Cleveland 1/16 Republic SeaBee 28 Inch Wingspan Balsa Flying Aircraft, SF-88

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Cleveland 1/16 Republic SeaBee 28 Inch Wingspan Balsa Flying Aircraft, SF-88 plastic model kit

1/16 SF-88 Cleveland Republic SeaBee 28 Inch Wingspan Balsa Flying Aircraft

Wood Model Kit,   Box Condition: Good-

NOTE: ideal builder, please read carefully. Comes with an original Republic SeaBee fold out, illustrated brochure. This is a Deluxe, large box issue Cleveland 'SF' or 'Scale Flying' model in museum scale of 1/16. The kit came from a long time collector of 1930s and 1940s models. Features very high quality balsa printwood and strip wood, fully formed wheels, balsa blocks and sheet wood, other wood stock, covering material, highest quality plans and more. There is no assembly but NOTE: some (not all) parts have been neatly cut from the two the printwood sheets. Quality of the cutting is professional, which says a great deal since most the parts are fuselage bulkheads (the hardest to cut out). I have inventoried the kit and it appears to be complete other than (2) W15 and (2) W16, which are very simple strengtheners at the fuselage top for the wing. They can be easily made. All other parts and 'excellent' condition plans are included. This is a wartime issue so there are no fluids. 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.

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