I also have a set of "corrected" and signed plans from Jim Kostecky. Aside from the fuselage top view adjustment there are a few other changes. The cowl shape is a bit different and the landing gear length is a bit longer.
I met Jim at the 1969 Nats and instantly liked him. He was a warm, fun loving person who was always full of mischief. Never a dull moment with Jim. We became very good friends over the years and when I was with Flying Models I published several of his free flight designs. He was a craftsman of the very first order and his trim schemes were always interesting because he was an art teacher. I was honored to speak at his memorial service after his passing.
I started building a "Kostecky corrected" Formula S several years ago. While speaking to Jim one day on the phone I was describing how light and straight the parts were coming out and he said that he would also like to build one but just didn't have the time to make the parts. In a weak moment I offered to give him my parts, and the son of a gun accepted! He drove down from Lancaster (Near Buffalo) the next weekend and we had a great visit. He left here with all the parts almost ready to assemble into an airframe.
Sadly that model never reached fruition; Jim died before he could complete it... I have started another one that I'm building in tribute to Jim and hope to have it ready for VSC next year. I'm planning on using my PA .40 Merlin engine in it. I’m going to attempt to post a photo of the parts (I’ve never posted a photo on this forum before, so I hope it works!).
The wing was built using my Lost-Foam technique and features removable landing gear to facilitate shipping the model in a box to Tucson. Not sure if I’ll use the stock red and black scheme or opt for the scheme that Jim used on his next model which was essentially a tail dragger version of the Formula S. He called that model the “Sprit of America” and it featured a really neat eagle head on the fuselage side and a very patriotic paint scheme in red, white and blue. Jim had this great cartoon emblem that he designed and put on most of his models. It read: “Ultimate Ukrainian” as Jim was of Ukrainian descent. It was on the wing of the Formula S and on the Spirit of America as I recall. Wish I could get a close-up of that emblem/I know that the original Formula S is still in existence and is hanging in Art Schaffer’s hobby shop in St. Louis. Perhaps Bob Storick or Gary Hajek could get a close-up photo of that emblem so those of us who are building that model could have that piece of artwork accurately on the wing.
Jim was building a new design that had many of the aesthetic elements of his previous models, but was even more wild and beautiful. I have several photos of the unpainted airframe of that model (which also never reached fruition) and will try to dig them out and post them here soon.
If anyone is interested in the “Kostecky Corrected” Formula S plans, I could have them scanned and have copies made. If you are interested call me at; 610-746-0106.
Bob Hunt
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