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Author Topic: Unknown old racer: what is it?  (Read 1455 times)

Offline PerttiMe

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Unknown old racer: what is it?
« on: March 21, 2023, 02:10:31 AM »
Elsewhere, somebody is trying to identify an old Team Racer airframe. He thinks it is ".29 size".

Any ideas?

I built a Blue Pants as a kid. Wish I still had it. Might even learn to fly it.

Offline Dave Hull

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Re: Unknown old racer: what is it?
« Reply #1 on: March 22, 2023, 01:15:23 AM »
That's a tough one. Not one that I can find published anywhere. Maybe even a one-off from back in the day?

The closest one I can find would be the "Ghostly Counsellor" by R. Noble from 1951. Similar outlines but what would appear to be a higher A/R wing and a rounded vertical instead of the more rectilinear shape that you show.

Can you describe the decals? That might provide a clue. And, what country and likely model club are we talking about here?

If you find out, let us know!

Offline bob whitney

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Re: Unknown old racer: what is it?
« Reply #2 on: March 22, 2023, 08:54:28 AM »
sort of looks like a challenger
rad racer

Offline PerttiMe

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Re: Unknown old racer: what is it?
« Reply #3 on: March 22, 2023, 09:33:50 AM »
The only additional photo that I have is from the other side.
It seems to be a kit because the wing ribs are marked in blue: R6, R5, etc.

The Challenger looks similar but wing construction does not match. https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=5504
The guy who has it thought it looks a bit like Keil Kraft Pacer but wing construction does not match there either. https://outerzone.co.uk/plan_details.asp?ID=1373

I have no clue what "Ghostly Counsellor" by R. Noble from 1951 is.
I built a Blue Pants as a kid. Wish I still had it. Might even learn to fly it.

Offline Dave Hull

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Re: Unknown old racer: what is it?
« Reply #4 on: March 22, 2023, 05:41:29 PM »
A bit of a look at the two mentioned so far. And good info on the rib markings indicating a kit. Maybe a modified something else, but likely much is in an original configuration...?

Offline Dave Hull

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Re: Unknown old racer: what is it?
« Reply #5 on: March 22, 2023, 05:42:44 PM »
And....

The thing that argued against it being the Challenger to me was the location of the canopy and the shape of the vertical. But those are things that are easily--almost inevitably--changed.

The Bobber may have it.

D

Offline Dave Hull

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Re: Unknown old racer: what is it?
« Reply #6 on: March 22, 2023, 05:45:34 PM »
Dave Shrum was building up a bunch of challengers a few years back. Here's a picture of that project.

Offline bill bischoff

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Re: Unknown old racer: what is it?
« Reply #7 on: March 22, 2023, 09:07:15 PM »
McDivot, I know we're looking at the same book, so look at the Mercury Mk I. The nose and flying surfaces look right, but the fuselage has obviously been changed to a bubble canopy. The book even says it was a Mercury kit!

Offline Dave Hull

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Re: Unknown old racer: what is it?
« Reply #8 on: March 23, 2023, 01:54:01 AM »
BB,

You've got a strong argument there! Here's the ancillary data that may help our poster:

Design by Johnny(sp?) Nunn of the Birmingham MAC in the U.K. from 1950
Kitted by Mercury
Wingspan: 24-1/2"
Wing Area: 125 sq. in.
Power: Frog 500, beam mounted
Spinner: 2"
Fuse Construction: hollow block lower shell with inset bearers glued in. 3/32" sides and planked top over formers
Tail: 1/8" sheet
Fin: 1/16" plywood
Wing: Sparless with 1/2" by 3/4" leading edge, 3/32" x 1-1/2" vee trailing edge, 1/8" ribs. Tissue covered. Internal controls

Offline PerttiMe

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Re: Unknown old racer: what is it?
« Reply #9 on: March 23, 2023, 02:42:17 AM »
The wing of the Mercury Team Racer Mk.1 does look about right.
I built a Blue Pants as a kid. Wish I still had it. Might even learn to fly it.

Offline bill bischoff

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Re: Unknown old racer: what is it?
« Reply #10 on: March 24, 2023, 10:26:41 AM »
The masking tape obscures things a bit, but the cowl parting line also seems to match the Mercury.

Offline Dave Hull

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Re: Unknown old racer: what is it?
« Reply #11 on: March 24, 2023, 08:47:27 PM »
BB--agreed.

Offline PerttiMe

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Re: Unknown old racer: what is it?
« Reply #12 on: March 26, 2023, 01:53:05 AM »
I've forwarded information from this thread to the guy with the airframe. Haven't received any feedback.

I tend to agree with the "modified Mercury Team Racer Mk.1" theory.
I built a Blue Pants as a kid. Wish I still had it. Might even learn to fly it.


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