Super Chipmunk – KONTAKT!
Besök: 60
Som jag nämnde i den första artikeln så är det här med social media inte alls dumt. Som föresats så tog jag kontakt med ägaren till originalet och jag gjorde det via Facebook. Det var sent på kvällen och jag hade funderat ganska mycket över hur jag skulle initiera kontakten men till slut så slängde jag iväg en fråga på Facebook-chatten:
Hi,
I have been admiring your one-seater Super Chipmunk for 3 months and now I have decided to build a copy of this beautiful aircraft. Not a full-scale copy but a model to compete with in F4H. I’m gonna base this R/C model on the Goldberg kit (http://www.carlgoldbergproducts.com/discontinued/gpma0952.html)I have been browsing around the web for a while trying to find a full-scale that has the special character that your aircraft has. I must admit that it would be comfortable to build the Art Scholls Pennzoil branded prototype but then it would not be much of a challenge.
So, to keep myself short;
1) Would you mind me copying your fullscale aircraft?
2) If you have no objection, would you mind provide me with plans and pcitures of the aircraft?
Spänningen var olidlig, tankarna for omkring i mitt huvud: “Oj, tänk om jag var alldeles för fräck här nu? Var jag kanske rent ut, oförskämd med att ställa en fråga som denna?” Tiden tickade iväg men inte så långt; Svaret från Mr Mark Meredith dröjde nog knappa 90 sekunder:
Niclas, I’d be glad to help with your model! I have detailed drawings of the paint scheme on side and top views. If you’ll send me an email I’ll attach the document. Mine is xxxx@yyyy.zzz. All the best photos are on the Facebook page already – look at albums to see them by phase of the rebuild. I look forward to working with you on your model. Mark
Niclas,Here’s the drawings of the airplane and paint scheme. I worked with a company named Scheme Designers over a period of 3 years. It was red and black when I bought the plane as a project (see photo), but I didn’t like it. It was a poor copy of the famous 1929 Travelair Mystery Ship (see photo). So first I modified it into the current scheme, still keeping it red and black. Then a young kid walked through my hangar with his grandfather. He looked at the various drawings I had taped up to the walls, thought for awhile, and said, “All aerobatic airplanes are red. You should paint it blue.” I said, “You’re right!” The blue and cream idea came from the Waco, and wing scheme from the Corsair, and the fuselage stripe from the Skybolt. I was going for the look of a 1930’s Golden Age Racer. The Vicious Chipmunk idea on the tail came from a Navy A-6 squadron I was in, the VA-35 Black Panthers. Added a chipmunk tail, head and claws in place of the panther, them made him mean!
I spent 3 years trying out lots of ideas – I’d send an idea to Scheme Designers and they would send back a modified drawing (via a link to their website). Finally we had it!Keep me posted on your project!All the Best,Mark
Jag fick inte bara ett ritningsmaterial och mönstermallar, ja hela paketet mer eller mindre, och lite historik också! Helt fantastiskt! Trots min upprymdhet så bromsade jag mig en smula och och gick att la mig för natten. Klockan hade blivit sen eller tidig beroende på hur man ser det och en ny dag väntade.