[Max]

I love to read through old magazines in my downtime.
I think it started when I was young, I would attend MAAC Auctions and bid on bundles of RCM and MAN model magazines. Back then we would build directly from the plans in the magazine; just scale up to whatever size you wanted and build it. So to me, having access to these magazines was like having access to any model you wanted to build.

I keep the magazines because they are fun to read, to see how much things have changed. At the same time, they still have some timeless models that you could still build if you felt so inclined. And they also had some great articles that are still relevant even today. So reading up on these articles keeps the ideas and principles of RC fresh in my mind

It struck me the other day as I leafed through a mag from the 80's how much the Byron P-51 was a game changer in its day.

Here is the ad as it appeared in the Oct 1981 Model Airplane News.



Now by this time, the Byron P-51 was already around for some time. When I first saw it in the RC mags in the 70's, they only had the purr-power geared drive for a 60 size nitro engine. By 1981 they had the Gasoline Quadra motor in it. Check out that power package. That thing was hefty, and the prop it turned was huge!

This model made a lot of the members in the club excited to get into Giant Scale. The fibreglass fuselage and foam core wing was a new thing in giant warbird RC kits. Before that, if you wanted a giant mustang, you had the get Bud Nosen's all wood kit. Plus Byrons came with a retract option that was made to suit and had sequencing gear doors. That was a big deal back then. In 1981 dollars, 600 bucks was a lot of money for a model, but I believe this was the start of the giant model revolution.

[Flypaper]

I'm still flying the old Byron Christen Eagle , I converted to electric, after flying it for yrs with a Quadra 52.
To electrify it, I stripped off all the fiberglass to lighten it up . Took off 2 lbs of glass.
Flies very well. Must give it the finishing touches one of these days.

[HAL9KPCM]

I've always wanted a Byron V-35B Bonanza, haven't found one yet.

[Max]

Originally Posted by Flypaper

I'm still flying the old Byron Christen Eagle , I converted to electric, after flying it for yrs with a Quadra 52.
To electrify it, I stripped off all the fiberglass to lighten it up . Took off 2 lbs of glass.
Flies very well. Must give it the finishing touches one of these days.

Hey Gord. Can you explain a little more about what you stripped off? Im assuming the FG skins on the wings? If the fuse is hollow FG, what could you have stripped off? Confused

[Max]

Originally Posted by HAL9KPCM

I've always wanted a Byron V-35B Bonanza, haven't found one yet.

Yeah! That was a nice one from Byron. I think I saw an ad for that in one of the mags. I'll try to dig it up and post to refresh everyones memory

[HAL9KPCM]

Originally Posted by Max

Hey Gord. Can you explain a little more about what you stripped off? Im assuming the FG skins on the wings? If the fuse is hollow FG, what could you have stripped off? Confused

If I remember, the fuse was foam as well.

[HAL9KPCM]

Here's the Beechcraft ad

[Flypaper]

Yes. The fuse. was foam covered fiberglass That's epoxyglass as polyester resin will eat foam.
It's covered with glass because gasoline will eat raw foam. It literally melts it.

[Max]

Originally Posted by Flypaper

Yes. The fuse. was foam covered fiberglass That's epoxyglass as polyester resin will eat foam.
It's covered with glass because gasoline will eat raw foam. It literally melts it.

I wasnt aware of that. Interesting factoid. Thanks

[Max]

Originally Posted by HAL9KPCM

I've always wanted a Byron V-35B Bonanza, haven't found one yet.

Originally Posted by HAL9KPCM

Here's the Beechcraft ad

Ha ha. I just came on to upload my Blast from the Past to answer your first post when I saw your second. Nice!

After I saw yours I wasnt going to upload mine but after thinking about it I thought it would be interesting to see yours vs mine.

Funny enough, when you mentioned the Bonanza, I knew I saw the ad earlier this week. It turns out it was in the same mag I saw the Byron P-51. October 1981.

What's interesting is my ad shows prices. Yours must be a later edition. Probably because the prices went up.

Look at that price! Compared to the mustang, this was a steal at $138 for the Vee tail


At 1/5 scale, all wingspans were 66". Meant to be powered by a 2 stroke glow 60.

I don't blame you wanting one of these beauties, Dave. Who wouldn't want one of these in their stable?