"Oriental" and "Profile Oriental"

LAST EDITED ON Sep-24-02 AT 08:30 PM (CDT)

With the doubts cast on the "Fidelity" thread.. I talked to Dee Rice yesterday about these airplanes.

Dee was a partner in the "Main Street Raceway", Arlington, TX. which had a very successful slot car operation and hobbies. He bought out his partner, relocated and called the new business "Dee's Hobby House", Arlington, TX.

He operated this business approx. 1966 to 1969.

Part of the emphasis was to get younsters interested in flying controline models. During this period approx. 50 variations of the "Oriental" were built. Both nose and tail moments varied. They were flown with & without wheel pants, and even with wing gears!.

As part of an effort to provide a step up from the "Ringmaster" there were many "Profile Orientals" built. Dee also said that he never built a profile version for himself, and that he doesn't think that any of the "Profile Orintals" were entered in contests.
(This could explain why Al Rabe never saw one.)

This info is from the designer and certainly is "Reasonable Proof"

Another interesting note.. Dee reduced the "Oriental" plans and this became the "Pinto" 1/2A stunter that was later published by Dick Mathis!
This little gem was actually built at Dee's Hobby House.

As another note: Dee Rice is one of those wonderfully nice guys that make stunt so enjoyable... I wish you could all meet him.

Tom N.

Thanks TOM

This post was mentioned in another post from today asking about the Profile Oriental and its eligibility.

Personal note- I had been flying CL somewhat unsuccessfully for a few years when I began RC flying and joined my current flying club(around 1985). A nice gentleman joined the club sometime later, and I found out he flew control line. I flew a few times with him, and he was nice enough to give me some good pointers that helped me improve my CL flying a lot. He was always willing to talk planes and I could tell he was very accomplished in the hobby (both building and flying). I only new him as 'D'.

Years later I found out he was not just Dee, but Dee Rice.