Monogram - Paper and Balsa Sheet 1960

[Gil]

This comes from the "way back machine" of 1960.

+Gil

[Don Boose]

Thanks for this, Gil. It's a new one on me! I built every one of the Monogram Speedee Built models (and still have a couple of unbuilt kits in the basement), but never saw this one. Perhaps because it came out while I was in college and on a model-building hiatus (except for a Comet D VIII that I built, launched from the top window of the fraternity house, and never saw again).

Don

[charleswlkr54]

Hmmmmm! I never knew Monogram made anything but plastic model kits! Must have been way before my time!

[whulsey]

They started off with wood block models. Would like to have that one but not at that price point!

[Don Boose]

Not only did Monogram produce beautiful (but heavy) flying models, they began in 1945 producing balsa ship models. famousfightingships.html

I built the destroyer USS Hobby, but my favorites were the airplanes, which used a combination of sheet balsa, partially-formed balsa wings, tissue, and plastic parts. They could be built into very good-looking models, but wouldn't stay in the air for very long. speedee_bilt_kits.html

Don

[John Bowden]

A straight deck Shangri-La............. Boy I miss Barry, I'm sure I could have talked him into collaberating on doing this.

[southwestforests]

There's just no telling what you are going to learn on here!

[charleswlkr54]

I know what you mean about prices! Some of the toys I used to play with or lust after now bring HUGE bucks from the collectors! Wish I could go back, buy a lot of them, come back and retire for life!!!

[whulsey]

Yeah Charles know what you mean. I sold off a good chunk of my plastic collection during a rather nasty divorce. Kept me afloat and paying off the legal bills for a couple of years.

[Rangerdog]

Wow, that IS a rare bird! The Speede-bilt kits were really fun and went together quickly. The Stearman I had flew okay after I remounted the top wing directly to the top of the fuselage (the wing struts kept breaking off from hard landings). Hey, it was the 50's!

IIRC, Monogram released this series of paper-covered-balsa kits is what must be in the early 60s. After I started driving / discovered girls in HS, my model building tapered off rapidly! There were 3 planes in the Series: DHC Beaver, Mr. Mulligan and the Cosmic Wind racer.

I built the Cosmic Wind and don't remember it being much of a flyer. Looking back, It was probably way too heavy with the sheet balsa lumber and paper covering.

A few years ago, A Beaver kit formed the basis of a depron foam micro RC conversion. The builder had access to one of the old kirs and used the parts as a pattern. Also covered with paper. Made the cowling form a plastic drink bottle.