Curtiss Robin (oz4248)

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Curtiss Robin. Scale model for radio control. For .19-.25 engines.

Quote: "Hi Steve - Here is Don Knaust's Curtiss Robin from Grid Leaks & Model Aircraft World magazine issue September/October 1965. This model was featured on the cover as shown."

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Update 02/03/2020: Added full article, thanks to rocketpilot.

Quote: "This semi-scale oldie - a modified Veco White Cloud (oz12332) kit - should start a new craze. Put the stab on top of the fuselage and you'd fool the experts. It's a .19 to .25 powered craft for the many six-channel rigs - or those 'minus one' proportional systems. Curtiss Robin, by Don Knaust.

PROBABLY FEW OTHER AIRCRAFT in aviation's earlier days accomplished more for setting the pace for the modern-day airplane than did the historical Curtiss Robin. It served as a test-bed for new aircraft construction techniques, new engines and human endurance. The first Robin was built in 1928 at a time when bi-planes ruled the roost. Its main object was to get an inexpensive airplane with power and weight somewhere near that of the biplanes and to put the pilot in a cabin. The Robin made good use of the surplus Curtiss OX-5 engine of World War I fame.

The endurance flights started in 1929 and that same year Dale 'Red' Jackson with Forest 'Obie' Obrine established a record from July 13 through July 30 of 420 hours, 21 minutes and 30 seconds with a Challenger powered Robin called the 'St Louis Robin.' This record was broken in 1930 by the Hunter brothers with the famous Stinson Detroiter which remained aloft from June 11 to July 4 (553 hours, 41 minutes, 30 seconds). Jackson and Obrine regained the record by taking off with another Robin, this one called the 'Greater St Louis Robin' on July 21, 1930 and circling Lambert Field for 647 hours and 28 minutes. Nearly 27 days of listening to the steady drone of the engine, the pilots flew and slept in tours of a few hours each.

The Robins were almost forgotten until July 17, 1937 when Douglas 'Wrong-way' Corrigan took off from New York using a Wright J-5-powered Robin with intentions of 'returning to California' but somehow landed in Dublin, Ireland 28 hours and 13 minutes later, 'much to his dismay' but nevertheless establishing a record from New York to Dublin.

Our semi-scale Curtiss Challenger Robin is modified from a Veco White Cloud (oz12332) kit. Finished with a unique color scheme, it is easy to fly and looks like a real 'bird' in the air. This is my first attempt with multi-channel radio control and as a beginner's airplane the Robin has served its purpose well. After having some rough landings while getting 'key-time' it proved easy to repair and now has some 37 flights and is into its third season. It was flown very little during 1964 while the pilot was busy with aileron jobs.

Having flown some radio control in 1955, using a Lorenz two-tuber by Ace Radio in a Livewire (oz5554) and 6-foot Taylorcraft, my enthusiasm dropped as the interference increased. Local interest then had hit an all time low and convenient flying sites were at a premium. The bug bit again in 1962 with the appearance of newer tone receivers with their smaller size and smaller battery complement. Renewed interest by other ex-control-line flyers added greatly to the desire and I've been burning the midnight oil ever since. After fighting the panic-button the first year with 3-volt relayless jobs with half-A engines, I happened to notice that the multi boys were not shaking as much as I was. I decided it must have been a combina-tion of multi-equipment along with the fact that the larger planes seemed to fly smoother and groove better. I guess some single-channel boys will buy anything because I purchased a used 8-channel relay receiver, a fistfull of servos, traded for what was supposed to have been an eight channel transmitter, and dived in.

It just so happened that I had a White Cloud kit gathering balsa dust. After thumbing through some old model magazines I came upon a Curtiss Robin three-view and, with this kit, it looked like a cinch to duplicate and more like a scale job.

By drawing a Curtiss Robin rudder, changing the nose section and adding Monogram's plastic cylinders, scale-type 'burners' and wing struts, it looked pretty much like a Robin. The scale-type landing gear and paint job seemed to give it that final touch.

Now came the big day for the test hop. But there were no multi flyers around that day to give some advice..."

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