Any Contender owners/builders/flyers out there? I'm building my 2nd Contender now, had one back in the late 80's and had a blast with it. Started this kit back around '92, and hung it on the wall. Finally "getting back around to it", and wondering if there are any of these still out there flying...

Well I finished building one last winter. I did modify my rudder, added a little to the ailerons and left off the wing tips. I like mine very much. It does have a quirky habit of rolling opposite of the rudder. The wingtips were to prevent that but left them off. Rolls nicely and is just a solid performer. The flap is a new one and I recommend building it. You'll enjoy the plane for its aerobatic, but it is diffently not a 3D type.

See this thread for build and flight reports

[link]http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/m_3421799/anchors_3421799/mpage_1/key_contender/anchor/tm.htm#3421799[/link]

Tweek: I am in the process of building a "Contender" I have most everything finished. I am now working on the "dreaded" cowling. I am using a OS FX .61 and I have had to removed a lot of material from the inside of the side pcs. of the
cowling. Removing the engine will be a nightmare. I will have to cut off the cowling. I have thoroughly gone over the
engine tightning everything.

I modified the rudder, bringing it down from top to bottom eliminating the setback. I, also, added 1/2" to the outboard width of the ailerons. I have built the upswept wing tips. I made them and I have screwed them on so that if I ever have any damage, I will be able to just cut the covering and remove them.

I will be running the antenna up thru a hole just behind the cockpit to the top of the verticle stabilizer. I will attach with a rubber band/screw in hook, and will let the rest "fly free."

If you will give me your e-mail address, I will send some pictures of my build, thus far. My e-mail address is:
[email protected].

If you have any questions, just ask. I will TRY to help you. I am 62 and this is my first build in 45 years. I have a AT-6 and a Super Decathalon to build next.

Good Luck with your build.

Hi Jim,

My email address is [email protected] . This is my first complete build (I've rebuilt a ARF stick recently) since aorund '92, so I've been out of the loop for a while myself. Thanks for the feedback, and I'm looking forward to seeing your Contender pics!

Thanks, Scott! I was searching about on RCU last night, and found your thread. Wow!! Man, that generated some action... I spent about 3 hours reading on it, then bookmarked it so I could go back and read some more later. Good stuff!

I had been out of the hobby pretty much, since about '93 when I bought my current home and moved into it. I joined the local club and kept my membership up, but was so wrapped up in work and was additionally starting up a new company, I just didn't have time to play. I recently got back into the hobby, and was surprised at the changes that have occurred over the last 12 years (and amazed at the advances in electric technology!).

One of my big surprises was with kit building. It seems that those of us who build are in the minority these days, hehehehehe... Oh well, I've always thought that building and flying were to separate hobbies, and I guess the boom in ARFs proves it. I remember, ever since I got in the hobby back in the 70's, lots of folks didn't like to build...they just did it because they had to in order to fly.

I still enjoy building a lot, and am up to my ears in balsa dust again. Can't wait to get my new (to me) Contender up in the air! My fuse on my last one was painted and had an O.S. .40 on it. It was _VERY_ heavy, but still flew well once it was in the air and had a little airspeed on it. It had those tapered tips, but they didn't turn up-wards. The wing was flat, and the bird rolled well. It would do everything in the novice pattern lineup. BTW, I see that class of pattern no longer exists... what is the beginner / entry level pattern class these days?

My dad built an origional "red box" Contender back in 1972...I have pictures of me (7 years old) with it...I recently built a new kit and finished it in the same color sceme as my dad's. He mounted the engine inverted and the made the scoop removable to access the motor...It was powered by a Webre black head .61...Mine has a GMS .47 , I'll bet it has as much power if not more than the Webra!....Great flying sport plane.. rudder input causes it to bank the opposit direction which can be corrected by building it with the optional wing tips but I chose to build it with the standard configuration and corrected it with a radio mix...its one of my favorite planes...I recomend it highly!!

Wow...that's exactly what I had, and what I'm building now. Were there other versions (you say "red box", so I'm assuming there are...)?