Jim Messer

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Here's one for the record books. Last August I advertised on RCU an almost new 1/3 scale Balsa USA J-3 Cub for sale. I stated that it was too large to ship and must be picked up at my house here in Sebring, FL. Well - I got a response from Eric F. in ICELAND! He said that he wanted it, and would have a friend pick it up, box it, and ship it to him. Then came the hurricanes - first Charlie that knocked us for a loop; then Frances that made us wonder why we lived here; then Ivan that missed us completely; and then Jeanne that really did us in with lots of damage. Eric's friend, also in the middle of it all, had no choice but to delay his trip to Sebring to pick up the airplane.

Next thing I get a check in the mail for the airplane, and an E-mail stating that Eric would pick up the airplane himself. Eric and his friend "Thor" flew from Iceland to Baltimore, MD. Next day they flew to Orlando, where they rented a big van and drove to my home here in Sebring. That was on Jan 17th. They loaded the airplane, and disappeared to a Home Depot where they purchased materials and boxed it themselves. Then they drove all the way back to Boston, MA where they got on a return flight to Iceland with the boxed airplane designated as "sporting equipment".

Now that's about an 8000 mile round trip! Think about it. Would you do it?

I got a recent E-mail from Eric stating that they had returned safely, and the airplane survived the trip O.K. He was busy mounting the engine, and it should be flyable as I write this. He also stated that he and another buddy was now preparing a trip to London to pick up a Jet Plane (for the buddy) at a bargain price of xxx thousand dollars. (More than one - less than five).

Attached are two photos of Eric and Thor loading the big J-3 into the van. Note the smiles on their faces. It was my pleasure to meet them - I wish everybody could. They are two nice guys!

So, I ask you again- can anybody top this?

khodges

My Feedback: (1)

They must have wanted that Cub BAD!. By the time they paid for the plane tickets and shipping, etc, they could almost have bought a full-sized one and flown it home I think it brings home just how good we have it here, with almost everything imaginable available at our fingertips. They're probably sure to be the only kids on their block with that particular toy.

exeter_acres

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I hear it is really dark for a realllly long time in Iceland

ptulmer

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I think they had more fun buying the plane than they will flying it. Know what I mean? I wish I could go to Iceland to buy an r/c airplane...

Jim Messer

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To khodges: You got that right, about having things at our fingertips. Eric told me that the J-3 would be the "largest" model in Iceland. Also told me that they like gasoline engines because glo fuel costs $50.00/gallon.

To exeter_ acres: Yes it is dark most of the day in the wintertime, but it is also light most of the day during the summer. It's too cold to fly in the winter anyway, but in the summer they can fly about 22 hrs. out of 24.

last12know

great story......

does balsa usa not ship to iceland though? that trip surely cost more than the kit and shipping!

FLYBOY

My Feedback: (11)

Amazing. Must have wanted to travel, or they are pilots and can travel free and wanted to see the east coast. Thats pretty cool.

BankYank

My Feedback: (63)

I can understand it If i had the money to burn i would probably do the same thing. people ask "why would you do that" My answer would be "because i can"
How cool would it be to be able to do that? Very cool i think. This story makes it plane as day hard work does pay off.
Pat

DrFun

My Feedback: (4)

assuming they are married.

Moral of the story,

We should all marry with woman from Iceland.

Most of us are having hard time explaining why we are going to LHS, and these guys.

Gringo Flyer

My Feedback: (18)

They just wanted to go to Florida to thaw out[8D]

Selleri

Hehe, some facts true, some not
Take a look at the jet in questions, PCM Model Tristar, http://www.frettavefur.net/myndasafn/12/

Cheers,
Sverrir

Jim Messer

My Feedback: (2)

I have to comment on the above post from Selleri:

It is ironic how small this world is: Under "me too models", I posted that I had a 1/4 scale Piper Tomahawk. Selleri sent me a PM stating that he owned a real Tomahawk and wanted to build a model like it. Are there any plans available, he asked? (I had designed my Tomahawk back in 1978 with the help of Piper Engineering, and had it completed before any production planes had been manufactured. I drew the plans for this one.)

Then I note that Selleri is from Iceland! I ask him if he knows of Eric Finnsson who bought the J-3 Cub. He replys that "Of Course he does"; he also knows about the J-3 Cub; BUT he didn't know that Eric had purchased it from me.

I directed him to this thread. He posted the above photos of the DC-10. Nice airplane!

He also told me that while in England, Eric purchased a 40% scale Cessna 182, and sent photos of same. He also said, "Where will it all end"?

You had better believe, the modeling fraternity is world wide, and we should all be glad to be a part of it.

Selleri

Indeed we should Jim

trioval00

My Feedback: (17)

jim, do you still have the plans for the 1/4 scale tomahawk, I also did my flight training in one, and would love to build a 1/4 sclae or larger version

mark

aimmaintenance

I thought it was crazy when a guy and his brother drove 700 miles just to pick up an old 1 ton dump that I sold him on ebay.
I guess that's nothin at all after reading this.

Jim Messer

My Feedback: (2)

Plans for my Tomahawk are still available from Reid's Quality Model Products, [email protected].

Here are three photos of mine.

Selleri

I stumbled upon their webpage, http://www.reidsmodels.com/

BasinBum

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"Thor" and "Eric" from Iceland? That is obviously a front for an embedded terrorist cell that is probably planning to finally use an RC plane for any number of devious plots that the media has been warning us about.

Also be on the lookout for anyone claiming to be from Sweden who goes by the name of "Sven"!

Gringo Flyer

My Feedback: (18)

My Momma always told me to be on the look out for bums[sm=bananahead.gif] from California [sm=lol.gif]

bbbair

WOW! How did you get so lucky to find them!?

I was trying to sell a 1/4 scal Cub for a friend who was getting out of the Hobby, I wanted $400.00 for the plane with servos and a receiver. One fellow who was interested wanted me to discount the price of his gas to come and get it!! (about 200 miles round trip).

I just stopped emailing him... he finally went away ...

I sold it to a local fellow six weeks later - he thought the price was great!

Selleri

Ssssss, don't tell anyone

Live Wire

Makes a person wonder why we even post.

Jim Messer

My Feedback: (2)

RC Outlaw: What's your point?

twostroke

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I don't like to brag, but I did stay at a Ramada last night!!!

rw Guinn

Yeah--
But importing plywood and lumber form the US is prohibitive maybe?
That's it--they really wanted the box materials, and used the plane as an excuse!