Sterling Models  
View related threads: (in this forum | in all forums)

Tower Hobbies
Enter up to 4 keywords or Tower stock numbers
Logged in as Guest



Users viewing this topic: none
  Printable Version
       



All Forums >> RC Airplanes >> Vintage & Antique RC >> Sterling Models Page: [1] 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10   next >   >>  

Login
Message << Older Topic   Newer Topic >>
Sterling Models - 8/2/2003 8:13:08 PM   
CoosBayLumber


 

Posts: 2914
Joined: 1/20/2002
From: San Bernardino Calif
Status: offline 		The name of Sterling Models of Philladelphia has not been with us for some time now. I had understood that Estes models out of Colorado had bought them up, however it seems they did not buy the entire line.

Anyone know who bought up the remainder or who bought up what portion?


Wm.
       Post #: 1

Sterling Models - 8/3/2003 7:06:56 PM   
LesUyeda



Posts: 926
Joined: 10/10/2002
From: San Diego, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Estes bought everything except the Chris Craft boat line. That was only marketed by Sterling, and the owner wanted more than Estes would pay.

Unfortunately, Estes bought the name, and promptly discontinued all of the models, except a very few. It is possible that remanufacturing the steel rule dies to stamp the parts would have been cost prohibitive.

Les

(in reply to CoosBayLumber)
       Post #: 2

Sterling Models - 8/5/2003 6:22:57 PM   
Mike Denest



Posts: 725
Joined: 5/21/2002
From: Newark, DE, USA
Status: offline 		I spoke with a Sterling employee (I forget who, though) sometime before the transfer to Estes. It seems that a majority of the product line was destroyed in a suspicous fire in the warehouse that Sterling shared with another concern. There ain't much left except what shows up on eBay.

_____________________________

Mike Denest
R/C as it used to be: http://www.vintagercsociety.org

(in reply to CoosBayLumber)
       Post #: 3

Sterling Models - 8/6/2003 5:43:22 AM   
CoosBayLumber


 

Posts: 2914
Joined: 1/20/2002
From: San Bernardino Calif
Status: offline 		I had heard that rumour too. But, someone else said what Estes got was "worthless", late model slow selling items. The more earlier, and obsolete stuff was either missing, or incomplete enough not to warrant duplication. However, there hasn't been an assessment as to what is within either grouping.

Odd about the boating items. They made a big splash at the Pasadena AMA show back in the 1980's indicating they were going to reactivate the old line. They brought out a couple models and then no more stock was available. If you didn't get on some list, your didn't get one.

The flying models were "for show" and they instead were pushing the rubber models. No committment as to re-introducing any old ones.

Then they were gone. Out of business.


Wm.

(in reply to CoosBayLumber)
       Post #: 4

All the more reason... - 8/8/2003 6:01:32 AM   
oldsterling



Posts: 10
Joined: 8/8/2003
From: Alpharetta, GA,
Status: offline 		All the more reason to protect what's left out there among us collectively.

[URL=http://home.mindspring.com/~jeff.coons/vintagesterlingmodels/]Vintage Sterling Model Preservation[/URL]

(in reply to CoosBayLumber)
       Post #: 5

Sterling Models - 8/8/2003 7:20:06 AM   
Mike Taylor



Posts: 464
Joined: 5/23/2003
From: Camarillo, CA, USA
Status: offline 		OldSterling,

What a great idea. I have some old plans laying around. I will dig out what I have and have them scanned so I can share...

(in reply to CoosBayLumber)
       Post #: 6

Re: All the more reason... - 8/8/2003 4:49:07 PM   
Mike Denest



Posts: 725
Joined: 5/21/2002
From: Newark, DE, USA
Status: offline 		[QUOTE]Originally posted by oldsterling
All the more reason to protect what's left out there among us collectively.

[URL=http://home.mindspring.com/~jeff.coons/vintagesterlingmodels/]Vintage Sterling Model Preservation[/URL] [/QUOTE]

This is great! There was a Google club a few years ago that had a good bit of information. I hope it was saved so it can be included in the new site.

_____________________________

Mike Denest
R/C as it used to be: http://www.vintagercsociety.org

(in reply to CoosBayLumber)
       Post #: 7

Re: All the more reason... - 8/8/2003 6:17:04 PM   
Mike Denest



Posts: 725
Joined: 5/21/2002
From: Newark, DE, USA
Status: offline 		[QUOTE]Originally posted by oldsterling
All the more reason to protect what's left out there among us collectively.

[URL=http://home.mindspring.com/~jeff.coons/vintagesterlingmodels/]Vintage Sterling Model Preservation[/URL] [/QUOTE]

Jeff,
I checked my list for the missing FS-24 kit. It is the Messerschmitt ARF R/C. This is a profile model that complemented the ARF Mustang. 55" span multi for .45 to .65 engines.

_____________________________

Mike Denest
R/C as it used to be: http://www.vintagercsociety.org

(in reply to CoosBayLumber)
       Post #: 8

Sterling Models - 8/8/2003 7:55:47 PM   
oldsterling



Posts: 10
Joined: 8/8/2003
From: Alpharetta, GA,
Status: offline 		That's excellent Mike! I was scouring the earth for that one. It must have been produced for a very short period of time. Sterling's ARF line was just too far ahead of its time... when the cost seemed unreasonable compared to what is so common today for ARFs. No one really considered overseas labor back then.

I've got another missing piece. It's from the "S" control line series. The elusive Kit# S-16?

(in reply to CoosBayLumber)
       Post #: 9

Missing Link - 8/8/2003 10:28:56 PM   
Mike Denest



Posts: 725
Joined: 5/21/2002
From: Newark, DE, USA
Status: offline 		[QUOTE]Originally posted by oldsterling



I've got another missing piece. It's from the "S" control line series. The elusive Kit# S-16? [/QUOTE]

Hmmm, can't help on that one; my list dosen't show it. However I can go down into my secret vault tonight and check my Sterling kit stash. If I find it I'll post it here. While I think of it, who's got what?

Here's mine:
Piper PA-22 Tri Pacer FS-1
N.A. F-51 Mustang FS-10
Mighty Mambo FS-12
Bell P-63 Kingcobra FS-13
Supermarine Spitfire FS-14
Rudder Bird FS-15
Supermarine Spitfire S-19
Stearman PT-17 FS-20
R.A.F. SE5a FS-22
Fairchild PT-19 FS-5
Piper J-3 Cub FS-6
Wizard FS-7
Piper Super Cruiser FS-8 (partial)

All the above models are eligible for VR/CS events with the exception of the Spitfire, S-19 which is ok for OTS.

Rubber power A1 through A26
6 way Tiger Moth
M Series Monocoupe

Boy, for crappy kits they sure are popular

_____________________________

Mike Denest
R/C as it used to be: http://www.vintagercsociety.org

(in reply to CoosBayLumber)
       Post #: 10

Sterling Models - 8/8/2003 11:22:44 PM   
Mike Taylor



Posts: 464
Joined: 5/23/2003
From: Camarillo, CA, USA
Status: offline 		They may have been crappy kits, but the were a defining factor of our youthes...

(in reply to CoosBayLumber)
       Post #: 11

Sterling Models - 8/9/2003 1:34:55 AM   
Mike Denest



Posts: 725
Joined: 5/21/2002
From: Newark, DE, USA
Status: offline 		Yup I built (and burned) my share of Comet, Guillow and Sterling kits. Boy was it fun!

_____________________________

Mike Denest
R/C as it used to be: http://www.vintagercsociety.org

(in reply to CoosBayLumber)
       Post #: 12

Sterling Models - 8/9/2003 3:03:12 AM   
whatiwork4


 

Posts: 12
Joined: 8/4/2003
From: springfield, IL, USA
Status: offline 		some did not like the way they built but all the sterling kits i built always flew great.i thought that flying charchteristics outweighed the parts fit issue.my list of sterling built and flown kits.
c/l .35 size
ringmaster,pt-17,fokker d-7,neuport 28,ruffy,corsair,se-5
r/c
rimfire,olympic challanger,king cobra,mustang,se-5,fokker d-7,pt-19 probaly a bunch of rubber powered and 1/2a controline.it was all i could afford back then vk kits and others were out of my price range.

(in reply to CoosBayLumber)
       Post #: 13

Sterling Models - 8/9/2003 7:46:37 AM   
GoldenAge



Posts: 450
Joined: 11/27/2002
From: Va. Beach , VA, USA
Status: offline 		I had a blast building and flying many of the old Sterling kits. Most of them as control line jobs because I couldn't afford RC gear.

Ahh, the smell of nitrate dope and burning castor oil fumes.......

I've got the 'FS' PT17, Waco SRE and the Stinson SR8 (finished but not flown)

Nice web page Oldsterling!

Scott

(in reply to CoosBayLumber)
       Post #: 14

Sterling Models - 8/9/2003 9:19:48 AM   
big max 1935


 

Posts: 1665
Joined: 11/22/2002
From: huron s.d.
Status: offline 		Must be like most of you , cut my teeth on the Sterling U/C kits but the ones that I have fondest memories of are the Ringmaster with a Fox 29 & the Flying Fool with a Fox 35 . Still one of my all time favorite R/C planes is a Lancer with a K&B 40. Still have a Ringmaster hanging on my wall & a Lancer wing around here someplace . Good memories! MAX H.

(in reply to CoosBayLumber)
       Post #: 15

Sterling Tri-Pacer - 8/20/2003 12:08:49 AM   
Wulf



Posts: 295
Joined: 2/3/2003
From: PENTWATER, MI, USA
Status: offline 		I finished a Tri-Pacer kit last winter that I picked up on E-Bay.I have a OS .26 4-banger installed and also added some homemade ailerons & steerable nose gear..I had one of these as a kid and never did fly it.She`s a beauty just have`nt got around to adding radio gear yet.


AHHHH the good old days!!!!!!

_____________________________

Wulfmann

(in reply to CoosBayLumber)