More Facebook Babble: Midwest's Profile AD-1 Skyraider

Kim Fri Sep 25, 2020 10:05 am

Yet again, stumbling down Memory Lane.
----------------------------------
So, there I was, MINDING my own business, when one of those vagabond visions of days long-gone slides through my tired brain.

In the mid-1970's, a couple years before getting my first reliable radio control system, we were still cranking out a fair number of control line model airplanes. Sunday flydays weren't what they'd been just a few years earlier, with girls and motorcycles having taken the lead interest, but we still managed to get some flying done.

Midwest Model Co. had released several profile control line model kits featuring (as I remember): a P-51 Mustang, P-63 Kingcobra, BF-109, and my AD-1 Skyraider. All were scaled to about the same physical size, with the intent of clubs and individual flyers staging aerial combat matches.
I sorta wanted the Kingcobra, but the Skyraider was sitting on a shelf in the hobby store, so that was it. My budget was WAY too tight to risk a plane like this to combat flying, though I think I may have flown it in the same circle with Kevin's P-51 a few times.

I built it on an overturned dresser drawer in my tiny apartment on North Park Street in Cape. So if you happen to purchase some antique furniture, and find glue blobs, pencil marks, and X-ACTO scrapings on the underside of a drawer, CONGRATULATIONS!...you've also purchased an antique control line building board!

The Skyraider was a large model for my well-worn .35, but still flew OK, with scale-like loops and horizontal 8's, AND, with the lower speed allowing me to do full-circle touch and goes on the paved ramp at the airport---running it's Perfect Brand wheels totally bald in the process.

I eventually sold it to a guy I now occasionally fly with, who still talks about what a great plane it was (sometimes going so far as to even giving me credit for building it). So maybe it's his fault that I ordered a set of plans (kits are pretty rare, and REAL high-dollar when they do appear) for my old Able Dog.

Don't know if it will ever get built, but as the builders here will probably agree, it can be immensely satisfying to just look over a set of vintage plans, and daydream about the time we first laid eyes on them.

MauricioB Fri Sep 25, 2020 11:46 am

Kim, I read your comment and automatically imagine each situation as you describe it ...
I think there comes a time, as time goes by, where we become more dreamy and nostalgic ... and many times wanting to RETURN! ...
Last Monday I was returning from my club on the road, just the radio began to show songs from the 80's, I immediately called a friend with whom we went out when we were about 18 or 20 years old and that magic of nostalgia is continually generated I repeat, I would like to return! At least for a little while, haha ...
When you comment that you built your model with the bottom of a cabinet drawer, when you comment that looking at old plans, you are transported to that time full of memories, the mind becomes a time machine and one begins to dream over and over again and it makes you want to be there! ... suddenly you want to put together all those models and when you start building, you realize that your head and your dreams go faster than your eyes and your hands ... and again You come back to reality, but even so, we continue with that passion to continue for a long, long time, doing what we like so much.
It is really a great pleasure to read your anecdotes and experiences ... hugs for you Kim !.

Kim Fri Sep 25, 2020 3:02 pm

Thank You Mauricio!

Like so many of the members here and out across our great hobby, we are obviously kindred spirits: Fondly remembering Our Past, while giving thanks for Our Present!

I greatly appreciate your post, Friend!
Kim

Ken Cook Fri Sep 25, 2020 3:39 pm

Keep in mind that this was the largest profile wingspan model that was produced at the time. I love these models. I learned to fly on a P-63 which my son still flies to this day. The rudder had the numbers 5/23/69 on it. It never dawned on me but that was my sisters birthday. That was the day he finished it. I still remember that day. Midwest should've made a thicker wing for this plane. Waaaay too thin and unless flying fast with a good engine, they had a tendency to sink rapidly. I just sold the 109 I built 37 years ago. It was very nice and it flew quite well. My P-63 is hanging currently with a fractured downline. I also know the leadouts have started sawing through the bellcrank so it needs to be redone. The engine that will be going it is the Fox .40 Aldrich Stunt Special. It's a beast of a engine and a beautiful stunt engine. Unlike the coffin case Fox .40's the Aldrich Special is a Fox .35 on steroids.

Originally it was all silver, Aero Gloss Silver aluminum. A line break caused it to crash in 1982 and my dad rebuilt it offering it the P-39 colors

Shawn holding it

Kim Fri Sep 25, 2020 3:50 pm

Fantastic Plane Ken!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"""MUST...stay...away...from.....Ebay!""" Shocked

Ken Cook Fri Sep 25, 2020 4:05 pm

Larry Richards made beautiful versions of these kits. His work and wood selection was impeccable. Larry also restores full size aircraft. However, Larry starting have eye troubles and he also couldn't locate decent lightweight one piece solid leading edges. He stopped producing these kits. He was just selling one he had leftover a few weeks ago. It was the P-40 and I see he sold it for $85. Midwest kits sell for that which puzzles me but I guess when you want one, you will pay for it.

Kim Fri Sep 25, 2020 4:28 pm

"When you want one, you will pay for it."
..................................My Life's Mantra....

rsv1cox Fri Sep 25, 2020 5:17 pm

I always enjoy Kim's retrospectives, first because they are well written and pictured, and second because I usually can relate to them.

This one in particular strikes a chord. I have mentioned before that my first Navy squadron was VA-35 that flew AD-6's which later became A-1's. The pilots were very proud of them and somewhat contemptuous of jets "sucking air and blowing smoke!" I have many stories but one in particular stands out. Coming back from a deployment in Cuba some pilots would busy custom agents with some "clean" airplanes while others unloaded cases of Cuban Rum from the "Hell holds" of others stored in the fuselage. Pictured.

I have several Ad-6's but I have never built one. Pictured are two Airfield four channel R/C models and a Cox AD-6.

davidll1984 Fri Sep 25, 2020 9:15 pm

Rsv1cox in picturs smaler plane in center is it électro convertion To cox nitro ???cox skyraider Nice models To rc RC Plane

rsv1cox Sat Sep 26, 2020 7:24 am

davidll1984 wrote:Rsv1cox in picturs smaler plane in center is it électro convertion To cox nitro ???cox skyraider Nice models To rc

Hi David,

No, it's a Cox AD-6 Skyraider with a Cox .049 stuck in there. The other two are electrics.

One of my nicer ones. Smile

Bob

**944_Jim** Sat Sep 26, 2020 8:16 am

Kim wrote:
Don't know if it will ever get built, but as the builders here will probably agree, it can be immensely satisfying to just look over a set of vintage plans, and daydream about the time we first laid eyes on them.

Kim,

You got that right! I love to collect them in digital format, print them off on letter, legal, or tabloid, and hang the mini prints on my build room wall.

Where did you get this one? It's unusual to see the ribs on the plan like that. I have the patterns for the King Cobra you mentioned...just in case you want them. The plansheet is on OZ, but I doubt the ribset is. The guy I got the King Cobra ribset from wanted to do the SkyRaider, but didn't have that ribset.

Kim Sat Sep 26, 2020 8:52 am

944_Jim wrote:
Kim wrote:
Don't know if it will ever get built, but as the builders here will probably agree, it can be immensely satisfying to just look over a set of vintage plans, and daydream about the time we first laid eyes on them.

Kim,

You got that right! I love to collect them in digital format, print them off on letter, legal, or tabloid, and hang the mini prints on my build room wall.

Where did you get this one? It's unusual to see the ribs on the plan like that. I have the patterns for the King Cobra you mentioned...just in case you want them. The plansheet is on OZ, but I doubt the ribset is. The guy I got the King Cobra ribset from wanted to do the SkyRaider, but didn't have that ribset.

Hey Jim,

I got it here:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Model-Airplane-Plans-UC-SKYRAIDER-A-1E-48-Combat-Stunt-29-40-Midwest/183772256168?hash=item2ac9ae17a8:g:ejoAAOSwM6VcYgT9

The rib templates are a little grainy, but look to be usable...apparently copied and enlarged from the model's original plan sheet.

P.S. The plan at the top of my thread was found by it's self on the internet. The original kit plan (as you probably know) had instructions printed on the sheet, with miniature templates on the side, and that's what this fellow's plans are...with those templates being enlarged.
(That was pretty confusing...need more coffee)

Marleysky Sat Sep 26, 2020 9:11 am

944_Jim wrote:
Kim wrote:
Don't know if it will ever get built, but as the builders here will probably agree, it can be immensely satisfying to just look over a set of vintage plans, and daydream about the time we first laid eyes on them.

Kim,

You got that right! I love to collect them in digital format, print them off on letter, legal, or tabloid, and hang the mini prints on my build room wall.

It sure is nice to know that I am not alone. There are others, who have the need to print out plans and lay them out on tables or pin-up on the wall and then just imagine flying them around! lol!

Ken Cook Sat Sep 26, 2020 9:59 am

All the ribs should be the same for all of the planes. They changed flaps, tips and some had trike gear. Brodak kits the warbird series to replace the Midwest designs minus the Skyraider. John purchased Dare kits and Dare had a version of the Skyraider which is smaller. The Brodak versions were designed with a Nobler wing instead of the Midwest design. Phil Cartier also cuts foam wings for the Midwest series as I recall a P-63 with a Evolution .36 and Phil's wing putting up a decent pattern.

Kim Sat Sep 26, 2020 10:24 am

Marleysky wrote:
944_Jim wrote:
Kim wrote:
Don't know if it will ever get built, but as the builders here will probably agree, it can be immensely satisfying to just look over a set of vintage plans, and daydream about the time we first laid eyes on them.

Kim,

You got that right! I love to collect them in digital format, print them off on letter, legal, or tabloid, and hang the mini prints on my build room wall.

It sure is nice to know that I am not alone. There are others, who have the need to print out plans and lay them out on tables or pin-up on the wall and then just imagine flying them around!

Oh Man,
You definitely ain't alone! A lot of my tome sitting at this computer is spent browsing old plans in the manner we used to do with our big photo albums.

Anymore, MOST of my Ebay moments are spent copying photos of planes and stuff whose owners were kind enough to post good photos in their listings!

GallopingGhostler Mon Sep 28, 2020 2:38 am

Kim wrote:Yet again, stumbling down Memory Lane. So, there I was, MINDING my own business, when one of those vagabond visions of days long-gone slides through my tired brain.

Kim, you need to look no further, here is a publication that may help with that craving for another engine, kit or even that legacy RTF airplane. Laughing

AJ Bagg Sat Feb 06, 2021 12:18 pm

Hi All,
My first post here on this forum. I found this great site while searching for data to support a Skyraider CL build. Then realized I know and fly with Kim! Anyway I had heard stories from my old Trap shooting partner and Nam Vet for years that he told of A1E Skyraiders returning from search and rescue missions. He spoke in awe of their underside covered with mud, G meters off the scale and full of holes. I have ordered plans that I found a link to here and hope this is one of those projects that I do get to. The plans will provide the outline, I will design the structure. I have no warbirds, scale, or throttled aircraft in my 50 yr. plus collection and with this plane I hope to fill the void as well as try my hand at a multi line rethink.

rsv1cox Sat Feb 06, 2021 12:40 pm

If you know Kim, you are in good company.

I knew the A1 as the Ad - (6) when my squadron was flying them back in the 1960's. Pilots loved them. Contemptuous of the jets as "sucking air and blowing smoke." Redundant - see above......

Welcome to the forum. Do an introduction.

Kim Sat Feb 06, 2021 4:28 pm

AJ Bagg wrote:Hi All,
My first post here on this forum. I found this great site while searching for data to support a Skyraider CL build. Then realized I know and fly with Kim! Anyway I had heard stories from my old Trap shooting partner and Nam Vet for years that he told of A1E Skyraiders returning from search and rescue missions. He spoke in awe of their underside covered with mud, G meters off the scale and full of holes. I have ordered plans that I found a link to here and hope this is one of those projects that I do get to. The plans will provide the outline, I will design the structure. I have no warbirds, scale, or throttled aircraft in my 50 yr. plus collection and with this plane I hope to fill the void as well as try my hand at a multi line rethink.

Hey Allen,
Apologies for not having invited you to this great place. You and the Flyers have appeared here before now in several of my posts.
Looking forward to your check-in's.

**944_Jim** Sat Feb 06, 2021 5:56 pm

GG,
Do you have that in Hi Rez? I want it on a Tee shirt! Very Happy

GallopingGhostler Sat Feb 06, 2021 6:58 pm

944_Jim wrote:GG, Do you have that in Hi Rez? I want it on a Tee shirt!

Sorry, Jim, no I don't. I downloaded it from Facebook, someone posted it in a motorcycles group (low resolution to begin with). I took a graphics editor, changed wording from motorcycles, bikes to model airplanes and planes. Then replaced the photos with cropped photos of mine, a past kit and one from here (the jet C/L RTF).

- George

rsv1cox Sun Feb 07, 2021 6:58 am

944_Jim wrote:GG,
Do you have that in Hi Rez? I want it on a Tee shirt!

Upper left under "Impulsive" .....What is it?

Ken Cook Sun Feb 07, 2021 7:25 am

Looks like a F-5 a little

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