I was just reading last night that Mike Wallace, the TV news anchor, was the announcer for many of the radio broadcasts of Sky King.
Greg, I really don’t remember post it, but I could be mistaken. I had to re-register twice because my account was deleted for some unknown reason to me. All my discussions where wiped out. I will check the site you gave me. Thanks AARDVARK
Aurura did a Cessna 310 in 1/72 nd scale. Wheels up (no landing gear) and no interior. As best I can recall the kit was from the late 1950s, or early 1960s. Note the Cessna 150 is nice, but the 152 is more stable and more forgiving to fly IMHO.
A review of the Aurora C-310 kit: http://www.internetmodeler.com/2000/july/kit-corner.htm
Most of my two-seat time is in late C-150 (M) and early C-152. My favorite that I rented from AirOrlando was a C-150 “Sparrowhawk” with a 110hp Continental. On a hot day here in Central Florida it would still get above 3000 feet with two onboard and give you an honest 100 knots indicated. Most 100hp 150/152 aircraft were only good for 90 knots +/-. As for the straight-tail, I just like the look. With a 150 hp Lycoming, the airplane would be a rocket ship!
FotoFrank -
Put me in the straight tail league too, they just look more like the old classic designs. Once at a mid west airport I saw what was cunfusing me for a minute, a two place cessna tail dragger, that made me think it was a really clean 140 at first. But the vertical stab and rudder were squared off and swept, not rounded.
Then I realized it was a new 150, that had been converted to a tail wheel version. I asked around a bit, someone knew the airplane owner, he said there was a kit for completing that conversion. I thought that made for a really good looking airplane.
Patrick
Back on topic for a moment. I just received an Ebay notice of a Squadron Encore Models Bamboo Bomber for 20.99. No Sky King decals, just military markings, but still…
OK, I just ordered the kit. From what I can determine from various places I looked, this kit has the Sky King decals as well as USAAC and USN markings. We’ll see next Monday.
Oh oh, you just prompted me to check Squardron. Looks like I waited too long, don’t see a trace of the Bamboo Bomber there. I think you made a good buy, Frank.
Greg, I just sent a PM with the link to the kit. It comes from a dealer in Lincoln, Nebraska.
Fotofrank, Hi, this looks like the kit I got. Didn’t know about the “Songbird” decals till I looked at the side of the box. It shows it being the T-50. Hope yours is correct. AARDVARK
Got it, complete with a working link! Thank you, kind sir. I’ve never ordered from eBay before but there is a first time for everything, no?
Fotofrank, Aurora made a 1/48 Cessna 310 kit, I know cause I was bidding on one the other night and fell asleep just before the bid closed. Boo hiss! Their almost impossible to find. AARDVARK
“I’ve never ordered from eBay before but there is a first time for everything, no?”
Greg, are you kidding? If not, it’s a place where I find stuff that’s no longer in production (usually for whatever price the market will bear) and I use it sparingly. Make sure to read all the information you can on the site … product specs, etc. Read carefully, and if you’re not sure of something you can usually email the seller with your questions.
I usually go for the “buy it now” offers since I’m too impatient these days to go through the bidding process. I’ve done it many times … just doesn’t do it for me anymore.
In a nutshell: Caveat Emptor!
I suspect the seller had a misprint. I built all those kits back when they were new and there were no 1/48 310’s I bought them all at Woolworths in the 50’s with lawn mowing earnings. Most were in Comet Boxings and then reboxed as Aurora but mostly the same kits. Aero Commander 560, Cessna 310, Beech Super 18 in two scales, and Piper Apache. Later on Aurora did some more like the Aero Commander 1121 Jet Commander and the Cessna 337. Some were 1/72 but most were box scale.
According to Scalemates the Comet/ Aurora Cessna 310 was 1/62 scale.
Hi, You are correct on 1/62 on Aurora 310. My mistake. AARDVARK
Hey Mike,
Nope, I’m not kidding at all. I’m a big 'ol grump when it comes to games, and auctions and ordering from folk I don’t know both qualify.
But as I said, there IS a first time for everything, this may just be it, and I very much appreciate your helpful tips and advice! Thanks again. [Y]
I especially agree with you it does seem to be a great place for discontinued items and I will follow your lead and look for the buy it now buttons and skip the auction process.
Well, the Squadron/Encore Bamboo Bomber arrived today. The box was damaged but the contents are OK. The kit does look pretty nice. The decal sheet indeed has the marking for Sky King’s Songbird. The Songbird is what I’ll be building, of course. There is some resin, like the engines and propellers for the Songbird and some resin for the interior. I don’t know when I be building the kit. It’s going to sit on the shelf for a while. When it does get to the bench, I’ll do a full build report.
So avoid anything that has a no-return policy. Also be sure to add the shipping cost to the item cost, and THEN do the mental arithmetic.
It amazes me how often folks complain, “the price was really cheap, but the shipping was a rip-off”. Doh!
Thanks for your advice, Bill.
How do I build the throttle assembly of Czechs Bamboo bomber model?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.