Ah. Sorry, sometimes I forget we are 2 countries separated by a common language.

You say "That is a Tucker". Forgive my ignorance... Are there 2 distinct models? (Tucker & Tucker Special). I'm beginning to think there are.

If so what are the differences. The plan I have has a wing mounted landing gear and is 51" span.

I'm probably answering my own questions here but Barry Baxter's Plan list has a Tucker Special listed 51" span, 525 sq.in. (Wing mounted L/G). RSM List a kit for a Tucker which is 53" span, 560 sq.in. with fuselage mounted L/G.

So I guess these are 2 different models? If so were they both Robert Tucker designs?

If this is the case I think it's actually the Tucker I am interested in and not the Tucker Special.

Am I making sense or am I confused as usual? 

Sorry for so many questions.

TTFN
John.

The original Tucker Special was designed by Bob Tucker who was living in the St.Louis area.  It became a favorite in the area and was flown by quite a few fliers with Ron O'Toole, Gary Zeller and Art Schaefer doing well at the US Nats with them.  The original was flown in the late 50's.  The first ones I saw had fuselage mounted landing gear and a deeper sub rudder.  They were indeed a sort of semi-scale MC-72.  The sub rudder was made smaller on later versions but the rudder mounted tail wheel stayed.  In 1963 American Modeller magazine published the design which then sported a slightly shorter wing that went to a bit more asymmetry and wing mounted gear.  This is the model that most available kits are of.  While all this was going on, Ron O'Toole changes the fuselage shape on one to look more like the Supermarine racer instead of the Macchi and this design was published in PAMPA's Stunt News magazine.  This was dubbed the O'Toole by Don McClave who had seen the pictures of the original.  I drew the CAD plans for this version.  The Tucker 4 was the last design Bob did and one version was built.  Gary Zeller used it with successi n the St.Louis area in the mid to late 60's.  The original hung is his parents home for years after he passed away and eventually they brought it to the Nationals and gave it to Bob Hunt.  He planned on doing an article and draw plans but got busy with other projects.  he passed the model onto me to be restored and I drew plans that were also published by PAMPA. The Tucker 4 did have the basic shape of the Supermarine racer.  The pictured one above belonged to Don McClave.
Alan Resinger       

I saw Ron O'Toole fly one of the originals in Kansas City in 1961, +/- a year.  It was the coolest airplane I'd seen.  I remember it as being a funny shade of orange.  Very pretty.

Half a century later I saw Sparky at a contest in Muncie.  An old guy was carrying his toolbox.  Robert called him Ron.  "Ron who?" I demanded.  "Ron O'Toole," said Robert.  I blurted out, "What color orange was that Tucker Special you flew in Kansas City in 1961?"  He said it was the original Aero Gloss orange.  A geezer in our club had a bottle and gave it to me.  Although both Alan and I remember it as being paler, it is the exact color I've been painting my Impacts.  I have some left, and I built a Tucker Special to put it on.

Oh Wow, Thanks for all the extra info, It's the real life stories which make these model come alive. I love the S6B version, I would never dare try to try anything like Silver on a model, I have enough trouble with the primary colours.   It is definitely a beautiful model which ever way you look at it. Hopefully even I can't screw this one up. I'm definitely going with the RSM version, If as Alan says the originals were slightly bigger and sported a Fuselage mounted L/G then that's good enough for me. Eric's Plan in theory has the extra inches so that's the one I'll go with.

There is one other model which I have wanted to "give a go" but unfortunately I don't think plans are available, it's a "Miles Hawk Speed 6" built by Dave Shrum from Oregon. I have a number of construction photo's from Harry Bailey in Oz and a few shots of the completed model. Classic I'm sure it ain't but a Stunning model none the less.

[EDIT] I have just found Dave is actually registered on this forum. I wonder if the MHS6 plans are available?[/EDIT]

Thanks again all.

TTFN
John.
 

John,
Here is a picture of my "Original Tucker Special".  It has a RO Jett 40RE on muffler.  This is the one with really deep sub rudder and flew really well until the elevator horn ball link slipped and I ran out of control in the outside loops.  It is sitting in the paint fixture just about ready for color after a rebuild.  Hope to have it ready in about a month.
Alan Resinger 

Oh wow Alan, that is stunning.  it really captures the essence of the model, I may well steal that scheme for mine. 

Hi Greg,
 Yes, I have the outerzone copy and also the Hip Pocket version which appears to be the same plan. My Hip Pocket printed full size at 51" not 52" though. I had planned to cut the copy up for templates and build from the "original" I already had. That was when the slight size variations 1st became apparent, then I saw the fuselage mounted L/G example at the top of this thread, then noticed the Barry Baxter version was 51" and the RSM one was 53" with significantly different wing areas so began to wonder which one of all the versions I was aware of was correct (Or all of them were just different versions which had existed at some time or another). Alan's potted history and everyone else's replies went a long way to helping me out. I know in the grand scheme of things which ever span and L/G configuration I went with it would almost certainly be accepted in Classic without question, copies of copies etc frequently result in expansion or compression when compared with the original.

But, I am still almost certainly going to get a copy from RSM, might also go for the Rib Pack as well dependent on shipping across the pond.

Thanks for all the insight into this great model, no excuses now.. 

TTFN
John.

Here's a photo of the Tucker Special I built in 1990. It's significant in the fact that this model has the very first Lost-Foam wing in it!

Later - Bob Hunt

Menascos forever.

Well, An interesting week and several examples of what a great bunch of people control line modellers are. Ron has made contact via PM and provided more information, and I made contact with Dave Schrum. Plans for the Miles Hawk Speed 6 are on there way across the pond as I write this and I have ordered the Tucker Special plans from Eric at RSM. The fact that people who are legends to me have taken the time to respond is frankly overwhelming A few years ago I made a request for details of the "Easy" range and Jim Thomerson came to my rescue with more information than I could ever need. Now, what started as a simple question has again provided more facts and figures than I ever believed possible, plus I have the MHS6 coming which was a complete bonus. I'm just a guy trying to make ends meet who flys in competitions just so that someone else does not have to come last, the fact that people have taken the time to provide everything I wanted and more is quite humbling to someone who just makes up the numbers at the average F2B competition.

I guess I had better get building.

To everyone who has responded to this a heart felt thank you, I really appreciate it.

TTFN
John.,
 

Steve,
The original Tucker did not have some symmetrical wing.  There was 1 inch difference in wing panels.  The Hobby Helpers plans of the published version went to 2 inches.
Alan

Here's a photo of the Tucker Special I built in 1990. It's significant in the fact that this model has the very first Lost-Foam wing in it!

Later - Bob Hunt

Hmmmm, heard a rumor it is also flying with "lost IC"...?

I believe the first picture posted of the Tucker Special, is Don McClave's Tucker.

Hey Bob, do you have any more pictures of that white Tucker in your picture, Old Tuckers?

Here's a photo of the Tucker Special I built in 1990. It's significant in the fact that this model has the very first Lost-Foam wing in it!

Later - Bob Hunt

Hey  I remember that one, I flew it a while back, really
GOOD airplane :-)    .... I liked the way your LARK  flew too.

Strange, the angle of this picture makes the span of the wing look very small...


Randy