Special Treats From Just Outside the Realm of the
Old Time Model Airplane Magazine
My family and I would like to wish you and yours a most happy holiday! Be it Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or any of the other celebrations world wide, may each of us remember that we are all different, and yet at the same time, we are all the same. May peace reign the world over.
The Comet 5¢ Flyer Series.
Usually I only present plans from magazines. This series of plans are from the Comet Model Airplane Co. These are the little brothers of the famed Dime Scale models. Rather than having the normal 16" wingspan of the Dimers, these "Nickelers" typically had a 10" wingspan with plans drawn on 8 1/2 x 11" pages. The later fact makes for perfect internet printing fun. On a couple of the models you need to guess as to the shapes of formers and ribs, and for the most part I'd sugest redesigning the wing to fuselage connection to accept a solid/single piece wing, perhaps lighten the tail...
This picture of Jason McGuire's Ryan was stolen from Thayer's site whilst his back was turned :-)
Jim Alaback, of Flying Models Old Timer Topics fame, writes in the Sept, 1995 issue of K.A.P.A. Kollector that this line of kits was only available in the 1941 Comet catalogue and as such "is perhaps the least-known of their kit lines." They build up very nicely and deserve to be tried again, though tiny scale ships are not necessarily the easiest to keep light, and trim for flight. I do have a question for the kit historians out there. Does anyone know the original propeller size for these kits? Maybe 4"?
These beautiful drawings come to us through the kind donations of those Ol' Free Flight Worthies, Dannysoar and Stuka Dave. Thanks guys from all of us.
Comet Nickel Scale W-1 to W-3
W-1: Baby R.O.G by Peter Vacco.W-2: Aeroneer by Walter Fromm.
W-3: Dart by Edward Lidgard.
Comet Nickel Scale W-4 to W-6
W-4: Security Sport by Walter Fromm.W-5: Cessna by Walter Fromm.
W-6: Ryan SC by Walter Fromm.
Comet Nickel Scale W-7 to W-9
W-7: Miller Racer by Edward Lidgard.W-8: Fairchild by Peter Vacco.
W-9: Bellanca by Edward Lidgard.
Comet Nickel Scale W-10 to W-12
W-10: Ryan Trainer by Harold Benjamin.W-11: Monocoupe by Harold Benjamin.
W-12: Howard by Walter Fromm.