Does anyone remember a manufacturer called, I think, LS? They made a kit that contained two complete 1/72 Pitts specials, I think and S1 and S2. They were so tiny and so finely made, I could only describe them as “cute,” which is certainly inappropriate given what a bunch of macho devils we all are around here. I think LS also made a 1/144 SR-71 kit, but I don’t know what else. What brought up the question is, a company is now putting out a kit with two Pitts Specials, and I wonder if they are the old LS molds. I had a friend who loved that kit so much he built it over and over in different schemes, all very colorful.
On another note, the guy who owned Combat Jets Flying Museum used to do an airshow routine in a Pitts (cost, $250,000 in 1980s dollars) until it finally bit him one too many times and he parked it for good, finding the F-104 to be a more forgiving bird to fly. Now that says something about the skill Pitts pilots must possess. But even more confusing, the guy gives this Pitts, which he is too afraid of to fly, he gives it to his GIRLFRIEND, whom he allegedly loves endlessly, for her birthday. Last I heard, I don’t think it killed her. I’m told by those who’ve flown them that as long you you don’t get slow, it’s not such an unforgiving beast, but with that short-coupled fuselage, it must feel like flying a biplane Gee Bee racer, which was designed to pretty much go in a straight line really fast.
I’ve got the LS Pitts and two 1/144 SR-71’s, and think their quality was excellent. They had a number of 1/144 jets and made many auto kits as well, some in 1/16. I’ve also got a 1/43 DeTomaso Pantera!
What is the name of the company producing the dual kit now?
Having flown the S-2 version for approximately 5 (whole) hours…I can say that it really isn’t anything like the craziness you seem to have heard. It’s actually a great airplane to fly short distances in, though it does require continuous “hands-on” attention. The other thing is that without wing flaps, it’s not real good at slowing down on final. Combine that with a very bad view over the nose and you’ll understand why most accomplished Pitts pilots fly one continuous, forward-slipping turn to final.
Oh, and I’ll tell you what…It REALLY wraps up in a spin!!
Yeah, a friend who had a few hours in them told me about how hard it is to slow down. But he said the first three rules of flying the Pitts are the first three rules of flying something with short, thin wings like a T-38/F-5: 1. Don’t get slow. 2. Don’t get slow. 3. Don’t get slow.
In airplanes like that Pitts, I’ve also been told it’s best to add ten knots on final for your wife/girlfriend, another 10 for your mother, 10 more for your dog and finally, 10 for yourself just to be safe.
Tom
Naw, Sharkskin, too much speed ain’t good. The S2-B should hold about 100 in the pattern, cross the fence between 85 and 90 with a little power on, and be held in ground effect in the landing attitude until it touches, at about 65 mph.
If you want some good kits of the Pitts, Eagle and Extra, check out Airshow Models 1/32 resin kits. A little pricey, but great builds.
Yeah. about 50 in the Pitts S1s and 2s, nearly 800 in the Christen Eagle that I have owned for 11 years. This is the Airshow Models 1/32 Eagle that I built up as my friend’s airplane, a few scratchbuilt details and ALPS decals, but pretty much OTB
That’s a nice looking build. Can you tell us something abou the kit? I’ve never even seen it or heard of it. It’s all injection molded, I assume, but how many parts and how’s the detail?
tom
The kit has very nice castings, virtually no pinholes or warpage. There are resin seats with molded-in harness detail, resin and decal instrument panel, cast metal struts, prop and landing gear. The cowl is a one-piece casting, no engine. Kit includes 2 very clear canopies
You get decals for the paint scheme, one set for the tapered feather style and one for the rounded feather. It went together very nicely, only a few epithets needed. I made custome decals for this model to replicate my friend’s airplane. I’ve got another one underway for another Eagle owner, with an overall gray metal flake paint with red feathers and checkerboard wing bottoms.
The kits are a little pricey, as I said, about 90 bucks, but they are the only ones available of the Pitts and Eagle airplanes that you don’t need a microscope to build, and they make the only kit out there for the Extra 300
If you want more info on the airshowmodels.com kits, checkout my website; http://www.barneysairforce.com. I do the construction manuals for these kits. The Extra 300 models took 1st and 2nd in class at Seattle last spring and the biplane collection took 1st
