Model Airplanes

[Shadowcaster]

Wonderful slice of history.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slwnO2YTelQ[/youtube]


Cheers
Rich

[Apex]

Far out. Now that's a real flashback there. We used to go out to the old Tamiami Airport, now the campus of Florida Intl University, and fly a friend's RC's.

Same friend once built a beautiful balsa/paper high wing, sorta looked like a Cessna. It crashed beyond recognition on its first flight.

[Anthindelahunt]

When I was young I would make a balsa aircraft
and thrilled it looked so good.

First flight.Wind up and crumple!!!.One totally destroyed
elastic band plane.

Saving up to buy another kit.Same result.

Graduate to jetex.

Anthin.

[Sinkrate]

Graduate to jetex.

My first Jetex model was a Gloster Javelin, which took me about two weeks to complete. On its maiden flight, it caught fire in mid air and fell to the ground in a ball of flames. Only the scorched motor was salvageable. Brilliant The fuse, though expensive, was also very good for detonating weedkiller bombs – another favourite toy of my youth. Happy days

“Preserve your memories, they’re all that’s left you” – Simon & Garfunkel

Still making models after all these years

Sink. circa 1955

[Shadowcaster]

My first Jetex was a Keil Kraft Hunter which resisted all attempts to fly, preferring instead to nose dive into the ground, long grass which sometimes caught fire. I then built a sheet balsa glider and attached the Jetex to that and had a good many flights with it, happy days indeed.

Cheers
Rich

[Fozzer]

I spent many sad hours watching my two Lads flying their Basla-wood constructed, elastic-band-driven aeroplanes into the ground..... ...!

We all decided to concentrate on; Airfix, Revell, etc, static models, after that.

...much less stressful... ...!

Just lots of furniture covered in Airfix paint!

Paul...Happy Days!.... ... ....!

[expat]

My modelling came after Jetex.......Always wanted to have a go.....

Matt

[C]

Jetex made a reappearance in the 90s.

Nice to see they used to get it wrong back then too. Lancaster? Oh no it's not, it's a Lincoln!

[Roypcox]

I can`t believe the price of a balsa wood airplane kit nowadays? Where is the best place to buy them,price wise?Thanks homeboy

[Sinkrate]

I can`t believe the price of a balsa wood airplane kit nowadays? Where is the best place to buy them,price wise?Thanks homeboy

I think you will be lucky to find even a basic glider kit for under £20 now. Rubber powered ones usually run to £30 - £45 even on ebay! It’s a case of supply and demand I guess. When I was a lad, I used to build and crash at least a dozen models a year and so did all my mates. You could buy them for pocket money in those days and toy shops were full of them. You could fly them practically anywhere back then, and no licence or insurance was necessary.

How many kids do you see building model aeroplanes (or building anything) nowadays? The hobby has been taken over by affluent adults who build large ARTF radio controlled models and then need special venues to fly them, with training, licence, insurance etc., as required by the health and safety numpties.

If you can find an old kit left over from the 60s or 70s then buy that, as the balsa was much better quality back then. Modern balsa is rubbish in my experience.