CoosBayLumber

My Feedback: (1)

As has been some discussion about the circa 1965 Mambo Special, here is an old advertisement for one. At $11.95 does not look to have been very cheap. Was of about 52 inch W/S and for .15 to .19 glow power.


Wm.

buzzard bait

Looks like a semi-symmetric airfoil, which would be a cut above most trainers of that type. Also looks like fairly heavy construction, probably catering to six-channel needs. Easy to scratch, and could be built lighter now. Hmmm...

It would be nice to hear from people who have flown it.

Jim

buzzard bait

AMA wants $23 for the plans, and apparently they do not include templates. Not so tempting now.

spaceworm

I have recently gotten a Mighty Mambo, covered in silk and dope and that came with a Merco .61 and a Froom spinner. It had been built modified for an inverted engine mounting with a hatch over the tank and engine bay. It did/does not have a muffler (it has a rotating, throttle coupled exhaust restrictor) which it would need to fly in a vintage event and I have to figure something out without changing the beautiful workmanship on the exhaust duct through the fuselage. I do not plan to fly it except at vintage events. Pictures attached.

H5606

Very interesting Spaceworm... The AMA sticker on the fuse side is pre-80's vintage. Is that a NVRC logo on the vertical stab?

spaceworm

Yes, I was at the most recent NVRC auction, but the Mambo was not a product of that event. I lived in Maryland for 27 years and started RC with the DCRC Club in 1983. Do you fly with them?

Sincerely,

SPACEWORM/Richard

H5606

[quote]ORIGINAL: spaceworm



Yes, I was at the most recent NVRC auction, but the Mambo was not a product of that event. I lived in Maryland for 27 years and started RC with the DCRC Club in 1983. Do you fly with them?

Sincerely,

SPACEWORM/Richard


I used to belong to NVRC before moving to Southern Maryland back when they were still flying off of Route 50 in Arcola. Do you know who the previous owner or builder is/was?

For what its worth, I had a Minnie Mambo that I never attempted to fly under power as a rudder only model.

Regards,
dki

spaceworm

No, I do not know the builder, but, I would like to know and thank him for such a beautiful build job. In Southern Maryland, did you know Doug's Hobbyshop? How about the Pax River club? We are invited to a Fun Fly at the Pax club in Mechanicsville in late May. See you there?

Sincerely,

SPACEWORM/Richard

puplover

Hey, the 'Mambo Special" was the second plane I built.... the first was a SE5 that would only go in circles..... It was the first plane I took off and flew. It was built over the winter of 69-70 when I got my first R/C gear, a Kraft PCS 4 channel with those nice white linear servos. I put in an Enya .19, which I still have, sans carburator, took off from my workplace parking lot in Auburn, Mass. and once in the air had no idea what to do. It went down onto Southbridge St. behind the trees and a few minutes later a truck driver came walking over with it and was really amused, he had never seen a R/C model before. After that I joined the Quinapoxet R/C club in Holden to learn to fly.

The "Special" was a great flyer, had a semi-symetrical wing and the flying stab on the bottom of the fuse. I do not remember if it was difficult to build since I built almost every Sterling model and didn't know the difference till My first German kit in 73 which was the Robbe "Maxi". Now that was a kit!!

I dug out and scanned the only picture I think I have of the Mambo.

John

Free Bird

The Mambo Special was the first R/C model I built with my Dad back in the early 60s. Learned to fly it on Orbit Reeds! One thing we did do, was to build another wing that had a longer span, IIRC, one bay per side and made the chord a little wider by adding strip ailerons. That wing made it a much better flying model. A couple of years ago, I managed to find a NIB kit that'll get built someday. Memories!!

FB

BobHH

My Feedback: (18)

Yep, my first multi was a Mambo Special, K&B 35 and a 10 channel controlaire reed system. Flew the mess out of it until Dad got me a Royal Classic proportional system and a Lanier Pursuit!! Yep FB, I too have the Special kit along with all the other mambo sizes NIB. I've picked up a NIB K&B 35 too. I just pulled my Controlaire reed system back out after a few years and she still works great!!! Its on the list too!!!!

Bob Harris

spaceworm

I have K&B .35 also, but do not know if it is the same. Mine has a plain bushing for the crank, removable front housing that looks interchangeable with the K&B 40, some of which I also have; and an air bleed carburetor. Does this sound like what you have? Here is a pic. Was it enough engine for the Mambo Special? On the one I have is a Merco .61, but, I have not flown it yet.

Sincerely,

SPACEWORM/Richard

tweedy

My Feedback: (1)

I'm restoring a standard mambo and it is missing the landing gear does anyone have the aprox. width and depth of the gear for a standard Mambo?

Thanks in advance.

Richard Browning

spaceworm

In the off chance it is the same as the Special, I can get you that, incluing pictures. Just let me know.

puplover

On my previous message I stated I flew mine with a .19 and BOBHH said he flew his with a .35 so I think a .61 would be enough engine. If not I have a spare ST 2000 you could use lol.
I have seen all kinds of Mambos for sale but not the Special yet. Is it just us or does everyone, when reaching a certain age, want to go back and start over with what we had at the beginning!!
John

BobHH

My Feedback: (18)

Spaceworm, mine had a K&B Greenhead 35 in her. As I recall it flew it quite will with the 3 channel reed system. Tweedy, PM me with your e-mail address and I'll send you a drawing of the landing gear.I have the Mambo drawn up and had a prototype laser kit cut to build for Early RC but Dan has decided not to offer it!![&o]

Bob Harris

tweedy

My Feedback: (1)

Bob I sent PM. Just wondered if you ever had any contact with the old Fort Bragg Model Airplane Club? I was a member as a Lad serving in the 82nd ABN Div. 73-74-75-76. If so did you Know a Mr. Paul Yacabucci?

Richard

BobHH

My Feedback: (18)

Richard, I've flown with some of those guys many years ago. My Dad started RC in the early 50s and I tagged along to several fields with him. I'm not good with names but may have run across him. I use to have the MidSouth Vintage RC flyin here in Holly Springs, NC for several years and many locals have visited. I enjoy so many aspects of the hobby both vintage modern, controline, etc!! Lately its been pylon racing but I relax with my older single channel units as well as vintage models when I get the chance!!!

Bob Harris

fireman7875

My Feedback: (7)

Bob, speaking of the Mid South VRCS flyin, when will there be another one? I need a good excuse to build another plane!

Brian

spaceworm

And, Bob, I am saving my Mambo Special for such an occasion. Please let us know. No place in NC is too far from Fredericksburg, VA to travel to a vintage event.

Also, what do All Ya All know about the Kenhi Buzzard, one of which I have also. It needs a lot of TLC, but it is restorable. I have the plans also.

Sincerely,

Richard

BobHH

My Feedback: (18)

Well, I not really sure if I am Mambo crazy or not but here are a few pics. The white one is an original Mambo built from the Sterling kit. The middle is my prototype Minnie Mambo for Early RC (Check out the web site) The little one is a new design I finished up and call it the Micro Mambo. (Flies great in the back yard!!)

Bob Harris

BobHH

My Feedback: (18)

Richard, Brian, we are working on it. I've got a field in mind that is quite large (100 acres +) that we had a 1/2A flyin a few weeks back. This weekend we are having a NMPRA National Pylon race at the same field. Mike the owner is interested we just need to set a date!! I'll keep everyone posted.

Bob Harris

maxpower1954

Bob - Thanks for the CG for the Testor's Skyhawk. Would you believe I went to maiden it today, and the radio failed just before launch! Lucky timing...Jay Mendoza is sending me one of the new Dorfler receivers for it.

I sure hope you get the Mid-South meet going again - it's the only vintage meet within a few hours driving from my home. I can't make Dan's Bluegrass this year because of my work schedule. Russ Farris

BobHH

My Feedback: (18)

Russ, glad you caught it. Jay went through my Testors radio as it was not steady and I could not find the problem. I need to pick up a few of his receivers for a few GG transmitters I have. Let us know how yours flies. I had to add 1/16 shim at the rear of the tail on mine to keep it from ballooning the last time out.

Bob Harris

tri-pacer

Hey Bob,

On your original Mambo, is that a Gilbert engine I see on it? If so, what size and how does it run? I picked up a few many years back but have never run them. Thinking about powering some nostalgia class SAM FF with them....Just for fun.

Chuck