Plano Netherlands model with Wim Cator and Paul Tupker

[Allen Brickhaus]

Friends,

I am focused on compiling what information there is on the model Plano built by Wim Cator and mostly flown by Paul Tupker.  This model will complete the trio of stunters I have been attempting to publish.  Bert Metkemeyer's Trianic was the first, then the Olympus by Louis van den Hout and now the Plano.  Any help would be appreciated.

Allen Brickhaus

[Allen Brickhaus]

The Plano is the all yellow model in the lower right hand corner.

Allen

[Allen Brickhaus]

We see here the Trianic in the upper left portion of the picture with Bert Metkemeyer, then Louis van den Hout in the upper right and and I believe Paul Tupker (flying Wim Cator's model) with the Plano.

Allen Brickhaus

[Allen Brickhaus]

Here is Joe Reinhard with his rendition of Wim Cator's Plano with a Tiger .51 for power.

Allen Brickhaus

[wwwarbird]

 Looks like a very nice design, I really like Joe's rendition in the last picture.

[Allen Brickhaus]

Joe painted his in a Navalized version of the Netherlands military jets of the '60/'70's.   Joe's model will be a part of the article.  Leroy Black will also be building one.  I will have one eventually.

Allen Brickhaus

[NED-088]

Latest development:

Wim's telephone number and address had vanished from the telephone listings shortly after I contacted him, about 2 years ago.
So that was effectively the end of my investigations...

This week I checked the listings and guess what, he's in it again.
I just put a message on his answering machine, hoping he will contact me.
If so, I'll let y'all know. This time wrote down his number....
Can I have a list of questions that are stil unsolved?
Or a preliminary of the article, so I can run it through with him?

Bruno

The Plano is the all yellow model in the lower right hand corner.

I'm seeing more familiar faces here.
Top is Paul Tupker with his Fox .35 Thunderbird Mk 2., to his right Henk Twerda with his Olympus, in front of Paul, I guess must be Jan Rozema with another red Olympus, a guy who flew a few years, but he had gone by the time I started in F2B.
Top right are the Metkemeijer brothers. In front of Rob is Eep Buys, who was flying teamrace with Rob Goudsmit, who stands between Paul and the two red Olympae, I believe.
Top left is Cor Harskamp, flying teamrace with Wim Cator at that time.
Up front Louis with his non jet line Olympus (nr. 4?) and bottom right Wim with the Plano.
The rest I recognize, but I can't put any names to them.....

Here's two more pictures, one being a magnified version of the group portrait, in which a young Wim is clearly holding the Plano.
The other is a low quality picture of the model on the tarmac during that afternoon.
To me it has the looks of an enlarged Aldrich Nobler, but I'm hell bent to find out if it is.

[Bill Little]

Hi Bruno,

Thanks for your help with this.  I know Allen is trying very hard to get some of the "Classic" vintage planes published here in the US.  And, he has been doing a great job!

Do you ever see, or have contact with, Paul Van Dort?

Thanks!
Bill

[John Sunderland]

Joe painted his in a Navalized version of the Netherlands military jets of the '60/'70's.   Joe's model will be a part of the article.  Leroy Black will also be building one.  I will have one eventually.

Allen Brickhaus

A side note here. I have flown Joes version several times. It is a total peach and it handles the wind very well. Joes model weighs in the low 50s and I only mention this because its as big or bigger than a full size Pattern Master. An awesome model. I would compete with it at the highest level....It is that good.

[Neville Legg]

I believe there is a 3 view with dimensions in a 1970's Aero Modeller mag of this model?

Cheers    Neville

[NED-088]

Very possible.
Most likely a small sketch Paul Tupker made, originally for our Dutch monthly 'Avia' or 'Bouwen en Vliegen'. I remember having seen that.
Must have been between 1966 and 1969. I don't have those, I became a KNVvL (= dutch AMA) member in 1969.
About 5 years ago Henk de Jong and I helped Paul to sort his old drawings -we have the small sketch of the Olympus- but no material of the Plano.

Haven't heard from Wim yet, he might even be sailing round the world right now.....

[Allen Brickhaus]

Bruno,  I know the wing is about 675 square inches, about 50 square inches less than the Olympus.  I thought they were the same wing, but found out I was wrong.  A set of questions for Wim Cator.

a.  In what year was the Plano built?

b.  What was the source for the wing platform (from a specific model)?

c.  Did the Merco 49 always power the Plano?

d.  I did notice that the drawing provided showed a muffler?  How many other pilots used mufflers during this time?

e.  When did Wim begin flying the Plano?

f.  Was Paul Tupker the only other person to fly the Plano and when did he begin flying the model?

g.  Why did Wim choose to shape the Plano they way he did?

h.  What happened to the Plano at the end of its flying career?

i.  How well did Wim and Paul do with the model?  What wins did either pilot have with the Plano?

j.  Does Wim have more pictures of him and the Plano?

More questions to come when I can think of them.

Allen Brickhaus

[M Spencer]

Apologies for interlopeing.

Was a mid 60s Fokker D-23 twin boom Tuptker built / designed .
Any pictures of that would be appreciated . Thanks .

There was a bit of ' kit bashing ' in those days. Use of  'SIG' chipmonk
rib & wing sets etc . Another Dutch twin boomer was Gieske Nobler derived.

Would the yellow plane match this line of effort ?

[NED-088]

Was a mid 60s Fokker D-23 twin boom Tupker built / designed .
Any pictures of that would be appreciated . Thanks .

It was based on the Aldrich Nobler. I don't have any pictures.

There was a bit of ' kit bashing ' in those days. Use of  'SIG' chipmonk
rib & wing sets etc .

Not over here. The only kits known were TF green box and the Veco line.

Another Dutch twin boomer was Gieseke Nobler derived.

Peter van Doesburg's 'Orion'. If you like, I could ask Peter about this model. We're seeing each other once or twice a year.
'Don't step back' is what Peter told me when he took this picture of me at the 1978 team trials.

Would the yellow plane match this line of effort ?

I doubt so, it's one of the very first 'bigger than .35 size' models that appeared in The Netherlands.
I understood that seeing Lew McFarland with the Shark .45 at the WCh sparked this trend amongst the Dutch.
If anyone would have had a plan, it would have been Paul, but there was nothing in his collection.
I'm pretty shure, both Olympus & Plano did not have any identical components with the Shark.

the model Plano built by Wim Cator and mostly flown by Paul Tupker.

I never saw Paul fly the Plano, but that was after 1968.
I've seen all dutch contests where the F2B pilots of that time performed. I was flying '1/2 FAI' -the beginner schedule- at that time.
From what I remember, the Plano was always flown by Wim Cator.
He was on the dutch team at the WCh 1968 in Helsinki ( I think the group portrait was from the team trials in May '68) , but never flew again at that level
On both pictures here, the covering is still original. From what I remember, while on the practice circle the outer wing tip was damaged by colliding with a toolbox someone left behind. The repair remained visible, for the new covering was lighter and less translucent than the original yellow silk.

[NED-088]

Do you ever see, or have contact with, Paul Van Dort?

Last time we met was at the last rendition (2005) of the contest in Herentals, he co organized.
Like me he's heavily involved with music and he didn't have the time to continue flying.
Sounds familiar. But I'm trying not to lose contact with the flying scene, for whenever I have more time, first thing will be restarting my 'career'.

[Allen Brickhaus]

All of  you are bringing me "gems" of information for the upcoming Plano publication.  I do appreciate everyone's input.

Keep it coming in.

Allen Brickhaus

[Neville Legg]

I found it!   March 1966 Aero Modeller.  There 'ya go

[M Spencer]

Mentions April 63 for the D-23 , after a picture of the plane , have drg similar to above which Ive drawn to full size . Well done.

[Neville Legg]

Matthew, I'll have a look to see if I have that Aero Modeller?

Cheers

[Neville Legg]

Matthew, sorry I haven't got that one! If you try Dave Day's control line page, and e-mail him, speak very nicely! he'll probably scan you a copy of what you want! Can't guarantee he'll have it though. If you can wait, I will be visiting my parents in Wales (300 miles from where I'm sitting!) in the next few months, and I know my dad will have a copy.

Cheers    Neville 

[NED-088]

More from me. (haven't heard from Wim yet, could easily become months)
I got a CD from Peter van Doesburg (the Orion man) with digitized slides made by Paul Tupker since the early 60-ies.
I found some of them adequate to the subject.
Wim flew a Stuka ( Fox .35 ?) before the Plano:

I always remembered that model being in yellow tissue and guess what I found:

And like I mentioned earlier, the Plano indeed had the right wing tip repaired with a different color yellow......
My memory isn't all that bad as it seems

In the box is also Paul's last Grondal Nobler (colorful wing sleeves!). They probably travelled to this contest together. (Eu Ch. in Hungary ?)
It's the same one I'm holding here for Paul:

Here's a picture of Wim, helping Louis van den Hout with his first Spider (~single fin Olympus), could be Helsinki 1972

The last Spider (Mk.2?) is seen here:

The same one is seen here in front of the 'small' (= Mk.1) Trianic and Compostella's model.

For Matthew I uploaded these:



So much for now, report later.

[Neville Legg]

The tailplane and wing tips, look different on the original Plano model, to the little plan view I found?

Cheers

[M Spencer]

Thanks Neville , No panic . Its the Photo Im after , was in a issue a month or two from the drawing , I think .dark coloured planee .


Almost looks like the onne in the box has a rib out on the tip ? Definately appears rounder out there too . .
Two Plano's ? Um actually , if you look close at the box , the long tips wouldnt go in ! Shetch appears to
match chopped tips , end of flap details the giveaway.Aeroplane modified to fit the Hanger ? ! .

[NED-088]

You're making too much of it.
The sketch is just that, a sketch. Not a scaled down, accurate drawing.
If you look in this picture, where the plane is almost brand new, you can see it's the same one as in the modelbox
The registration (AD-122) is still on the left wing......

This picture with Paul is probably round 1966, the modelbox one 1971 (before the E Ch in Pecs, Hungary)
The mishap to the wingtip almost certainly happened in 1968 (WCh , Helsinki)

[Allen Brickhaus]

I have not had Internet at home since Monday at 4:05pm.  I am working from another station around Golconda.  I will wait to get back on line at home to save the pictures you all have sent.  What a treasure trove of pictures and written information.  Thanks to all.

Allen Brickhaus

[Bill Little]

Last time we met was at the last rendition (2005) of the contest in Herentals, he co organized.
Like me he's heavily involved with music and he didn't have the time to continue flying.
Sounds familiar. But I'm trying not to lose contact with the flying scene, for whenever I have more time, first thing will be restarting my 'career'.

Thanks, Bruno!  It was Paul, if I am not mistaken, who finally found Mr. Grondal for me not long before Louis passed away.  Unfortunately, I have lost my contact information for Paul.

I met Henk at the 2004 WCs in Muncie.  Quite a gentleman, and his "Little Touch of Pearl" was a sweet flying model.

Bill Little

[Allen Brickhaus]

If you are referring to Paul Tupker, he passed recently.

Hope to get home and find our Internet working.

Saw the Christmas Carol at the Fox Theater in St. Louis last night.  Resting in the Forest Park area and having lunch at the Iron Barley on Virginia Ave.

Allen Brickhaus

[Bill Little]

If you are referring to Paul Tupker, he passed recently.

Hope to get home and find our Internet working.

Saw the Christmas Carol at the Fox Theater in St. Louis last night.  Resting in the Forest Park area and having lunch at the Iron Barley on Virginia Ave.

Allen Brickhaus

HI Allen,

I hope all is fixed at home.

I was referring to Paul Van Dort, whom Bruno and I were talking about.   I was aware of Mr. Tupker's passing.

Bill

[Allen Brickhaus]

Apologize.

At home now, and all is well with the Internet.

Allen

[Bill Little]

Apologize.

At home now, and all is well with the Internet.

Allen

No apology needed, my friend!  I am glad the internet and all is working at home, but it sure seems you were having a good time "out and about".  Did you take the "Stovebolt" for a cruise?

Bill

[Allen Brickhaus]

The Stovebolt is in two places with the engine being detailed in Golconda as the body and frame await the inline 261/272 to be delivered Monday and bolted to the frame.  Then the body will be lowered onto the frame after the bottom pans were repaired.

The Christmas Carol at the Fox Theater was s'wonderful, plus the three hobby and craft stores we visited this morning.  Lunch was at the Iron Barley on Virginia Avenue.

Iron Barley
www.ironbarley.com
(314) 351-4500

    * 5510 Virginia Ave, St Louis, MO

Allen and Kathy

[Bill Little]

The Stovebolt is in two places with the engine being detailed in Golconda as the body and frame await the inline 261/272 to be delivered Monday and bolted to the frame.  Then the body will be lowered onto the frame after the bottom pans were repaired.

The Christmas Carol at the Fox Theater was s'wonderful, plus the three hobby and craft stores we visited this morning.  Lunch was at the Iron Barley on Virginia Avenue.

Iron Barley
www.ironbarley.com
(314) 351-4500

    * 5510 Virginia Ave, St Louis, MO

Allen and Kathy

I had a pretty stout 292 back in th4e day.  One guy around here even had a pair of Anglia Coupes for the strip.  One was a fulie 327 while the other was a 292!   Some pretty wild "speed parts" for the inline back then.

Bill

[Allen Brickhaus]

Names like Fenton, Clifford, Edmunds, Nixon, Patrick's, Offenhauser, Wayne.

[John Leidle]

 Does anyone know the name of the  plane in the pictures above it is the red Wsilver trim has a #9 on the rudder & has "Spider" painted on it's inboard wing.
   John

[John Leidle]

  I got carried away & excited when I saw this thing. I believe I read it as a " single fin Olympus" If anyone has correct info on this thing I'm very interested,,,
              Timeframe,, size,       John

[Les McDonald]

Hey Bruno, do you remember this beautiful lady posing with Peters Orion?
She was the "Trophy Queen" at the 1976 World Champs and, from what I remember, quite a well known film star in Holland back then!
I do recall her name but I'm curious if you can remember it------perhaps you have seen her perform.

                                                                                                     Les

[Neville Legg]

Allen, do you still want a copy of the Plano drawing from the AeroModeller? I've been back and forth from hospital just lately, and genuinely forgot to copy the article! (think the drugs have shrunk my already peabrain ) If you do, can you re-send your address.

Cheers   

[PerttiMe]

I believe I read it as a " single fin Olympus" If anyone has correct info on this thing I'm very interested,,,

NED-088's post above does identify it as a Louis van den Hout "Spider" (~single fin Olympus) and apparently in the 70's. I have understood that the Olympus is pretty big.

There's a mention of the Spider in an Olympus thread on Stuka Stunt too. Unfortunately the pictures of it, there, no longer work, at least for me.

[John Leidle]

   Well , to me if given the option of the Spider or Olypus I prefer the Spider. This is if in fact they are the same plane with a few cosmetic changes.  If any one has more info on the Spider I'd like to hear it.
     Thank you, John

[Bill Little]

Hey Bruno, do you remember this beautiful lady posing with Peters Orion?
She was the "Trophy Queen" at the 1976 World Champs and, from what I remember, quite a well known film star in Holland back then!
I do recall her name but I'm curious if you can remember it------perhaps you have seen her perform.

                                                                                                     Les

Hi Les,

Was she in silent films?   

Big Bear

[NED-088]

Hey Bruno, do you remember this beautiful lady posing with Peters Orion?
She was the "Trophy Queen" at the 1976 World Champs and, from what I remember, quite a well known film star in Holland back then!
I do recall her name but I'm curious if you can remember it------perhaps you have seen her perform.

                                                                                                     Les

Shure: Willeke van Ammelrooy http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willeke_van_Ammelrooy She's living in the US now.....

Some more proof of Les' incredible memory:
At the WCh 2004 a gentleman I recognize as Les McDonald comes up to me, shakes my hand, saying" 'I remember you, but I can't recall your name'
That is correct, me being a visitor, we talked briefly during the WCh 1976 when I went to see the american team, but I forgot to introduce myself to Les.....
In 1978 (Woodvale) when I finally made it on the Dutch team, but I was too busy beating my brand new plane into submission so I had no time left to go over and chat....
In 1980 (Chestochowa) I was just married, hence not on the team and I believe Les didn't fly intercontinental after that.
He hadn't seen me in 28 year....

[NED-088]

Does anyone know the name of the  plane in the pictures above it is the red w. silver trim has a #9 on the rudder & has "Spider" painted on it's inboard wing.

The red is red/orange tissue, only black and silver are paint, so it was a very light finish.

NED-088's post above does identify it as a Louis van den Hout "Spider" (~single fin Olympus) and apparently in the 70's. I have understood that the Olympus is pretty big.

There's a mention of the Spider in an Olympus thread on Stuka Stunt too. Unfortunately the pictures of it, there, no longer work, at least for me.

These were those pictures, made by Peter van Doesburg.
I'll put them here:

[Les McDonald]

Bruno my friend, incredible memory? I think not.
I am a simple man that has never filled my limited mind with any thing other than the most remedial and primal of thoughts.
That being said I am disappointed to learn "Wilamina" was a legitimate actress.
If I am correct I believe the young man with Louis Van de Hout is his son and I havn't a clue what his name is.
At the 2004 World Champs I was able to very briefly visit with Louis and his wife Trudy. I regret not spending more time with them since Louis has always been a cool guy and a class act. I took comfort in the fact he was judging, he knows what to look at!
I will always remember the sound of that Veco 45 trying to pull his big orange plane. It sounded scary rich, like it was going to douse the glowplug at any moment but, of course, it never did. At the 76 World Champs Bob Gieseke and Bill Werwage pointed out several fliers that were capable of beating us and Louis Van der Hout was on that "short list".
I am starting to ramble and in fact have added no useful information to this thread but I will always think of "Wilamina".

[Bill Little]

Les, my dear friend, I am afraid I might missing something that sounds very interesting about "Wilamina".

I am disappointed to learn "Wilamina" was a legitimate actress.

(something sounds fishy!)


Anyway, Wilamina sounds like it could be connected to a female version of the name William.

Bill

[M Spencer]

Ive found it , Ive found it . Curtosey of Bruno Van hoek . THANKS .

any translators out there . 

[NED-088]

Here is a link to a thread in the Dutch forum on the restauration of the last Spider, it's back with Louis and I helped him through the first laps of the flight.
Henk de Jong did the restauration, Erik Janssen refurbished the engine and I helped putting it back into the air.
I can confirm that it is still a competitive machine.

http://www.modelbouwforum.nl/forums/lijnbesturing/202348-de-spider-van-louis-van-den-hout-restauratie.html

I never got hold of Wim Cator again, he must be somewhere, traveling round the world.

[John Sunderland]

Nice forum you guys have and glad to see you have passion for the classic models from your part of the world. The Plano surprised me...I expected ....Im not sure what, but Joe Reinhards was such a sweet heart. I would buy, fly and compete with that model if i thought he would part with it. It is a bit big for my current mode of transportation though. And....i really miss Allen B.m he was a great friend.

[NED-088]

Nice forum you guys have and glad to see you have passion for the classic models from your part of the world. The Plano surprised me...I expected ....Im not sure what, but Joe Reinhards was such a sweet heart. I would buy, fly and compete with that model if i thought he would part with it. It is a bit big for my current mode of transportation though. And....i really miss Allen B.m he was a great friend.

Thank you!
Yes, Louis is the only one of our national pioneers  -apart maybe from Wim Cator, but we haven't heard from him in ages- who is still alive. We love to listen to all his great stories and his advice, for he's still a keen observer who knows exactly what's going on.
Too bad I met Allen only once (at the Wch 2004 in Muncie) and I can confirm what you said about him, he had 'passion and dedication' written all over his forehead.

For 'size challenged' means of transportation (hey, that's our default value, here in W-Europe ) you could always try a .35 Trianic.
Here's some (very) old pictures, with a very young Bert & Rob- probably testflying the Trianic for the first time:











My Heroes (Ltr: Paul Tupker, Louis van den Hout, Bert Metkemeijer)

[Scott Richlen]

As a twin-boomer the Orion looks like it would be a great plane to build and fly in Classic!  Did anyone ever draw up the plans for the Orion?  Where can I get my hands on them?

Scott 

[M Spencer]

Gees , don't yous guys know what a Lijnbesturing  is ! .  

http://www.modelbouwforum.nl/forums/lijnbesturing/207652-orion.html

bit of a coincidence - Id seen it on Brunos site , ( the site Ees on ) ASk for Droopy  

Peter van Doesburg

ik heb wat openingen gemaakt om de constructie zo lichter te maken.

Now We Know !  

ACTUALLY , I think Bruno ? put me in touch with him Via Email . If Id known he was going to do that ( laser Cut ) I would've bludged a set .
A picture was in the Aeromudler  World Champs report , when he was a young whipperschnapper . Always appreciated its clean lines- Orion .

Thisyere , 

1976
Utrecht, Holland