Plans!! Comet, Jetco, Berkley, Sterling,

[Sky Sharkster]

Wanna "Scratch" build? Love those old 1950's kits? eBay prices make you shudder? Well, load the printer and put on a pot 'o coffee because once you click this link you won't be going anywhere soon!
http://www.tmrcsailplanes.com/plans-and-patterns.html
Tom Martin started out by digging up some American-designed sailplane plans for scale Sailplanes...but it's grown. Sterling, Comet, Jasco, Jetco, Berkeley to name a few. 19 pages (that's not a typo, nineteen!) of rare, out-of-print and otherwise scarce plans at very reasonable prices. Here's one example; Berkeley Stinson Voyager 150, 1:12 scale, 33" wingspan, .049-.099 engines or rubber (or electric) conversion. 1-35" X 45" sheet with instructions. $ 5.99. How about a Jasco (not Jetco) Thermic 72? Ring any bells? Pod and Boom FF design, 72" wingspan towliner, S.A.M. Qualified. $ 6.99. OK, OK, quit twisting my arm, I'll give you one more but that's it. Comet Taylorcraft 1:8 Scale, 54" Wingspan. Designed for rubber power. Nice and light. I had one of these, they weren't die cut, laser cut or band-sawed. Oh, no, they were printed balsa sheets. Two weeks, six bandaids and a box of blades later, I had what we now call a "Kit". Plans, $ 4.99.
Tell'em the Sharkster sent you!
Ron

[qban_flyer]

Wanna "Scratch" build? Love those old 1950's kits? eBay prices make you shudder? Well, load the printer and put on a pot 'o coffee because once you click this link you won't be going anywhere soon!
http://www.tmrcsailplanes.com/plans-and-patterns.html
Tom Martin started out by digging up some American-designed sailplane plans for scale Sailplanes...but it's grown. Sterling, Comet, Jasco, Jetco, Berkeley to name a few. 19 pages (that's not a typo, nineteen!) of rare, out-of-print and otherwise scarce plans at very reasonable prices. Here's one example; Berkeley Stinson Voyager 150, 1:12 scale, 33" wingspan, .049-.099 engines or rubber (or electric) conversion. 1-35" X 45" sheet with instructions. $ 5.99. How about a Jasco (not Jetco) Thermic 72? Ring any bells? Pod and Boom FF design, 72" wingspan towliner, S.A.M. Qualified. $ 6.99. OK, OK, quit twisting my arm, I'll give you one more but that's it. Comet Taylorcraft 1:8 Scale, 54" Wingspan. Designed for rubber power. Nice and light. I had one of these, they weren't die cut, laser cut or band-sawed. Oh, no, they were printed balsa sheets. Two weeks, six bandaids and a box of blades later, I had what we now call a "Kit". Plans, $ 4.99.
Tell'em the Sharkster sent you!
Ron

Thanks for the tip Ron! :)

[mmartin55]

Thanks for the plug and email Ron,

It gets better though, we are laser cutting a bunch of these old SAM gliders and now parkflyer sized oldtimers as well. We now offer short or complete kits for:

Jasco Thermic 50-X pod and boom
Jetco Thermic 50
Jasco Thermic 72 pod and boom
Sterling Cirrus
Sterling SGS 1-26D
Sterling Fledgling

and are CADing parts right now for:
Comet Taylorcraft 54"
Comet Aeronca 54"
Sterling Cub Cruiser 36"

Tom

[qban_flyer]

I am getting a set to build the Cessna 180, all I have to do is decide which version offered I will get.

Glad Tom had the foresight to collect, copy and set these beauties' plans so that we can build and fly them once again. :)

[50+AirYears]

Ah, a walk down memory lane. I still have several of those kits NIB.

[flyranger]

mmartin55, I emailed you for a quote. Your shopping cart doesn't seem to be working today. Many thanks for offering these wonderful models!

[Greg Lewis]

American Kit Cutters might have kits cuts from these plans.

[Reddog]

Can you tell me if these plans include pictures of the printwood?
Thanks,
Dick

[Sky Sharkster]

Hello Dick, I didn't know the answer to your question so eMailed Tom @ tmrcsailplanes. He replied quickly (Thanks, Tom!) and here's a quote;
"No, Ron, they do not. Our kits consist of original plans where not copyrighted or being marketed by the family or business that originally kitted them and the laser cut parts sheets and any special cut hardwood booms or hard balsa spars. Instructions are usually included in writing with illustrations on the plans."
Tom also mentions they've begun offering the Sterling Fledgling, Jasco Thermic 50, 50-X, 72, Super Sinbad, and will be cutting the Comet 54" Taylorcraft (my fingers thank you!) followed by the Berkeley American Ace, Sterling Royal Coachman, Mini-Fledgling.
Thanks again to Tom for the prompt reply!
Ron

[Reddog]

Thank you, Ron!
I am R/C moderator over on SFA and usually hang out there. Thanks to one of our good members there, I've been fortunate enough to buy both the Taylorcraft and Aeronca in their original kits! The Aeronca has been an excellent performer when converted to electric. I've just finished the T-Craft, this week, and am now waiting for the weather to let up for it's maiden! Sort of looking for a source of some more kits!
Dick

[Sky Sharkster]

Hi Dick, I checked out Small Flying Arts, Great Site!!
http://www.smallflyingarts.com/
I've built several of the Dumas kits and because of my Free flight backround (as well as some Controline flying) have always had a soft spot for the "Stick + Tissue" models. Have you seen this site for small kits?
http://www.wattflyer.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11020
Also, on the "Builders Techniques" Forum, I have a "Links" sticky, scroll to "Micro Models" and there's several more suppliers of small-scale models. I added SFA to the list.
If there's anything you want to use from the "Links", feel free! I "borrowed" most of them myself!
Ron

[Reddog]

Thanks, again!
I'll be spending more time here. Electric R/C is about all I do, anymore!
Dick

[50+AirYears]

I still have 2 NIB Comet Aeronca Chiefs and 2 of the Taylorcraft kits. Someday I intend to bring some of the kits into work and copy the plans and printwood for a bunch of these kits. We have a nice large format copier that copies things into JPEG for importation into numerous CAD programs.

The Aeronca I built was a pretty good performing FF with a 9 1/2 inch plastic prop and 8 strands of 1/4" rubber. That was about 15 years ago. Still want to make another stab at their P-38. I have 2 of those kits, too.

[mmartin55]

Well the Taylorcraft is complete and I have two kits to ship. I've decided to offer them initially at $39.95 for the laser cut basla parts with plans, nicely boxed. When we've added the long stock and button, wire and landing gear, wheels and prop and rubber they will be about $59.95 each.

I'll get to work on the Aeronca and the Sailwing next. I found a cute little 32" span Baker-McMillan Cadet II glider in the Model Builders Manual and Junior Aeronautical Engineering by Thomas L. Bulger copyrighted 1931. It too would be great with a little outrunner so I will be kitting it as well. Boy is that a hard book to track down. Anyone have a copy?

Happy New Year to All!

Tom

[mmartin55]

Hey someone said they made a Cub at 54". Sure can't find it in their literature or sales flyer that came in the kit boxes. did anyone else make a real simple cub at this scale (1:12)?

[mmartin55]

I just sent over the files to start cutting the little Thermic B handlaunch glider today. I have the Thermic 20 done and ready for cutting too and will finish up the Thermic 18 in just a bit.

[Airhead]

I built a 54" Cub from a Sterling kit many years ago. It was a RC plane that I converted to CL. Always fun and a good looker.:)

Bruce

[50+AirYears]

I have one of those Sterling Cubs in my store of kits. Plan to build it someday.
Funny there should be a mention of the Thermic 18. Last summer, I got two partially finished 18s that only need fin and stab. One of my RC club members passed away, and the member who is handling the disposal for the estate gave them to me for a dollar. No plans, but I should be able to finish them from some of my 1/20 balsa.

[Reddog]

Ron,
I finished the Taylorcraft. Once I put a 12" APC-E prop on it, it flew great!
Dick

[Cyclops]

WAHOO!

I feel 40 years younger!:) :)

Rich

[50+AirYears]

Just on a venture, I printed out the Thermic 18 view. Came out full size. I now have the patterns to finish the two planes I have. What's funny about that, I paid a few bucks to get a repro of the plan, and it was poorer quality, distorted, and not full size.
Also checked my inventory list, and I have a foam core wing for the Sterling Fledgling 56, I actually have a flying Jetco Eaglet that I fly in Embryo, NIB 2 each of the Comet 54" t'craft and Aeroncas, one 20" Cessna C37, the 54" Sterling Piper, a Sterling Piper Tri-Pacer, and a Sterling Cessna 180. And I have an original Jetco ROG plan from about 1958 or 59 when "I built one. There's also a couple other plans there I think I'd like to get hold of. Wow! Nostalgia.
Kind of hope they expand their offerings along those lines.
Need to do a lot more flying this year so I can make some room to build some of my warehouse of kits and plans.

[Cyclops]

VECO..... Chief........ 13 years old with a McCoy Red Head .35 and no one to help me on anything. Full span flaps. I could have blacked out from the sheer terror of the first flight.

Cheezes, that plane was 3D vertical, before 3D was even thought of.:)

[Airhead]

And a few others.. I think I still have a .... let me think...a VECO 45 engine....somewhere.:rolleyes:
McCoy red heads and Fox Stunt 35's. I spent a lot of time with them.

[obxflyer]

Reddog;
Thank you for the great shots of your Comet Taylorcraft built and in flight. That's the type of encouragement I needed to get back to stick building some older planes. Continue working with your great skill to inspire others to keep going with the older models.
BC

[Reddog]

Thanks, BC!
I'm about 2/3 of the way done with a 40" Eagle Ercoupe, copyright 1940. Don't know how old the kit actually is, but it's old!
Dick

[mmartin55]

I've just recieved plans for the Aeronca K from Comet in 54" span and these are some of the nicest scale mid-scale all balsa plans I have ever seen! The details are remarkable and include about everything from engine and exhaust, to tail wheel and main gear, plus instruments and more. Really really nice.

Can't wait to get her cut. The K shares quite a few parts with the Aeronca Chief so I should be able to get it done and shipping by the end of the month. This plan will surely make one that is going to turn some heads!

Tom

[mmartin55]

Hey all,

I have completed files for cutting the old Jasco Thermic "C" now as well. This is the little 36" span C class look-alike of the Thermic 50-X series with oval tipped constant-chord wing and dihedral, rather than the poly foudn on the larger ships. Real cut and just the thing for teaching that son or grandaughter to build!

Tom

[Mike_Taylor]

I agreed to buy the privilage of building one of the EPP kits he has on his web site. I paid $90 for the kit and a subsequent 2nd kit when the first was done and reviewed. This was done on Jan 14th, and now 6 months later, I cannot get a response to an e-mail or phone call to his house. There were excuses for a while, and then several 'shipping sometime this week', and now silence...

If you deal with him, make sure you get your goods before you let go of your cash!

[obxflyer]

Mike what was the kit you purchased? I ask wondering if it was one of the newer production kits he may be having problems with it. Or did he take the money and run. ...BC

[Mike_Taylor]

It was the new EPP Schweitzer 2-32. It had been begging for a beta builder, now the ad says 'now shipping'. Maybe, but not to me. I understand he has a new laser cutter, and also has been collecting Comet and other plans to laser-cut. He's either over-extended or has lost interest in the EPP kits. What I don't understand is why I get no responses, I even offered to take other short kits if he had them in stock.

The last un-answered e-mail asked for him to please respond or I would have to assume that I had been simply ripped off. I got no response. I'm sort of hoping he will pipe up here and explain things...

[gregore2992]

Wanna "Scratch" build? Love those old 1950's kits? eBay prices make you shudder? Well, load the printer and put on a pot 'o coffee because once you click this link you won't be going anywhere soon!
http://www.tmrcsailplanes.com/plans-and-patterns.html
Tom Martin started out by digging up some American-designed sailplane plans for scale Sailplanes...but it's grown. Sterling, Comet, Jasco, Jetco, Berkeley to name a few. 19 pages (that's not a typo, nineteen!) of rare, out-of-print and otherwise scarce plans at very reasonable prices. Here's one example; Berkeley Stinson Voyager 150, 1:12 scale, 33" wingspan, .049-.099 engines or rubber (or electric) conversion. 1-35" X 45" sheet with instructions. $ 5.99. How about a Jasco (not Jetco) Thermic 72? Ring any bells? Pod and Boom FF design, 72" wingspan towliner, S.A.M. Qualified. $ 6.99. OK, OK, quit twisting my arm, I'll give you one more but that's it. Comet Taylorcraft 1:8 Scale, 54" Wingspan. Designed for rubber power. Nice and light. I had one of these, they weren't die cut, laser cut or band-sawed. Oh, no, they were printed balsa sheets. Two weeks, six bandaids and a box of blades later, I had what we now call a "Kit". Plans, $ 4.99.
Tell'em the Sharkster sent you!
Ron

Hi Ron,

I just picked up a Jetco Thermic 72 from my father's house. He bought it in the 60's and never put it together! Anyway, I started building it last night and wondered if you (or anyone) have had and experience with these and making more than a free flight glider? (ie. powered and controlled flight)

Thanks for any help you can offer.

[Sky Sharkster]

Hello Gregore2992, Welcome to Wattflyer!
I'm somewhat familiar with the Thermic 72, it's an old Zaic design for the FAI A.2 Free Flight towline glider event. I believe it dates to the 1960's.
There's a couple of problems with converting this type of Free Flight model to R/C. The A.2 FAI rules have a maximum wing area rule and a mimimum weight rule, I believe it's around 480 square inches (total wing and stab, projected) and 14.5 oz minimum weight.
As the "Nordic" event (this is the nickname for the FAI FF glider events) evolved, the designers began making the stabilizer smaller, to put more of the total area into the wing. This eventually resulted in very small stabs on a long fuselage. Well, that's great for a low sink rate but not so good when the stab becomes a moveable, controlling surface. Also, with a small, lifting stab, the center of gravity is far back, 50% or more, which is way too rearward for R/C control. A shorter tail moment arm, forward C.G. and larger stab (overall area, not just the elevator) would be much more in line with an R/C model requirements.
Second problem is, designing for a low sink rate as the prime criteria usually results in an undercambered airfoil, that is, a section that has a concave lower surface. On the Thermic I believe it's the NACA 6409 or 6407.5. These deeply undercambered airfoils do one thing well, low sink rate. They won't penetrate upwind, are very "touchy" to changes in angle of attack and the center of gravity range is narrow.
In other words, this model, even though it's fairly old, was designed for a strict set of flying conditions. Without a major overhaul to the fuselage, wing airfoil and tail surfaces it will fly poorly at best, as an R/C.
It would however, make a great Free Flight model for the "Vintage" towline glider event.
As an R/C glider kit, I recommend the Goldberg "Gentle Lady", Dynaflight "Bobcat", or one of the kits from here; http://www.skybench.com/. These were designed as R/C models and will get you gliding in a short time without any major modifications.
Sorry I can't give a better recommendation for the Thermic as an R/C conversion, it could be done but I believe your efforts would be better spent elsewhere.
Good luck!
Ron

[gregore2992]

Thanks Ron for the input. It sounds like I'll be sticking to the orginal plans and free flight it or hang it from the ceiling as a conversation piece.

gregore2992

[biznak]

wow me and my dad build up a sterling fledgling about 15 years ago!! we flew it 2 times with a friend and a trainer box, i'm finally getting back into RC but i think i'm gonna move towards electric.

I love that plane and hope to fly it again soon...well after i crash my cheep electric plane a few times. it was a gentle flyer but my only other experience was a Square Soar...which i am in the process of rebuilding!

in case you are wondering we decked it out in sethrough yellow surfaces and bright blue fuselage