Now that pilots are returning from this years VSC, I'm sure many are already thinking of next years VSC Classic plane.  While in this mode, does anyone remember a plan for a CLPA of the Little Toni?

This is one of my all time favorite model planes. 

Any size would be fine. Classic legal would be a bonus. .... TIA for your help. :-)

Regards, 

Hi Rudy,

Other than the Goldberg profile (now Brodak) I have never found a Cosmic Wind (Little Toni, Ballerina, Mermaid) for CLPA.   Classic or other wise.

I have contacted Keith Trostle since his Eagle is a very similar looking model.  There were precious few models of the Cosmic Wind being a Berkeley kit, and a couple of scale plans.  The scale plane from the '65 NATS (??) would have a fuselage that would be pretty close to the right size, and you could do a Al Rabe style build for the wings, etc.  I have never seen those plans, though.

Thanks, Keith.  I got a *scale package* from Boy Heywood (IIRC) that has a good size Cosmic Wind plan (Plecan??) and pictures, etc., a little while ago.   Since I also have the big Hobby Helpers plans for the Shoestring, I might look at doing them both as scale planes.  I also have the Berkeley plans for both planes.

I will get back to you later on the Cosmic Wind/Eagle project.

tom Jolly - Midget Mustang . Published in U.S. is a little Toni - Ballerina etc.

(clip)

The Midget Mustang is not in the same series as the Cosmic Wind, Minnow, Little toni and Ballerina.  The Midget Mustang was "similar" in configuration as the Cosmic Wind series in that it was a low wing racer.  the Midget Mustang had a swept LE while the Cosmic Wind variants had straight, unswept LE.  The Midget Mustang, in its several variants had a turtle deck behind the canopy while the Cosmic Wind series, at least in their early versions all had bubble canopies.  All of these were all metal aircraft.  The Cosmic Winds  serires were built by Tony LeVier and associates.  LeVier was a test pilot at Lockheed. 

The Midget Mustang was designed and built by David Long, an engineer at Piper.  It was put into production by Schweizer Aircraft and later bacame a home-built kit.

Keith Trostle

the Tom Jolly thing has a flat wing and full width rear deck . = midget Mustang ?

You are correct.  The "Tom Jolly thing" (Model Airplane News, October 1968) is a semi-scale Midget Mustang.  It is not really representative of any of the Cosmic Wind airplanes.  Rudy Taube who started this thread was looking for a Little Toni, not a Midget Mustang.  The Midget Mustang, though close, is not a Little Toni, or a Cosmic Wind, or a Minnow or a Ballerina.

Keith Trostle

Hi Guys,

Thanks for all the input. And thank you Kieth for all the important clarifications on the different aircraft of this era.

I was hoping for a Classic Legal Lil Toni for the VSC. The reason this plane is special to me is probably similar to how many other modelers select their "favorites". When I was a little kid in the 1950s my LHS has a beautiful scale Lil Toni hanging on the ceiling. It was a large CL plane for the period, probably only 38" span, but BIG for a little kid! ;-)  It was perfect; Red, big #3, cheek cowls, and a big engine! I always liked models that looked like REAL airplanes form then on. So whenever I saw, or still see, a model that looks like a "model plane" rather than a "model OF a plane" I immediately start thinking of ways to modify it to look like a real plane. :-)

About 15 yrs ago the prolific model designer Fred Reese, drew up a Lil Toni for us to race in CL Goodyear. It looks great and we won many races with it. I still have it in my shop. Every time I look at it I want to make a scale Lil Toni CLPA ship that looks that good! :-)

A little side bar on the Midget Mustang. Many years ago, when I flew for a living, a guy who built a Midget Mustang asked me to do the test flights on his plane. This was the single place version, not the larger wing, two place plane. I had some experience with high wing loading planes but this little plane looked more like a pretty aluminum coffin than it did a plane. It has very thin wings and is very, very small. I was young and full of myself, like most pilots, but sometimes my brain did kick in a little! ;-) After thinking about it for awhile, I passed. The guy found someone else to fly it for him. It ran off the runway on landing. The pilot lived, but I don't think the plane was ever repaired. I do admire the guys who fly them, but I am glad I took the pass. ..... Maybe Keith, or one of the other pilots on this forum has flown one and could give us a report?

Again, thanks for all the input.

Regards,