Kenhi Panther

[David_Ruff]

Just snagged an original Kenhi Panther kit.
Anybody have any experience with this old kit?
At this point I am inclined to keep it as a collector item.  It is as old as I am.

[Dave_Trible]

David I have it's brother the "Cougar" new in box.  I plan to build it soon to run my batch of Johnson engines in.  These old kits are maxed out in value right now and will decline as there are fewer interested buyers.   What will eventually happen to many "collections" will be the surviving spouse will send them to the landfill with the old shirts.  I also have several pre-war old time free flight kits I plan to build ( Megow, Scientific etc.).  The 1940 Scentific Ensign is on the bench now.  Someone held on to it for over 80 years but I plan to put it in the air, again better than the trash bin.  As for the Cougar I admired it in the magazines as a kid but never had one.   At 69,  I plan to scratch that itch...

Dave

[David_Ruff]

Well here is a photo of the Panther.  At first glance it looks complete.  Also the wood seems very light.  I am afraid to to an inventory of the kit at this time.  The plans are all there.  It is an old kit for sure.

[Robert Zambelli]

The Cougar and Panther are fine flyers.
Powered with a Fox 35, they are very capable Classic Stunters.

Bob Z.

[Jim Svitko]

Now that is a blast from the past.  The stats on the box state "finished weight 25 oz. (approx.)."  I guess that weight does not include engine, tank, wheels, etc.

I might have seen that kit, long time ago, in a hobby shop.  Early to mid 1960s.

[David_Ruff]

The Cougar and Panther are fine flyers.
Powered with a Fox 35, they are very capable Classic Stunters.

Bob Z.

Probably going to run an L@J Fox .35 wnen I get around to building.

[Robert Zambelli]

Perfect combination!
You won't be disappointed.
They even fly quite well with a stock Fox 35.
BUT --------------- 25 ounces? I seriously doubt that!
Bob Z.

Probably going to run an L@J Fox .35 when I get around to building.

[Andre Ming]

As a lad about 1966 or so, I had a Panther kit that I was assembling. (Never finished it. Combat planes won out!)

I "thought" I remembered my Panther being a Midwest kit? Did Midwest acquire Kenhi? OR, are my memories incorrect? (The latter being more likely.)

Andre

[Dan McEntee]

As a lad about 1966 or so, I had a Panther kit that I was assembling. (Never finished it. Combat planes won out!)

I "thought" I remembered my Panther being a Midwest kit? Did Midwest acquire Kenhi? OR, are my memories incorrect? (The latter being more likely.)

Andre

    You are remembering things correctly!! David's kit is one of the earliest editions, I think.
  Type at you later,
    Dan McEntee

[Andre Ming]

    You are remembering things correctly!! David's kit is one of the earliest editions, I think.
  Type at you later,
    Dan McEntee

Well, ain't I sumpthin'??

I look back on my early years in C/L in '66 or so (i.e. after I could actually fly them... not counting my false starts via plastic Cox airplanes)... and apparently I had some kits back then that have gone on to be notable kits, like my Panther kit, and a green box Nobler, and such as that. Also had several 1/2 A kits that I built that are now "collectible". (Like a plank wing bi-plane... was it a "Lil' Toot"?)

The only "big" stunt-type plane I ever finished back then was my Midwest Magician with Fox 35 Stunt power. I put many flights on it. I can't remember what happened to it. I do recall it made the move from North KC to Arkansas in Jan of '69... and that summer it flew... but I simply can't remember what happened to it. I have other planes like that: I've forgotten the disposition of them.

Ah well, enough of my rambling and thread hi-jacking.

Andre

[Dave_Trible]

Hi Johnson (Johnson engines) designed both of these planes that were kitted by Kenhi models.   Notice the 'hi' in Kenhi.   Seems like the early sixties this was sold or transformed into Midwest models.  The base company still seems to exist as mostly a supplier of plywood and some balsa to chain outlets like Hobby Lobby.

Dave

[john e. holliday]

I had a Panther and won a trophy flying intermediate at an Omaha  contest.  It flew great right off the bench with Stock Fox 35 stunt and no muffler.