Cleveland Model & Supply Company
Cleveland Model & Supply Company, the oldest, continuously-operating model airplane company in the world, was founded in 1926 by Edward T. Pachasa (later Packard). For more 75+ years this company has been producing fine-scale model plans and kits. This company's plans are truly wonderful. Click HERE for a brief history of the company.
The range of plans is wide, and the detail is terrific. The prices may be a bit more than some would want, but hey, you get what you pay for... Most plans sell for between $10.00 and $70.00, depending on the plan size.
Drawing Origins And Scales
Most Cleveland Model & Supply Company subjects were originally prepared in 1/16th
scale, or 3/4 inch equals one foot, which was referred to in company literature as
“Scale Flying” (abbreviated “SF”). Select, single-engine subjects and
some larger, multi-engine subjects, were prepared in 1/24th scale, or 1/2 inch equals one
foot, which was referred to in company literature as “Dwarf” (abbreviated
“D”). The original scale of the drawing is noted on the title block. Material
thicknesses called out on the plans were specific to the scale that the plan was prepared
in. From these fundamental scales, the other scales (1/32, 1/24, 1/16, 1/12, 1/6, 1/8,
1/4) that the subjects are offered in are digital reductions or enlargements from the base
scale.
Therefore, the material thicknesses specified on the reduced or enlarged-scale
drawings are not necessarily relevant for that scale. Also, with a few exceptions, the
models were designed as free-flight, rubber-powered models. Therefore, details concerning
motor or engine selection, receiver and servo selection and placement, retractable landing
gear detail, etc. are not shown. Builders may modify the model for electric or gas power,
radio control, retractable landing gear, etc.
The company grades their plans into four levels of quality:
PLATINUM
The highest quality. A standard reserved for plans having the highest level of detail, including engine details, cockpit and/or interior detail, scale rib spacing, the highest level of scale fidelity, etc.
GOLD
A standard reserved for plans having a very high level of detail, including engine detail, cockpit detail, superior scale fidelity, etc.SILVER
A standard reserved for plans having a high level of detail, including detailed engine fronts, limited cockpit detail, excellent scale fidelity, etc.
BRONZE
A standard reserved for plans having good scale fidelity but not having the level of detail exhibited in the platinum, gold, and silver standards.
Why the variation in quality?
Today, the quality of scale documentation is taken for granted. Nearly all
historically-significant aircraft, particularly military aircraft, are well documented. In
addition, many less-historically-significant aircraft are well documented. When some
of the earlier subjects were prepared (in the 1920s and 1930s), adequate documentation was
not available nor were actual aircraft available to measure and photograph. Such was
the case with several World War I and World War II subjects. For some World War II
subjects, official government censorship limited the availability of scale documentation
and aircraft for measurement and photographic documentation.
The catalog sections of interest of virtual modelers are:
Cleveland Primary Product Line
Presently, more than 100 aircraft manufacturers are represented in this section, 13
aircraft types, and five aviation eras. The plans are listed by Aircraft Manufacturer, by
Aircraft Type (fighter, bomber, trainer, transport, etc.); and by Aviation Era.
A list of the Golden Age plans can be viewed HERE.
The subjects in the Cleveland Primary Product Line cover five different aviation eras, including:
- Dawn of Flight (pre-1914)
- World War I (1914 to 1918)
- Golden Age (1919 to 1938)
- World War II (1939 to 1945)
- Post World War II (1946- )
In addition, the subjects cover thirteen aircraft types, including:
- Aviation Pioneer
- Bombers
- Fighters
- Observation Aircraft
- Trainers
- Airliner & Cargo Aircraft
- Light Commercial Aircraft
- Light Civilian Aircraft
- Racers
- Amphibians
- Float & Sea Planes
- Flying Boats
- Equipment
Example Plan from Primary Line: Howard DGA-6 "Mr. Mulligan"
(CD-052)
Cleveland Secondary Product Lines
In the early years, the company designed and marketed many scale subjects, which were
not in precise scales. These plans were designed for simplified construction, and lower
cost, relative to the “SF” or “D” lines. These objectives resulted in
lighter-weight subjects which, generally, flew better than the “museum-scale”
models. These lines appeal to modelers whose primary interest is in flying rather
than in building true-to-scale models.
The company currently offers these types of plans:
Industrial Training
This fine line was offered for school projects during World War II. The line includes “IT” (Industrial Training) subjects having wing spans of 24 to 36 inches, and “T” subjects having 36-inch spans.
Example Plan from Industrial Training Line: Westland Whirlwind (T-105)
Representative
The “Representative” (“Rep” or “R”) line was introduced in 1936 as 20-inch-span models. Subjects in this line are characterized for their building ease and for their excellent flying qualities.
Example Plan from Representative Line: Grumman G-22 "Gulfhawk II" (R-70)
Free Lance
The historic “Free Lance” (“FL”) line, includes profile, single-engine and twin-engine, rubber-powered models with 10 inch to 36 inch wing spans. The “100” and “200” series are single-engine models. The “300” series are twin-engine models having built-up fuselages but having profile engine nacelles.
Example Plan from Free Lance Line: Consolidated Commodore (FL-304)
Cleveland Model & Supply Co., Inc.
P.O. Box 55962
Indianapolis, IN 46205
phone: (317) 257-7878
