cjohnfmc

Dose any one know if Dodson gliders are still around. last I was aware of they were some where north of california

(edited Subject line to include correctly spelled name for future searches)

rcsoar4fun

My Feedback: (12)

Sadly they have not produced in gliders in a number of years. All of the rights and tooling were transfered to someone that is considering reproducing some of the line. It is unknown when this might occur, or if at all. Too bad, they were terrific airplanes.

Kristopher

forrest adams

dodgson does not kit these beautiful birds anymore

that's dodgson

Pud

My Feedback: (3)

As has been said already here, Dodgson Designs is no longer in business.
But, it is possible to find a kit every now and then here on RCU, eBay, and other places.
Just ask around online and search eBay if you are looking for a particular plane.

But, be forewarned!! I have seen some Dodgson planes go for ridiculous amounts of money on eBay!(of course,so do other items there!)

Sure do wish someone(Hey Shawn!) would bring back some of the Dodgson kits--with maybe a little "updating".

Pud

BMatthews

I'll say, Camano Island in Washington state north and west of Seattle and just above the tip of the Olympic penninsula.

I had the privilage of flying on the same fields, but far from the same class, as Bob back in the late 80's and early 90's. His designs dominated the podium spots for many years until finally his message was taken up by other folks and we find ourselves where we are today.

It took the Europeans trouncing "us" in the FAI competitions to make the rest of the world realize that there was something to those designs. A concept that was already very much accepted in the Northwest thanks to Bob.

He hasn't been producing any designs for quite a few years now I understand.

michpittsman

My Feedback: (11)

It was my great pleasure to fly Dodgson designs from 1974(Todi) through Maestro Caliente, Megan, Camano f3b, and E214 Camano(1995-1997) and meet Bob on a trip to Portland, OR in 1981 to visit friends and fly at Portland and Richland, WA contests. As of several months ago, Bob was located in Bothell, WA working for Boeing, and recovering from hip replacement surgery. Hey Pud! Dodgson didn't quit designing ten years ago for any reason other than to give everybody else a chance to catch up! Many still haven't.Best regards, Bob, if you are reading this. Miss that Camano! Jim B

Brinesharks

My Feedback: (1)

Does anyone have a spare forward (fibreglass) fuselage for a Todi they'd be willing to sell/trade??? I know it's unlikely but "...don't ask, don't get". I have the original plans from my father's kit and his photos of the original model to go from but the F/G bit would really help. I'm planning on using "lazer light" foam ribs cut from blue foam with the rest of construction as per the plans. Although, if I need to build the fuselage I will probably make the entire thing from glass. BTW my father still thinks it's the best flying glider he ever had (that includes his expensive German ones!).

old dodger

I just got back into the hobby 2yr ago since 85. I was also sorry to see the Dodgson planes not being made was also sorry to see the Dodgson planes not being made anymore.
Flying then in the Northwest and also now there is quite a difference. As the fellow before said Dodgson planes were THE
plane to beat.

I currently have a Maestro Megan to fly in Nostalgia (1977 design).

I'm also one of the few that have a NIB Camano with the Epler 214 airfoil. Its a hundred inch span plane and they don't
have 100in classes around here anymore (use to be call standard class). Thought about cutting it down to a 2 meter
(they do run 2 meter classes here). I should have Gordon Bob to sign the box at one of the contest he was at.
Im not realy wanting to destroy one of his kits, just a thought.

Chris Brundege

forrest adams

i have a nib camano too - i ordered about 10 of his kits when i knew he was planning to quit producing sailplanes - they are great flying planes, but are sometimes difficult to build.

rcsoar4fun

My Feedback: (12)

I never thought Bob's kits were as hard to build as some people made them out to be. Of course in today's ARF society I doubt Bob could have sold any at all. The biggest problem I saw with building them was that everything had a purpose and it was sometimes hard to see how exactly everything was supposed to work.

I have a set of plans for the Todi, which is on my short list of things to build one of these days. Let me know if you run across a couple. I figured I would have to carve a plug and build my own.

Kristopher

forrest adams

i once knew a kris who used to fly sailplanes in ft worth - are you him?

Bytor

I have been collecting Dodgson's kits for about 12 years and have been able to find a couple. I still enjoy flying Bob's kits today and can't wait to get back out to the field soon and put them in the air. The Windsong has flown to a altitude of 3740 ft. AGL with a onboard altimitter and camera.

To Date I have NIB:

Anthem (building)
Lovesong
Windsong Classic (pre-sheeted E214 wings) Very nice kit
Windsong x2
Camano (with glass canopy and E-214 foam cores)
K-Minnow
Pixy
Pivot
Todi
Maestro MKIII (after market, with SD-7037 foam cores, and all glass fuse)

Flying:

Windsong
Camano (with built-up 111" wings)
Vee-Gilante
Wee-Gilante


Brinesharks Yes thats a NIB Todi.....

I am always looking for more if anyone has one they don't want..

Thermals

Mark

Bytor

Here are a couple of links some of you may like to look through.

The first is a link to all of Bob's great news letters. I have a full set I recieved through the mail from Bob. Have them all in page protectors in a big binder. Great reading every now and then... (I was lucky enough to make it in a couple)

http://www.rmsadenver.com/dodgsonnewsletters.htm


The second is a Autobiography of Robert Dodgson

http://www.modelaircraft.org/museum/bio/Dodgson.pdf

Thermals

Mark

rogerflies

My Feedback: (3)

I just got back from flying my 1992-vintage Lovesong. Only one flight today, but it was just over an hour long. Never got over a thousand feet, and five times I was under a hundred feet for several minutes at a time. It was a real workout, but one of the most satisfying flights I've ever had.

Bob Dodgson's sailplanes have given me more pleasure for the money than anything else I've owned.

Roger

rcsoar4fun

My Feedback: (12)

Nope, never lived in Ft Worth.

I picked up a V-Gilante a while back and have put a little time on it. It is one good flying bird in the air. I have not had a chance to fly one of his birds with the SD-7037, but the V-Gil does very well with it. Seems to have fixed the one issue some of the e-214 ships had, which was penetration. On top of that its so light it will thermal in anything. I flew a new fully molded bird today with the SD-7037. It flew well, but it wasn't a Dodgson I always wanted to try a Lovesong/Anthem layout with either an MH-32 or RG-15. The overall design is very efficient and honest, but sometimes the Oklahoma winds can be a challenge with the E-214.

Having said that, I still love the E-214. I had a old lovesong that I bought for $65 shipped. It was a beater for sure, 90oz or so. But man, would that thing thermal. Even the lightest puff it would go up. Landing the lead sled with the flap was unreal, it would just stop and float down.

Getting all tearing eyed here, anyone got one they want to sell

Kristopher

OLDNRINKLED

My Feedback: (5)

HELLO FELLOW GLIDER LOVERS. SINCE I HAVE HAD MY HEAD UP MY A-- FOR THE LAST 30 YEARS AND NEGLECTED THE HOBBY OF RADIO CONTROL SAILPLANES I AM HAVING A BALL TRYING TO GET UP TO SPEED WITH MY KNOWLEDGE OF THE SPORT. I BARELY REMEMBER DODGSON DESIGNS. COULD THOSE OF YOU WITH PICTURES AND PLANS THAT WISH TO SHARE THEM WITH THE REST OF US BE WILLING TO SUBMIT TO THIS THREAD WHAT YOU HAVE IN YOUR COLLECTIONS. I GOT OUT JUST AS THE AQUILA WAS GETTING ITS BIG START. I THINK I HAVE MISSED QUITE A BIT AND WOULD LOVE TO CATCH UP. TKS DEWEY

rogerflies

My Feedback: (3)

Here's my second Lovesong, which I built in '92. It weighs 74 ounces thanks to some careful building, a few weight-saving mods, and the very thin fiberglass/epoxy on the wings and tail.

The other pictures show the wing carrier I built in '92 and the more recent fuse carrier. They really cut down on hangar rash.

Roger

Tom Gressman

Please let me know if you ever want to seel the Maestro Megan. I would live to enter in the NOS class. Tom Gressman/RMSA/Denver

rcsoar4fun

My Feedback: (12)

What I find funny about the Dodgson planes is that there is not a website or group out there with info about there. There are still a ton of them in the air. Would be cool to get a sort of "Third Wind" newsletter going about who is doing what.

Kristopher

Bytor

It would be nice if there was a site that would have pic's and imputs from other flyers.

Here are a few pic's of the planes I am flying at this time.

The first is a pic of the Camano landing.
The second is of my Vee-Gilante
The third is of my Wee-Gilante
and the last is the Windsong and Camano.

Bytor

Here are a couple of pic's of my storage boxes for my Camano and Windsong made of Coroplast.

rcsoar4fun

My Feedback: (12)

Ah, nice to see one of the old school Camanos out there. BTW, if anyone is looking there is a Camano kit on Ebay for $225 BIY.

Kristopher


Come to think of it, if you guys are interested I could throw something together for a Dodgson website. Any suggestions for a name? I always hate that part =)

Bytor

Rcsoar,

Very old school but still flys and lands like a champ. Its one of the few that was kitted with the built-up 111" wing.
I still have a NIB Camano (with the glass canopy in my collection).

Thermals

pchart

Help, Help Please
I just recieved a Dodgson K-Minnow kit and there is not any plans in it.
Does anyone know where I can get a copy of the building plans ?
It looks like its going to be a beautiful ship when done. The kit looks complete but no plans.
Your help is needed.
Thanks ,
Phil

Bytor

Pchart,

You may want to contact Shawn Lenci at the address below.
He now owns the rights to Bob's kits.
I do have a few of Bob's kits and the K-Minnow is among them.

[email protected]

good luck

Mark