Don Coleman's Cutlass Supreme
 

Hello gentlemen. it has been a very busy summer for me with customer projects. I am going to squeez in some time this winter for my 2012 competition aircraft. I have a NIB, but old, all balsa Cutlass Supreme by the Mini-Flite Co.

I haven't seen too much about this plane in any forums, so any of you that have any thoughts or info about this plane, please post them. My biggest concern about this build, is the nose area. I am planning on using Goldberg mechanical retracts. There's not much room in that area for the retract and fuel tank. Any idea's?

I will be powering it with a HB .61 redhead, and I will most likely be covering it with Ultracote. NOMOREMK, after that Blue Angel build earlier this year.http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...ngry_smile.gif

I will start construction in the next couple of weeks. Is there any interest in a build thread??

RE: Don Coleman's Cutlass Supreme
 

Although the GB retracts are bulletproof they are somewhat larger than most of that era. You might consider Southern R/C retracts (mechanical) now sold by Dave Brown Products as Southern Pro (https://www.dbproducts.com/index2.htm) also bulletproof and will provide a bit more room, IMO.

Regards,

Mike</p>

RE: Don Coleman's Cutlass Supreme
 

Looks like a fun project.

That's an interesting HB you got there. What vintage is that? I've never seen a Red Head version.

It's a shame about Monokote. I've experienced the "new" Monokote issues myself. On my last project (Sun Fli V), I sprayed the entire airframe with Deft Laquer Sanding Sealer, and gave it a good rub down with some 400 grit prior to covering. The MK stuck really well. Some guys are using hairspray (AquaNet Pink) or thinned white glue as a "primer" as I believe the new EPA friendly adhesive doesn't like un-sealed balsa and the slightest bit of balsa dust can foul the adhesive.

RE: Don Coleman's Cutlass Supreme
 

Hi Mike. I have used DB retracts before, and I like them alot. The reason I was going to use the GB units, is because they were given to me, (read.....CHEAP). I will look on DB website and see if I can find the actuall sizes of those units. Might just end up getting a set.

Hey Jeff, how are you. Thats a good idea about thinning down white glue, or even the hair spray. I just might give one of those a shot. As far as the HB, I am not really sure as to the vintage. Maybe someone on here will chime in and let both of us know. I don't have the box or the manual for it. It is new, never had a drop of fuel through it. I also believe thats a Perry carb on it. Can't wait to run it. Got it off that very large home shopping site.......http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...wink_smile.gif



Mark

RE: Don Coleman's Cutlass Supreme
 

I just found this thread here on rcu about the HB .61 redhead.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_7195030/tm.htm

It looks like the muffler I have, is not the stock muffler that these motors come with. So, it looks like a early to mid 70's engine.

RE: Don Coleman's Cutlass Supreme
 

If it's like my HB .61 PDP, the K&B muffler is a perfect match. In fact I just bought one of thier newer "sport mufflers". It seems heavy, but its a perfect match and does a good job of muffling where the stock HB muffler was more of an exhaust diverter.

RE: Don Coleman's Cutlass Supreme
 

I like that model and your engine looks perfect for it, Mark. I'd love to watch your build thread.
Chris...

RE: Don Coleman's Cutlass Supreme
 

I'd love to see a build thread as I've got two of these kits in my someday build stash. The Cutlass is a fav of mine as my father and I built one in the 70s and had a blast with it. Lots of good memories there going to pattern contests. I also managed to find a Southern R/C Sweetater kit, also a Coleman design.

FB

RE: Don Coleman's Cutlass Supreme
 

Hey Chris, how are you? Long time no talk. I will do a build thread when I start construction. I am in the middle of a Pilot 1/3 scale Diablo right now. I will work on mine while the epoxy on customer projects is drying.

I still need to figure out the nose retract situation. Does anyone have the size of the nose gear unit ?

I haven't decided on a exhaust system either. What year did tuned pipes come on the scene? I might go with a Macs quiet tuned pipe.


FB, nice find on the Sweetater, another good looking classic. Is that one of your winter projects?

Mark

RE: Don Coleman's Cutlass Supreme
 

A little more background info: Mini-Flite was actually Angel Mini-Flite owned by Fred Angel - a very nice guy (I hope he's still around, but it's been about 2 decades since I last was in touch with him). He also owned a kitchen remodelling business which he continued with after he got out of the kit manufacturing business. About 20 years ago, Fred discovered several cases (6 kits per case) of Cutlass kits that had disappeared in his warehouse (too many kitchen cabinets...:D ). He put a small ad in RCM asking $60 per kit including shipping. I bought two ;). They are very nice to build and fly and would be ideal for an OS 55AX (if you used a modern powerplant).
Enjoy the kit and the flying!

RE: Don Coleman's Cutlass Supreme
 

Hi Will, thanks for the great info. Sixty bucks a kit?!!!!! Wow! From what I understand, Mini-flite is the only "authorized" company to produce an all balsa kit. Is this correct?

RE: Don Coleman's Cutlass Supreme
 

I could be backwards on this, but I think JOY made the first kits of the Cutlass I have one of each. The Mini-flite is a nicer Quality.

RE: Don Coleman's Cutlass Supreme
 

Here are a couplt of links I found on google, that lead me to believe Mini-flite was the only company that made this kit. On the first link, scroll down to the Cutlass.

http://www.trentonrcflyers.com/patte...atternlist.htm

http://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedi...preme-74521749

Mark

RE: Don Coleman's Cutlass Supreme
 

Unfortunately, not this year as I have other started projects (Taurus, Kwik Fli III, Flea Fli) that need to be finished first. When I do build it, I'll being doing build thread, mostly because it's such an obscure model. BTW - does anybody know what the colors of Coleman's Sweetater that was published in MAN was??

Up until last season, I was flying a Cutlass that I bought 2nd hand from the marketplace a couple of years ago. It was a little rough, but it flew extremely well. Unfotunately during a 4-point roll, a cell in the on-board battery died with some not so good results; the model was totaled. :( I do have another Cutlass that I bought at a Tag Sale (plus the two kits I have). It was scratch built as a taildragger [:'(] and needs work before it can fly again. There's a pic in this thread.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_91...tm.htm#9344988

I also own the original Mylar print that MAN used to use to print plans from. If you couldn't tell, I'm a big Cutlass fan. So, I'm really looking forward to your build thread!

FB

RE: Don Coleman's Cutlass Supreme
 

Here is a picture of the JOY kit, I have had this kit for a while. also read the print only kit approved by Don Coleman. I'm thinking Mini flite started making the Cutlass @ a later date. Pete

RE: Don Coleman's Cutlass Supreme
 

Thanks for the info Pete. I think Mini-flite had the same label on their kits. I wonder if there is a connection somewhere between the two companies?


Mark

RE: Don Coleman's Cutlass Supreme
 

Didn't Joy Products eventually become Balsa USA?

RE: Don Coleman's Cutlass Supreme
 

Mark, thats a good question, I'm wondering if Mini- flite purchased Joy at some point. I know Joy made several pattern kits of the day to include the troublemaker and the Banshee. Maybe Flywilly might know. the Mini- flight label was different just showed the pic of the plane. I would really like to know the answer to this question!!! also. Pete

RE: Don Coleman's Cutlass Supreme
 

Pete,

The Banshee and Troublemaker are available in short kit form from eurekaaircraft.com. They are listed there as being the same as the original J&J kits. (Dan bought the rights to a whole list of J&J models). Are you perhaps confusing Joy Models with J&J?

Jeff

RE: Don Coleman's Cutlass Supreme
 

A little more information since I was curious I just looked at a Mini-Flite Cutlass kit. There is NO reference to the original designer (Don Coleman) anywhere; either on the box label or the plans. The kit is actually for the Cutlass Supreme MKII, but I do not know what (if any changes were made to justify the MKII label). The plans only refer to the people (who I've never heard of) who did the 'modifications' and did the drawing for the plans. Of course, the modifications could only be changes to facilitate kitting the airplane. The date on the kit plans is 1972 which is only 1 year after Don Coleman won the Nats with his original Cutlass Supreme. I believe Model Airplane News published plans (and a construction article) for the Cutlass which I will have to find for comparison purposes.
Joy products was purchased by the founder of Balsa USA. Not long after the purchase he incorporated the kit business into Balsa USA and Joy products disappeared. There was an article about Balsa USA and their history in one of the magazines recently (well, within 2-3 years).
J&J was a separate company that kitted mostly pattern ships: Banshee, Troublemaker and the Eyeball plus a trainer, the J-Craft (also available from Eureka, I believe).

RE: Don Coleman's Cutlass Supreme
 

Thanks so much for the info Will. After reading that, I had to go look at my kit again, and this is what I found. On my plans, it says, "The complete story of the CUTLASS was published in Model Airplane News, in October 1970". And in the bottom left corner of the plans it says, "Designed by Don Coleman, drawn and produced by Joy Products Co". There is no date.

The end of the kit box looks like this.

Mark

RE: Don Coleman's Cutlass Supreme
 

Jeff, thanks you are right I confused J&J with Joy, Mark my plans say the same thing as yours. Flywilly the cutlass MKII shows the design with retracts on the plans that the differance. Mark does your kit show the same label as the one I posted earlier? Pete

Jeff see ya @ the Masters

RE: Don Coleman's Cutlass Supreme
 

Hi Pete, the only label on my kit is on the end of the box. If, there were any others, they have been torn off.

Mark

RE: Don Coleman's Cutlass Supreme
 

Is it my understanding then, that the only difference between the Cutlass Supreme and the MK II version, is retracts? Could someone please post a couple of pics of the nose area, and where the retracts are located in the wings. I would greatly appreciate it.


Mark

RE: Don Coleman's Cutlass Supreme
 

Hi Mark,
I'll get some shots of the MKII plans and post them later today.
-Will