I usually post in the Pylon section...but I also vintage sailplanes so I enjoy both..
Does anyone know of,,remember, or have knowledge of an old designer, builder, that made "marks models" in the early 70's(mark smith)

He kitted atleast 2 sailplanes,,,the "windward" and "windfree" ...Fantastic 2 meter planes..
I would like to find another windfree.

www.Dynaflite.com

However Mark sold the rights to the two planes you mentioned. Check here:

http://www.skybench.com/slnost.html

The "Windward" was the first RC kit I built. I built it in 1972. I first flew it with a Kraft Seven Series five channel radio and later with a Futaba. I've done a lot of building, crashing, horse-trading, buying and selling, but I still have the "Windward". I flew it for the first time in years about six weeks ago, and specked that old bird out. It felt great. Like renewing a kinship with an old friend that I hadn't been around in a long time. The time away didn't seem to matter. We just picked up where ever it was that we left off from years ago. My old friend did not disappoint, what a day to remember. Nice, easy, relaxed flying for flying sake. Not the fastest, sleekest, most aerobatic ship on the slope, just a nice groove. What a day we had. Hope we meet again soon, and not in another eight or ten years.
I did install a new cycled and charged battery. Didn't want to loose an old friend for being blatenly stupid.

Hey GloFuelAV8:
The Windward was also my first r/c plane, and I learned to fly it at Thornton Beach in San Francisco in 1972. Used an 8 channel Heathkit radio that I built from a kit, then had tuned by a local flyer by the name of Rich Gooch. If you were flying in The City in '72 you had to have known him. Anyway, I lost my Windward on San Bruno Mountain, a poor choice for a flying site. Too many cars, towers and wind. I bought another one on ebay recently, and it sits built and ready to fly in my hangar. Alas, the hills around here can't compare to that great vertical lift we had down there. I'll have to pack it up with me next time I go visiting friends in Pacifica.



Hag

Marks Models was sold to Hobbico and turned into Dynaflight. Hobbico sold off some of the glider designs as they were really interested in the Wanderer, Bird of Time, the fuel kits and hi-starts which Mark's Models got from Craft-aire along with some of the kit business such as the Piece of Cake. Some designs were sold off. The Windfree is being produced by Hobby Hanger and a short kit of the Windward by Skybench. I have rights and tooling for the Mini Bird of Time (soon to be released), the Mirage (currently I make a short kit but will have a full kit this winter) , the RO-8, and the Sensor. All in all it's a good thing to keep these old kits alive. Attached is the redesigned box label for the upcoming Mini Bird of Time.

Mark Miller
Isthmus Models

Hag,

Thorton Beach is where I learned to fly as well. I still fly in Pacifica. I live in San Carlos about a half hour away from some of best sloping on the planet. My favorite spot is about center between the Pacifica Dumps and Fort Funston where the hang gliders fly out of. The cliff's are almost vertical their and rise about nine hundred and some odd feet. When the winds are pumping and coming direct into the cliffs the lift is awesome! Max ballast your lead-sled and let rip. A Hinderick's !QUOT!Zipper!QUOT! is my favorite plane at that location and the model lives up to it's name. A bit of a cheek pincher to land but I must have it down cuz I haven't stacked it up and I have been flying it for years.
Nice to hear from a former local. Keep-Em flying in Oroville.
!QUOT!Geppetto!QUOT!

Yeah, I know San Carlos well. I worked at the corner of Howard and El Camino for fifteen years, until SP needed our tune-up shop to build its railway overpass on. My little brother still owns a garage on ECR, just south of San Carlos Ave. I still shop at J&M whenever I'm down visiting. A truly great hobby shop. You don't know how good you have it! Ironically, I was living in Pacifica when I used to drive to Thornton Beach to fly the slopes. Who knew?


Hag

Hag,
Small world. I bought an OS-25SR for $55.00 from you off of Ebay and picked it up at you brothers repair shop maybe two and a half to three years ago. The best engine deal I ever got off of Ebay I might add. I have maybe a dozen of them now. Their my favorite combat engines. Drop me an E the next time your in town and will go have coffee at Pilgrams and ratchet jaw RC.
"Geppetto"

[8D] Happy New Year Mark, saw your post about two years ago concerning rekitting the old Mark's Models 117 Sensor. I just put a bid in on a fuselage and tail feathers on eBay for one. If I win the auction can you help me out with wing plans, instructions and a canopy?
I live in Rockford, IL so I can drive up to Madison to get the stuff I need. I'm planning on making a foam wing for the bird.
Thanks,
Vern Sundstrom