This entire adventure started out when for the last several years I had been trying to find the plane my dad (and I) built back in 1970. For years I could not remember nor find the exact plane.
First I thought it to be the PT-19. Then other planes were close but not exact. Then last year by accident I stumbled upon a photo of a Veco Brave at the local hobby shop (they were cleaning out old photos and it happened to be on the counter. Same yellow and blue which is what caught my eye. Well, long story short, I was able to find a set of plans now that I knew the plane I was looking for. Although they claimed it to be ‘scale’ drawings, they were not perfect. This was very evident when I tried to duplicate the parts using a CAD program. After redrawing all the parts, i then cut them out using a laser CNC machine and now I have perfect cut parts and a set of corrected plans.
I began drawing and cutting some planes for friends, some control line and others were free flight. All were vintage and out of production. Some were only plans in the magazine and never were a kit.
From this spawned the desire to help promote the building and flying of old time vintage and obsolete control line and free flight airplanes.
VINTAGE AND OBSOLETE CONTROL LINE AND FREE FLIGHT AIRPLANE KITS
My Process; First I locate the plans of a plane I wish to build. Usually from one of the sites online and download the pdf plan and build notes or copy of original build article if available.
After doing the ‘mental build’ in my head, I begin by importing the PDF plans into a vector program and start verifying measurements. What I have found on many of these so-called scale plans is that many measurements are way off. For instance, one of the combat plan’s leading edge calls out for a 1/2” square however the ‘scale’ drawing had the notch a bit larger and this would have caused additional sanding to shape. Spar slots when called at 1/8” on rib patterns were rarely accurate nor the depths. Small details like that that would go unnoticed on a sheet of paper show up like RED FLAGS in a CAD program.
Additionally, I have added where applicable 1/4” wing assembly tool holes to the wing ribs. If you need a different size, please contact me in advance and I’ll see if it is possible to change the size of the hole.
After correcting all the imperfections I can find, I reassemble the scale PDF plans so they more accurately resemble the actual parts being called for and that I cut. So when you get plans from me, you are getting, in most cases, updated drawings when possible.
I sell the kits with plan options. Option 1 is just the vintage airplane kit with no plans, Option 2 provides the vintage or obsolete plane plans on a thumb drive that you can take to a local printer to print out at 100% (saves on average $5.00 to $10.00) and Option 3 where I provide you with the full size scale vintage or obsolete plans (folded) with your order.
In Conclusion;
I am not making a living from drawing, cutting and selling these obsolete kits. I am doing this to promote the vintage control line and free flight hobby. Prices cover the cost of balsa/ply and a bit for the time involved. (For instance, I have over 50 hours in just the Brave). I’m not even factoring in the cost of designing and building the laser machine. It is truly a love of labor.
BTW…
If you don’t see a particular model you would like to see available, please let me know. I am always happy to add and/or resurrect another great kit.
Thanks for stopping by… and keep on flying!
Peter B.
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