ORIGINAL: impactiq
Here is the low down on the 1st Tiporares. The original version could only be built by plans from Dick Hanson which were published in (I believe) Model Builder Magazine. There was some changes made from the wooden version to the first fiberglass kit. The 1st Fiberglass Tiporares were made by Bill Keller of WK hobbies. Later down the road the molds/rights were sold to Great Planes to make the Tiporare. Both the WK and GP versions were physically the same plane. Even the building instructions were almost a perfect match with the only main difference being a name change and a "How to trim the Tipo. for flight." This part of the instructions was a shortened version in what Mr. Hanson put in the original article that was for the wooden version. From what I know.... there was never a Tiporare (plans or kit) ever offered with a built up wing.
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The model by Aerocomposites predated GP's efforts by a few years. The first GP versions may have been made by Bridi, but they were different from what GP later sold. The first GP version came with a wooden wing. It can be found in the old model mags of the era.
As I said, it made no sense to offer a model with a beautiful fiberglass fuselage and then include a built-up wing. Built-up wings were known not to take being flown from grass fields with retractable landing installed. They simply did not hold up if built light enough to be competitive.
I'm not saying you are wrong. I'm not saying I am wrong. This is how I remember it. I've been wrong before, but I'd bet a fair amount of money on this one.
Ed Cregger