Kenny's Old Time Model Airplane Magazine:
October 2004
Editorial
Hey Everyone... Long time no see! It is good to be back after a long summer away. I've been keeping myself busy building furniture and exhibit displays (part of my other life as a junior member of the design community), getting out of town a bit, chasing my boy around the playground, and of course building models.
Strangely enough I didn't get in any stick and tissue time, either building or flying, but managed to have fun just the same. Solid models and paper/card models seem to have taken a hold of me for the moment and you know, I don't feel any the worse for it ;-) Heck I even went to a model railroad show on the weekend and loved it. I would really like to build a set, but I can never figure out how to play with it once it's up.
I am at my happiest when I'm making things. OK, maybe I'm at my happiest when that thing I made stays up in the air for over a minute, but other than those magic moments, I love to build. I also love the nostalgia and history that wraps so much of what we do. I close my eyes while I'm holding the parts as the glue dries, and I dream.
I dream of the guys like Herb Weiss who drew up these plans 60 or 70 years ago and the boys who cut their fingers trying to repeat his effort. I dream of the humanity that test flew or were even shot at from these craft. Then of course I jump into the cockpit and take her up for a whirl and slowly loop in and out of the clouds... Perhaps this is the reason that I've never enjoyed the times I've used CA instant bonding glues.
Well, dreaming isn't going to get this issue out on time, so let's get to work and introduce this month's articles. Again I have to pass a heart felt "Thank You!" to Steve for the work he has done helping me out with this issue. Steve has kept this whole enterprise afloat more than once, so from all of us, CHEERS!
So off we go again. Finger on the mouse, sit back and enjoy Vol 6 No. 2 of
Kenny's Old Time Model Airplane Magazine
The Story
This issue we introduce to you,Dick Knight, Secret Agent "Q" of an equally secret government counterespionage agency. Good ol' Dick was the Donald E. Keyhoe's modern age replacement for Captain Strange of First World War fame. The later the 1930's became, the less interested readers were in stories and aircraft of "The War," and other than the great Phineas Pinkham, most of these old stories and bi-planed model plans were out. Low wings and modern intrigue were where it was at.
Remember, Keyhoe was a bit of a sci-fi buff in aviator's dress, so be prepared for something a little different! From 66 years ago, the July, 1938 issue of Flying Aces, I hope you enjoy,
Dick Knight in Hell's Hanger.
Hell's Hanger to print and read
Hell's Hanger to read off the web
The Rubber Powered Model Airplane Plans
This month's scale model, the Koolhoven FK-58, is from one of the greats of our hobby, and a designer I have not yet featured, Alan D. Booton. His scale models were some of the most intricate and, to my eye, delicate models published.
The Dec. 1999 issue of The KAPA (Kits and Plans Antiquitous) Kollector has a charming piece on Booton by the wonderful model historian Walt Grigg. In an interview Grigg had with Booton he asked, "Alan, how do these models fly?" The reply: "Over tall grass!" ---- Great stuff!
Do yourself a favour and print out
Alan Booton's Koolhoven FK-58 Flying Dutchman
This month's non-scale model is, well, An All-Balsa Sportster. These sheet jobs were a common feature in the old mags (in this one too 'natch) and make fun school yard flyers. These unassuming craft are an evening's work with only a couple sheets of light balsa. As good a platform as any to try out different props, or even wing shapes, tail area, etc. Go ahead and have some fun with,
Stan D. Marsh's All-Balsa Sportster
Thermals.
The Solid Model Airplane Plan
This issue we'll bring you a couple of favorites to carve out of balsa.
Nick Limber is back with another winner, the Boeing Sub-Statosphere 307 "Stratocruiser." Talk about a scoop, Limber snatched up Boeing plans from the patent office to draw, write, build, and publish a model of an aircraft that would not see air under it's wheels for a good 8 or 9 months! What we admire as a nice model of a famous craft must have seemed like Buck Rogers come to life for the boys of '38. From the April issue of Flying Aces,
Nick Limber's Boeing Stratocruiser
The second model, from the pages of Model Airplane News October 1937, is the French take on the DeHavilland Comet, the 1935 Caudron Typhon. Another clean rendering by RC Morrison, I think you might want to check your references on this one. As was very common at the time, likely Morrison had but a single photograph to produce a model from. This one seems a little sleek and the fin is not tall enough, but with guys like Limber lurking around the patent office, one just couldn't wait for the details that we'd expect today. I'm still sure that you'll enjoy a look at
R.C. Morrison's Caudron "Typhon"
The Gas Powered Plan
Here is a model that surely does look like a 1930's gas job. No multi-stringer beauty here, but rather a pure combination of engine platform, lifting surfaces and well calculated moments.
The plans list her as the "Miss Trenton Terror III." Though I know that other Jersey girls may be prettier, I'll be guessing none can out fly the Terror!
From the April 1938 issue of Flying Aces check out, Mickey DeAngelis' "Miss Trenton Terror III."
The Advertisement
The Cleveland ads have always captivated me. I think that they always sell to the dream. You really believe that you will be a part of the real deal by buying their line.
More than anything, model building has always been fantasy; Kenny the normal guy becomes Kenny the ace or sea captain. Cleveland ads seem to promise that the dream can become real!
From the back cover of the March, 1943 issue of Flying Aces.
Cleveland Model and Supply Co., Inc.
Many of the documents I will be sharing will be in .pdf format
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