All these combat history threads and many of the various members here building hangers full of old skool combat designs re-sparked an interest I have for a few years now. That, and I finally got to meet one of the men I read about in magazines during the 60s and 70s. Mr. Riley Wooten
My history with combat models is late 60s early 70s in Oakland Bay area of California…I sucked but occasionally some other kid sucked worse so I got a new kit or an engine for placing in the top three, I never won a contest
I few years ago I retired for second time and build a very nice model airplane factory and jumped into RC and was quickly bored with the club near me and the grumpy old men with their safety nazi* attitudes and club infighting running off any curious youngster or older new guy wanting to play airplane. In the two years I was with them I saw 30 potential new members go away after a meeting or trip to the field and never return. I am bull headed so I gutted out their awful behavior for much too long
I am originally from the Pacific North west and was aware of the Bladder Grabber but never attended. Around 2011 I met Ken Cook on a forum and he pointed me to Jeff Dawson in San Antonio. I traveled to the 2013 Bladder Grabber with Jeff and there I saw the new state of the art fast combat and was hooked. I started getting equipment and trying to fly some. But as a C/L guy of one in a 75 mile radius I really only flew occasionally when I went to SA to visit Jeff. Not practice enough to get anywhere near competent to get in a circle with seasoned fliers. Then a bad motorcycle accident last year left me damaged enough that combat competition is out of the question. But I still flew up to Seattle to see 36th Bladder Grabber 2014 and Ron Colombo’s win. I missed this year but see that Ron won again
Still a passion and I can fly for fun and sport
So I guess this is a nostalgia Combat “Me Too” thread and along the way I have a lot of questions
Combat airplanes I am building and plan to build
Dick Mathis Mongoose-- Black Hawk kits(3) and one original 1975 from Design Group Kit #800
Riley Wooten Demon-- Black Hawk double kit
Plans for Carl Berryman Big Iron would love a laser kit
Plans for Riley Wooten VooDoo would love a laser kit
Need to get: I am always looking for Laser cut kits and know about several of the plans services. Actually hoping Carsten’s will pop back on line but all I see are delays from the new owner
Wooten Quicker kit or plans
Wooten Sneeker kit or plans
Howard Rush Nemesis kit or plans
Von Lopez Matador kit or plans
Netzeband Half Fast and Jerkline spl kit or plans
Jim Mears Raunchy and slingshot kit or plans
Scarinzi Werewolf kit or plans
Top Flite Combat Cats (have a double Kitten kit for 1/2a)
Engines I have :
2 ½ Enya 5224 .35s
2 OS FX .25s
1 Magnum .25
A bunch (6) of Marvin Denny Fox .36 MK IV with MK VI internals, 4 suction and 2 bladder
3 new Nelson 36c
1 used Nelson 36C with fork mount back plate
3 Fox 35 stunt
1 McCoy .35
1 New in box Fox .36 MK VI
1 new no box Fox .36 MK VI
2 unknown Fox .36 MK VI off ebay look to be highly modified inside and out
Would like to find period correct engines but not too hung up on learning the habits of a lot of different engines
Also SWMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed) is
with me for continuing to change direction and need to acquire more stuff...
Appreciate any hints or opinions and I will ask questions as they come up here or in one of the other vintage combat threads