TOPIC: Replication of KK Eeze-Bilt and Topflite models

It's been quite quiet at 'Jetex Towers' since last summer as I come to terms with my heart condition. This has rather sapped my energy, but not my enthusiam for vintage predecorated ARTF models.

The vast majority of Keil Kraft's 'Eeze-Bilt' and Topflite's 'Jigtime' models were for rubber power, but there were two which Albert Hatful, KK's designer and Topflite's Karl Goldberg indicated could be modified for Jetex power (this, remember, was in the 1950s).

First, Kk's nicely monnikered 'Rapier':



I was fortunate to have some excelent photocopies of the kit parts:



Which could be scanned at hi-res, and, with the help of Rob Smith's CAD experise, be made into suitable templates for transfeer to balsa sheet:

The templates were printed on 'T-shirt transfer paper and ironed on to light balsa sheet. I reduced the originals 18" wing span to 13" so it's the right size for a TSP L-1. It went together well and I was pleased with the finished model:



It weighs less thaan 17 grams with a used motor, so I'm expecting a quite sprightly performance with 100mN behind it.

I then turned my attention to the Jigtime 'Arrowjet':



The advert shows it converted to Jetex 50 power. How could I resist?

There were PDF files on on the Internet for the Arowjet (see Paul Bradley's splendid website) and these needed little cleaning up for transfer to balsa:



and, as with the KK Rapier, the model went together very nicely indeed:



Note the TSP L-2 as it turned out a bit bigger and heavier than the Rapier:



Rob and I also had a go at the FROG 'Flash' which was a very simple, but attractive chuck glider aimed at the absolute beginner:



Which, we thought, might go rather well with a TSP L-1





and make an interesting contrast to Jetex's own similarly-sized 'Wren'. We shall see.

Please tell me if you would like copies of any of the templates so that you, too, can join in the fun!