Feather Merchant 80 (oz16940)

 

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User comments

Story and photos at:
https://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread...
pit - 15/08/2026
Got it. Have grabbed a couple of model pics now (photos by Art Lane), from that thread. Thanks Pit :)
SteveWMD - 15/08/2026
That FM has some really nice lines and a great looking airfoil. I really like the way the rear bottom of the fuselage pinches like the Reich Albatross. Although I’m still struggling to interpret that from the plan. I guess I’ll have to print it out full size. I think I may have found the model for my Orwick 64 and Taibi style tank mount!
Stefan - 16/08/2026
Does anyone have plans for the original 72 inch version?
Simon Blake - 16/08/2026
The AMA plan service and Spirit of Yesterday Models have the 72 inch version for Brown Jr and electric.
Quan - 16/08/2026
for 72in version see the already previous indicated link:
https://plans.modelaircraft.org/wp-content/upload... [PDF]
pit - 16/08/2026
Spirit of Yesteryear was located in Barrie, Ontario, an hour north of where I live. They stopped producing kits years ago and the owner has long since died. They had a hobby shop there with a lot of completed airplanes from their kits on display. But they never sold the kits in the shop. Strange. I know I can order the plan from the AMA plans service, but I live in Canada and it is staggeringly expensive to order a plan from them so, again, does anyone have a downloadable PDF of the orginal 72" version, which is legal for SAM free flight competition?
Simon Blake - 16/08/2026
All of you really old codgers will remember where the name Feather Merchant came from, Al Capp's popular cartoon Lil Abner. It was a US Army term for a soldier with a plush desk job rather than a combat troop. I can remember reading the cartoon laying out on the front porch, not interested in the news, just the funnies. Wildly popular during WWII, many combat airplanes were named after the Lil Abner characters. Moonbeam McSwine and Sadie Hawkins for example.
Doug Smith - 16/08/2026
So I guess there are actually two 72 inch plans, one is the original (1939?) version, and then the other is a later Model Aviation 1980s version. Would love to see that original one.
SteveWMD - 16/08/2026
I sold a FM 72 kit made by SOY earlier this year. It was cleaned up for R/C E-power. I should’ve scanned it but my local print shop charges $15 minimum per sheet! I live only 30 minutes from Muncie. I could buy the original plan cheaper.
Dan - 16/08/2026
The Feather Merchant was designed by Fred Lehmberg. Fred also designed the Leaping Lena and the Goon.
Fred was a schoolboy in Texas when he designed the Goon and the Feather Merchant. There was a lot of not so friendly competition between the schoolboy modelers in San Antonio and the schoolboy modelers in Austin. I've forgotten which group Fred belonged to (this was all just before WW II).
But as Fred told the tale, there was a favorite taunt "Here come those Feather Merchants" from (the other town).
So Fred designed a Feather Merchant! I've built a couple of Goons and a 46 inch Feather Merchant. All were nice flyers.
Mike Myers - 16/08/2026
72in little better at: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ...
pit - 16/08/2026
I have a plan and a short kit.
David Hill - 16/08/2026
All of Spirit of Yesteryear's models were modified and scaled to different sizes from the originals, so I doubt that even if they did offer a 72-inch Feather Merchant it would be legal for SAM free flight competition, which doesn't allow scaling. Fred Lembergh did kit the 72-inch version years ago.
Simon Blake - 16/08/2026
Someone had linked a PDF of the 72 wing in the comments but it’s gone now. The 72’s wing is the most different.
Higher aspect ratio
More ribs
Reed tips instead of sheet balsa.
Probably why SOY chose that version for kitting. Earlier electrics, like Brown Jr powered planes, had to be LIGHT.
There was a German company kitting these designs. Has anyone seen those plans?
Mike, I love to see this designers GOON but I’ve only seen a picture in the classifieds in Model Aviation where FM and Goon kits were sold. Never so one fly.
RB - 17/08/2026
The links in the previous comments (above) have not changed. Nothing has been removed. Maybe you're thinking of the links on the other page at Feather Merchant (oz5948)
SteveWMD - 18/08/2026
Hi Steve, Hi Mary. Seeing today's entry of the old timer "Feather Merchant" prompted me to think about sending you some pictures [pics 005-012] of the two examples I made many years ago. I'm afraid the colour slides deteriorated quite badly over the years but I thought you may still like to see them. I built two because a fellow club member of The 'Vintagents' in Queensland asked me to make him one and I made one for myself whilst I was at it. I've included an embarrassing couple of photos of my short legged knees so you can have a chuckle! accompanied by John Otter, the willing customer!
We hope you are both keeping well, and not feeling the Australian heat in England too much!
Cheers from us both, John and Kath.
John French - 18/08/2026
John: Nice looking models you have, but tell us how they flew! I see some fairings over the stringers. Did you use a pull-pull control system?
RB - 18/08/2026
Hello RB. First, do I know you? I'm only too happy to let you know about my Feather Merchant. I used closed loop system of control, JR Radio in those days, standard sized servos. E-mail me for more if you wish. Very happy you asked. Cheers, John French
John French - 19/08/2026
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