Wittman D-12 BONZO
 

Dear All
Does anyone know where I can get scale plans for this... 1/3 scale if possible or I can redraw a scale drawing

RE: Wittman D-12 BONZO
 

You might write the EAA museum to see if they can help. You might look for Buster plans and stretch the fuselage.

RE: Wittman D-12 BONZO
 

The Original Bonzo is in the EAA museum

Here's a few Pics

RE: Wittman D-12 BONZO
 

The Bonzo went through some changes during its career, mostly in the spinner, landing gear and wingspan areas. The EAA drawings are a good start.

J

RE: Wittman D-12 BONZO
 

I have origional blue line drawings from William F. Kerka. I also have drawings by Harold Osborne. For a little 'trouble' money I can get copies to you. You can find the Kerka drawing, albeit much smaller, in EAA's 'The Golden Age of Air Racing' book which is THE Holy Grail of pre-WWII air racing! Here are some 'teaser' photos of my 1/4 scale job. The plug in wings have flaps and ailerons which are driven by torque tubes within torque tubes- just like the 'real deal'- no crappy servos hanging out in the breeze for me! I need to finish it. What a ride! Steve Wittman is the greatest race pilot of all time, bar none!
P.S.- if you are with the group that is building 1/3 sized racers then tell 'Mudflap' he still owes me for info I supplied on the 'Goon'! I laid out to get that stuff copied and sent to Merry Ol' England and he screwed me so no more 'gratis' stuff from me!

RE: Wittman D-12 BONZO
 

I need your postal address in order to send 3-views. Please PM at convenience. Cheers!

RE: Wittman D-12 BONZO
 

Just sent mail address, thankyou:D

CMAZ, It has been 6 years since your last post on this D-12 Bonzo, did you ever do anything with it? As for myself, I was moving stuff around in my shop and dusted off this relic of a fuselage that I framed up about 20 years ago. You will recognize it. 1/3rd scale that I had planned on building for GSARA Thompson Races that were in existence at the time. That all fell apart from what I recall and I never did finish this machine. I dusted it off recently and stood a DA-100 In-line up to the front of it. Hmm... looks respectable. Makes a person think. It is not on my current build list to complete any time soon, but it would sure be unique. I bet it could be made to really haul! Leo

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcu...cebe1b6af2.jpg
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcu...3358545626.jpg

CYMAZ, I am building off drawings made by Bob Sonnleitner back in 1984. He was part of a team that dismantled Bonzo and re-built it for static display at the Oshkosh Wisconsin USA, EAA Museum. So as they took it apart he measured and drew every piece of it and recorded it as the most accurate documentation on Bonzo. The drawings are signed by Steve Wittman. The drawings I have are on 8.5" X 17" paper. I had a friend in the printing business scan them and blow them up to 1/3rd scale for construction. That option is gone to me now, but maybe somebody in the UK could do a similar thing. I could send you my small paper copy if you PM me your address. Leo

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcu...96793b969a.jpg


https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcu...a177b9394b.jpg

Now in the process of getting the drawings into a cad program. I’ve messaged Bob’s son, really lovely guy and willing to help. Sadly Bob passed away in 2016.

I would still like to do a 1/3 scale and have blown up the plans as such. Hell its big!

Hey, it's Bob Sonnleitner's son Paul. I have now converted his plans to CAD and have them available. Let me know any of you on this forum are interested. I can also plot them out for you, too, to the size of your liking. I was approximately 14 years old when Bob and the local EAA chapter restored Bonzo for the EAA museum in Oshkosh, and I fondly remember helping him paint it out on Steve Wittman's lawn one moderately warm Saturday morning. You can contact me at [email protected]

Paul, it’s Peter here, how are you? Glad you found the thread I started. Hopefully Spychalla is still following this. I forgot to ask him what sizes of would he I sent using for his build, I hope he’s read this!

News, the plans are going to be drawn up on CAD. A kit version could be available if there’s interest.