Series 100 18" WW I Aircraft

[Arlo DiPasquale]

OK, since we all seem to be on the topic, I had the idea to put up a poll and see how many of us on this forum would like to see the 100 series WW I planes brought back. Also for the fun of it, which one is your favorite?? Mine are the Fokker D.VIII and the Pfalz D.3.

[Bill D]

I for one would love to see all these kits reissued,but if I could only pick a few I would choose both the Fokkers D8 & D7 and the Halberstadt CL2. With the prices these kits bring on Ebay it appears the demand is pretty high.

[rayd]

I'll limit my pick to the Fokker D7 for now, very popular it seems. If I were to select another, it would be the SPAD.

[vloustalot]

I would like to see the CL2, SPAD and D8

[roring40]

Fokkers, Fokkers and more Fokkers please Mr Guillows.

[john8750]

The D8 and the SE5 at least. The Spad and all of them.....

[peterc4]

Pfalz is my favorite.

Anyone have any thoughts about which WWI kit commands the most on Ebay?

I remember seeing/following a Bristol Bullet kit as the bidding went up to 140-150$. That could just be two wacko bidders running it up though.

I don't see that kit come up very often.

[Arlo DiPasquale]

recently I saw a Bristol Bullet and Pfalz each go for around $60. Sometimes people really don't want to lose an item and end up paying a ridiculous amount for it. Recently I purchased a D.8 for just under $30 (I consider it a good deal)

[dpcmodels]

Like the old saying goes " a fool and his money are soon parted"

For those who don't know me, my name is Dave Cowell, owner of DPCM /Aerowerkes. I reproduce this entire line as "generic" replacement laser cut parts. They are used as replacements for lost /damaged original parts or can be used for new construction. All the major parts are there except for the strip stocks ( leading edges and stringers ). All the plastic parts have been reworked and are now made from balsa. This line can be found in my "SRK" section at [www.aerowerkes.com]

All parts are laser cut on quality grade balsa for a fraction of what you would pay on ebay.

Dave

[SteveM]

You can see the contents of Dave's Storch SRK here. I've got a pair (of Storch SRK's) and can attest to their great quality and have no idea how Dave is able to make them for $18.

The cold reality is that Guillow's would make and sell the kit if it were popular and profitable. A poll taken on a forum for the enthusiast is going to have a predictable outcome that in no way mirrors reality.

[Arlo DiPasquale]

I never really expect Guillow to bring back the kits... I just put up the poll for fun. As for the short kits, thanks so much for the info... really appreciate it!!

[Steve Blanchard]

OK. I followed the advice of Steve M and DPC models and went to the DPC models web site to have a look. Dave has a great selection of SRK's (Short Run Kits) covering companies from Comet, Sterling and Guillows. I have scratch built a lot of the old designs and really enjoyed them but some of them require a ton of print-wood parts that would need to be cut out which makes me want to just design my own plan or go with a newer version. Dave has made it possible to build the older designs with all of the parts laser cut and ready to go. I contacted Dave via email with some questions and he got right back to me. I then placed my order on Friday and received the SRK's by the following Wednesday. Very quick turnaround. I haven't begun building them yet but the wood looks great and the cutting seems very well done. Because this is a Guillows forum I will not be posting the build threads as the models are from Sterling and Comet, but I will post threads on SFA. Anyone interested in the old Guillows designs as well as the others should definitely consider DPC Models for the laser cut parts.

Steve

[Mitch]

Yes, I would really like to see them all re-issued. I am not giving up hope. If the dies are worn out they can make them laser cut. I know you can get SRK's from Dave, but you still need the plans and then have to make other pieces. I like the decals that Guillow's provides. I think 25 to 30 dollars would be a selling price and that's what I buy them for on ebay if I can.

[Mitch]

It's Mitch again... forgot to metion my favorite. The SE5a. I know it looks like a flying tractor, but I like the long nose and large wing area, with scale diehedral. I always thought it would have a better chance to fly. I built this model twice as a kid and tried to fly them... Now I just bought the larger SE5a. I will start the build shortly.

[Steve Blanchard]

I see that David beat me to most of the reply I was going to post about the SRK's. You do not have to "make" other parts. You do have to supply your own strip wood which is easily found at any major craft store. The quality of the wood in the SRK's is better than what Guillow's normally supplies and the plans are included as well. When it comes to built up cowls and things like that there is very little extra work and the SRK's have all of the parts and information to do this. Depending on whether you want to fly these successfully or not, you'd probably be better off if Guillow's never re-issued the kits and Dave just continued to supply the SRK's.
Many of the Guillow's designs are good and easy to build but the poor materials have the competitive free flight modeler looking elsewhere for materials. One of the more successful builders here is Scigs and he has said over and over that he has replaced all of the parts and wood from most of his older kits whether they be Guillow's or Comet or what have you. Scigs, I apologize for just throwing your name in there but I know everybody here knows and respects your work, including myself. I'm not trying to advertise for DPC models but I don't want anybody to misunderstand what is being provided by them. It is what I consider to be a great service and I'd like to see it continue.

Steve