A Little 400 Mile Hop for Some Memory Lane Stuff, and to Hit a Swap Meet.

Kim Mon Nov 25, 2024 8:41 am

This past Saturday, I found myself in Decatur, Illinois, visiting with a long-time family friend, making a lap around an ancient trailer park and the woods behind it, AND hitting a Swap Meet put on by a club whose name I forgot. How's THAT for an eclectic weekend?

So as not to bore folks with my old guy memories, the short story is that we lived there when I was 7 years old, and I'm continually amazed that it's STILL there...stuck away on its own dead end road.

Because of a bout with whooping cough when I was 3 or 4, that I was told nearly took me out, I was severely sheltered in my early years, and literally busted loose when we moved here. My poor mom would have had a stroke if she knew just how far I ranged out when she wasn't looking...but if you live near a stand of woods, or buy a kid a bicycle, you got to watch him every minute!

Anyway, here's a drone photo of the park and its patch of woods.

There was a pretty good turn out for the Swap Meet, and I was able to visit with several friends from other clubs. I scored a slightly abused, but very pretty Jim Walker Firecracker .061, along with a nice aluminum spinner.

In no particular order, here are some photos taken as I wandered around:

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1/2A Nut Mon Nov 25, 2024 9:56 am

Thank you for sharing Kim!
Wow many pride and joy projects looking for responsible new homes.

Small Cox Logo

rsv1cox Mon Nov 25, 2024 10:23 am

Wow, I loved every photo. Tried to pick out the best but they all are the best. I visited my old home town recently too. Future wifes home where we flew Walt's hollow logs. The street where I was run over by a car at four years old spending six weeks in a hospital putting me back together. It's amazing that any of us survived childhood.

Kim the Wanderer/warnderour.......

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=warnderour%20dion%20videos&FORM=VIRE0&mid=6718EE01ABADE2B3DE226718EE01ABADE2B3DE22&view=detail&ru=%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dwarnderour%20dion

Kim Mon Nov 25, 2024 12:22 pm

Thank You Guys!

Yeah, if we COULD tally up all the times we could have been taken out during our childhood...not to mention the hijinks we got ourselves into after we "grew up", I figure that every additional day we get IS a gift/blessing!!!

Everybody please have a fantastic and safe Thanksgiving & Christmas!!!!!!!!!

roddie Mon Nov 25, 2024 4:01 pm

All those wonderful model airplanes........ both; kits as well as previously built. Very Happy

Where else could you find such an assortment of treasures? Thanks for sharing with us here Kim.. and happy holidays to you too! Thumbs Up

rdw777 Tue Nov 26, 2024 9:22 am

Nice trip down memory laneKim…. Beautiful old kits in the swap meet Thumbs Up

akjgardner Tue Nov 26, 2024 10:08 am

Awesome Kim , did you buy anything ?

GallopingGhostler Tue Nov 26, 2024 10:50 am

I noticed the Little Tri Squire R/C kit for half-A. Did you by chance pick it up? I've always thought such would make a good Sunday flyer.

Some of the stuff seemed a bit overpriced, but the glider kit at $60 seemed OK.

Kim Tue Nov 26, 2024 12:32 pm

akjgardner wrote:Awesome Kim , did you buy anything ?

Hey!
Yeah, I got a Jim Walker Firecracker .061 engine and a NIP 1 1/2" aluminum spinner. There was a bunch of temptation from other stuff, but I resisted adding to my long line of projects awaiting attention! Very Happy

A Little 400 Mile Hop for Some Memory Lane Stuff, and to Hit a Swap Meet. Img_1312

Kim Tue Nov 26, 2024 12:35 pm

GallopingGhostler wrote:I noticed the Little Tri Squire R/C kit for half-A. Did you by chance pick it up? I've always thought such would make a good Sunday flyer.

Some of the stuff seemed a bit overpriced, but the glider kit at $60 seemed OK.

The Tri Square had been purchased by a friend, and WOULD be a great little cruiser, but I'm backed up on construction projects, and probably would not have gone for it.

This was one of the bigger turn-outs I've seen in recent years, so it was great seeing that.

GallopingGhostler Tue Nov 26, 2024 9:39 pm

Kim wrote:The Tri Square had been purchased by a friend, and WOULD be a great little cruiser, but I'm backed up on construction projects, and probably would not have gone for it. This was one of the bigger turn-outs I've seen in recent years, so it was great seeing that.

Oh, I understand, Kim, done the same, too, nice to have but shoot, already have enough stored in my man cave.

Sort of in limbo state at the moment, except for maybe a few small skirmishes, still have that odd 48" (swept wing, so tip to tip is 46") Aero Star kit by Frank Zaic, of all things a "rudder class" airplane. Shows an OS Pet .099 on the plans. One of my bucket list planes.

Label off the box:

A Little 400 Mile Hop for Some Memory Lane Stuff, and to Hit a Swap Meet. Aerost10

Have yet to see it modelled, and where I can do, truly love rudder only flying (with throttle).

A Little 400 Mile Hop for Some Memory Lane Stuff, and to Hit a Swap Meet. Aerost11

duaneh Tue Nov 26, 2024 10:13 pm

GallopingGhostler wrote:I noticed the Little Tri Squire R/C kit for half-A. Did you by chance pick it up? I've always thought such would make a good Sunday flyer.

GG, the Lil Tri Squire came home with me. It will get built, but not for a while. I'm too covered up in projects to start another right now.

A Little 400 Mile Hop for Some Memory Lane Stuff, and to Hit a Swap Meet. 101_0110

The host club for this swap was the Decatur Aerocommanders. Interestingly, the kit had this shipping label from Midwest on it. Makes you wonder how it stayed unbuilt and in the same club for what must be near 50 years.

A Little 400 Mile Hop for Some Memory Lane Stuff, and to Hit a Swap Meet. 101_0111

GallopingGhostler Tue Nov 26, 2024 11:00 pm

Congrats @duaneh , glad to see it fell into familiar hands. Yes, when you do get around to building it, should be a very nice sport flyer.

getback Wed Nov 27, 2024 7:48 am

WOW that was a nice small but nice assortment of goodies swap meet . man I miss those have not been in years few and far in-between around here . Of coarse i have plenty that needs attention , glad you got the lil Jim Walker Firecracker , looks good !
Duane bee looking forward to the build when you get some freed up time LOL Thanksgiving Dinner

MauricioB Wed Nov 27, 2024 9:20 pm

How beautiful everything you've traveled and lived Kim. Thank you for sharing these experiences, in some way you make us travel too.
It must be a very intense emotional state, to travel places like this, to see so much history and many of them just as they were packed in the factory. You really enjoy your adventures! Thank you!!
@duaneh congratulations on that kit!...it's very pretty...it seems that they have made a few calculations with a pen on it haha, haha...part of its history and where each moment passed. I'm glad to know that you have it in your hands!...enjoy it!

Kim Thu Nov 28, 2024 11:40 am

Thank you Mauricio!

I did a test run on the Firecracker this morning, and it's a good one, needing no prep other than a glow plug and prop.

It ran on some Sig 25% Champion fuel, with a Cox 6x3 prop, and I have an idea for a project it might fly.

Per my Dannels reference book, it is the same engine as the "Royal Spitfire" marketed a few years earlier, so I may do a little investigating to see if I can find some details.

Best Wishes Always, and hope you and yours are well!!!!!!

rdw777 Thu Nov 28, 2024 1:19 pm

Nice the Firecracker runs good Kim!! Will be interested to see what you will build for it… I could think of a thing or two as well for the cool old engine Very Happy

roddie Thu Nov 28, 2024 2:05 pm

Kim wrote:
I did a test run on the Firecracker this morning, and it's a good one, needing no prep other than a glow plug and prop.

It ran on some Sig 25% Champion fuel, with a Cox 6x3 prop, and I have an idea for a project it might fly.

Best Wishes Always, and hope you and yours are well!!!!!!

Just throwing this out there Kim.. Paranoid

oz 18" span Firecracker

Sorry there's no pic of a finished model.. but the plan has been downloaded 785 times as of today. I like it.. and I know that you could build it.. Smile

These images might inspire.....

A Little 400 Mile Hop for Some Memory Lane Stuff, and to Hit a Swap Meet. S-l65010

A Little 400 Mile Hop for Some Memory Lane Stuff, and to Hit a Swap Meet. S-l65011

A Little 400 Mile Hop for Some Memory Lane Stuff, and to Hit a Swap Meet. S-l65012

To talk turkey; building it for that engine... would be symbolic. Question is; would it run in an inverted position? Huh...

Kim Thu Nov 28, 2024 3:57 pm

Oh, I bet it would…the challenge would be getting the plane built!!!!

rsv1cox Thu Nov 28, 2024 6:45 pm

I love that plane and the model. Radical, really long nose and the pilot sitting well back for balance. Got to be aerobatic and a ball (terrifying) to fly. Looks like something vintage right out of the pages of Air Classics magazine.

Did you get a tach on that Firecracker? I ran mine only off the prime and didn't get a chance to.

Kim Fri Nov 29, 2024 3:48 am

rsv1cox wrote:I love that plane and the model. Radical, really long nose and the pilot sitting well back for balance. Got to be aerobatic and a ball (terrifying) to fly. Looks like something vintage right out of the pages of Air Classics magazine.

Did you get a tach on that Firecracker? I ran mine only off the prime and didn't get a chance to.

Yeah, it was turning at just a bit over 13k with a 6x3 and slightly rich setting. I usually give these old guys an easy ride as far as RPM's are concerned, and that will still fly on the Q-Tee. As it leaned out on the last of its fuel, it peaked up above 14k.

getback Fri Nov 29, 2024 7:55 am

That sounds like some pretty good numbers for a 50s engine and 6X3 prop !

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