1/24 D-64 Cleveland Beechcraft C17B Staggerwing Flying Wood Aircraft
Wood Model Kit, Box Condition: Good
This is a Cleveland 'D' or dwarf kit from the 1940s/50s. The term 'Dwarf' is deceptive here. 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 - especially of the larger aircraft. The 'D' kits, like this Staggerwing, are 1/24. The kit came from a long time collector of 1930s and 1940s models and is in exceptional condition. All Cleveland kits were exceptionally complete and this one is no exception. Features very high quality balsa printwood and strip wood, fully formed wheels, covering material, highest quality plans and more. The model has not been started. Inventoried complete. 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.
This item has been sold.
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