Best Old Time and Classic planes?

[Sam Laughery]

How about a little informal survey on what is the best Old Time (without flaps) and classic planes.  Please include your choice of engine as well.  Thanks.

Sam

[Ken Deboy]

I don't know about "best," but my favorite old timer is the Trixter Barnstormer. It flies slow, and I need all the help I can get. I think it one the Nats in 1950 and 1951. It "looks" old-timey, especially the canopy design. It's just about the right size for a vintage 35. I'd power it with a K&B Greenhead 35.

cheers,
Ken

[Marvin Denny]

  My choices are the Jamison  and Novi IV

  Bigiron

[frank carlisle]

I'm not too sure about OLDE TYME but for Classic I'd have to go with a Jack Sheaks twin boomer.

[Joe Gilbert]

Best is very hard to say but a good old Ringmaster for old time can be a good plane with lots of different engines and Marvin,s Novi 4 is very good. But heck over half of the planes built in Classic can be winners in the right hands .

[Bob Reeves]

Don't fly old time (yet) but for Classic the Skylark 46 or Shark 45 would be my choice. Both have thick wings, fairly large stabs and are big enough to carry modern power.

[Ron King]

I grew up with the Fox 35 powered Nobler and feel it is the best all time design.

HOWEVER - as a teenager, I hated the darn thing because everyone flew one. I liked the looks of the Detroit Stunters better (Ares, Argus, Lark). They were sleeker looking and better captured my imagination.

At the 1966 Nats in Glenview, Jim Silhavy convinced me that the Nobler was worth trying. Since then, I have outgrown my dislike for the Nobler design and use it in my current Alouette series.

I should have listened to Aldrich earlier. 

[Jim Thomerson]

Well, I'll try posting  again.  In OTS my goal is to show up with something no one else has and make it fly a recognizable pattern.  So very good airplanes like the Humongous, Barnstormer, Jamison, etc.  are not best for me.  I presently have Frank Ehling Easy in three sizes.  I'm building another Dmeco sportwing and then will do a Big Fry for one of Ian Russell's Cheetah diesels.

[dennis lipsett]

I'm not too sure about OLDE TYME but for Classic I'd have to go with a Jack Sheaks twin boomer.

There has never been a  better looking twin boom stunter designed then Jack Sheeks La Donna. really good eye candy to see one well done.
Dennis

[john e. holliday]

For me the Old Time planes I loved them all.  It did not matter if they flew or not as it was a youngs mans dream of having each and everyone of them.  Classic is the same way if I had a shop big enough I would hav each and everyone.  Even todays designs would be in my shop.  Now when do I get the deed to one of the astro type domes.  DOC Holliday

[Tom Niebuhr]

Doc is right... if we only had the time to build all our favorites. For me I have a long list of airplanes that I would like to build.

Of the planes I have had:

OTS Favorites... The "Barnstormer" and "Galloping Comedian" both fly great,

Favorite Classic... no contest.. the JD Falcon. Not just because I kit it either. It goes where you point it, turns great and stops on a dime.. it just does it all!

The success of Joe Bowman and Richard Oliver with their JD Falcons supports this.

[Steve Holt]

How about a single design that fits both classes - the original Nobler.  Competitive in either OTS or Classic even with a Fox.  Got to be one of the greatest stunt designs ever.

Steve

[Bill Mandakis]

The OTS pattern is very unique. I like a very smooth, 5 sec circle. The Viking is one of the best. A Fox 35 is great for it if is it built very light. I use a Brodak 40 and it is a very good combination. I had a Barnstormer many years ago. I also know the Humongous. Certainly they are good; but, I like the Viking.

[Bill Little]

Best?  Well I can say my "Favorite" 

There are way too many good OTS planes that trimmed right and in the right "hand", will fly the OTS pattern as good as possible.  A Barnstormer or Humongous would be my "favorite" if I was trying to place in a contest.

For Classic, no question:  The USA-1   

And  close "runners up" would be, in order, the '62 Ares and the '59 Ares.

Do you think I like "Werwage" planes??     

[Tom Niebuhr]

You know Tom, a real good looking classic is the "Road Runner". I have two of them. Just a beautiful plane.  Any idea who kits it? 

Ty,

I heard that some guy named Tom N kits the RR and the profile RR... They are both  great Classics!   see www.blueskymodels.net

[Randy Powell]

Best is hard to say. A lot depends on what you like and what you're trying to accomplish.

I don't fly Old Tyme (I have enough trouble remembering the AMA pattern, just watching Old Tyme screws me up) but for classic:

If I want to be competitive: USA-1 with SSW Magnum 53. Absolute killer combination.

If I want to have fun: Bernie Ash Supersonic Stunter with most any decent 60. My preferrence would be a Double Star 61RE or Stalker 61RE. It's a very big plane.

[Steve Helmick]

OTS: #1 Barnstormer. Also Yates "Dragon", Palmer "Venus". With flaps: Black Tiger, Mars. How come nobody has built the Nate Rambo "Curtiss Swift"? Pretty plane...

Classic: #1 Palmer's "Hurricane"...or Lampione's F-86! Larry Scarinzi's "Blue Angel". Can't forget Bob Tucker's "Tucker Special".    Steve

[Phil Spillman]

Hi Sam, I'd have said that El Diablo was just about unbeatable for OTS until I started to fly my Yates Dragon with a pre-Surpass .40 4C engine! Although I didn't do well at Brodak this year, had a clunk fall off and did not know it, my Dragon was giving me the OTS flights on my life until the fuel got below the pickup!

As for Classic I think that the Green Box/ ARF Nobler is about as good as they get! Although my Smoothie flew quite well the Nobler is a touch better! Phil Spillman

[rob biddle]

favourite  model for ots (called vintage here in oz) would be the MK 1 All Australian and favourite classic is definately the mighty RAMROD powered with a red head Merco .35.