Author Topic: Sturdi-bilt... (Read 3662 times)

Bootlegger · « **on:** March 20, 2012, 05:55:08 PM »

Awrite all you OLD F#rt's remember the solid models that came with the templet's that we used to carve the fuse, and other details of WW2 military aircraft.
What or who made these kit's?
They also had all the markings and insignia necessary to complete the models..

Sigh, I suppose that I am waxing nostalgic..

Help me remember

Mike Lauerman · « **Reply #1 on:** March 20, 2012, 06:18:19 PM »

Ty, weren't the Monogram ones 'Speedi-Bilts'?
I seem to remember 'Sturdi-Bilts' being a line mfd by the late J. Robt. Smurthwaite...

Had a profile carrier plane with that moniker, I'm sure.

Dan Bregar · « **Reply #2 on:** March 20, 2012, 06:23:43 PM »

I'm not TY, but yes Monogram had the "Speedee Bilt" line. Really didn't fly with the rubber power, but some guys converted them to glow with a .049 wasp, and then they flew them control line. I built 4 or 5.

Mike Keville · « **Reply #3 on:** March 20, 2012, 06:47:36 PM »

If you're asking about the kits with the balsa blocks that needed to be carved/sanded with help from templates, that could be any number of post-WWII 25-cent (and up) kits: Megow, Guillow, et al. They were very crude, and far beyond the skills of this then-ten-year-old (although I tried).

Had much better luck with the StromBecker series of solid white pine models.

"Sturdi-Bilt" was the moniker applied to the J. Roberts line of CL Carrier designs from the 1960s. Their Mauler & Corsair come to mind.

"Speedee-Bilt" of course refers to the Monogram series from 1949 thru the late 1950s. I built every one of 'em, and today have a couple of the replica kits produced by Ron Anderson in Virginia.

George · « **Reply #4 on:** March 20, 2012, 09:29:42 PM »

Quote from: Ty Marcucci on March 20, 2012, 06:01:49 PM

...Strombecker had the big pine models, 6 or 7 parts, a small piece of useless sandpaper and a small paper envelope with glue you made by mixing with water, models were roughly 12 to 18-/+ Inch wingspan. lI had a B 24. Used it to bomb ant hills. Bombs were those small CO2 cartridges with added paper fins...you had to be there.

I had a Strombecker Tailorcraft. I was in the third grade at the time. I used the glue in that packet. Didn't use sandpaper. It sorta looked like a plane.

George

Mike Keville · « **Reply #5 on:** March 20, 2012, 09:36:33 PM »

Interesting. StromBecker never had a Taylorcraft. You may be thinking of their Piper Super Cruiser (land and seaplane versions).

Another outfit (Phila.) named Cavacraft may have had a Taylorcraft...and Comet definitely did, in several sizes, although they weren't solid models.

jim ivey · « **Reply #6 on:** March 20, 2012, 10:42:15 PM »

My very 1st model Airplane was a 25c comet "struct-O-speed" mustang. I used 2 tubes of testors fast-dry "yellow tube" to get it togeather. I cut myself sbout 27 times with that gillette double edge blue blade.got glue in the cuts, it buuuurned!!! I cried a lot I was 9. I finally got it togeather. lookimg at the kit, it says,"it really flies"!!! so I wound it up. set it on the front porch expecting it to fly off it like off the "Forestall", around in a circle and land on the lawn. OH-BOY!! all it did was viberate and move about 2 inches toward the edge of the porch. OK,so I didnt wind it enough. I wound it tighter, same result 2 1/2 inches. one more time!! OOOPS!!! eubber band broke, so did most of the fuse ftom the inside only 1 thing left ti do. Crunch it some more on rhe lawn, pour lighter fluid on it, and set it on fire! It crashed and burned!!! all on one saturday afternoon. hope you liked my story, It was mostly true. jim

Bootlegger · « **Reply #7 on:** March 21, 2012, 09:17:32 AM »

Thanks for the walk down "Memory Lane", now anybody got any ideas where I can get a few???

George · « **Reply #8 on:** March 21, 2012, 05:40:39 PM »

Quote from: Mike Keville on March 20, 2012, 09:36:33 PM

Interesting. StromBecker never had a Taylorcraft. You may be thinking of their Piper Super Cruiser (land and seaplane versions).

Another outfit (Phila.) named Cavacraft may have had a Taylorcraft...and Comet definitely did, in several sizes, although they weren't solid models.

You are probably correct. They look the same to a third grader. I didn't paint it. :-)

George

Mike Keville · « **Reply #9 on:** March 21, 2012, 06:49:05 PM »

Quote from: George Bain on March 21, 2012, 05:40:39 PM

You are probably correct. They look the same to a third grader. I didn't paint it. :-)

George

==============================================================

Don't feel bad. True confession: my first StromBecker Piper (1948) was "painted" with blue & orange water colors.

(Some have suggested I haven't progressed much further since, but that's another topic).

FLOYD CARTER · « **Reply #10 on:** March 22, 2012, 07:24:06 PM »

During WWII, some company or other produced kits for "recognition". Pine bliocks and sheets which, with a lot of work, became scale "recognition " models. I was given a couple of kits around 1944 to build. Instructions said to paint them solid black with no markings and to send the completed model to a Civil Defense address given.

The only other models I built during the early war years were the Joe Ott rubber band kits using cardboard fuselage formers and wing ribs!

Floyd C.

skyshark58 · « **Reply #11 on:** March 23, 2012, 12:41:35 PM »

"Studri-built" was the brand name that J. Roberts used for their series of kits,the Sabre,Swift, Cobra, AM-1 Mauler and F-4U Corsair. They were designed to use the "Vari-speed " slotted exhaust throttle system activated by the Sturdi-built 3 line bellcrank and control handle. Mike