Topic: ICONIC MODELS RETURN TO THE SHOPS!

There has been a considerable resurgence in interest in models of yesteryear such as the Crescent Bullet and Tornado and other models of that ilke. From the posts on other threads, it is clear that they bring back many fond memories. Original kits of such models are not common place and when they are found they can go for high prices when you look at the what they go for on places such as ebay. Being a HUGE fan of these type of models i was delighted to learn of a fledgling company that will be bringing back many of our favourites starting with the Bullet and with the Tornado to follow shortly.
 On a mission for more information i got to chat to the man who started it. There is much development already underway on several models which will be seen at events around the country this coming season, including a larger Bullet at 65 inch span that will be known as the Cannon Ball, smaller Bullet for 3s lipo set up that will be known as the Tazor and we will also see the return of the Ridge Racer and Mini Racer gliders and bipes will also be added to the mix. There are other models in the pipeline and details will follow, there is a website under construction and should be up and running this month, that will give more detail about what is coming.
 What is the company? . . . . PB MODELS is the name, and they will  be bringing the these british made   construction kits back to the shops. They will be available from most model shops and the Bullet is already on sale from the shops such as Sussex model centre, Punctilo models, Weston-Super-Models and many more and it has been very well received! being very excited about this i wanted to inform forum members of this new and exciting development, which is why i started this thread to focus on what is coming, as no doubt there will be more than a few who will be buying and flying these models and this thread can be used to catalogue our experiences . . . . and inspire others!




Original kits

The prototype Cannon Ball under construction, alongside the standard Bullet.

The Bean

Money well spent Gary! Will be posting a few pics tomorrow of the Bullet kit contents as i will be starting mine this weekend now that i have the engine i want for it. Here is a link to one of the pre-production models with electric power.

YouTube             - Crescent Bullet

This is Great News ! Iconic is the right name for these models, i can just about remember some of them, but others were before my time 

Jamie did you get that webra speed that was offered the other day? I have bought a modern ASP for my Bullet.

I'm already looking forward to getting my hands on some of the other kits Paul is bringing out, i better start thinking about sticker sets too lol

JT

Fisty

Was "The Bean" a Brian Austin design? I seem to recall a very similar model by Brian which I think he called "The Green Bean" it flew very nicely.

The chap that designed The Bean has been posting on the vintage model thread that Alan C started, i can't rememebr his name though

Fisty

Was "The Bean" a Brian Austin design? I seem to recall a very similar model by Brian which I think he called "The Green Bean" it flew very nicely.

It was indeed designed by Brian Austin (Essex BOF) originally called the Skyliner but got the name Bean as you alluded to as one of the originals was metallic green and I think it was John 'Woody' Woodley remarked it looked like a runner Bean and that name stuck!!

I have the Red one in the photo's and this was built by our late great friend Dave Mason ( he also built the Bullit that is on the original box lid, his BMFA No. and if I recall correctly designed the Starsky & Hutch scheme)   who had electrified it and I flew it for the first time at the weekend along with Paul when the Bullit was test flown, it was like being acquainted with an old friend!!
I think I preferred the Bean to the Bullit if I was honest, but this is just personal taste as to looks and the way it flies, longer moment arm makes it a smooth aerobat, slows down to a walking pace for landing, very good allround sports model.
My build of one has my original OS 40 FSR from my very first one.

Just as an aside I also have Dave's Saturn Models Skydancer also designed by Brian, just going through a little tidy up before I commit aviation with it.

Cheers

Nige.

This is Great News ! Iconic is the right name for these models, i can just about remember some of them, but others were before my time  

Jamie did you get that webra speed that was offered the other day? I have bought a modern ASP for my Bullet.

I'm already looking forward to getting my hands on some of the other kits Paul is bringing out, i better start thinking about sticker sets too lol

JT

JT
   yes i did courtesey of Metal Mickey, and it will be seated in its new home as soon as i can finish the model . . . . .  Cheers Mickey, Top man!
Count me in for the sticker sets!

PB Models number 07758706727 website should be along soon . . . . with the Tornado i hope.     Ammended

Hasn't that number got a few too many digits??

Yes but it is the number i was sent so i did not question it.

Come on chaps get it together! 

In the interests of accuracy the number is ( and I have checked it, and it works, and no it's not to Lucy's Massage Parlour!  )

07758706727

Couple of photo's from the early 70,s of designs by yours truly. Quite a number were built within the club and locally at the time, although they never featured in any magazines.

The one in the Russian aka Mig3 colours was called the Griffin. Of interest is that in the background can be seen the MT shed of the old airfield at Stow Maries featured elsewhere on this site. Original had an old Merco 35 up front with Sprengbrook radio.

Other shot is of a model called the Lorraine, powered by an Enya 35 again with sprengbrook RC. Name came from the colour scheme that had the cross of Lorraine on the wing, not from an old flame
A lot of these were made as it was simple to make & flew well.

Right I have in my sweaty mitts the pre production kit for the Tornado, the large shadow of luverlyness as he like to be known to the girls dropped it off last night.

I am going check the fits particularly with the foam rear turtle deck, apparently the limp wristed amongst us get a little sore with all that carving and sanding not to mention the clearing up after!!

The first impressions are good, great wood selection, veneered wing & tailplane  panels spot on and turtle deck nice and light, all in all very good.

I will get it together as soon as I can but as long as the fits are OK then the green light will be on for the first batch to be produced.

Will keep you posted.  

Nige.  

A Tornado eh?  I still have a YS60 two-stroke and Hattori pipe in my loft, that are seeking a home.  Bought from Dave Smith at the 86 Nationals along with a Super Dalotel.  I ran it a couple of years ago on the bench, it still has immense power.

Harry

You know now you have said that you have got to have one, it is the Law!! 

Think that would make a very nice combination.

Cheers

Nige.   

Webra speed 61 ready and waiting!!

Perfect that is what I have ready for it, am tempted to go with retracts as on the plan but that would just add on 2 years to the build while I think about it!!

I am better sticking with stock I think.

I feel the need to refurb the Capricorn as well, build Brian Austin's Solitare and........................................................

So many so little time!!

Nige. 

Nice to see the Cresent Bullet coming back, I had one in 1981 fitted with a Webra Speed 40 abc. I actually took my B certificate with it in 1984. lol.
Cheers Richard.

Any news of the Ridge Racer and Mini Racer being available, as mentioned in the first post?

Regards,

Stan

Stan

Answering for Paul.

I would suggest that they are way off at this moment in time, the kits will be more involved to produce i.e. mouldings etc. and the moulds have not been collected as yet.

As soon as a time scale is worked out I am sure it will be made public, I am sure you can understand this changes as it goes along and the worst thing to do is announce it and not deliver.

I will endeavour to PM you with an update as and when.

Regards

Nige.
 

Thanks Nige,

No rush and looking forward to hearing from you in due course.

Regards,

Stan

Good news! have heard that the Crescent Tornado kit will be available by the end of the week. The 'bean' racer kit has been out for a couple of weeks now and Bullets are back in stock.

Very nice 

Proper model aeroplanes these are - hope that they sell well and are a success.

Mine is due next week so will post some pictures when i get it.

Look forward to it, the Bullet is very nice..

Picked up my Tornado last weekend and i am very pleased with the quality of the kit! wood choice is very good.

PB Models will be at Wings & Wheels this weekend, with the Crescent Tornado & Bullet kits, also Bean kits will be available aswell. They will be sharing a stand with the Pylon race association. It is nice to see these kits back on sale after after an absence of what must be around 25 years! i was going myself but events have overtaken my plans and will not now be attending. Will just have to wait for Woodspring wings!

Prototype Cannon Ball coming along nicely, it is basically a 65 inch span Bullet . . . with retracts.

I want one. 

Cannon ball almost done

That looks so good!!

Very nice. Any idea if PB will be at Hop Farm?

Yes i think he will be. Has anyone finished a Bullet or Tornado yet? any pics? work on mine is progressing but it is slow . . . . work interfering yet again!

I stumbled across pics of a Tornado, looks like the builder did a good job! airbrakes look interesting. Anyone know who it belongs to and any details about it?

Don't know who did that one, but the flaps/brakes look like they're done the same way we all did it - with MK co-axial torque rods. The brakes themselves were usually a piece of 1/16" ply about 4.5" wide and as long as the outer torque rod allowed (6.5" rings a bell, but I could be wrong). A piece of 3" wide 3/8" soft sheet was glued to the ply, and then grooved to accept the torque rod (about 1/4" dia) and tapered down to nothing at the TE.

At the front I fitted some 1/16" hard sheet (grain chordwise, and again grooved to accept the torque rod) underneath the ply, but this was probably OTT. The flap was simply epoxied to the torque rod outer, and then the wing recessed to allow the front part to retract flush. The ailerons were then attacched to the 12swg inner torque rod. Two servos in the wing centre section operated the flaps and ailerons seperately, with at least 60 degrees of flap movement. These allowed the tornado to land in some very confined spaces - I flew mine mostly from the Woking club site on Horsel Common, which had 4 foot high bushes about 10 feet from the runway threshold, and without the flaps it had to be foced onto the deck to roll the length of the runway. With the flaps it touched down nose-high on the mainwheels and rolled about 20 feet.

PDR

That's very nice. I think I'll be leaving Hop Farm with one if PB are there

Has anyone got any pictures of how they have carved the cowl? i started mine, but it's been a long time since i've balsa bashed anything, that i just can't figure out how to do it and still haver the motor removable

cheers

PB models have a website now    www.pbmodels.co.uk    still being worked on but it looks good so far.

Bullet has come together nicely! a little fettling left to do before covering. A recently serviced HP 40 Gold cup is waiting to take its place in the nose.

A few of the completed airframe, kit went together very well . . . cannot wait to see it in its 'Starsky and Hutch' scheme!