RE: Kirkland Nutcracker Pattern Plane
 

Craig,

Make sure I am on your list for the plans as well. I have started my Nutcracker plans but time is a luxury I don't have right now. I'm also building the Kirkland A-6 now so the Nutcracker has taken second place on the priority list!

Jon in Kissimmee
SPA 261

RE: Kirkland Nutcracker Pattern Plane
 

Dunno if any of you scratch builders like glass and foam. I believe that the Nutcracker is in the works from Wing, Mfg. As you all probably know, they are now kitting the Phoenix V. I heard that one Nutcracker kit is already in the hands of an RCU member, read it here somewhere. Wing's P-5 attached.

Crankpin

RE: Kirkland Nutcracker Pattern Plane
 

I'm considering pulling one of my Dad's old Nutcrackers out of the loft in my shop and getting it flying again.

RE: Kirkland Nutcracker Pattern Plane
 

I'd like to get a Nutcracker. Any pics/reports on the new kit yet?

Terry in LP

RE: Kirkland Nutcracker Pattern Plane
 

This is the RCU member's name, that has the first Nutcracker from Wing. Sceptreac He was in contact with Dan Guipe, from Wing Mfg. He messaged on RCU, that he purchased the first one, or was going to purchase the first one.

Call them up. Here is the info:

WING MFG.
269-665-9630

www.wingmfg.com
www.earlyrcmodels.com
[email protected]

This info taken from the brochure in their new Phoenix V kit box.

EVERYTHING MADE IN THE USA !

RE: Kirkland Nutcracker Pattern Plane
 

I just got off the phone with Dan's wife fron Wing Mfg.

The Nutcracker kit has been officially released, and they are taking orders at the number listed above. She said she had a kit ready to be sent out TODAY:D.

Give them your support. With enough interest from "vintage buffs" Dan at Wing Mfg could be a major source for NEW kits based on other designs, (I wish the Blue Angel) [X(] if the interest is there, someone will fill the demand. If there is no demand, the trend toward more and more vintage kits won't continue.

Just my opinion

Duane[8D]

RE: Kirkland Nutcracker Pattern Plane
 

As far as I know, Wing has ALL of the SkyGlas Molds. I purchased this Vertigo by SkyGlas a few months ago. Almost a replica of my
P-6's, little scoop below nose ring, and different fin, diamond shaped stab. Scoop is smaller then the P-8.

Another picture of a 6 I picked up down in Ft. Lauderdale. It is in a Skyglas box, fuselage is epoxy. Did Skyglas make any epoxy fuselages? All Skyglas' I built years ago, glass resin.

Vince

RE: Kirkland Nutcracker Pattern Plane
 

Just ordered the Nutcraker from Dan at WingMFG, said it would be about 2 weeks before I got it. if it looks anything like the P-5 its going to be a hard to beat kit for $175.00 craftmanahip looks great!! no more kits for me this one make's 3 I'm waiting on nutcraker, T2AMKII from carolina custom and the Peppermint pattie from Roger. My luck will be they all arrive the same day and I'll be busted by my Better half!!!:D[X(][X(]

Pete

RE: Kirkland Nutcracker Pattern Plane
 

I just received my Nutcracker from Wing Mfg. Kit #1 has an exceptional fiber glass fuselage. I am extremely pleased to finally have a Nutcracker to build. It is a truly beautiful design from Jim Kirkland. Dan Guipe is honest business man who listened to his customers wishes and gave us this great aircraft once again. I would recommend this kit or any other from Wing Mfg.[8D]

RE: Kirkland Nutcracker Pattern Plane
 

Craig,

Can you give us a detail of what is included in the kit? I sent Dan an email but he has not gotten back to me yet.

Jon

RE: Kirkland Nutcracker Pattern Plane
 

The kit consists of:
Fiberglass fuselage
Foam wing cores
Stabilizer cores
Fiberglass wing joint cloth
Fiberglass belly pan
Wing hold down hardware
Landing gear wire and blocks for fixed mains
A copy of the plans - 1/2 scale with full size patterns for the rudder, wing tips etc.
A copy of Wing Tips - a handy guide for foam wing construction
And a 16 page construction booklet

It is a builders kit. For those who have experience with the traditional pattern plane kits will find the part quality quite good. As a result the finish work will be straight forward. Anyone who has not built a kit like this will be able to follow the instructions and have no trouble. The creating of a beautiful, accurate, high performance aircraft from this type of kit is something any avid modeler should experience.

My story about this particular model goes like this: I saw a very finely finished Nutcracker at the Hampton, Virginia model aircraft field in 1975. The airplane was flown by an experienced pilot who I saw at a pattern contest a few weeks later. His skill and the solid flight characteristics of Jim Kirkland's design kept him at the top of the leader board. I did not stay for the finals to see how he finished. I loved the aircraft after that and never saw another. At the time the Mach 1 was the plane to beat and does fly better but only slightly. The difference can be made up with pilot skill so it becomes personal choice again. It was not until Hanno Prettner's Curare and the Tiporare (clone) came along that a major improvement in flight characteristics occurred.

One of the beautiful aspects in modeling is we get to choose.
I chose the Nutcracker because it is different and I liked how it looks with a glass smooth finish.
Mine will be built as it was intended with retractable gear.
Maybe someday the Senior Pattern meets will have a class that will allow me to fly it as it was back when.

RE: Kirkland Nutcracker Pattern Plane
 

How about some pictures of the Fuse?

Jeff

RE: Kirkland Nutcracker Pattern Plane
 

Here are the photos - I hope the upload worked.

RE: Kirkland Nutcracker Pattern Plane
 

Wow..That is Beautiful!! Please keep us posted with your progress... :D

Thanks for the info and posting the pics of the fuse...

Chuck

RE: Kirkland Nutcracker Pattern Plane
 

Nice. I can't wait for mine to arrive. Looks much lighter than the Skyglas version I had years ago.

Thanks for the pics.

Jeff

RE: Kirkland Nutcracker Pattern Plane
 

Are you still building the Nutcracker?

Mike P.

RE: Kirkland Nutcracker Pattern Plane
 

Mike,

i don't build nutcracker kits. Dan Guipe at Wing Mfg does. If you want one you will have to contact Wing mfg. The kit is really quite well made as are all of their products. I wish you well and hope you get a kit like I did. The airplane is a real classic. I have not started mine as we moved recently and my hobby is just getting back up to speed. I will post pictures when mine is flying.

RE: Kirkland Nutcracker Pattern Plane
 

Thanks for the reply; hope you are able to finish the Nutcracker because it is a very nice flying aircraft. Just a little background in case you are curious. The Nutcracker was indeed attributable to the late Jim Kirkland but the design is of Japanese origin. Jim was so taken with the design that he requested the model from the builder and was able to work with Airborne Associates to come up with the kit circa 1974.</p><div>I talked with Mr. George Hill (Airborne Associates) this afternoon after viewing this thread and he related the story of how the Nutcracker came about. In the mid seventies I built two of the Airborne Associates kits, one I flew and the other went with Airborne Associates to Toledo for the Weak Signals R/C expo for their display booth.</div><div></div><div>It is really good to see a revival in Classic pattern aircraft.

Mike P.</div>

RE: Kirkland Nutcracker Pattern Plane
 

Hey Guy's, My son has a NIB Airborne Nutcracker !! WE got it last year at the Perry Ga. Swap meet .
I'm not gona tell you what he paid for it but it was a real good deal !! The Kit has all the wood,fiberglass fuse and a real good set of plan's .
I will get him to post on this thread and answer any questions.....

Dp2

RE: Kirkland Nutcracker Pattern Plane
 

Hmmm, would your son be interested in parting with the kit?

Thanks Dp2, yes, Irecall the kit was availble as a complete kit;fuse, cores and all necessary balsa sheeting at a very reasonable price for the time. Wow, a real survivor. Please do post some pics.

Mike P.

RE: Kirkland Nutcracker Pattern Plane
 

Great bit of information on an airplane I have been chasing for years - now I have one. I am grateful to you for that information. Recently I have been gathering a trove of old magazines and vintage kits. Someday I will have the time to inventory all of what I have. Should have some good horse trading ahead.

RE: Kirkland Nutcracker Pattern Plane
 

Mike P
That is a very interesting bit of information about the Nutcracker and Jim. If you can will you find out if the designer "evolved" the Nutcracker from Jims Intruder? I flew the Nutcracker in contest prior to switching to the Phoenix series and loved it, it has no bad tendencies at all. I have the Wing Kit also and look forward to building and flying it.

RE: Kirkland Nutcracker Pattern Plane
 

I'm pretty sure that this is the Japanese design mentioned by Mike P. It was flown to 9th place at the 1971 Doylestown WCs by a Mr Sugawara.

Ray

RE: Kirkland Nutcracker Pattern Plane
 

Ray,

You are correct.

Mike P.

RE: Kirkland Nutcracker Pattern Plane
 

If I remember correctly Mr. Sugawana called it Shudder. I've never seen a kit or plans for it though.