Who is Sid?

[Joe Gieseke]

I remember times of my dad speaking of someone named Sid.
Can someone help jar my recollection as to who Sid is?
I found something that belongs to him.

Joe Gieseke

[Dave Hull]

Sid Axlerod?

[Dan McEntee]

  Yes, Sid Axlerod owned Top Flite Models.  I met him at the '82 or '83 NATS at Lincoln, Nebraska. I was flying R/C sailplanes then. Sid loved R/C sailplane guys because we used acres of Monokote on our airplanes. He also loved stunt guys because they bought lots of Nobler kits, Flite Streak, Gieseke Nobler kits, and covered those with acres of Monokote!
  Type at you later,
  Dan McEntee

[Joe Gieseke]

Yes, it was Sid Axlerod.
Anyone know how I might contact him?

Joe

[Joe Gieseke]

I see that Sid has already left us, so I will attempt to find a family member.
Thanks for your help.

Joe

[Bob Hunt]

Hi Joe:

Hope you and yours are safe and healthy during this trying time.

About the Gieseke Nobler that was kitted by Top Flite: I was very honored to have been the one suggested to Sid by your father to review the Gieseke Nobler when it came out in kit form. The review was published in Model Airplane News magazine around 1979. It was a fun build, and the plane flew great! Ah, memories...

Be well - Bob Hunt 

[Joe Gieseke]

Hi Bob

All is well here.
 I've been cleaning up my shop and occasionally open a box of my dads modeling items. I believe I am probably the owner of the largest collection of Fox 35 pistons and sleeves in the country.

[James Holford]

Hi Bob

All is well here.
 I've been cleaning up my shop and occasionally open a box of my dads modeling items. I believe I am probably the owner of the largest collection of Fox 35 pistons and sleeves in the country.

ABC sets or stock replacements?

 Those ABC sets are highly sought after.

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[Joe Gieseke]

I'm not sure what an ABC set is.

I do know that Duke would hand pick some pistons and sleeves to send to my dad fairly regularly.

[James Holford]

Ohh in that case for sure you have some good ones!!

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[Brett Buck]

ABC sets or stock replacements?

 Those ABC sets are highly sought after.

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   Given the era that Bear flew with them, it was *long* before there was an ABC set, and Duke had long passed on before those showed up.

     Brett

[James Holford]

   Given the era that Bear flew with them, it was *long* before there was an ABC set, and Duke had long passed on before those showed up.

     Brett

Oh ok. Thanks for the clarification Brett!

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[Brett Buck]

I'm not sure what an ABC set is.

  Aluminum piston, Brass liner with Chrome plating (to give a better wear surface than bare brass). Supposed advantages are that the aluminum piston is lighter than the cast iron (meehanite) piston, so it vibrates less, and it's more likely to survive modern fuel or hot runs because it doesn't want to seize up when overheated. The vibration is probably an improvement, but the existing cast iron piston and steel liner are plenty durable enough.

   They usually look like brass on the outside of the liner.

     Brett

[Dan McEntee]

   The folk lore surrounding Bob and his Fox.35's that I remember from back then was that Bob would make regular trips to Fort Smith, and Duke gave him the run of the plant to pick and choose the parts he wanted for his engines and then assemble them himself. I wouldn't mind tip toeing  through that box just to get some of his cast offs because they still might be better than what I got in my engines at home!!
   It would have been real cool to sit down and talk with Bob about flying, and just as cool to sit with him and talk about his engines and what he looked for and how he set them up. I would bet they were for the most part bone stock but had superior fit and some other small detailing for optimum performance. I would like to know his fuel, prop and plug preferences.
   Type at you later,
  Dan McEntee