Bell X1 or Douglas D558-1 or a Grumman Goose ?

[rmc]

hey freewing/motion....how about a BELL X1.....or a Douglas D558-1 .............or a Grumman Goose ????????

[Evan D]

All historic but not sure how they would sell. I've seen #'s 1 and 3 of the Douglas D558-1. I was stationed at Pensacola for #1 and #3 is in the museum here in Charlotte.

[xviper]

There's the rub. Will they sell well? Tower Hobby and Flitetest sold one for years. They did NOT sell well at all and both no longer have them. It is questionable if they ever fully recouped their expenses on that one. I doubt the other 2, when translated into an RC model, will have sufficient widespread appeal to warrent a complany like Freewing to commit to the big bucket of money needed to R&D and manufacture and market, but who knows.
If you really wanted one, it's likely better to find plans on the net and build your own.

[F106DeltaDart]

There's the rub. Will they sell well? Tower Hobby and Flitetest sold one for years. They did NOT sell well at all and both no longer have them. It is questionable if they ever fully recouped their expenses on that one. I doubt the other 2, when translated into an RC model, will have sufficient widespread appeal to warrent a complany like Freewing to commit to the big bucket of money needed to R&D and manufacture and market, but who knows.
If you really wanted one, it's likely better to find plans on the net and build your own.

In my opinion, there were some serious issues with both of those. The Great Planes Widgeon was neat, but and well, not a Goose. It was a bit on the heavy side but did ok. Definitely small, which makes it more difficult out on the water. The Flite Test one was also a strange case. A bit too big and expensive for the core Flite Test audience, but too small and lacking in detail for most other flyers. On top of that, they were both Widgeons, and not the Goose!

A properly done Goose for me would need amphib capable retracts, clear cockpit windows, and to be a decent size (1.5m+). It would be a difficult development, particularly the gear, but I'd definitely buy one! Plenty of potential for paint schemes, and could even be released in a warbird scheme. Flexibility to operate amphibiously would open it up to a wider pilot audience than just those with a nearby lake too, and allow operation off snow in the winter, and off the runway or water in the summer.

[Evan D]

Hobby King has an awesome Albatross.

[F106DeltaDart]

Hobby King has an awesome Albatross.

True, I had their Albatross and it's a neat model. Sold it off to get their new PBY instead that I'm hoping to make amphibious at some point.

[xviper]

In my opinion, there were some serious issues with both of those. The Great Planes Widgeon was neat, but and well, not a Goose. It was a bit on the heavy side but did ok. Definitely small, which makes it more difficult out on the water. The Flite Test one was also a strange case. A bit too big and expensive for the core Flite Test audience, but too small and lacking in detail for most other flyers. On top of that, they were both Widgeons, and not the Goose!

A properly done Goose for me would need amphib capable retracts, clear cockpit windows, and to be a decent size (1.5m+). It would be a difficult development, particularly the gear, but I'd definitely buy one! Plenty of potential for paint schemes, and could even be released in a warbird scheme. Flexibility to operate amphibiously would open it up to a wider pilot audience than just those with a nearby lake too, and allow operation off snow in the winter, and off the runway or water in the summer.

All very valid points, which adds to my points when a manufacturer like Freewing/Flightline starts spinning the mental wheels on such a project. I doubt those wheels would spin for very long before they decide it's not a worthy for a profitable venture.

I flew my HobbyKing Albatross just a couple days ago and it was wonderful, a true delight. My HobbyKing PBY finally came into stock and I should have it in about a week. Really looking forward to it. As an aside, I'm not really fussed about having the retractable gear that has been in the works since the model first arrived. Still none in sight. I fly mine primarily in winter on ice/snow and ocassionally in the regular flying season off grass.

[DooHickey]

True, I had their Albatross and it's a neat model. Sold it off to get their new PBY instead that I'm hoping to make amphibious at some point.

I fly my Albatross off the grass , awesome in the air !

[tab28682]

I think there might be a market for a Grumman Goose. Don’t see one for an X-1 or D558-1.

The Great Planes offering of a Widgeon was badly flawed. Poor fiberglass production gave a fuselage 2-3 times heavier than it should have been, on a model with no included flaps. Flite Tests lack of long term success with their excellent foam Widgeon does not automatically mean it was a bad offering. This could have been more about Flite Test being new to and unfamiliar with the scale ARF foam marketplace. I own and fly two of the Widgeons, one converted to a Coast Guard version.

i think more than a few were turned off by the multiple large Flite Test logo decals that were plastered all over the their Widgeon.

I would be an instant buyer for a good Grumman Goose ARF.

[xviper]

I think there might be a market for a Grumman Goose. Don’t see one for an X-1 or D558-1.

The Great Planes offering of a Widgeon was badly flawed. Poor fiberglass production gave a fuselage 2-3 times heavier than it should have been, on a model with no included flaps. Flite Tests lack of long term success with their excellent foam Widgeon does not automatically mean it was a bad offering. This could have been more about Flite Test being new to and unfamiliar with the scale ARF foam marketplace. I own and fly two of the Widgeons, one converted to a Coast Guard version.

i think more than a few were turned off by the multiple large Flite Test logo decals that were plastered all over the their Widgeon.

I would be an instant buyer for a good Grumman Goose ARF.

Do you think that was why it didn't sell very well? I'm glad I didn't compel myself to buy one.
I've just finished putting together the Avios Catalina. Rotating gun terret, retractable wing tip pontoons, diff. thrust, reverse, 2M wingspan. She's a beauty. I hope mine will fly as well as all the videos indicate.

[tab28682]

Do you think that was why it didn't sell very well? I'm glad I didn't compel myself to buy one.
I've just finished putting together the Avios Catalina. Rotating gun terret, retractable wing tip pontoons, diff. thrust, reverse, 2M wingspan. She's a beauty. I hope mine will fly as well as all the videos indicate.

I know that is why the GP Widgeon was not more popular. The Flite Test Widgeon theory is just my theory.

Cannot say enough good about the FT Widgeon. Not certain which ARF factory produced it for FT, but it’s a gem. My first one had a problematic motor, which was promptly replaced. Build quality was super. Fliies beautifully with impeccable water handling Only visual flaw was the horrid huge FT decals. It is still available on Alliexpress (without the ugly FT decals!) but shipping to the US makes the model crazy expensive.

No doubt the new Avios PBY is a winner. I have had and have flown a bunch of PBY models over the years. A twin OS 10 powered one built from RCM plans, a 120” giant scale one from the Bob Holman plans, the twin .40 size one in glass and foam from GP Sales, the Kyosho one and most recently, the Dynam PBY.

A lot of my desire for a PBY model has been fed over the years. Still might get the new Avios one when it is on sale some day, but no big urgency. I’d much rather have a Grumman Goose than another PBY. I might have to build one.