I Got My Old Stiletto Back (Now with pictures)

[Dick Pacini]

Back in 1975, I bought a Stiletto kit which was put out by the Dick Mathis Group.  I also bought a new ST46 and the tank, spinner,and all hardware required.  I never built it since a job promotion and relocation put my modeling days aside.

About 10 years ago, my oldest son who lives in AZ (Pylon RC flier and hobby shop owner) asked if he could have the kit to build since I wasn't doing anything with it.  I sent it to him and he had an RC buddy of his build it (which pissed me off) and it turned out fairly well.  My son never flew it.  A few years later, I was out there for a visit and we flew the Stiletto a few times.  I hadn't had a handle in my hands for almost 30 years, but was able to get a fair amount of the pattern done.  Ah, memories.

Last month, my son called and asked if I wanted it back.  I friend of ours is moving to AZ and is going back and forth with a small trailer in tow.  The man offered to transport the Stiletto.  Today he called and said he had the plane.  I rushed over and picked it up.  It is completely covered in bubble wrap, so I didn't open it.  I was very excited that the original box was included along with the plans, instruction booklet and even a promo pic of Les McDonald's wife (at the time) Nancy holding his plane.

All I have to do is reinstall the engine, which my son sent back to me last year.  Baring any problems, I might get a flight or two on it.  Soon, very soon.

[Randy Powell]

Look out for Dick. he's on fire now.   

[Dick Pacini]

Thinking back a bit, I remembered why I was pissed off at the guy who built it.  He was an RC flyer and he did some "RCisms" to it, like Monocote covering, no wheel pants, landing gear like a monster truck, a clunk tank and who knows what in the control system.  I hate to cut it open but I am reluctant to have a go at it, not knowing what the innards are like.

[Bill Hummel]

Hi, Dick, take the time now to make it right.  I've built two of the Mathis kits, both flew extremely well, both with
ST 46 engines.  Outstanding design, worth the effort to update/change/make it your way.  Trying to remember,
other than the basswood doubler, I believe I used most all the kit wood. Nice size ship, too.  Good luck with
it!

[Steve Helmick]

Cool beans!  Maybe some small holes and the use of fiberoptics would give you peace of mind? Monokote can be either patched or  removed, by the way.  Steve

[DanielGelinas]

Cool
Pictures please

-Danny

[Bill Heher]

If the guy who built it was a typical R/C builder, he probably had some experience in building the structure, alignment, covering,  but pretty good odds the controls are on the marginal side ,i.e. nylon or steel 2-56 quick links at the horns, flex rods or dowels with soft wire ends for pushrods, nylon horns, etc.

I would cut it open and inspect everything, replace anything suspect, and patch it back up. A repair to a new model always looks better than a bag of balsa bits after the controls fail and you plant it in the ground.

[Dick Pacini]

Here are a couple of pics of the plane and the original kit box.  It looks like there have been a couple of repairs and the tail wheel is missing.  There are also two quarters taped to the underside of the outboard wing.  I don't think the guy who built it put in any tip weight.  We might have stuck the quarters on there when I flew it in 2003.

Overall, it seems sound, but the controls are really stiff and return to neutral if you let the leadouts go.  I will definitely do open heart surgery on it before it goes outside to play.  Who knows how the builder set it up, given his R/C background.

I have the original ST46 that came out of it and the original landing gear which he never used.

[proparc]

Thinking back a bit, I remembered why I was pissed off at the guy who built it.  He was an RC flyer and he did some "RCisms" to it, like Monocote covering, no wheel pants, landing gear like a monster truck, a clunk tank and who knows what in the control system.  I hate to cut it open but I am reluctant to have a go at it, not knowing what the innards are like.

Check it for servos. In addition, if you notice the rudder moves every time your alarm clock goes off, Xray for possible micro receiver. If you find that the engine goes from about 2000 rpm to 10,000 rpm no matter what the hell you do, search your closets for a guy hiding with a transmitter.

[Dick Pacini]

M&P put out two versions of the Stiletto.  I have both kits. I built one, the 585 version (traced the kit parts, kit is still intact) with the long tail.  The other version has the tall tail and different wing in thickness.  Walter Umland is going to do the 585 (.35 ) version to go with his 660 version.

How can I tell which kit my plane came from?  Any notations on the plans?

[Dick Pacini]

I'll check the kits in the morning. The one with the long instruction sheet and the photo of his wife is the second version. The first one, the long tailed version, is the 585 version of the 660, just a smaller wing mainly..

Sounds like I have the second version.  I thought I heard years ago that some Stiletto kits had two piece fuselage sides so a shorter box could be used.  Any truth to that?