958. Found it after a Google search on RC Universe.

It cost me 90 bucks, and is in pristine condition. The box, somewhat less so. Came with cool vintage Babcock brochures and flyers!

ARF in 1958 was a little different than today, as you might imagine. It's vacuum formed styrene plastic with printed on markings. The kit as a whole is very well done, better than I expected. Wing span is 37", and it shows a K & B .049 on the plans and the Babcock "Magic Carpet" receiver. As much as an originality freak as I am I won't be doing that! I was concerned about the age of the plastic, but testing a few scrap pieces showed it should be acceptable. Electric is the only way to go, with a low vibration level and no glow fuel slop.

I'm going to assemble and fly it, for demos at vintage meets. The set up is an E-Flite Park 300 outrunner with a 7x3 prop, 1320 2 or 3 cell lipo and two HS-55 servos. This is what I used on my
Goldberg Ranger 42 with great success.

I'll post some pictures as I go along. Anyone with experiences with the Aeronca or Tri Pacer from way back then, I'd love to hear about them! Russ Farris

iflyj3

My Feedback: (7)

That would qualify for Concours. Interesting.

smithcreek

My Feedback: (25)

Just did a monetary conversion to see what that $9.95 is worth is today's money. Turn out the kit, even adjusted for inflation has increased in price.

$74.08 in the year 2008 has the same "purchase power" as $9.95 in the year 1958.

All the more proof I need to convince my wife I should buy, er... I mean INVEST in more kits and stash them away!

Michaelj2k

Frank Iacobellis had the companion Tri-Pacer at Spirit of Selinsgrove a couple of years ago. It looked pretty good in its ready to fly condition but due to age, it has become a very fragile airplane. I think I have a picture somewhere.....

maxpower1954

Dan: while the Aeronca is on the VRCS list and can be entered in concours, I don't think it would be in much danger of winning! It is a very interesting little model, though.

Mike, was the Tri Pacer actually flown at the Spirit of Selllingsgrove meet, or was it display only? Russ Farris

maxpower1954

I found the Tri Pacer searching the forum...now I want one! One was on Ebay not long ago. Of course it depends on how well the Champ flies...Russ Farris

Michaelj2k

Russ,

Frank displayed the airplane but did not fly it even though it is in ready to fly condition.

Are you planning to attend Octoberfest? Designer of the year is Carl Goldberg. WEDJ is planning to attend, maybe he will bring his Jr. Skylark twin.

maxpower1954

I'm not sure Mike, haven't bid on my schedule yet for October. I hope to go, I had a great time last year!

I forgot to mention when I received the Aeronca on Monday and saw the box art, I had a shock of recognition, even though I had no previous concept of what it was going to look like.

I grew up in Lakeland, Florida and in the late 50s/early 60s when I was around 5-6 years old my cousin used to drag me around to hobby shops and free flight fields. Once, we got escorted by the cops
for flying near the end of the runway; we had been reported by a National Airlines pilot! I remember that Convair roaring overhead rather close...

I have no doubt I saw a Babcock Aeronca in a Lakeland hobby shop when I was 5 or 6. It was a weird sensation flashing back 50 years..Russ Farris

grotto2

My Feedback: (2)

Russ,
When I see things found like this I always wonder if there's an expert in plastics out there who would like to borrow and reverse engineer the kit. Or if that's even possible.
-Ron

maxpower1954

Good question Ron - I don't know either!

But I would think it could be done. What you do is use a pourable mold mixture into the parts. Dan Gipe of Wing Manufacturing is doing exactly that as we speak for my Skylark 56 - he's making a new canopy from my old one. Now you have me thinking - since this kit is quite rare. But I would think the market for a replica would be very limited.

When I got this, I wrestled with the idea of preserving it as a kit. But the idea of actually flying it has taken hold. The plastic is in much better shape than I imagined, I bent some scrap pieces back and forth several times before they broke. Everything is going smoothly with assembly, the conversion to modern equipment is very easy and I think seeing it fly at a VRCS meet will be quite a sight! Russ Farris

Duke58

Hey Russ , I,m looking at this thing and suddenly I remember having the Breezy Jr [X(] I do not remember ever flying it but i know I had one , it must have flown off into McKinsey's Woods along with so many other planes during that era!! What a day it's been , the planets must be alinging for the Big One ,,,,,,,,,,,good talkin to ya

Earl

maxpower1954

Earl (Duke 58) is my partner in crime for a four motor electric EDF Martin XP6M Seamaster - a jet powered flying boat from the '50s we are designing and building. He's doing the wings and propulsion system, and I'm responsible for the hull/fuselage, r/c gear and tail assembly. Wish us luck...Russ Farris

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QowTq...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NDia5WJB4Eg

Michaelj2k

A Babcock Tri Pacer kit just showed up on Fleecebay. Use the usual search terms to find it.

maxpower1954

Thanks for the heads up, Mike! That Tri-Pacer looks in very nice shape. Guess I'll have to bid on it if the Aeronca flies reasonably well.

The Aeronca will fly by this weekend, weather permitting. Russ Farris

http://cgi.ebay.com/RARE-VINTAGE-195...d=p4999.c0.m14

The Tri-Pacer sold for 204.49, so the 90 bucks I spent on the Champ was a deal! Russ Farris