Sterling Ruffy?

[Shawn Kuntz]

Does anybody have any pictures of this one?  Are plans available?  Any information would be appreciated.

[Joe Gilbert]

Barry Baxter controline service has then Go to tulsacl.com and go the links page that will get you there.

[Ray]

An interesting tidbit about the name of McFarland's plane is that he was making fun of Bob Palmer's Smoothie model's name at the time (an inside joke between himself and Bob, whose personal nickname was "Smoothy" or Smoothie).  That story was told by George A. in his shop, on several occasions.  And the original name of the Shark was something related in one way or another, to George's Nobler ("Humbler", I think I've been told).

[gary tultz]

Shawn, some years ago,Don McClave did a major rework of the Sterling kit and plan flaws and came up with a real Gem. Totally faithful to the design but with modern const. techniques. It was published in Stunt News and plans should be available from Pampa.                     Rainman aka Gary T.    

[Steve Helmick]

RSM kits the Ruffy, so I figured there'd be a picture of one on their website. Download the catalog, and look for the kit list. Pretty easy.   http://rsmdistribution.com/index-2.htm  Eric Rule puts out a really fine kit, if you want a laser cut kit with great balsa and hardware. You might consider one of the R-M .40's for power, also from Eric.  Steve

[peabody]

Windy once told me that he build about a DOZEN Ruffys......that he "left them all over Little Ferry"....
They're good flyers....
Have fun!

[Greg L Bahrman]

Built by Ted Francher. I don't know what kit it is or even if it is a kit ?

[gary tultz]

I'll guess McClave plans.

[Steve Helmick]

Pretty sure Ted's is from an RSM kit. It is the "Poster Child" in RSM's catalog, and I'm thinking that he probably used the R-M .40 in it, after raving about the one in his RSM '57 Nobler (if it survived the Lincoln   episode). Ted's Chizzler had an OS .35S, however, it was built before Eric started RSM, I betcha.   Steve

[Clint Ormosen]

.

[Balsa Butcher]

Actually, I think the Chizler would have been built before the Rustler-Merco .40 was available.  RSM has been around for awhile and Eric's kits just keep getting better! 

[George]

An interesting tidbit about the name of McFarland's plane is that he was making fun of Bob Palmer's Smoothie model's name at the time (an inside joke between himself and Bob, whose personal nickname was "Smoothy" or Smoothie).  That story was told by George A. in his shop, on several occasions.  And the original name of the Shark was something related in one way or another, to George's Nobler ("Humbler", I think I've been told).

Another Ruffy tale: First Ruffy I saw was when a flying buddy named Tom Riley received pre-production plans from Lew McFarland. Tom built the Ruffy and competed at the NATS with it. He is listed in the MAN construction article as a "Team mate" I think. Half of his face is shown in MAN. He and Lew were friends before Lew went into the Air Force. Tom is deceased.

George

[Andrew Borgogna]

Does anyone know if it is true the name Ruffy is a play on Bob Palmers Smoothie name.  At least that was the story I heard.
Andy

[Bill Little]

Does anyone know if it is true the name Ruffy is a play on Bob Palmers Smoothie name.  At least that was the story I heard.
Andy

Yes, as was the *Humbler* the first name of the Shark.  Lew took off on George's Nobler name.  All from Charlie Reeves, Lew's long time flying buddy.

[Andrew Borgogna]

Thanks Bill, seems Lew McFarland had a sense of humor.
Andy

[Will Davis]

Sometime between  1991 and  1993 Lew McFarland was at one of the  AMA Nationals and he told me the stories of the name changes on the models he designed, he seemed to get a kick out of telling the stories about the Smoothie/Ruffie. and seemed to have a good relationship with Bob Palmer over the fun ..   . I do remember something about the Shark , still having  the first name inside the cockpit .

I remember he had one called the Poor Boy, might have been the Dolphin when kitted  ..

Too many moons ago to remember all the details ,

Will Davis

[Leo Mehl]

This is my Ruffy built from RSM kit. I built a lot of these in the 60's. Good flying plane. It is a quik plane to build. I built one in 24 hrs. onetime and that was with slow drying glue

[Shawn Kuntz]

Very Nice!  Thanks for sharing it.

[GEOFFREY]

here is leo's Ruffy alway a joy to watch .. even though it goes the wrong way

[George]

Yes, as was the *Humbler* the first name of the Shark.  Lew took off on George's Nobler name.  All from Charlie Reeves, Lew's long time flying buddy.

I saw the original Humbler at Lew's shop one time when I was home on leave from the Navy. It was still in primer and Lou was explaining the name game to a few of us. I THINK Shark 45 was a name the magazine or Sterling came up with.

I'm afraid I never saw it fly. Next time I heard of it was reading about Lew's success with it in the mags.

If I remember correctly, Lew originally had a K&B .45 Greenhead in it and later switched to a Veco .45. 'Course it been awhile so I may be mistaken.

George

[Tony D]

This is my Ruffy built from RSM kit. I built a lot of these in the 60's. Good flying plane. It is a quik plane to build. I built one in 24 hrs. onetime and that was with slow drying glue

  Was that a Sterling kit with slow drying glue in 24 hrs?

[john e. holliday]

I built several Sterling kits in less then a week.  The first one was a Dolphin that weighed a ton, but, would fly when nothing else would.  Also built a Gaurdian in less than a week to get ready for a carrier contest.  I can't beleive this was before the epoxies, CA's and monokote.  DOC Holliday

PS:I was still single back then also.  jeh

[Bob Kruger]

I built several Sterling kits in less then a week.  The first one was a Dolphin that weighed a ton, but, would fly when nothing else would.  Also built a Gaurdian in less than a week to get ready for a carrier contest.  I can't beleive this was before the epoxies, CA's and monokote.  DOC Holliday

PS:I was still single back then also.  jeh

John;

Both the Shark 45 and the Dolphin were produced (kitted) by JETCO.  Definitely not by Sterling.

I helped a friend build his Shark 45.  He used his father's Veco 50 in it, if memory serves.  The kit had decent wood in it, and the die cutting was respectable.  We had to make some mods to the motor mounts, but I don't exactly remember exactly what we did.  I built a Dolphin and had a Fox 29 in it.  Both planes flew better than us kids....

V/r

Bob

[john e. holliday]

You are so right about them being Jetco kits.  A lot has happened since the early 60's even tho now it seems like yesterday.  I had built so many Sterling kits it just stuck in my mind.  So far you are the only one to notice the title of the post.  DOC Holliday