Home


Vintage Tools

Books


Ordering
Information

E-mail

About Us

 
Vintage RC Planes at The Best Things


RC Model Plane Kits & Motors

Our vintage tool expert, Lee Richmond, is also an avid RC modeler, and has been for many years. Lee has been flying model planes ever since he can remember, and has been collecting RC kits ever since he could afford them. Now there is no room left and it is time to start selling some of that collection. What better place to list these RC kits and motors than right here on The Best Things website. A model plane kit is more than just a box of wood, it is box full of hope and dreams. Sweet Dreams!

A note from Lee: In the time that I have been involved with RC, there have been some huge changes. Some of them for the better, others, I am not so sure. There are two technological advances that I embrace wholeheartedly, the use of spread spectrum modulation technology, and the use of brushless electric motors with Lipo batteries. In this same time, I have seen a move away from craftsmanship and building, to buying ready made kits. Along with this, there has been a shift in the production of RC products from the US and Europe to low production cost Asian countries. Both of these changes break my heart. I thought that the RC hobby was about more than just flying, it was a whole package deal, that involved creating an airplane that you were proud of, and then flying it. Of course many of us still do that, but many others have missed out on this experience. On the bright side, laser technology and CAD software has opened the door for small companies, often a single person, to bring model airplane kits to market. In the old days, when kits were usually die cut, the tooling costs were typically prohibitive for small companies, and even for large companies, production runs had to be large to make the investment worthwhile. If you want spend quality time with a child, and at the same time teach them some skills that will help to prepare them for the high tech work world that awaits them, I can't think of a better thing to do than to build and fly a model plane with them.



for British, German, and Japanese Model Airplane Kits

for Model Airplane Motors



American Model Airplane Kits
Listed in alphabetical order by manufacturer.



Andrews/Great Planes Big H-Ray Andrews/Great Planes Big H-Ray Andrews/Great Planes Big H-Ray

WP210963 Andrews/Great Planes Big H-Ray This is a clean and complete kit that was built after Great Planes bought Andrews. There is a 1986 copy of the Great Planes catalog in the box. I bought this kit around 1990 from the original owner. I must confess that I removed the parts from the die cut sheets and organized them into groups. At the time I was preparing to build it and then I got distracted by another project. I can vouch for it being complete. The quality of the die cutting was superb. The H-Ray and big H-Ray must be the all time best trainers. The fly great and they are the most durable planes that I have ever encountered. I learned on one and crashed it so many times that any other plane would have been history. In the end I lost it, after hundreds of flights. It had served its purpose at that point. Fine- $245


Berkeley Kit 16-4  Astro Hog Berkeley Kit 16-4  Astro Hog Berkeley Kit 16-4  Astro Hog

WP221029 Berkeley Kit 16-4 Astro Hog The Astro Hog was the first great acrobatic RC kit. After Fred Dunn one the nationals with the Astro Hog, it was the plane to build until the Taurus came along and knocked it off its perch. It is not an easy kit to find, 60+ years later. This one looks complete and has nice clean plans. The box is pretty nice for such and old box, with just some very minor foxing. This is a collector's great example or go ahead and build it. The original owner paid $19.95 for it, but then time have changed. The SIG kit is simplified version of this kit. The biggest difference is the use of strip ailerons, which to my mind changed the entire nature of the plane. I am a purist when I build vintage designs. G++ $295


Carl Goldberg Models: Falcon 56 Mark II Carl Goldberg Models: Falcon 56 Mark II Carl Goldberg Models: Falcon 56 Mark II

WP220618 Carl Goldberg Models: Falcon 56 Mark II This is an original Falcon 56 Mark II from Carl Goldberg Models. This was the followup to the original Falcon 56 that introduced various new features. There is some minor water damage to the box, but the contents appear to be clean and complete. This has a 56" wingspan and calls for .19 to .40 engines. G+ $199




Midwest Products Co.: Little Cap 232 Midwest Products Co.: Little Cap 232 Midwest Products Co.: Little Cap 232

WP230129 Midwest Products Co.: Little Cap 232 This is a complete and untouched Little Cap 232 kit from Midwest Products Co. The box and plans are in crisp condition. The plane has a 62" wingspan and takes either a 2 or 4 stroke engine. It takes a .46-.61 two stroke engine and a .70-.91 four stroke engine. I would call this kit pristine except for a bit of tape that was used to hold the box closed. Fine $299



SIG Mfg Co.: Somethin SIG Mfg Co.: Somethin SIG Mfg Co.: Somethin

WP230131 SIG Mfg Co.: Somethin' Extra SIG Mig Co.'s Somethin' Extra was designed with all skill-levels in mind. It has a 51.5" wingspan and takes either a .40-.46 two stroke engine or a .56-.65 four stroke engine. The contents appear to be undisturbed and the box is pristine. Mint $195




Top Flite Kit RC-23:  F8F-2 Bearcat Top Flite Kit RC-23:  F8F-2 Bearcat Top Flite Kit RC-23:  F8F-2 Bearcat Top Flite Kit RC-23:  F8F-2 Bearcat Top Flite Kit RC-23:  F8F-2 Bearcat

WP23041 Top Flite Kit RC-23: F8F-2 Bearcat This is a F8F-2 Bearcat from Top Flite. The kit calls for a 60 engine and has a 60" wingspan. The contents appear undisturbed, however the box has some sharpie writing and packing tape on the side. One end also shows signs of light crushing, but there is no fading and the label is vibrant. Fine- $399




Top Flite Kit No. RC-18: P-39 Airacobra Top Flite Kit No. RC-18: P-39 Airacobra Top Flite Kit No. RC-18: P-39 Airacobra Top Flite Kit No. RC-18: P-39 Airacobra Top Flite Kit No. RC-18: P-39 Airacobra

WP23042 Top Flite Kit No. RC-18: P-39 Airacobra A yellow box Top Flite's P-39 Airacobra that appears to be undisturbed in the box. It calls for a .40-.60 engine and has a 60" wingspan. The box has some damage along the long edge of its top, as shown in the picturest. The box and label are not faded, however the plans inevitably have some yellowing. G++ $345



Top Flite  Kit No. RC-16:  P-51 Mustang Top Flite  Kit No. RC-16:  P-51 Mustang Top Flite  Kit No. RC-16:  P-51 Mustang Top Flite  Kit No. RC-16:  P-51 Mustang Top Flite  Kit No. RC-16:  P-51 Mustang

WP23043 Top Flite Kit No. RC-16: P-51 Mustang A red boxTop Flite of the P-51 Mustang that appears to be unddisturbed in the original box. It has a 60" wingspan and calls for a .40-.60 engine. The edges of the box have lost considerable color to fading and one end has lost its red entirely. The label has some brown splattering. The plans appear to be in crisp condition. G++ $299



Top Flite: A6M2 Zero Top Flite: A6M2 Zero

WP230133 Top Flite Kit RC-25: A6M2 Zero This is a Top Flite red box A6M2 Zero kit. It is said that the Zero was the best flying model in the red box series, which makes sense as it has a lower wing loading than the others. It has a 61" wingspan and calls for a .60-.90 engine, but the design lends itself to electric conversion.. The kit is in particularly nice condition, with just a small on the left side of the top face, as seen in the photo. Fine $379


Top Flite Kit RC-7-29.95 Top Flite Kit RC-7-29.95 Top Flite Kit RC-7-29.95

WP210956 Top Flite Kit RC-7-29.95 Taurus An apparently undisturbed early Taurus kit. There are two things that make me call this an early kit. The end label still has the $29.95 price as part of the kit number and the little pocket catalog in the box has the Orion but not the Taurus. The box has browned a bit and there is one tear on each side of the lid, but overall it is a pretty crisp box and the contents are superb. I gave it the minus because of the browning of the cardboard, but that is probably unavoidable with the cardboard that they used. I am a bit obsessed with the Taurus and I have had this kit for a long time, but I will never build it and I want somebody else to enjoy owning it. For the connoisseur. Fine- $429


Top Flite Kit RC-14 RC Nobler Top Flite Kit RC-14 RC Nobler Top Flite Kit RC-14 RC Nobler

WP210951 Top Flite Kit RC-14 RC Nobler An apparently undisturbed kit in the original box. The box has discolored a bit with age and has some tape on it, but the label is still quite good. There is a second label that says "Free in the Kit" and this has been blacked out with the same grease pen that wrote the store price on it of $39.95. The wingspan is 51" and it was intended for .29 - .40 2 cycle motors. It says in the manual that it should cruise at 70 - 80 MPH. It is designed to couple the flaps to the elevator. Looking at the contents of the kit, it is full of well shaped and good quality balsa that reminds one why Top Flite had such a good reputation for high quality kits. G++ $245


Top Flite Kit RC-7W Taurus Wing Kit Top Flite Kit RC-7W Taurus Wing Kit

WP210952 Top Flite Kit RC-7W Taurus Wing Kit An apparently undisturbed kit of the wing for the legendary Top Flite Taurus. If you want to build a Taurus without spending what full kit costs, this is a great way to get into a Taurus reasonably. The fuselage and epenage would be easy build from scratch vs. the wing. The wing has pre-formed sheet leading edges that would be difficult to duplicate, as well as all of the ribs for a tapering 70" wing. The box has darkened a bit with age and has some added tape. The brown paper tap is original. The contents are fine but I downgraded it for the box. G++ $149



Wolff-Pak Shrike Wolff-Pak Shrike Wolff-Pak Shrike Wolff-Pak Shrike

WP220619 Wolff-Pak Shrike This is an original Wolff-Pak Shrike Sport-Fun Fly. It has a 60" wingspan and calls for .25-.45 engines. The box is in nice condition and the kit appears to be complete. Rather than a traditional plan sheet, Wolff-Pak utilized an instructional booklet. Fine- $149






for top of American Model Airplane Kits

for top of Model Airplane Motors



British, European, and Japanese Model Airplane Kits
Listed in alphabetical order by manufacturer.



Aristo Craft (Pilot):  Robin Aristo Craft (Pilot):  Robin Aristo Craft (Pilot):  Robin

WP200232 Aristo Craft (Pilot): Robin This is a Pilot kit from the 1960s, or early 1970s, that was imported by Aristo Craft. The plane was designed by Y. Murata. The plans are marked Pilot, and the parts bundles are all labeled Pilot. Aristo Craft was the original importer for Pilot before they began to import directly. The plane is a 57 1/2" wingspan model that calls for a .50 - .60 and looks reminiscent of an Astro Hog. The quality of this kit is superb, as you would expect with any Pilot kit. I have never seen a high-end Japanese kit that wasn't great, and this one is no exception. The contents look undisturbed, including some very high quality hardware. A real gem for the collector. Fine $279


Debonair Racer Junior - Debonair Series No. 13 Debonair Racer Junior - Debonair Series No. 13 Debonair Racer Junior - Debonair Series No. 13 Debonair Racer Junior - Debonair Series No. 13 Debonair Racer Junior - Debonair Series No. 13

WP210418 Debonair Racer Junior - Debonair Series No. 13 This is a high quality Japanese kit, but I I don't know what brand it is. I assume that it was made for the Japanese market, although there is some English writing on it. It builds a 1360mm wingspan, 4 channel plane that looks like a late 60s, early 70s, pattern plane. It even has the original price on the box of 6500 Japanese Yen, which today is roughly $60. Even the plans to not have a designer name on them. The accessory packs are MK brand. These were the best Japanese accessories of that time. If anyone knows more about this kit, please let me know. It is a great kit and deserves to be identified. The kit contents are in great condition but the box shows its age. There is some tape going onto the label and somebody has translated the specs from metric to Imperial in writing on the label. I hope that this kit goes into a series collection. Fine- $245


Gippiesse Miniaviazione Piper Super Cub Gippiesse Miniaviazione Piper Super Cub Gippiesse Miniaviazione Piper Super Cub

WP210955 Gippiesse Miniaviazione Piper Super Cub This is a rare Italian RC kit from the 1980s. It was actually made on the island of Sardinia. It builds a large cub with a 250cm winsspan (98 1/2"). It calls for a 10CC motor. I have had this kit for a long time, but I never had the heart to build such a rare kit. I hope that somebody else will enjoy it. The box shows some shelf wear and some light stains, which is why I gave it a negative. The quality of this kit is very high. It even includes parts to build the sprung landing gear. It was designed by Giovanni Sotgiu. I found a post of his online (in Italian) where he tells the story of his life in modeling and mentions that this is one of three kits that he designed. This one is a real gem. Fine- $385


Graupner Kit Nr. 4217:  HS 91 Clou Graupner Kit Nr. 4217:  HS 91 Clou Graupner Kit Nr. 4217:  HS 91 Clou

WP200231 Graupner Kit Nr. 4217: HS 91 Clou This is a less common Graupner sailplane kit from the late 1960s and early 1970s. It has a most interesting feature, that it comes with two sets of wings. The long set, for thermalling, is 2450mm (96.5"), and the short set for acrobatics is 1890mm (74.5"). The wings plug in with hollow tubes in the wings. I would modifiy these to use carbon fiber in place of steel rods and copper tubing. The box shows its age but the contents look good. Some of the hardware pack may be missing, as there was loose hardware in the box when I got it, and put what I could find in a bag. I would buy it with the understanding that some hardware is missing, which for a collector might be an issue, but as a builder I am assuming that you would want to use new hardware anyway. The kit is adaptable for a motor up front. A glow motor is shown but with the removable canopy, it would be trivial to make this one electric with a folding prop. Somebody has written the wingspans on the side of the box with a marker, and he got the conversion wrong for the longer wing. G++ $399


Graupner Meister Control Line handle

WP200488 Graupner Meister Control Line handle A 1950s CL handle that is as found and has clearly been used but cared for. It includes a roll of wire and the original instruction sheet. G+ $29





Hinode Denko Co. Ltd Kit:  SS-09M - Baron Hinode Denko Co. Ltd Kit:  SS-09M - Baron Hinode Denko Co. Ltd Kit:  SS-09M - Baron Hinode Denko Co. Ltd Kit:  SS-09M - Baron Hinode Denko Co. Ltd Kit:  SS-09M - Baron

WP21041 Hinode Denko Co. Ltd Kit: SS-09M - Baron This rare Japanese kit, called the Baron, appears to be a reduced size Astro Hog, with an approximately 40" wingspan. It has strip ailerons like the SIG Astro Hog, but unlike the original. It is a 4 channel plane and I am guessing that it must be from the late 1960s. It was designed by S. Tangiku and Y. Mazda. Mr. Tangiku went on to found his own company that build fantastic kits until just a few years ago. I bought one in Tokyo and built it. Sadly, I don't think that they were ever marketed in the US. Most Japanese kits that I have handled have been of super quality, and this kit is no exception. It is so rare that it really belongs in a museum. The instructions are all written on the plans in Japanese. Somebody has hand written English translations on the plans. When I built my Tangiku kit, I found that I could build it from plans without understanding the written instructions. Also included is a warning page, showing Asian cartoon characters warning about all of the things that you should not do with an RC plane. It is great. The box is showing its age a bit, and the plans look their age, but the kit itself has no issues. I gave it a minus for the aging of the box and paperwork. I have had this kit for years and I really love it. I just don't have the heart to build it so I thought that I would offer it so that a collector might buy it, or somebody who will reproduce it. Fine- $259


Hinode Denko Co. Ltd .30 - .45 Size Float Kit Hinode Denko Co. Ltd .30 - .45 Size Float Kit

WP21042 Hinode Denko Co. Ltd .30 - .45 Size Float Kit A rare kit that builds a set of floats for a .30 - 45 size RC plane. The floats are 740mm long. This kit was designed by S. Tangiku and Y. Mazda. The box is showing its age and the bottom of the box has a split in the sides ar the middle. The kit itself is very clean. The plans are showing some age and somebody has hand written English translations to the Japanese instructions onto the plans. A rare find that belongs in a collection. Fine- $99


OK Model Co. Pilot Kit No. 304 Crown 300 OK Model Co. Pilot Kit No. 304 Crown 300 OK Model Co. Pilot Kit No. 304 Crown 300

WP191044 OK Model Co. Pilot Kit No. 304 Crown 300 This is an early Pilot kit of a plane that was imported by Nelson Model Products but the intruction booklet is still in Japanese. It is very similar to a scaled down Taurus, except for the top of the fuselage. It could easily be build to look just like a Taurus. The wingspan is 1420mm (57 inches). The kit is very clean with a crisp box and with all of the parts still bundled in the way that the Japanese do their kits. This kit is of superb quality, at least as good as a Top Flite kit of the period. This is the only example of this rare kit that I have seen. Fine $295


Performance Kits Sun Bird Performance Kits Sun Bird Performance Kits Sun Bird

WP130668 Performance Kits Sun Bird I have never seen another example of this kit. My father received it as a gift in 1979 when he was in the hospital. I don't think that it was new then. It builds a 51" stunt biplane. The kit is a classic old school British kit in the tradition of Veron. The labels are some kind of plastic material that has wrinkled. The box has one tear in the side that runs half way up the side. The contents are wonderful and include more accessories than most kits, including a fuel tank, fabric covering, and big rubber wheels that are still like new. The plans have been opened and put back, but the kit has never been removed from the box. I think that this is a real gem. G+ $375


Premier Tiger Moth DH82A De Luxe Kit Premier Tiger Moth DH82A De Luxe Kit Premier Tiger Moth DH82A De Luxe Kit Premier Tiger Moth DH82A De Luxe Kit

WP210954 Premier Tiger Moth DH82A De Luxe Kit This kit builds a 66" wingspan de Haviland Tiger Moth. This is a high-end British kit. I am not sure but I think that it dates from the 80s or 90s. This is the de Luxe version that came with a second box with plastic parts for adding more detail. The kit looks undisturbed on the original box. The box is clean, but the smaller auxillary box has paint splatter all over it. This is a serious kit for the advanced builder. It calls for a .40 to a .91. I don't think that I have ever seen a box show such a wide range for suggested power plants. Of course I would use a slow turinign Axi motor with a big prop for a great scale look. Fine $395


Veron Concord Veron Concord Veron Concord

WP210959 Veron Concord The Concord is a Phil Smith design from the early 1960s. It has a 66" wingspan and was designed for four channel operation. It reminds me of a cross-between a Taurus and a Tauri. It is one of my personal favorites. The box on this one is a little bit beat up and has foxing on the lid. The contents look more or less undisturbed. I bought this one with the idea of building it, but I have too many kits like that, so I am giving you the chance. G+ $395


Veron Concord Veron Concord Veron Concord

WP130666 Veron Concord This was one of the great designs of its time, and was demonstrated around the world in a world tour. It is of the period of the great Taurus, and has some resemblance to that great plane. My father bought this kit new in London in the early 1960s, and it still has the Pan Am luggage tag on the box from his bringing it back. As a child I love to look at it and dream of one day building it. Later, when I was old enough to build it, I couldn't bear the thought of doing so, its having remained untouched for so long. I still enjoy just gazing at the box. I know that I priced this one a bit high, but it has become a very scarce kit, and it is an imporant kit for a number reaons. And finally, I will hate to see it go! The plans are yellowed with age. The kit has never been removed from the box, and is complete down to the spinner, and original wheels, which suprisingly are still supple. I have over the years unfolded the plans and dreamed over them, but that is it. This is a magnificent old school kit, with lots of thick pieces of milled balsa, including the top of the fuselage and the wing leading edges. The box has some tape on it where it was taped to carry it back from London. One end of the box now has torn corners. The label is wonderful, priceless really. I hope that somebody who will love this kit as much as I have buys it. G++ $595


WIK Nr. 1183  BS-1 Bjorn Sailplane Kit WIK Nr. 1183  BS-1 Bjorn Sailplane Kit WIK Nr. 1183  BS-1 Bjorn Sailplane Kit

WP210957 WIK Nr. 1183 BS-1 Bjorn Sailplane Kit A very scarce German sailplane kit from the 1970s. Builds an 87" wingspan T-tail glider. This model was designed by Wilfried klinger and is described as semi-scale. The box has some tape glued residue in one band down the middle, but it is not torn and shows only normal shelf wear. The contents are clean and look undisturbed. I have had this kit a long time and I want somebody else to enjoy owning it now. G++ $399





for top of American Model Airplane Kits

for top of British Model Airplane Kits



Model Airplane Motors
Listed in alphabetical order by manufacturer.



Great Planes ElectriFly PolyCharge 4

ME220919 Great Planes ElectriFly PolyCharge 4 This is a Lithium Polymer (LiPo) battery only charger. It will charge batteries from 300 - 3000 mah and 1 - 4 cells. It can charge 4 different batteries simultaneously. It is in the original box but with the manual, but there are no cables with it, except for the integral cable that connects it to a 12V source. It is a bit dirty from sitting out in a workshop, but it came from the estate of a friend of mine and I know that it was well cared for. It was originally $159.99, and he bought it on a special offer for $104.99. It is not a balancing charger, but I have found that for the lower capacity batteries that really doesn't matter as much as people think as long as you don't charge too fast. The best thing of all is that it is not made in China! Made in Korea. G+ $25


Medusa Research

WP240115 Medusa Research Power Analyzer II. A power analyzer for electric planes. The connectors are Deans. It came from the estate of a deceased friend. It is free to the first person who buys a kit and orders it. G++ $0





Ohlsson & Rice 23 Ohlsson & Rice 23 Ohlsson & Rice 23

ME23024 Ohlsson & Rice 23 A very clean Ohlsson & Rice 23 that came to me from the original owner. It seems to be still set up for ignition use. It is mounted to a firewall mount. Turns freely and has good compression. Fine $45





O&R

WP210738 O&R A new-old-stock Olson & Rice 10/4 wooden propellor along with a very clean 14/5. In my experience, this is a scarce survivor. I see hundreds of old Top Flite wooden propellors, but O&R once are scarce. The 14/5 prop has been mounted on a motor, but I doubt that it was ever run. It is very clean and clearly never had oil on it. Fine+ & Fine $19





To the top of Vintage RC Kits