This thread is amazing! Over the weekend I was handed a stack of '71-'72 RCM magazines by a neighbor who had no use for them. So last night, I'm reading through the June 1971 issue (the ads are great, by the way -- a five-channel Heathkit for $200 with the soldering iron included).

Anyway, "Cold Duck" jumps out at me and blows me away. What a cool, ahead-of-its-time design! Caution, however, on reading the "Schematic for Retract Gear Servo Wiring and and Linkage." No offense, Mike, but it made my head hurt. You pioneering guys did it successfully the hard way.

So, I'm reading and re-reading the build article and thinking that simple mechanical retracts would work great and this plane could be built very light for a modern .61. Then, this morning, I search online for "RCM Cold Duck" and find this thread! How cool is that?

Thanks for the great design, Mike.

If any of you guys have that June 1971 RCM, check out the Pegasus, too, and Fred Reese's quarter midget (.15-powered) Cassutt Special. Golden years indeed!

Brian