Barnstormer

[WLGeorge]

I was in the LHS, Don Stills Hobby Haven and took a picture of this Barnstormer. Don says it was one of the very first kits of this plane.  The flaps were added by Don but he also stated that flaps were not really needed on this airplane.  Flew very well without them. It looks powered by a Fox of .29 or 35 but I could be wrong. Don was/is overly fond of the Fox .25.  The original canopy was replaced by a carved balsa one after some long ago incident.  It sits in a corner surrounded by a Testors Freshman and a few c/l I have not identified yet. A few feet down the wall sits an original Still Stuka and a rather more recently built Victory.   I would say the old Barnstormer is in excellent company.

[Dan McEntee]

  Guillow's put out a Mark-2 version of the Barnstormer that did have flaps. I think I have one in my kit collection. As far as I remember it is the same airplane, but flaps added once that feature became popular on c/l stunt models. Not sure what the date is on the kit, but maybe this model could have been built from the Mark-2 kit? Flaps obviously could have been added  anywhere along it's history.
  If you can put up photos of the other unidentified airplanes and we can take a crack at them. That's always fun!
   Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

[WLGeorge]

I have the Barnstormer Mk 2 in my hanger and it is one of my favorite airplanes. It has well over 200 flights on it and I bought it used.  It is a little different from the original I think.  To me the fuse on the original "looks" bulkier and the shape is a wee bit different.  The vertical stab is a slightly different shape as is the tail wheel/skid arrangement.  I did not get the one down to measure  it in the hobby shop but I had quite a discussion with Mr. Still about it.  Also the flaps on the Mark 2 are different.  Don Still has quite a good memory for these things and he is very knowledgable about the older stunt ships.  If he says it, bet money on it.  Overall I would say that there is enough differences in the Mark 2 I have and the one in Mr. Stills shop that I would be 99.9% sure it's an original flapless .Mr. Still told me that this particular airplane was one of two sent by the designer to him before they were released for sale to the public.  If you  have the mark 2 kit I am quite  jealous of your collection as I have wanted one since I bought mine already built.  :-) I will eventually get around to taking pictures of the other planes in his shop.  Some years ago I was fortunate enough to see a couple remnants of crashed Stukas kept in the  storeroom.  I could clearly see a logical refinement of the design.  It was an educational experience for me.