Page 50 - MFW March 2024
P. 50

DART




    KITTEN



    John Laker














     As a keen trad modeller, I built control line and free flight
     models  in  the  1960’s.  Moving  to  New  Zealand  and
     starting a family curtailed modelling until I built my first RC
     powered glider called Big Bird from plans in 1981.

     I started collecting plans for the ‘future builds’. The first
     was a 108 inch Catalina which to date I have not built, yet!

     In May 1983, I read in a USA magazine, Model Aeroplane
     News, with an article on the build of a ¼ scale model of the
     Dart Kitten and as  I am attracted to aircraft of the 1930’s I
     decided this would be built –one day!  The magazine is
     still  produced,  which  is  surprising,  as  others  have
     disappeared.

     The  articles  author  was  the  American  modeller  Art
     Schroeder (sadly no longer with us). The article included
     the  build  write-up  from  the  Par  Lundquest  (the  model  plans (which was difficult to handle due to an incorrect CG
     designer) and Art added details of his own. I ordered Par’s  shown on the plans), a Decathlon, a 90 inch Cloud Dancer
     plans and studied the details. Art Schroeder stated that  from Fred Reese plans (a great design I flew for aver 15
     the build is for an average builder but I would disagree  years) and several small electric aircraft.  My skills were
     with this. There were a lot of tricky build sequences and  now improving ready for the Dart Kitten. It still took some 4
     some head scratching along the way. He also stated that  years to finish.
     the model would loop and role but the full size version was
     not designed for acrobatics.                             The  original  Dart  Kitten  is  an  orthodox  low  wing  light
                                                              touring aircraft from the mid 1930’s. Designed to be built in
     My building experience and lack of funds curtailed the  a blokes ‘back garden’ if you had the mind to and the room!
     build start and it was not until 2007 that it began! The
     intervening years saw several scale and sports models  The  prototype,  known  as  the  Kitten,  built  by  the  Dart
     built. A ¼ scale Piper Cub from a Sig kit, ¼ scale Tiger  Aircraft Co. was completed in December 1936 and first
     Moth from a Sig kit, then a 1/3 scale Corby Starlet from  flew on January 15th 1937, registration G-AERP. It was

























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