1/24 D-48 Cleveland 1934 Turners Wedell-Williams Racer - Free-Flight Rubber Powered Flying Aircraft
Wood Model Kit, Box Condition: Exc
Very rare 1930s issue that is even rarer in amazing 'excellent' condition box and 'tissue sealed' inside. This is a Cleveland 'D' or dwarf kit. The term 'Dwarf' is just a bit deceptive, as it is Cleveland's designation for 1/24 scale. Most Cleveland kits were designated 'SF' or Scale Flying - 1/16 scale. The Dwarf kits were needed to fill a market demand for smaller flying models. All Cleveland kits were exceptionally complete and Dwarfs were no exception, containing very high quality balsa printwood, stringers & spars, fully formed wheels, covering tissue, a wood propeller that is about 90% carved and just needs final sanding, gray rigging thread (if required), metal and balsa stock as required and more. With Cleveland's famous high-quality plans. Amazingly, this kit is still 'factory tissue sealed' inside. When the Cleveland workers packed each kit, they wrapped them in tissue that effectively made a seal which has not been disturbed. Whoever buys it will be the first one to see the contents since it was packed in the factory over 90 years ago. Cleveland Model and Supply Company played a pivotal role in the development of true scale models. In 1909 Bleriot's English Channel flight caused a surge in aviation and model aircraft around the globe. Several companies were ideally positioned to take advantage of the aviation craze. In the USA, Wading River Manufacturing Co. (1909), White Aeroplane (1911), Ideal Model Aeroplane (1911), Broadfield Model Aeroplanes (1919) were among these pioneers, offering everything from plans and parts to complete kits and ARF models. Lindbergh's 1927 crossing of the Atlantic Ocean caused an even bigger world-wide phenomenon called "The Aviation Craze" that extended up to the start of World War II. Many companies such as Megow, Guillow's and others started right around the time of Lindbergh's flight. Some of these models flew and flew well, but they all had one thing in common - were generally not accurate scale representations. In 1929, a youngster named Ed Packard had a very advanced dream- to produce incredibly accurate, true scale models that flew perfectly. This radical idea established the world's longest running single-owner (77 years) model airplane supply business - Cleveland Model and Supply Company. To this day, Cleveland models are treasured as the most accurate flying scale models produced. The fact that Mr. Packard started and successfully grew this business during The Great Depression is a testament to his ideals and business skill. I highly suggest the excellent book called 'Aviation's great Recruiter - Cleveland's Ed Packard' by H.L. (Herm) Schreiner. It is an excellent history of the man, his company and the times of the Golden Age of Model Aviation.
$75.00