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Classic Designs => Classic Planes => Topic started by: Jim Scott on September 01, 2009, 09:52:07 AM
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I'm a long time modeler who dabbled a bit with u/c when I was a kid. I have rediscovered control line and am interested in the vintage designs. Can anyone identify this plane, tell me its vintage, span, and suggested power.
Thanks, Jim
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Looks like a slightly modified Veco Thunderbird.
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Looks like Bob Palmer's "59 "T" Bird to me. I have built two of these from plans drawn by Bob Emmett. Very nice flying airplane. RSM now has a very nice kit of this airplane from the same plans. Plan shows same cowl vents and front end profile hence the ID.
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The first picture seems a bit slimmer and the rudder hangs off behind the elevator (possibly because the rudder hangs off behind the elevator). In Don's picture, the rudder is ended at the TE of the elevator. It also looks a bit thicker.
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OK, I am looking at the drawing and yes, the rudder goes all the way to the bottom of the fuselage. However, the drawing also shows 1/8th sheet extensions to the fuselage fairing into the trailing edge of the rudder. The rudder is only 1/8th sheet and this allows the fuselage to be wider back there for the elevator horn assy and also make the rudder less prone to "hangar rash". The builder of the subject model may have simply left them off. Any idea of when this model was built?? If you would like a copy of the drawings, I have several. Here's some info on the model. About 55" span, 576 sq. ins wing area. Mine uses a Magnum 36XL for power. I think it would go really well with an LA 46 up front.
Don
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To me it looks a little like Bob Palmer's T-bird.
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My first thought was Southwick Lark or Skylark with a different tail rudder.. what did the Sterling kit look like? Was the Tail changed? Wish there was a pic of the wing..
(http://www.laaeromodelers.org/gallery/vscxx/img_0338-r.jpg)
Skylark
(http://www.laaeromodelers.org/gallery/vscxx/img_0371-r.jpg)
(http://dkd.net/clstunt/art/bpstrip.jpg)
(http://dkd.net/clstunt/art/bpstrip.jpg)
(http://image2-7.rcuniverse.com/e1/forum/upfiles/92498/Mk25437.jpg)
Thunderbird MK2
(http://dkd.net/clmodels/art/tbird2.jpg)
(http://image2-6.rcuniverse.com/e1/forum/upfiles/48697/Vb73886.jpg)
Athol Holtham with his immaculately finished modified Thunderbird. Athol took the MkII and mounted the OS 35 upright to achieve a thrustline mounted wing. His attention to detail in his finishing was outstanding, with the view that "if it is built right and finished right then it should fly right."
(http://www.vicstunt.com/Snapshots/AtholHoltham-Thunderbird.jpg)
(http://www.iroquois.free-online.co.uk/memoirs/trike.jpg)
(http://www.iroquois.free-online.co.uk/memoirs/candt.jpg)
(http://www.modelenginenews.org/gp2/r.palmer.jpg)
Wow cool stuff out there.
Jim
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Thanks to everyone for your input and the great pictures. So, it's a Thunderbird Mk II with cowl vents and a slightly modified tail?? Unfortunately, I don't remember where the picture was from or whether there may have been another showing the wing profile. I have spent the last week or so searching the internet for control line plane pictures and have now built a sizeable file but did not record the sources.
I have a recently acquired a NIB Super Tigre C35. Is it still a decent match for the Thunderbird? I love to build and have scratch built many rc planes. Now it's time for one of these beautiful old control liners. (I'd get back into flying with something else.) Like to see the Thunderbird drawings if they are in digital form, Don.
I've got another unidentified one I'll post in the old time forum. It was built by my dad, probably in the mid to late 40s.
Jim
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The plans are full size. I can supply you with a copy if you would like them. Don't know about the Super Tigre but any good 35 will do the job.
Don
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Well, that's why I said it looked like a slightly modified Thunderbird. It looks like A Veco Thunderbird, but I could be wrong there. I flew a plane much like this, a Veco Thunderbird, back in the late 60s.
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You guys are bringing a real newby up to speed fast. A modified Thunderbird is close enough for me. Don, I sent you an email about the plans.
Jim
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Another picture found. This one clearly identified as an RSM Thunderbird.
Jim
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Thanks to Don for supplying me with a copy of the plans.
Jim
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Here's another view of the same two T-Bird II's (or '59 Thunderbird, if you prefer). I don't know who built the "T-Bird2" model, but the other is from an RSM kit by Rod Claus (aka "Kraut"). Unfortunately, Rod's didn't last very long, because of pushing the envelope before getting it fully trimmed. NOT recommended! n1 Steve