FXD

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twin comanche looking for info on staffod kit . has anyone built one or flown one. any info would be helpful

Dean-RCU

I built this one in 1979. it flew well even on one engine. Very close to exact scale outline but i'm not sure if the kit is still available.

CB1000C

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"I built this one in 1979. it flew well even on one engine. Very close to exact scale outline but i'm not sure if the kit is still available"[/B]

Dean,
Do you recall if you covered the entire plane with fiberglass cloth as the building instruction call for? I am fininshing a Stafford Commanche Kit that was started by a different builder and it appears the wing nacelles were clothed but the rest of the wing surface only appears to be covered with a finishing resin minus the cloth. The fuselage is untouched and I'm debating if I want to cloth it, or just cover it with a finishing resin also. I have always covered my planes in silk/dope or Monokote. So I am fairly new to this fiberglass technique and I would like to keep the weight down as much as possible.

P.S Dean, that's a nice looking Commanche. Do you still have it?

Bret

Dean-RCU

Hi Bret: I covered the Commanchie with 3/4 oz cloth. The nacelles as i recall were Fiberglass from one of the Companys like Fiberglass Specialties. I always use Fiberglass cloth except on open areas on my models. Thanks ! I sold the twin 3 years ago before moving here to Arizona. I only had room for 6 models in my trailer.

robt46

That Commanchie looks great. Anybody have a web adress on Jack Stafford Models. I could have sworn I had it. can't seem to bring it up on a search. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Robt46

CB1000C

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Stafford Kits closed shop. No longer exists.

robt46

Phew! I've been out of this hobby to long. Keep forgetting how long it was. Thanks for the info. I'm really looking for Beechcraft Baron 58 Plans. Big one! I have one set from a Bud Cadell. It's 85" ws. Bought them a long time ago. Thinking of having them blown up. If I can't find anything. Any ideas? These plans are kind of sparse on the engine rec. and so forth. Thanks Robt46.

OldRookie

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Wendel Hostetler has a Cessna 421C if you want a big twin. He sells this in big 118" span and bigger at 133" span.

Greg

xlr82v2

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Dean, that's a beautiful model!

I got my full-scale multi-engine rating in a Twin Commanche. 160 horsepower per side. Wonderful airplane! Excellent performance for the small horsepower it has. Too bad they don't still build them.

Dean-RCU

Thanks ! I'll see if i can Post the Full Scale Commanche which i replicated.

Walter D

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If you don't find plans for the Beech, RCM has plans for a totally scale Piper Seneca, 84" wingspan, that is outstanding, a serious project, to say the least.

William Robison

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That is indeed a beautiful airplane, Dean. Regrding ratings, I got my MEL rate in a Piper Apache, and there never was a light twin built that was more of a slug.

NoPAIR? NOWHERE!!

Dean-RCU

robt46 If you are still looking for a Twin Commanche i Just remembered that Joe Bridi had plans for a 74" model and i thin RCM has them. Thanks William .
Here is the full scale Commanchie that i replicated

William Robison

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The Comanchee makes up (partially) for the Apache. A fellow named Ted Smith designed the absolutely best light twin of its day, he called it the Aero Commander. With his experience from that one, he built what was, and is still, the best light twin of all time, even bette than the early Cessna 310 series, and that is the Aero Star. Piper eventually bought the design, and guess what they renamed it? Yep. But I still prefer the one that says "Aero Star 601P" to the piper version. I do hope that Piper Aircraft made the Ford Motor Company pay through the nose for putting the Aerostar label on their cruddy tin can. Later. WLR

robt46

Hey thanks for the info Dean and William. I"ll look around for the Bridi Comanche. I seem to remember that there is an address on his stuff. I know the outfit isn't around, but some body is doing it now. I"ll be searching. The Aero Commander is made I think, as Plans or a kit (big one!) I"ll look into that to. These planes look promising thanks again. Any info on getting a hold of these planes would be appreciated. Robt46.

FXD

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robt46 the kits you are looking for. the twin comanche is a old stafford kit. i have two of them and the aerocommander kit was a bridi then greatplanes kit witch i also have. both can be found for sale on rcunivers from time to time.hope this helps you. fxd

William Robison

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ROBT46: Stafford is gone, Bridi is going, maybe gone by now. G&P used to handle Bridi kits, and MECOA also asvertised them once or twice. Bridi's biggest, though as I remember, was 40-50 engine size, definitely not "Giant Scale." If yu want to build from plans, and if you will settle for a Cessna 310, there was a three (I think) part article in either RCM or MAN a few years ago, that one looked almost as good as Dean's Comanche. Should be still available. As I recall that one used big glow engines, about equivalent to your Ryobi engines. Keep us informed, twins are twice as good. WLR

A double FAN? Shows a real MAN!

OK,OK, all you PC Nazis, a real PERSON - but it doesn't have the right ring.

robt46

Thanks for the info FXD, I"ll keep my eyes peeled mabe something will come up for sale. I'm getting ahold of MAN and RCM about the 310 articles> I think I may have some headway there. I"ll let you know. I'm thinking of getting these plans for the 85" beechcraft Baron 58 blown up. I"ll let you know what digs up. Hey thanks again for all the info William and FXD I really appreciate it. I'm on a Quest. Hehe This gets my Dutch up. Stubborn as I am I'll get a giant twin private plane come hell or high water. Hehe. talk to ya Robt46.

wgsander

Dean, I just came across the Jack Stafford twin comanche kit.72inch two 40s #139
on the box.The kit seems to be all there except for the drawings.Does anyone have
drawings for this kit?

Robby

My Feedback: (18)

Doing a search I noticed this thread and thought would provide an update..

Jack Stafford Models is again alive and well now in Southern / central Indiana..

The URL for them is: http://www.JSModels.com/

You can also contact "BOMBERGUY" here on RCU as he is one of the owners..
I have invited him to particiapate in this thread..

Robby

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270win

My Feedback: (14)

Dean-RCU-
Where did you see N501RE? That Comanchee used to be based at PDK in Atlanta on the North Ramp. I have a Cessna 182 that was parked a few tiedowns away. There was also a matching T tale Turbo Lance parked beside it with a similar N number. Cool to see it again!

BTW-
Nice model!!

270

Dean-RCU

Hello 270win, Thanks! N501RE was based at Skaneatles Airport and also Handkock International Airport in Syracuse New York. This was back around 1979 and was owned by an insurance agent who lived in Skaneatles about 17 miles from Syracuse. Another image of the model.

270win

My Feedback: (14)

We moved the 182 to another airport about 3 years ago. I'm going to go back by PDK next week to see if N501RE is still there. I'll post a pic if I see it.

Again, great looking model!

How difficult is that kit to build and fly?

270

Dean-RCU

If they are using Staffords original instruction book the kit would be a very enjoyable build. I had built only 3 or 4 Top Flite kits when i took on the project. The model is an excllent flyer and will fly on one engine. At one contest back in 78 or 79 Jack lost an engine after take off and went through the entire flight routine on one engine.

CadFlyer

My Feedback: (16)

I have the plans for the single and twin Comanche if anyone needs some info for either of these. I am building the single version and also wound up with the twin version plans as well.
Thanks,
Cadflyer
[email protected]