11AC Chief model in production . . . RC that is....

[skyking3286]

This is pretty exciting for RC modelers on the forum. Pat's Custom Models is producing a 54" wingspan short kit for the Chief, using accurate three view drawings. It still needs a little tweaking for true scale.... cabin tubing being one example.

Check out the model here:

http://www.patscustom-models.com/comingsoon.htm

and the building discussion is at:

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthre ... +BUILD+OFF


As soon as Air Age Media publishes the plans in one of it's magazines, the kit will be on the market. It would make a nice display model, even if you didn't want to fly it.

[joea]

Good to see it back in production! Wish I had the time to mess with models these days.

[big chief 48]

who has the design (building) rights to the 11 series? I know i am partial to the chief, but why all the tandam seating models??? If I were to bring the chief back, the only change I would make is to make the cabin only 2 inches wider. 2 inches doesn't sound like much until you put 2, 200 pounders in the seat!! no, I'm not losing any more weight, hehe

[joea]

BC,

ACA, the people making the new model of the Chief own the Type Certificate for the Post-War Chief. Do not believe that they have ever made a "side by side" version of the Aeronca.

Believe that the pre-war Chief is owned by William Gore. Not even sure if he is active in the Aeronca world any longer or what the status is on the Type Certificate.

[skyking3286]

The last major activity with the type certificate was the 1970's Bellanca Trainer, which was a Chief with Citabria parts "pasted" on. Think of trying to make a Chief with tricycle gear out of the Citabria parts bin and you have a good idea of what it looked like. The basic fuselage frame platform was 11 series. After that, it is owned by ACA but orphaned as far as support and any activity outside of the unneeded push to make them all metal spar'ed is concerned.

[shorty]

BC,

ACA, the people making the new model of the Chief own the Type Certificate for the Post-War Chief. Do not believe that they have ever made a "side by side" version of the Aeronca.

Believe that the pre-war Chief is owned by William Gore. Not even sure if he is active in the Aeronca world any longer or what the status is on the Type Certificate.

I talked to William Gore several months ago, while researching the possibility of a C-85 conversion. He still holds the TC and also an STC to put the C-85 on a pre-war Chief with floats, but told me that as far as he knows, there is none, for the chief on wheels.

[joea]

Shorty,

Do you have his contact info? Would love to talk with him.

Thx,

Joe

[skyking3286]

Looks like the model will be published in Backyard Flyer magazine after the first of 2008. As of November 20, 2007, the article is being prepared for press. As soon as it's published, the plans and short kits will be ready to release.

[Captgrumps]

Shorty-

Guess I need to talk to Gore--My Chief is a '39 model, originally a 50C that was converted to a 65C and then was converted to a S-65-C. It is LSA carries a 100# more gross weight due to the S certification. I would like to put an 85 in it. Even though it is on wheels now it is still a seaplane conversion. It spent about a year on floats back in the 1950's. My search brought up only 10 prewar Chief seaplanes on the registry.

Doug

[joea]

Doug,

Let us know if you get ahold of him. Hope you are able to get ahold of him.

Joe

[skyking3286]

The Construction Article for the Aeronca Chief is out in the latest issue of Backyard Flyer (probably the Feb. 2007 dated issue?), which means the Short Kits are now officially available. Pat Tittle got it posted up on the web site this evening, Short Kits are in hand, and they're ready to go.

For more details check it out here; http://www.patscustom-models.com/shortkit.htm

This is the only 11AC model plane in production at the moment for RC flying and the first one to be in production for two or three decades.

Mark

[skyking3286]

Make that February 2008's issue of Backyard Flyer....oops

[skyking3286]

The article is in the MARCH 2008 issue of backyard flyer, which I was able to get at Borders on December 29th. The planset only is $24.95 and the short kit, as noted above, is at Pat's Custom Models. Pick up an issue at the newstand. It looks about the best I've seen a Chief model look, although you need a couple of things for exact scale. The nose cowl needs the big spinner and the fairing on top of the cowl to work. The interior cabin tubing behind the windshield needs to be repositioned, no big deal. Other than that, pretty nice.

Even if you don't fly RC, it would be a nice scale model for the den.

[joea]

The article is in the MARCH 2008 issue of backyard flyer, which I was able to get at Borders on December 29th. The planset only is $24.95 and the short kit, as noted above, is at Pat's Custom Models. Pick up an issue at the newstand. It looks about the best I've seen a Chief model look, although you need a couple of things for exact scale. The nose cowl needs the big spinner and the fairing on top of the cowl to work. The interior cabin tubing behind the windshield needs to be repositioned, no big deal. Other than that, pretty nice.

Even if you don't fly RC, it would be a nice scale model for the den.

[joea]

Even if you don't fly RC, it would be a nice scale model for the den.

Agreed and it would be a nice winter project while its too nasty weather wise to fly the real thing!