Kenhi Wildcat??

I just got started on building a Kenhi Wildcat and was wondering if anyone knows when the kit was manufactured and does it qualify for Old Time Stunt? There is no info on the plans as far as dates go but they show alot of old engines for applications. I was surprised it came with a 4 inch bellcrank. Any info on this would be appreciated.

It shows up in the very early '50s model airplane mags in a Kenhi ad, also showing other models, such as the Panther, Cougar, etc. Can't say exactly when the design was complete, though.

When I totalled my first gen Panther this Fall, I too was surprised by the 4" bellcrank, also bent in helpful ways to assist clearances. This was one I had restored.

>I just got started on building a Kenhi Wildcat and was
>wondering if anyone knows when the kit was manufactured and
>does it qualify for Old Time Stunt? There is no info on the
>plans as far as dates go but they show alot of old engines
>for applications. I was surprised it came with a 4 inch
>bellcrank. Any info on this would be appreciated.

Mr CR, there were two versions that I know of, the first one is
OTS legal; the second version is not. It's easy to differentiate
between versions, the first version has approx 390 sq" of wing area,
the second version is much smaller...less than 300sq"...the sister
model "Bobcat" is similar..it too has 390sq" wing area on the first
version. The "Bobcat" actually has a bigger wing (slightly) than the
Wildcat.the Bobcat is flapless. they both look like Barndoor models
from the top view.

A lot of people think that the 4" bellcrank is a modern innovation.

It is not.

The Kenhi 4" bellcrank came with holes in the arms so that you could convert it from a 4" to a 3" or even a 2" bellcrank. It also gave you a choice of 4 different holes to place the pushrod in to allow a choice of different flap/elevator ratios.

De

Tony,

Am I reading your reply correctly? The smaller of the two, i.e., the plane with under 300in² (possibly 288in²?) is not OTS legal? Just want to make certain that I have it right.

>Tony,
>
>Am I reading your reply correctly? The smaller of the two,
>i.e., the plane with under 300in² (possibly 288in²?) is
>not OTS legal? Just want to make certain that I have
>it right.
>

Hi Old Sourdough...You read me correctly..the second, smaller Bocat
and Wildcat versions were released right on the cusp of the cutoff date.
When I get home tomorrow morning, I'll check my magazine
ads for year and month validation. I have a Kenhi Bobcat(first ver.) Kit at
home. Interestingly, the pre-cutoff date magazine ads show the
fuselage with an open cockpit; the later version Bob and Wild' ads
show an enclosed canopy arrangement(like the Smoothie)...Like I
said, when I get home, I can also check the plans for date and specs.
Tony

>I just got started on building a Kenhi Wildcat and was
>wondering if anyone knows when the kit was manufactured and
>does it qualify for Old Time Stunt? There is no info on the
>plans as far as dates go but they show alot of old engines
>for applications. I was surprised it came with a 4 inch
>bellcrank. Any info on this would be appreciated.

Yes It's Old Time. AS WE SPEAK I’m looking at ALL of Hi Johnson early planes. I just received the Stuka and Mustang.
I'm Building a Midwest Cougar it's 75% finished.

Scott(you can call me Ray but not Ray J.)Riese

Thanks for all the input. Tony I'm looking at the cover on the box and it gives the wing area 288 sq in., flap area 41.25 sq in. and a total wing area of 329.25 sq. in. It also has airfoil HJ-03515 which I'm not familiar on what that means.It also says the finished weight should be app. 20 oz. I would imagine that would be less engine. Wing loading .0606 oz per sq in. Is that good or bad. Anyway it sounds like I can enter it in OTS. My first one flew like a dream. I just need to make up my mind on which engine to use. My first 2 choices were an OS Twinstack 29 or a Fox 25 Stunt. I'm leaning more towards my plainbearing Thunder Tiger 25 which would probably be the best choice. Again everyone has been very helpful and it's amazing what I learn everytime I bring up this Forum.
Thanks;-)

Clyde,

This plane is OTS legal and its pilot more than qualifies as OTS, too. Do you remember it?

Say "Hi," to De Hill for me when you see him in four months in Tuscon. He was in your shop a couple of summers ago when he and Ruby visited here.

Actually, CR used to fly pretty regularly here in beautiful, downtown Ruksakinmakiak. He's not too bad a guy for someone so old!! He got a yen for warmer climes and moved to Reno a couple of years ago. We miss him here, although he does make it back every summer (so far) and fly a bit with us.

>Thanks for all the input. Tony I'm looking at the cover on
>the box and it gives the wing area 288 sq in., flap area
>41.25 sq in. and a total wing area of 329.25 sq. in. It also
>has airfoil HJ-03515 which I'm not familiar on what that
>means.It also says the finished weight should be app. 20 oz.
>I would imagine that would be less engine. Wing loading
>.0606 oz per sq in. Is that good or bad. Anyway it sounds
>like I can enter it in OTS. My first one flew like a dream.
>I just need to make up my mind on which engine to use. My
>first 2 choices were an OS Twinstack 29 or a Fox 25 Stunt.
>I'm leaning more towards my plainbearing Thunder Tiger 25
>which would probably be the best choice. Again everyone has
>been very helpful and it's amazing what I learn everytime I
>bring up this Forum.
>Thanks;-)

Hi Cr, Like I said in my Old Sourdough response, I'll double check
the date and specs for you when I get home later this morning.
There is a bit of a difference in appearance between the the versions
.. the same goes for the OTS legal Cougar and the later iterations.
Tony

>Thanks for all the input. Tony I'm looking at the cover on
>the box and it gives the wing area 288 sq in., flap area
>41.25 sq in. and a total wing area of 329.25 sq. in. It also
>has airfoil HJ-03515 which I'm not familiar on what that
>means.It also says the finished weight should be app. 20 oz.
>I would imagine that would be less engine. Wing loading
>.0606 oz per sq in. Is that good or bad. Anyway it sounds
>like I can enter it in OTS. My first one flew like a dream.
>I just need to make up my mind on which engine to use. My
>first 2 choices were an OS Twinstack 29 or a Fox 25 Stunt.
>I'm leaning more towards my plainbearing Thunder Tiger 25
>which would probably be the best choice. Again everyone has
>been very helpful and it's amazing what I learn everytime I
>bring up this Forum.
>Thanks;-)

Hello again CR, I just went through my early MANs and my Bobcat kit..
the OTS Wildcat version is bigger than your specs..the OTS specs are:
wing span: 39"
length Overall : 30.25"
wing Area: 330sq"....flap area: 55sq"
total area: 385sq"
finished weight: 2.25 lbs.
This Wildcat ver. appears in an ad in the August 1952 MAN.

In MAN(Model Airplane News) May, 1953 issue, Kenhi announced the
"New Wildcat" and the "New Bobcat"... these model kits have
the Specs You described in your above quote. The Bobcat suffered
even more in the redesign; dropping to a total wing area of 224sq".
Dixon has the plans for the redesigned Wildcat and Bobcat, they are
to be found in the "Classic" section: http://members.tripod.com/~TomDixon/plans2.htm
Regardless of your model's OT legality... It's a very attractive ship
and you remember that it's a great flying model...Have a Great Time
building and flying Your "Wildcat"
Tony G

>Yes It's Old Time. AS WE SPEAK I’m looking at ALL of Hi
>Johnson early planes. I just received the Stuka and Mustang.
>I'm Building a Midwest Cougar it's 75% finished.
>
>Scott(you can call me Ray but not Ray J.)Riese

No Scott, I don't believe CR's model kit is the OTS legal version.
The wing area is too small...really
Tony

While the experts are focused, I have a related question. Is the original Panther kit legal for OTS. I had always assumed that it was not, but noticed in someone's listing of vintage kits, that it was originally a 1952 design. what say you o all knowing gurus?
Steve

>While the experts are focused, I have a related question.
>Is the original Panther kit legal for OTS. I had always
>assumed that it was not, but noticed in someone's listing of
>vintage kits, that it was originally a 1952 design. what
>say you o all knowing gurus?
>Steve

I don't think so, Steve, The Panther is not mentioned in the pre-1953
magazine ads.....Tony

Amazing. I have just been through all my 1952 MAN issues looking for a Johnnie Casburn plane and here is a full page add in the Dec 52 issue for the Kenhi products. Wildcat, Bobcat, Mustang, Cougar, Beaver (ff). All dimensions are given: WS; Wildcat=39",330 sq, WS:Bobcat=39",387 sq, WS: Mustang=48",372 sq. WS: Cougar=51",412.5 sq. WS: Beaver=44",233.375 sq. ALL models are shown as drawings and all have enclosed cockpits. In fact all but the Mustang and Beaver remind me of the Smoothie also except for the wings. If you want more stats including wing loading let me know.

Ty
I built this kit back in the mid 50's and the Bobcat and they were identical except the Bobcat didn't have the flaps and didn't fly as well as the Wildcat. My kit with the flaps gives total wing area as 229.25 sq in about .75 of a sq in difference. so I'm still wondering if this will qualify for OTS or if the only difference is the size of the wing. With the tips it measured 37 inches not 39. I could make it bigger if thats the only difference. The fuselage sounds the same.

In the Dec 52 ad, it shows the Wildcat with flaps, WS=39", WA=330 sq, overall length=30 1/4", flap area 55 sq", total wing area=385 sq", Air Foil=HJ (Hi Johnson)03515, finished wt approx 2 1/4 lbs.,wing loading =.093 oz.,class .19 to .35, type=full stunt, price=$4.45. The Bobcat is without flaps, price=$3.95, wing area =387 sq" (where did that exra 2 inches come from??) same airfoil, wing loading=.083 oz, finished wt= 2 lbs and is listed as a stunt trainer. The only visual difference being the flaps. I hope this helps.

CR,

I built and flew the original Kenhi Wildcat in the Fall of '52 or Winter of '53. I loved the the 3/8" thick flaps that rolled smoothly on the 3/8" trailing edge. The long about 8" flap control horn was one of the best I have ever used. After the demise of my Wildcat (my fault-not the plane's) in learning to stunt, I used the flap horn to control flaps on the lower wing of a Sterling Neuiport 28 and it worked like a charm.

That original Kenhi Wildcat was a nice kit and an excellent design. I powered mine with a Veco 31. One of my flying Buddies at Georgia Tech, Melvin Morrell, built the revised Wildcat in 1955 and let me fly it. It flew nicely with a K&B 19. But it was a smaller more 19 size plane. I think it was a 36" span wing and the wing was thinner and had somewhat less chord.

Thanks for stirring these old memories.

Keep 'em Flying! It makes Uncle Sam Happy.

Don Wilkins

Don
I love the construction of the wing, it reall builds lite and strong. This was one of the most stable small planes I ever built and I think it was mainly the 4 inch bellcrank. I can't wait to get it done and I'll keep you posted on the flight.

Now this is interesting. In the January 1954 issue of MAN, Kenhi lists the Badger (ff), Cougar=54" ws, Panther=508 sq", Wildcat=37" ws. Hmm. Buzzer'd (rc and ugly), Bobcat=37"ws. What did they do, actually measure them and get it right, or did the plans shrink?? Those old time companys drive me nuts trying to get the facts straight. They can't get their own facts straight, how are OTS and Classic judges going too?? ha, ha. Don't cha jus luv it. cha cha cha. Jimmie Durante.