Info on old kits
 

Hello,,,I am a first timer here so I'm not sure if I am in the right forum. My question is, I have recently aquired a few old kits and do not know that much about them. I am not familiar with the manufacturers. Maybe someone out there can shed some light on them for me. I have a Hall-Springfield Bulldog kit made by Ranger Aircraft Models from Brooklyn, NY. It is a solid type model that is designed for Ucontrol flying. Has a 18 inch wing. The plans show setups for a Bantam, Arden and Atom engine. Size .19. The box is maroon. The label is pretty much a drawing of the airplane in black and white with the airplane name and manufacturer logo. Ranger Aircraft Models has what looks like a smiling monkey cartoon face for a logo. Anyone know morw about this kit? Everything seems to be there and complete. Box is nice and not torn and all the wood is nice. Little bit of spruce and plywood. I'm assuming it was made during the war years because of the non-strategic materials. Any info would be deeply appreciated. Thanks,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Charlie

RE: Info on old kits
 

I sure would like to see a picture of the box, plans and contents!

"I'm *almost* OCD...and that bothers me."

RE: Info on old kits
 

KC, There were many many kinds of CL kits back in the '40s and early '50s, especially in the CL world. Back then CL was something you could find flying in almost every school yard and park. Those old spark ignition engines did not put out power like even the older glow-plug engines, so an ignition .19-.25 was mounted on a model that a like size would have at most an .09-.15 today.

Many kits had different types of wood and wound up very heavy. Mostly, but not all, scale-like kits turned out very heavy and just flying around in circles was the ultimate result. I have several old kits and if the modern day kit-builder could see the condition of the wood of those days, they well may just trash it. ;)

You can keep them, build them, or sell them on eBay. Unfortunately the number of collectors are disappearing fast. That is proven by the large numbers of old stuff now available, which is going at rather low prices. The current fliers rather have a good old-time design kit from one of the many producers of old time designs with current good wood and laser cutting.

Good Luck with whatever you choose.

RE: Info on old kits
 

Hi,,,send me your emaill address and I will send pictures. Tried thru here and it wouldn't work. That's what I get for still having dial-up!!

RE: Info on old kits
 

Hi Charlie,
Neat sounding kit, there. I have a ton of the 40's-60's era small scale model kits and I just build them for display. If I have an engine from the time period I mount that, even if it's just representative and not what the plans describe. I have flown like models and they are not much fun and always incur some scraping or worse damage as they are essentially scale racers and have to be whipped and towed for take off and landing and they glide at very high speed, resulting in very little time to make critical decisions, and inputs!
I have a 24" Scientific Staggerwing picture here I rebuilt from an eBay wreck and installed the McCoy 36 Sportsman it came with for my Dad who was a teen in the late forties. It's just to hang.
Chris...

RE: Info on old kits
 

Charlie,

You may have a rare old kit, so I would not build it. Some copy the plans and use the parts as templates to build another kit. That will allow you to both build and preserve it.

I looked through some old 1947 Model Craftsman magazines. One of few aircraft hobby shops listed the Arden and Bantam in the Jan and Feb issues but the Atom did not appear until the March issue. It may mean the Atom was not previously available or perhaps that shop just did not carry it previously...don't know. They were spark engines. When the glow plug came along, the Bantam and the Arden were converted but I believe the Atom (and some other engines) became extinct shortly after that.

This gives you a general time frame of when the kit was made. It would fly fast since it is a small wing to carry that size engine. As someone previously, a modern .09 to .15 engine would work...assuming you do not intend to find an old engine of the three you list.

Good luck whichever you decide. Keep us posted.

George

RE: Info on old kits
 

My addy is [email protected]
Send pictures of the kit and anything else!

RE: Info on old kits
 

I appreciate everyone's input on this subject. You've helped me out. I don't want to build this kit but rather keep in my collection. I have several old and unique kits like this one. Such as, an original Cleveland Playboy SR. in the red box, Comet Zipper, Comet Interceptor, Bay Ridge Pacer and several other freeflight kits. I also have a small collection of speed Ucontrollers as well like a deBolt Speedwagon, 2 Hellrazors, Supersonic Jr., etc. My favorite is freeflight. In addition I have Victor Stanzel kits for G line. But the biggest thing I collect is Jim Walker stuff. I have just about everything there is from Jim Walker and the American Junior Co. except an original AJ Fireball. So if anyone out there has one and wants to get rid of it let me know!! Thanks again!!,,,,,,,,,,,,,Charlie

RE: Info on old kits
 

Chris,,,If you want to get rid of some those old kits let me know. I am always looking for more toys. I usually don't build them but sometimes I reproduce the plans to build. Right now I am working on a Miniature Aircraft Company's model of Cook Cleland's F2G Super Corsair kit. The original plans were of a 40 inch wing. I had them blown up for a 60 inch wing. Looking forward to finishing it. It's definitely a labor of love!! Keep me in mind if you want to sell anything. By the way,,,very nice Beech!! Thanks,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Charlie