Aircraft 01 of 13 · ARF · Almost Ready to Fly
SIG Nitro Rascal
SIG Manufacturing Co. · Montezuma, Iowa, USA
Wingspan49 in / 1,245 mm
Wing Area324 sq in
Length32.5 in / 825 mm
Flying Weight18–20 oz / 510–567 g
EngineNorvel .061–.074 glow
Radio3-channel · Micro servos
Documents & Links
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The Aircraft
The Nitro Rascal is not based on a single real aircraft — it is a love letter to an entire era. Its strutted high wing, rounded cabin and taildragger stance evoke the golden age of light sport aviation from the 1930s and 40s — the world of Taylorcraft, Piper and Aeronca, when flying was still a Sunday adventure and every small airfield smelled of fresh-cut grass and two-stroke fuel.
The Kit
SIG's Nitro Rascal arrived factory-built and film-covered, ready to fly with minimal assembly. Powered by the spirited Norvel .061 or .074, its speed envelope stretches from screaming full-throttle to a near-hover at idle — capable of rudder rolls, spins, and inverted flight. As the box rightfully declares: Sweet Looks... Serious Attitude.
Collector's Note
The Nitro Rascal ARF is discontinued. Only parts remain in SIG's catalog. A complete, unflown example is genuinely rare.
Personal Notes — Papa's Handwritten Record
Acquired
Note
Aircraft 02 of 13 · Traditional Balsa Kit
SIG Citabria
SIG Manufacturing Co. · Montezuma, Iowa, USA
Wingspan~69–70 in
Kit TypeBalsa/Ply · Die-cut
Engine.25–.40 two-stroke
Alt Engine.40–.45 four-stroke
Radio4-channel · 4 servos
OriginAerobatic trainer type
Documents & Links
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The Aircraft
The Citabria's name is "airbatic" spelled backwards — and its reputation earns every letter. Born from the post-war Aeronca Champion lineage, the full-scale 7ECA was certified for aerobatics at +5g/−2g. It trained generations of pilots in loops, snap rolls and hammerheads, while doubling as a bush plane, glider tug and pipeline patrol aircraft. First flown in 1964, still produced today.
The Kit
A traditional balsa and plywood build — die-cut parts, clear plastic windows, full-size plans. Its flat-bottomed wing gives genuinely forgiving slow-flight handling, making it as comfortable at lazy Sunday cruising as at proper aerobatics. A builders' classic from the golden era of kit aviation.
Collector's Note
The SIG Citabria has been officially discontinued. Complete, unbuilt kits now surface only rarely — a meaningful piece of RC aviation history.
Personal Notes — Papa's Handwritten Record
Acquired
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Aircraft 03 of 13 · Balsa Kit · 4 Colour Schemes
SIG Wonder
SIG Manufacturing Co. · Montezuma, Iowa, USA
Wingspan~35 in
AirfoilThick symmetrical
Engine Sport.09–.10 two-stroke
Engine Hotrod.15–.19 for max speed
Radio3-ch or 2-ch elevon
Versions4 colour schemes, 1 kit
Documents & Links
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The Aircraft
The Wonder has no real-world aircraft to reference — it is a pure expression of RC aggression. A compact shoulder-wing machine with a thick symmetrical airfoil, designed for one purpose: to go exactly where you point it, immediately, at alarming speed. SIG were refreshingly honest: "Not recommended for beginners or the faint of heart. It's FAST!"
The Kit
A balsa kit with interlocking die-cut parts and slab sides, quick to build and durable enough for high-speed flying. With a .15–.19 engine it becomes a hand-launched hot-rod that RC communities celebrated throughout the 1990s. Yet the thick wing and light loading mean it lands gently — a beast in the air, a lamb on the ground.
Collector's Note
Officially sold out at SIG. Original unbuilt kits are considered highly collectable. Plans survive on archive sites for those who seek them.
Personal Notes — Papa's Handwritten Record
Acquired
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Aircraft 04 of 13 · Balsa Kit · 1/6 Scale
SIG Clipped Wing Cub
SIG Manufacturing Co. · Based on Hazel Sig's personal 1941 J-3
Scale1/6 of full-scale
Based On1941 Piper J-3 Cub (mod)
Wing Mod40 in removed per panel
Kit TypeTraditional balsa/plywood
PrototypeHazel Sig's aircraft, 1969
StatusSold out · Collector's piece
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The Story Behind This Kit
This is not just a model of a Piper Cub. This is a model of one specific Cub — owned and flown by Hazel Sig, co-founder and president of SIG Manufacturing Company. In 1969, Hazel removed 40 inches from each wing panel, boosted the engine, and turned it into an airshow aerobatic performer she flew on the circuit for years. SIG's RC kit is modelled directly on her personal aircraft.
The Kit
The Clipped Wing Cub brings that airshow personality into 1/6 scale. It looks like a Cub — and then surprises you completely. Smooth rolls, crisp snaps, all the classic Cub docility when you ease back on the stick. A kit that carries a remarkable person's story inside the box.
Collector's Note
Of all the aircraft in this hangar, this is the one that carries a human story — the story of Hazel Sig herself. Sold out at SIG.
Personal Notes — Papa's Handwritten Record
Acquired
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Aircraft 05 of 13 · Full Balsa Kit · .60 Size
Great Planes Piper J‑3 Cub
Great Planes Model Manufacturing Co. · USA
Wingspan90 in / 2,286 mm
Engine.60 two-stroke glow
Kit TypeFull balsa/ply · Die-cut
Real AircraftPiper J-3 Cub (1938–47)
Total Built20,000+ full-scale
Radio4-channel
Documents & Links
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The Aircraft
Few aircraft have shaped aviation's soul more profoundly than the Piper J-3 Cub. First flown in 1938, over 20,000 were produced before 1947 — training more pilots than any other aircraft of its era, including thousands of military aviators under the WWII Civilian Pilot Training Program. Slow, honest, forgiving, and beautiful in flight, the J-3 in Cub Yellow remains the universal symbol of the joy of flying.
The Kit
Great Planes' 90-inch J-3 is a serious kit for a serious builder — nearly eight feet of wingspan, balsa and plywood construction, scale barn-door ailerons, molded ABS cowl, and proper scale detailing throughout. A model that earned its place on the workbench and in the air.
Collector's Note
Great Planes discontinued their kit line. A complete 90-inch J-3 Cub is now a significant collector's find — few survive unbuilt.
Personal Notes — Papa's Handwritten Record
Acquired
Note
Aircraft 06 of 13 · Balsa Kit · Electric Powered
Great Planes J‑3 Electric Cub
Great Planes Model Manufacturing Co. · USA
Wingspan58.25 in / 148 cm
Wing Area472.5 sq in
Length37 in / 94 cm
Flying Weight3.25–3.5 lb
MotorSpeed 600-class brushed
Radio4-channel
Documents & Links
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The Aircraft
The same immortal soul as its glow-powered sibling — the Piper J-3 Cub — translated into the emerging world of electric flight. The Electric Cub II was one of the first serious electric RC kits to prove that battery power could deliver a genuinely satisfying flying experience, offering the same classic Cub character in a quieter, fly-anywhere package.
The Kit
Great Planes engineered the Electric Cub II with a bottom-access battery compartment, reduced dihedral for better aileron authority, and a lightweight balsa structure optimized for electric power. Even on the original brushed motor it flew beautifully. A kit that bridged two eras of RC aviation — and did it with Cub elegance.
Collector's Note
Discontinued and rarely found complete. A piece of early electric RC aviation history, preserved in this collection.
Personal Notes — Papa's Handwritten Record
Acquired
Note
Aircraft 07 of 13 · ARF · 1/5 Sport Scale
Top Flite Cessna 182 Skylane
Top Flite · USA · .60–1.20 Size
Wingspan81 in / 2,057 mm
Scale1/5 Sport Scale
Engine.60–1.20 glow or electric
Skill LevelAdvanced
FeaturesLighting · 3D cockpit
Real AircraftCessna 182 (1956–present)
Documents & Links
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The Aircraft
The Cessna 182 Skylane first flew in 1956 and became one of the most successful light aircraft ever produced — second only to the Cessna 172 in total numbers. Reliable, stable, capable of carrying four people and luggage, the 182 became the backbone of private aviation worldwide. Flying schools, charter operators, skydivers, bush pilots — the Skylane served them all. Still in production today, seven decades on.
The Kit
Top Flite's 1/5-scale 182 is one of the most detailed civilian RC kits ever produced. At 81 inches it carries a functional lighting system with beacon, navigation and landing lights, a detailed 3D cockpit, and steerable nose gear. A model that looked like the real thing even in close-up photographs.
Collector's Note
Top Flite's complete aircraft line is discontinued. The Cessna 182 with its lighting system and cockpit detail is among the most desirable of their range.
Personal Notes — Papa's Handwritten Record
Acquired
Note
Aircraft 08 of 13 · ARF · SEA106
Seagull Models Ryan Navion
Seagull Models · Item Code SEA106
Wingspan63 in / 1,600 mm
Wing Area768.8 sq in / 49.6 dm²
Length54.8 in / 139.2 cm
Flying Weight7.9–8.8 lb / 3.6–4.0 kg
Engine.75–.91 two-stroke glow
Radio6-channel · 8 servos
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The Aircraft
The Ryan Navion carries a remarkable lineage. Designed immediately after World War II by North American Aviation — the same company that built the P-51 Mustang — it was delivered from 1948 as a four-seat civilian tourer for returning veterans. The U.S. Air Force used it as a liaison aircraft. With retractable gear and genuine Mustang design DNA, approximately 2,634 examples were built.
The Kit
Seagull's Ryan Navion ARF captures the distinctive low-wing silhouette in a large, capable sport-scale model. At 63 inches with the classic red and white livery, it commands attention on any flight line. Among collectors it stands apart simply because it depicts an aircraft most RC flyers have never seen modelled.
Collector's Note
SEA106 is officially discontinued. The Navion is unusual enough a subject that this kit is a rarity in any RC collection worldwide.
Personal Notes — Papa's Handwritten Record
Acquired
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Aircraft 09 of 13 · Balsa/Ply · F3A Precision Pattern
MK Kingbird 30 and 20
Kato Model Aircraft Co. Ltd. · Japan · Masahiro Kato
Kingbird 30 Wingspan1,410 mm / 55.5 in
Kingbird 20 Class.20 size pattern ship
Engines.32–.46 (30) / .19–.25 (20)
Kit TypeBalsa/plywood pattern kit
ClassF3A Precision Aerobatics
RarityExtremely rare / Discontinued
Documents & Links
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The Kingbird Family
The Kingbird 30 and 20 represent the golden age of F3A precision aerobatics — the demanding world where the machine must execute every maneuver with mechanical perfection. Having both siblings in the same hangar is exceptionally rare. While the Kingbird 30 is a competition-grade .30-size pattern ship, the Kingbird 20 is its rarer .20-class counterpart, carrying the same Kato philosophy in a compact form.
Japanese Pattern Heritage
MK (Masahiro Kato) was one of Japan's most respected pattern kit manufacturers. Today, classic-pattern enthusiasts worldwide regard MK kits as the absolute pinnacle of engineered balsa models. Having a complete, unbuilt Kingbird family intact in one hangar is the ultimate dream for vintage pattern pilots and collectors.
Collector's Note
MK ceased production long ago. Original Kingbird 30 and 20 kits surface now only as ultra-rare collector items, making this complete set a significant piece of RC aviation heritage.
Personal Notes — Papa's Handwritten Record
Acquired
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Aircraft 10 of 13 · ELAPOR Foam Kit · STOL
Multiplex FunCub
Multiplex Modellsport GmbH & Co. KG · Germany · Kit #214243
Wingspan1,400 mm / 55.1 in
Wing Area38 dm²
Length980 mm / 38.6 in
MaterialELAPOR foam · GRP spar
PowerElectric brushless
Radio6-channel · Flaps · Tow
Documents & Links
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The Aircraft
The FunCub is not scale — it is aspiration. It channels every bush pilot's dream: giant tundra wheels, massive flaps, the ability to land on a dirt road, a gravel bar, a snow-covered field, or a patch of grass that barely qualifies as a runway. It says simply: the world is your runway.
The Kit
Built from Multiplex's ELAPOR foam with a GRP spar and large-format flaps, the FunCub can be flown from grass, gravel, snow, ice, and water. It can tow gliders, carry floats, and handles real aerobatics. Der Allrounder mit vielen Talenten — the all-rounder with many talents — understates it entirely.
Collector's Note
The original FunCub 214243 is superseded by the FunCub NG. This first-generation kit is increasingly sought after — two examples in this hangar.
Personal Notes — Papa's Handwritten Record
Acquired
Note
Aircraft 11 of 13 · ELAPOR Foam · Electric Sailplane
Multiplex Solius
Multiplex Modellsport GmbH & Co. KG · Germany
Wingspan2,160 mm / 85 in
Length1,100 mm / 43.3 in
Wing Area40.7 dm² / 630.8 sq in
Flying Weight1,250–1,450 g
MaterialELAPOR · Tubular spar
Radio4-channel · Tow release
Documents & Links
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The Aircraft
Soaring flight — unpowered, sustained, driven purely by the energy in rising air — is aviation in its most pure form. The Solius is designed for exactly this: to ride thermals, find lift, and stay aloft for as long as the sky will allow. At 2.16 metres of wingspan, it casts a proper shadow. It is the contemplative counterpoint to the rest of this collection.
The Kit
Multiplex's Solius combines ELAPOR foam with a T-tail, tubular spar wing, and a detailed cockpit under a clear canopy. Electric self-launch motor means no tow plane needed. Once at altitude it soars with genuine efficiency — and performs lively aerobatics when asked.
Collector's Note
The Solius remains in production — a sign of a genuinely excellent design. Longest-wingspan aircraft in this collection at 2,160 mm.
Personal Notes — Papa's Handwritten Record
Acquired
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Aircraft 12 of 13 · ELAPOR Foam Kit · Sport
Multiplex Tucan
Multiplex Modellsport GmbH & Co. KG · Germany · Kit #264284
Wingspan1,300 mm / 51.2 in
Length1,110 mm / 43.7 in
Flying Weight~1,850 g
Top Speed130 km/h · 165 km/h tuned
MaterialELAPOR · CFRP · M-Frame ply
Inspired ByEmbraer EMB-312 Tucano
Documents & Links
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The Aircraft
The Multiplex Tucan channels the spirit of the Embraer EMB-312 Tucano — the Brazilian turboprop trainer that has served the air forces of over a dozen nations since 1983. The Tucano's canopy, nose profile and authority translate perfectly into a sport RC model: purposeful on the ground, powerful in the air.
The Kit
ELAPOR construction with a CFRP wing spar and internal M-Frame plywood structure gives the Tucan strength well beyond typical foam models. At 165 km/h tuned, it is no gentle floater. This example was distributed via International Coil Limited for the Indian market — adding its own local provenance to the collection.
Collector's Note
The Indian-market distribution via ICL makes this example specifically localised — a small but meaningful detail in the story of this collection.
Personal Notes — Papa's Handwritten Record
Acquired
Note
Aircraft 13 of 13 · ARF · Aerobatic Biplane · Electric
V Pro / OK Model Ultimate‑E
OK Model Co. Ltd. · Japan · V-Pro Brand
TypeAerobatic biplane ARF
PowerElectric brushless
Based OnUltimate 10 Dash 300
AssemblyFactory built 90%+
HardwareDuralumin gear · 38mm Al spinner
StatusOut of production
Documents & Links
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The Aircraft
The Ultimate series of aerobatic biplanes was designed by Gordon Price as the ultimate expression of competition aerobatics in biplane form. The Ultimate 10-300 was flown at World Aerobatic Championship level in the 1980s, pushing the boundaries of what a piston-powered biplane could do: snap rolls, flat spins, outside maneuvers, lomcevaks. It flew as though physics were optional.
The Kit
OK Model's Ultimate-E brings this legendary competition biplane to electric power in a compact, beautifully finished ARF. Factory-assembled to over 90%, it arrives with duralumin landing gear, an aluminium spinner, and a painted fiberglass cowl. This is not a trainer. It is a precision aerobatic instrument in miniature — the most technically ambitious aircraft in this collection.
Collector's Note
The Ultimate-E is out of regular production. A complete, unflown example is a serious collector's find — and a fitting final entry in this logbook.
Personal Notes — Papa's Handwritten Record
Acquired
Note