Hey Larry..

Great kit range you have.. Recently bought the Baby Fireball, and let my 11 year old grandson build it ( with just a little bit of guidance and help) and thought you might like to see a piccy of it.. Its a great kit and goes together real well. And not only that it actually flies! I have just got back into model flying after a 20 year layoff, and have to say that 20 years ago I never ever got or saw a Cox powered trainer actually get airborne for more than half a lap!

The picture I've sent you is after its first flight, now bear in mind that I haven't flown C/L for twenty years, and this was my second flight of the day, ( after a successful flight with my own plane). It was blowing a gale and really far too windy for a tiny 1/2A model.. but you know what kids are!!! We had to fly and got about 10 laps in before we piled it into the grass whilst trying to change over control from me to my grandson..... The only damage.... was a broken prop!!! says lots for the kit!!

We are from southern England ) Isle of Wight actually) and consequently not had a lot of exposure to American kits.. Have to say so far reckon they are good!

If you wish to use the piccy, please feel free.. The proud owner of the model..my Grandson.. name is Caleb..

Regards
Andy Gilliam

Captain Blackhawk,

I have a confession to make. Two years ago I purchased one of your 1/2A combat wings kits and split it with a friend of mine. I built the kit and hated it! The Baby Bee 049 wouldn't start, I cracked the wing using an electric starter, dropped it off a shelf and broke the wing again. At this point I never got the darn thing in the air. Then I figured out that my old Cox engines needed overhaul kits. I rebuilt all of them. I put my old rebuilt Golden Bee on the beat up and abused combat wing. I borrowed my buddies electric 1/2A starter and got the Cox to scream like a banshee! This past Sunday I flew the combat wing for the first time and was thrilled! Man have I been missing out! What a great model! My buddy Scott "Woody" Woodham from Mandan, ND swears by your models. Thank you for providing us retreads a chance to relieve or childhood hobbies!

Sincerely,
Shawn Kuntz
Bismarck, ND

Hey Larry,

Just a note to say that I got three of Mr. Musciano's kits...Golden Hawk, Triplane, and Stunt Trainer...from Sam's Stuff and Hobbies. I've already had a great flash-back time just sifting through the kits and their parts. I intend to get them all built after I get back from my up-coming bike trip, and fly them on the concrete at the airport where I work.

Several of the younger guys I work with have never even heard of control line airplanes, and I've had a pretty tough time just convincing them that:

1. No, they're not some sort of kite!
2. No, there's no radio involved!
3. Yes, it IS fun!

I guess it's probably not gonna matter a whole lot, since you just kinda had to BE there for your imagination to be fired by these little aircraft! I'll take a shot anyway, though...'cause I know that I'M a least gonna have some fun!

Hey Larry,

I have built the polish p 11c over the last week and really enjoyed it (it took me back to my youth in the late 60's). I got it from sams through the link on your web site.

I have one complaint your instructions say to dip decals in warm water which I did only to find out that the ink was water soluble I had some very faded decals. With masking and a airbrush I made my own. Other than that I had a great time will fly this weekend weather permitting.

I was pleased to see the sticker on the box saying that you were a veteran owned business I am a us army veteran 72-75 and prefer to do business with fellow vets when I can I will build more of your models maybe the sig fokker as I had one of them in 1970.

Again thanks for the good experience

Larry,

I recently order two models from S&S Hobbies and I am very happy with what I received. I flew control line as a child and have been flying RC for many years now. I am going to enjoy building the models with my son and teaching him to fly them. I am selling some of my regular RC stuff so I can order more of your planes to build and fly and relive my childhood with my son. There is nothing wrong with that, I had a great time then and I want my son to have the same great memories.

Thanks you for keeping the art of control line model building alive.

Douglas

Larry,

Nice call.   Your reminder to look at the Hawk had me building it during my lunch break and entertaining my neighbors with strange antics in the garden.   I have to say I have been rather 'head down' recently and this experience reminded me about fun and has woken me up to the obvious potential in these models.  Thanks.   Is there any possibility of getting a larger model such as the stiletto and a couple of 3 in1's included in my order?   I really want to have a go with a bigger whip model to understand what is possible with these designs and to develop my skills for demonstration, marketing and customer support.   I will involve Andy Gilliam who I know will be interested and will also let his two grandchildren have a go with the 3 in 1's.

I read your article and was inspired, having had a go I can understand the potential of the 3 in 1's to Cubs, Schools etc.   They are great Ebay fodder and can be combined with the Zoomer or larger models if a next step is required.   They are a super way of introducing the whole BHM range by including appropriate literature with sales.   The larger models are intriguing.   I had heard of these but was dismissive of them, but I now realize that they are very interesting and actually fly!   I can't wait to have a go with the full control system.   I think the key to these is to become proficient and fly at meetings.   I know that it will cause a stir and sales once the message is out there.   I can imagine a bit of a craze for them.

Den Saxcoberg

Hey Larry,

We got the tethered plane, thank you.   We found time today to do a build.   I think you will enjoy these pics.   Taylor, age 7, is building the plane.   I only helped with using the CA (she used the kicker).   If you do this with a 7 year old make sure to have some CA handy.  We have had to make a few repairs while she got the hang of it but she is doing great now.


We talked about alignment and how importand a straight plane is


Using some kicker on the glue joint

She took a break and decorated the building board






This is what it is all about

Hi,

I ran across your website while browsing the threads at the RC Groups site.   I was really surprised to learn that someone was remaking the old Scientific solid balsa kits.   Back in my teenage days - over 50 years ago - I put together what I remember as a Little Devil.   I remember I painted it orange.   I teamed up with a friend who owned a Cub .049.   I couldn't afford an engine back then and he wasn't very good a building models.   I can remember trying to fly that thing on two occasions (there may have been more) but I don't remember an successful flights.   That old Cub had been run half to death while fastened to a piece of wood clamped in a vise so it was a little difficult.   And, if I remember right, the couple times we did get it running the flights didn't last a half lap before I managed to land it in a most unstately manner.   Unfortunately, back in those days I had no knowledge of how fuel and the castor oil residue would soften nitrate based dope and glue.   Painted with Testor's dope and glued together with Duco cement, the balsa on the front of the fuselage eventually became oil soaked and the firewall detached and that was the end of my Little Devil.   I probably torched it later.

I couldn't stand it and had to try going back to my youth.   I the Little Devil from Sam's Stuff & Hobbies along with a couple other kits.   I'm going to try one out on my eldest grandson who seems to be excited about building a model.   I'll have a cow if the thing flies! I'm saving the Little Devil for myself however.

Thank you for bringing back fond memories.   There may be more in the making if my grandson takes a liking to control line flying.

Dave Kline
Martinsburg, WV

Hi Larry,

Just taking the opportunity to wish ALL of you at Black Hawk Models A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR

I really appreciate the effort that the TEAM has put in.   WELL DONE & THANKS!

Have attached a couple of pics of my completed Night Hawk.

TTFN,

Den

Hi Larry,

Hope you are OK…..I have just received this from Colin Gordon and his son Grant, customers who live in ‘bonny’ Scotland and thought that you would all enjoy it:

Hi Den,

Just to let you know I retook the photos of the Lil Bat & Zoomer.  You have my permission to use the photos for your site and on the Black Hawk site too.  Just un update that we managed to fly the models today.  Grant had his first shot of control line flying and was very excited.  I used the techneague of flying the Lil Bat and getting Grant to crawl along to meet me in the centre and hand the lines over to him.  I flew on 33 foot lines and was very happy with the flights.  There was a little bit wind so had to keep working at keeping the line tension.  After a couple of flights Grant had really got to grips with the plane.  It was funny to see him dizzy.  In short it was a complete sucess.  With the Zoomer we were doing triming flights.  My son and myself have really enjoyed the building and flying of these kits .  The Lil Bats turned out to be a good trainer as well as beeinging a quick model to fly for the more experienced.  I personally thought the quality of the wood and hardware were excellent and the kits were built very easily.  Grant only needed to be told what to do occasionally during the builds.  My only critisisim was maybe a wee bit more information on the plans regarding line lengths and info on leadouts.  All in all we had a great time in building and flying the kits.  Highly reccomended.  As for the progress of my Phantom, I haven't done a great deal more to it but will keep you posted.

Regards Colin & Grant

Thanks Larry for all you do for our wonderful hobby.

Dennis (Canada)

Hi Larry,

Thought I'd write to let you now that our club (Winnipeg Perfect Circle Flying Club) chose the Perky for our group build this winter.   We have purchased at least a dozen kits from Paul's Models in Fargo who is a great supporter of the control line hobby.   We have scheduled a local Perky event in August of this year, which I believe it will be a nice change of pace for us.   Anyway, I've attached a couple of pictures of my model, which is complete except for painting.   I am very pleased with how it turned out.   I have a Supertiger G.15 "under the hood" in mine.

Thanks Larry for all you do for our wonderful hobby.

Dennis (Canada)

Larry,

Here are some pictures of some of my planes.   The Fokker Triplane is so cool!   The OK Cub motor starts and runs very well.   The Nobler is an ARF.   The PT-19 Stunter is quite old--- I flew it at a big local airshow, in August 1969!!!!   It flies very well to this day.

Joe Maxwell

Maxwell's Hobby
Erie, PA

Larry,

Hi Larry,

Here are some photos of the kids you could use on the web page.   The first two are of of my daughter Sophia (age 4) flying the family trainer.   Next is my Son Max (age 6) flying the family trainer.   The fourth shot is of Sophia holding the family trainer and Max holding his new trainer that he helped build and paint.   The next photo is of the kids holding two models that I built that they have already laid claim to.   One is a Brodak F-82 and the other is a Sarpolus Mig15.   The final shot is of Sophia and her trainer that she helped build and paint.   As soon as I can get some photos of them flying one of your whip models I will pass them along.

Regards
Robert Willis

Hi Larry,

Here is a picture of one of our new pilots, Brandon, learning on one of the Bean Hill Flyers Trainers we keep on hand for just that.   That's Joe Maxwell relaxing in the background.

Dalton Hammett

Hi Larry,

Great site!   Nicely expanded over 4-5 years ago when I visited last.

No doubt you have received a 1000 emails like this, but I will join the crowd anyway.

My very first SUCCESSFUL U/C model was a Scientific Waco Biplane with Baby Spitfire .045 so naturally I have an emotional string to that particular Musciano model.   But of the MANY Musciano models you now offer, the Waco isn't one of them.   So here is the familiar question, "Any plans to produce this particular model?"

Due to the similarity of so many of Walt's designs, I could almost "cheat" and build one out of already existing pieces from several of your existing biplane models.   13" top wing is common to several existing designs (SE-5).   The only "tricky" part of the kit was an aluminum cowl, like a cup with the bottom cut out.   And your Stinson Reliant FS2900 has a plastic cowl that might suffice, but I can't tell the actual dimensions from the photos.

I assume you talk to Walt on a fairly regular basis - perhaps you could ask him if he remembers the little Waco?

Just wondering?

Thanks and regards,
Tom Smiley
AMA 26652
Huntsville, AL


Tom - Thanks for the kind words.   You will be happy to see that we are now producing the Waco!

Regards,
CAPTAIN BLACKHAWK