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Does anyone know this model and its creator?

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Douglas Bykoff:
I received these uncredited photos of a model that I imagine is from the 60's. In addition to an unconventional design, this model has an aerodynamic/mechanical device. Has anyone seen it before?

Ken Culbertson:
I believe it was Harold Price somewhere around 1964.  I remember that being one of my "Dream" planes to build someday as a kid.

Ken

The plumbing in the pix is his pneumatic retract system.

Teodorico Terry:
Does this look familiar?   

https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=12448

Trostle:

--- Quote from: Douglas Bykoff on January 22, 2023, 09:57:22 AM ---
 Has anyone seen it before?


--- End quote ---

Crusader by Harold Price.  American Modeler,  Jan/Feb 64.  Magazine article/plans explains/shows a retracting gear.

Keith

Bob Hunt:
Being from the same area as Harold I got to watch that plane fly a bit. I remember that at the 1963 (pretty sure about that date) Harold was flying it at the huge Memorial Day contest in Union, New Jersey. The gear went up at the beginning of the flight, and then came down and went up again several times during the flight. It seems he did not have the little air catching cone that was spring loaded adjusted properly and when the plane lost some speed in the corners the cone came forward due to lack of pressure and the gear would extend. Not his best performance with that plane. However, he did get the system working properly and went to the Team Trials in Wisconsin where he was almost assured of a team spot... right up to the point where he decided to do some deadstick wind flying after his last pattern. He dorked it and missed making the team.

Harold had two other models previous to the Crusader (and there were two Crusaders. The retract version and a trike fixed gear version) that had the same manta-like wing and tail. Those were his Valkarie stunters. He had one with fuse gear and one with wing gear. He flew the fuse gear version at the Nats in 1961 and might have won there if not for a tank vent that broke and cost him a finals flight. The wing gear version of the Valkarie was my personal favorite of all Harold's planes. He flew that plane for several years and then repainted it and renamed it the Ranger. Harold was prolific and extremely talented at building, finishing and flying. He was - and still is - a legend on the East Coast Stunt scene.

I went with Harold to a contest in Maryland at Bolling Air Force Base in 1967. He flew his brand new Hawker Typhoon semi-scale stunt model that had a Fox 35 in the nose. It was a very large ship for that motor, but it was extremely light. Harold fitted the Fox with a speed model tuned pipe thinking that it would work. It didn't... I launched the model and then had to throw rags at the prop as it taxied by me several times on the ground. We must have looked like the Keystone Cops during that routine! Harold removed the pipe after that exhibition and flew the ship very well in the contest. I got a severe case of sun stroke that day and was a very sick boy on the way home. My doctor told me that I was lucky (blessed...) to have survived that. I was on a diet of Karo Syrup and orange juice for several days after that. I actually fainted while doing the wingover that day and pancaked the model I was flying (a Nobler) as I collapsed. Not my favorite day at a contest. I do remember that it was over 100 degrees that day, and on the way home I was shivering with chills while Harold was smoldering from the heat. Memories, memories...

Bob Hunt     

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