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Mark's Models 'History' and Welcome Mark - 3/23/2009 4:53 PM   
WORNBOOTS



Posts: 1120
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From: Princeton, TX, USA
Status: offline 		............. I would like to thank Mark Smith himself for joining us (see post 18)


Interested in info on Mark's Models, from beginning through the current (Dynaflite) history..

1. If you have a history with the company, Friendship or Flying Stories to share..

2. If you have 1st hand info on the Mark's Models Kits produced, Model Names - with spec's - Mfg Date etc. preferred..

Please reply with this info first"

3. Then ad any Traditional info relating to a particular model you may have built, Please post Pics and Tips etc.

Thanks"



I have built several Mark's kits over the years, and the Wanderer was one of my favorites as well as the Windward.
I don't think I have seen the Windfree in person but I did have a set Plans for it, recently I found an original Wanderer kit and it sparked my curiosity one again.

Note: All of Mark's Models Sailplane or Power are the subject of this post, and I believe they started in the late 60's
Thanks in advance for any help.... Dan Z


Interesting Contributions (excerpts)

By jaymen
He would always end the flight with his trademark: A landing about 7 feet in front of him where he skipped the plane off the ground (coming directly at himself) and then caught it with one hand, while holding his Kraft Tx in the other Post 4

By vintagemxr
Nudging the stick now and again with his foot Mark said "See, if the glider is trimmed right you don't have to do very much!" Post 5

Mark Flying in His Glider see youtube link in Post#47 also provided by vintagemxr......... short clip but Great"


Kits By Marks Models

Thanks to RFJ (see Post #9 for Pics) these are from an original Ad, Thank You'

Windward .... Wing Span 72", Wing Area 532 Sq. In., Weight 24 OZ. RTF, Debut 1969

Windfree .... Wing Span 99.25", Wing Area 555 Sq. In., Weight 29 OZ. RTF, Debut 1970

Wanderer 72 .... Wing Span 72", Wing Area 563 Sq. In., Weight 14 OZ. W/O Radio

Wanderer 99 .... Wing Span 99", Wing Area 853 Sq. In., Weight 46 OZ. ???

Sunny .... Wing Span 40", Wing Area 555 Sq. In., Power .15 Cu. In., Weight 3 1/2 LBS RTF

Bushwacker .... Wing Span 68.75", Wing Area 555 Sq. In., Power .15-.19 Cu. In., Weight 3 LBS RTF

*

Additional Mark's Models Kits ........... Need specs


S2 Pitts

Scorpion 4

Corsair

Fun Scale P-51 .40 & .60 sizes

Honker ?

Honker Bipe

Mustang?

Fokker D-VII

Se5a ... Wing Span 42.5", Wing Area??? Sq. In., Power .???? Cu. In., Weight ? LBS RTF

SBD-5 Dauntless

Hellcat

Spitfire

Bird of Time ... Wing Span 118", Wing Area 1070 sq. in., Weight 49 Oz. ?? . See post #28 for Kit Picture, posted by Quigleywins



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*

*







< Message edited by WORNBOOTS -- 4/28/2009 5:13 PM >

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RE: Mark's Models 'the Beginning' What Ya Know ? - 3/24/2009 12:38 AM   
astropuppy


 

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Status: offline 		I believe the windward came before the windfree. Both good flyers. I built two windwards with .049 pylons.

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RE: Mark's Models 'the Beginning' What Ya Know ? - 3/24/2009 2:04 AM   
WORNBOOTS



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Status: offline 		I agree with you on the Windward then Windfree followed later on by the Wanderer 72" (??)
But whats the deal with the Wanderer 76" and 99" versions ? were those after corporate changes.

After posting this today I saw an eeeeeebaaaaay listing for a Mark's Models Fun Scale Fokker D-7 (Didn't know there was one) looks good though.

< Message edited by WORNBOOTS -- 3/24/2009 2:07 AM >

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RE: Mark's Models 'the Beginning' What Ya Know ? - 3/26/2009 11:25 PM   
jaymen


 

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Status: offline 		Mark, Coke bottle lenses on his glasses, was a great flyer and promoter of his products. At El Modena High School in Orange California, he used to come to our noon assemblies and did high-start take-offs using his Windfree, or Wanderer. He would always end the flight with his trademark: A landing about 7 feet in front of him where he skipped the plane off the ground (coming directly at himself) and then caught it with one hand, while holding his Kraft Tx in the other. His factory was down in North San Diego county, in the town of Escondido(hidden in Spanish). Every year he would also do his flight demos at the MACS(model, art, and crafts show) show at the Anahiem convention center, we would always look forward to that.

There were more Mark's Models Wanderers and Windfrees at the cliffs along the coast from Santa Barbara to the Mexican border than any other plane back in the late 1970's. The Wanderer was so popular that a good friend of mine Randy Wrisley published a 3/4 version of it in Model Builder called the Midget, we built many of these, and so did my friends who fell in love with it's compact size and great flight characteristics.

Somewhere in the last century, Mark sold out to Dynaflite?? Not sure what he is doing today, it's been many years since we saw him flying, but then most of the cliffs and flying sites are gone and houses are there now, so the times have changed...it's now apparent the 1970-80s were the golden years of slope soaring in California, and now a bygone memory of a more relaxed and fun era where the main focus was sport flying with the company of fellow modelers. I can remember Mark showing us how to hit a beer can on a stick with his wingtip while making a hot pass parallel to the slope.

< Message edited by jaymen -- 3/31/2009 11:40 PM >

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RE: Mark's Models 'the Beginning' What Ya Know ? - 3/27/2009 12:43 AM   
vintagemxr



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Status: offline 		Mark Smith also built a rigid wing hang glider back about 1972 or 1973. I helped him carry it up a hill at a hang glider meet down there. Somewhere there are movies of him flying it. Can't remember if they are mine or someone else's. I'll have to poke around.

Mark taught a buddy of mine back about 1970 to fly R/C. Al had a problem over controlling the plane and Mark finally took the transmitter from him and set it on the ground. Nudging the stick now and again with his foot Mark said "See, if the glider is trimmed right you don't have to do very much!" Wise words. I've tried it occasionally with a well trimmed model and flying with your foot isn't as easy as he made it look.

I still have a Windward kit out in the garage, yet another "some day" project.

Doug

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RE: Mark's Models 'the Beginning' What Ya Know ? - 3/27/2009 2:40 AM   
WORNBOOTS



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Status: offline 		Guy's Thanks for the bit of history, that's the type of stuff I was looking for, trying to ad some personality to the boxes of balsa and popular designs.


Here is an older Wanderer 72" a friend picked up at Weatherford swap meet for me, he knew I had been looking for another older version in nice cond.

Also a Fokker D-7 fun scale kit (pics are from a sale posting on the web)



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RE: Mark's Models 'the Beginning' What Ya Know ? - 3/27/2009 4:42 AM   
TFF


 

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Status: offline 		MM owned Jemco for a time too. I have a friend who loved flying the funscale SE5a and is always looking for some plans to scratch one, but they came after my first time around.

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RE: Mark's Models 'the Beginning' What Ya Know ? - 3/27/2009 5:26 PM   
Gollywock



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Status: offline 		Didn't he kit a neat little cabin biplane named 'Sunny'?

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RE: Mark's Models 'the Beginning' What Ya Know ? - 3/27/2009 6:43 PM   
RFJ



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Status: offline 		He sure did. This is his kit range in mid 1979. He also did a Bird of Time kit around this time which for some reason is not shown.

Ray

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RE: Mark's Models 'History' What Ya Know ? - 3/31/2009 11:39 PM   
jaymen


 

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From: Mission Viejo, CA, USA
Status: offline 		Randy H and I both were recalling how at the Anahiem MAC show, Mark Smith would do flight demos outside. He did his trademark Hi-Start using a Windward, or Windfree, and his forementioned famouse bounce-and-catch trick, but he would also fly his Sunny Bibe, painted yellow with red trim as we recall. Mark was a crowd pleaser and did wonderful stunts, he also made it look easy as pie, which we all know it isn't.

Then there was the spectacular Kavan Jet Ranger crash where it got out of control and went right over the crowd before destroying itself!! This was back in 1973.

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RE: Mark's Models 'the Beginning' What Ya Know ? - 4/4/2009 1:28 AM   
ramrod



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Status: offline 		Ya buddy - the ole Sunny Bipe is a great looking and wonderful flying model - had one a few yrs back and sure miss it now - gave to a good friend in AZ. He later gave me a kit for one - which I hope to buid soon - or later - LOL ! Have FUN !

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RE: Mark's Models 'History' What Ya Know ? - 4/4/2009 2:25 AM   
buzzard bait


 

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Status: offline 		The Sunny Bipe plans are available from AMA for $15. Jim

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RE: Mark's Models 'History' What Ya Know ? - 4/4/2009 8:47 PM   
WORNBOOTS



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Status: offline 		RFJ .... Do you mind if I segment those pics in the ad you posted and place them in the top post ?

All is appreciated guy's, please keep the info coming.

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RE: Mark's Models 'History' What Ya Know ? - 4/4/2009 9:53 PM   
RFJ



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Status: offline 		No problem, go right ahead. When you do I can delete my post.

Ray

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RE: Mark's Models 'History' What Ya Know ? - 4/4/2009 10:57 PM   
WORNBOOTS



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Status: offline 		Thank's Ray,
But I think this may have worked better after all, no need to delete your ad as its very good info.

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RE: Mark's Models 'History' What Ya Know ? - 4/5/2009 4:53 PM   
EloyM


 

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From: Santa Ana, CA, USA
Status: online 		MARK SMITH, still lives in the Escondido area, now builds or re-builds homes. Him and Bailey also have a home in Lake Havasu.
First, to correct a mistake. Mark worked for Orbit back in the Wanderer/Windfree days - he would not have been flying Kraft radios. Last times I know him to fly he did so with Airtronics.
Maybe it is not too well known, but there was a movie entitled "Jonathon Livingston Seagull" from a book of the same name by Richard Bach, who also wrote a number of great aviation books. JLS was a seagull who believed that flying should be done for its own sake, and not only to look for food. He learned to do loops, rolls, etc and was a sort of outcast to the other gulls. Great book and movie, with a real message, though the movie, even with music by Neil Diamond did not do that great - it did not have any sex, blood, car chases, rap, but most intelligent adults that saw it really liked it.
The movie filming was done in part with real seagulls, the maneuvers being a 1-1/2 scale Mark Smith designed and built perfectly realistic seagull. After the movie work, we flew JLS at Torrey Pines (San Diego) where I had the privilege - and honor - to put it through its paces. Not as good as Mark did, of course, but at least I kept him out of the Pacific.
Mark Smith, great modeler and person - a great friend. Eloy

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RE: Mark's Models 'History' What Ya Know ? - 4/5/2009 6:47 PM   
RFJ



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Status: offline 		There was an interesting article about the movie in RCM, November 1973. Here is Mark (and Orbit radio) with one of the twenty foam seagulls he made for the shoot in Honolulu.

Ray

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RE: Mark's Models 'History' What Ya Know ? - 4/11/2009 10:39 PM   
marksmodels


 

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Status: offline 		Wornboots and others that commented on the Mark's History

Thanks for the kind words and your memories it stirred some old thoughts.
Hi Eloy I haven't seen you since we went to Costa Rica.
Windward came out in 1969. Windfree in 1970. The history of Marks, and the aquisition of, Jemco, High Flight, Southwest Sailplanes, Craft Air and the creation of Dynaflight would take some time. But if you have questions let me know. Looking back it was a great adventure.
Mark Smith


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RE: Mark's Models 'History' What Ya Know ? - 4/11/2009 10:51 PM   
hattend



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Status: offline 		I have built and flown 4 Bushwackers over the last 3 dacades. I love the way it looks and it flies great on .20 size engines. My only complaint is my inability to keep the plywood muffler from blowing out on the 3rd or 4th flight. It worked surprisingly well, just didn't last too long.

I still have 2 NIB stored in the garage and if I can ever find time (I work in Alaska but the planes are in California) I hope to build another on. My plan is also to blow the plans up to a .40 size machine, over 100". That should be a kick in the pants!

Great thread!

Don

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RE: Mark's Models 'History' What Ya Know ? - 4/11/2009 11:29 PM   
WORNBOOTS



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Status: offline 		Mark, Thanks for joining us and may I say a Huge WELCOME...............

Being an admirer of many of your designs and wanting to gather info for those interested in them to see, is the reason I felt it important to start this.

Any info not accurate and anything you feel needs mentioned would be welcomed also, as this is Your' Mark's Models History'..................

My final question for now is, Did You Ever think that your early designs would have such a longevity and cause so many to Enjoy RC Flying.

Dan Z

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*I enjoy building 70''''''''s Kits as originally produced*

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RE: Mark's Models 'History' What Ya Know ? - 4/12/2009 5:32 PM   
RFJ



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quote:

my inability to keep the plywood muffler from blowing out on the 3rd or 4th flight. It worked surprisingly well, just didn't last too long.


Mark - did this really work

Ray

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RE: Mark's Models 'History' and Welcome Mark - 4/12/2009 6:19 PM   
hattend



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Status: offline 		Those tubes must have been a later addition. The mufflers I built were pure plywood with aluminum foil lining the inside and then coated with epoxy.

I even ntried glassing the inside and outside of the last one and it didn't last either. That little OS .20 put out some strong pulses, I guess.

I'll try that brass tubing on the next one.

Don

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RE: Mark's Models 'History' and Welcome Mark - 4/12/2009 6:23 PM   
Trisquire


 

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Status: offline 		I've seen articles describing how to use part of the forward fuselage of a plane as an additional expansion chamber. You just have to seal off and fuel proof the compartment. Then you run some tubing from your main muffler to a hole in the expansion chamber. Supposedly, it's very quiet.

Tom

< Message edited by Trisquire -- 4/12/2009 6:25 PM >

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RE: Mark's Models 'History' and Welcome Mark - 4/15/2009 8:32 AM   
Quigleywins


 

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From: Muskvalevictoria, AUSTRALIA
Status: online 		Just a short note that may be of interest on this thread. On last Sunday I obtained a Marks Models Bird of Time which I intend construting in the next few weaks. The plans a little yellow and one or two parts have left the box over the years, Can some one inform me of the years of this kits production. I hope this is of interest to other modlers.

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RE: Mark's Models 'History' and Welcome Mark - 4/16/2009 2:04 AM   
WORNBOOTS



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quote:

ORIGINAL: Quigleywins

Just a short note that may be of interest on this thread. On last Sunday I obtained a Marks Models Bird of Time which I intend construting in the next few weaks. The plans a little yellow and one or two parts have left the box over the years, Can some one inform me of the years of this kits production. I hope this is of interest to other modlers.


Would it be possible to get a pic of the kit box art and the specs ? is it Mark's solely or does it have dynaflite etc as well ?

Thanks for mentioning it and will see what we can do with the date.

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*I enjoy building 70''''''''s Kits as originally produced*

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