Bill Dean Centenary 2022
June 15 – ‘Concours d’Elegance’ – Begbroke
The concours attracted a very impressive 23 models for the judge’s eye. The range of Bill’s models is certainly impressive. On show we had chuck gliders, scale chuck gliders, (a 4 engined Bristol Britannia, I kid you not) through to sport free flight design, both rubber and power, I/C scale models and control line
There is a Gallery of the Concours here
Best Scale Model : Keil Kraft Piper Super Cruiser by Bill Dennis
Most Impressive AND Most courageous : Keil Kraft Outlaw + PAW 149 with no D/T by Gary Law
Most Charming : Bristol Britannia chuck glider by Simon Rogers
Most Charismatic AND Worst Plan : G A Cygnet by Simon Rogers (there was speculation that Bill hadn’t actually built from the plan, because nothing fitted)
Most Outstandingly Tatty : Keil Kraft Competitor by Jim Paton
Most Lurid Colour Scheme : New A.M. Cabin Duration mostly in fluorescent pink by Andrew Longhurst (proxy-displayed by Jim Paton)
Bill Dennis’s KK Piper Super Cruiser at the August 6 – Fly in – Port Meadow
It’s 20 years since Bill died and next year is 100 years since he was born, so we’re planning a low-key ‘Concours d’Elegance’ at Begbroke on June 15, during which (of course) prizes will be awarded, and an informal fly-in on the meadow on August 6 from 4pm until dusk
Andrew Longhurst made the original suggestion of having some sort of event to mark Bill Dean’s vast body of work; Bill was very prolific and designed around a hundred models, many of them can be found on Outerzone. There is a list below along with references of where to download the plan or buy the kits.
Bill Dean
With a career that began in the UK and ended in the US, Bill gained a reputation not only on both sides of the Atlantic but also world-wide as a columnist, reporter and draughtsman for a number of periodicals. Power duration models, Wakefield rubber duration craft and A2 gliders sprang from his drawing board. Bill did much to foster interest in Jetex and to promote the efforts of other designers
At the age of 16, Bill Dean joined the staff of Aeromodeller, in 1939, and worked there with another of the greats of UK design, Ron Warring. Called up for military service in 1941, Bill joined the Royal Air Force and, posted to Rhodesia, became an instructor on Harvards. After demobilisation in 1946, Bill again joined forces with Ron Warring who had parted company with Aeromodeller following disagreement with its owner, D.A. Russell. As free-lance designers, Bill and Ron produced a series of publications for the Ian Allen group, variously called Model Aviation, Model Aeronautics and Model Planes Annual. They were also regular contributors to Model Aircraft. When D.A. Russell ceased to be involved in Aeromodeller, they resumed their contributions to that magazine as well.
Bill Dean also linked up with Eddie Keil on leaving the RAF and became in-house designer for Keilkraft kits. His designs were to include Jetex craft, gliders, rubber-driven models and his ‘Slicker’ series of power duration models, first seen at rallies in 1947. Bill Henderson recalls how Bill Dean’s Slicker X power model astonished spectators with its powerful climb at the British Nationals of that year. It was kitted by Keilkraft as the ‘Super Slicker’. Eddie named Bill’s Wakefield ‘Gipsy’ as a way of pulling Bill’s leg about his long hair and sandals. With the appearance of the new Jetex motors in June 1948, Bill promptly became an enthusiastic advocate.
His ‘Skyjet’ series for Keil Kraft appeared four months later and his first published Jetex model design, ‘Jetwing’ for the 100 motor, was printed in the 1949 Model Planes Annual, at the end of that year. This was followed by the ‘Jetex Canard’ in the January 1951 Model Aircraft and the Jetex 350 ‘Flying Saucer’ in the August 1951 Model Aircraft.
Again in concert with Ron Warring, Bill founded the Zombies model club, having an invitation-only membership, catering to well known names in the control-line, power duration and Wakefield classes. With such an expert group, the Zombies became a force to be reckoned with in the contest scene. In the mid-fifties, Bill contributed a ‘Model Talk’ column to the Royal Air Force Flying Review.
In 1953, Bill Dean attended the A2 World Championships in Yugoslavia where he met members of the Zaic family and became aware of opportunities for model designers in the US. Bill subsequently moved across the Atlantic, where his first job was with the Zaic brothers’ model company, Jasco (later Jetco), which had been run during WWII by Frank Zaic’s father and his sister Christine. Bill also worked as a freelance editor for Air Trails, as a columnist (‘Modeler’s Guide’) for American Modeler and with SIG on their advertisements.
Bill suffered serious injuries on being hit by a vehicle in a car park. The compensation he received allowed him to set up a book and magazine subscription service, Bill Dean Books Ltd, in Whitestone, NY, but his designing days had come to an end.
Thanks to Bryan Gostlow and the IVCMAC for the Bill Dean Biography
Below is a non-exhaustive list of Bill Dean’s designs from Andrew Longhurst
| Category | Date | Name | Span | Notes | Kits | Plans |
| P | Aug-48 | Outlaw | 50 | Sport | M-P | |
| CL | Oct-48 | Stuntmaster | 30 | Stunter | M-P | |
| G | Dec-40 | Polaris | 20 | Chukkie | VMC | M-P |
| R | Dec-46 | Competitor | 32 | Cabin Duration | VMC | M-P |
| G | Jan-47 | Bantam | 16 | Chuck Glider | M-P | |
| R | Feb-47 | Eaglet | 24 | Cabin Duration | VMC | M-P |
| CL | Oct-47 | Phantom | 21 | Trainer | Belair | M-P |
| CL | Jun-48 | Phantom Mite | 16 | Trainer | VMC | M-P |
| P | Jun-48 | Southener Mite | 32 | Sport | M-P | |
| R | Jun-48 | Playboy | 20 | Cabin Duration | VMC | M-P |
| CL | 01/04/1950? | Skystreak 40 | 26 | Stunter | Belair | M-P |
| G | Jul-50 | Chief | 64 | Duration | Belair | M-P |
| R | Sep-50 | Ace | 30 | Duration | Belair/VMC | M-P |
| R | Aug-51 | Elf | 16 | Cabin Duration | VMC | M-P |
| JSc | Aug-51 | Mig 15 | 15 | Stick and Tissue | M-P | |
| CL | Nov-53 | Champ | 20 | EeziBilt | VMC | M-P |
| CL | May-59 | Demon | 30 | Team Racer (Webster re-drawn) | M-P | |
| CL | Jun-60 | Phantom | 27 | Sport (Webster re-design) | Belair/VMC | M-P |
| G | 1979? | Katie | 30 | All Sheet Glider in KK handbook | M-P | |
| Sc | May-41 | G A Cygnet | 19 | G A Cygnet | OuterZ | |
| R | Aug-41 | AM Cabin Duration | 20 | 23″ Cabin model | OuterZ | |
| R | May-42 | The Balsa Bug | 22 | Triangular Fuselage Rubber Model | OuterZ | |
| R | Jul-42 | Solid Stick Model | 20 | Solid Stick Rubber Outerzone | OuterZ | |
| R | Oct-42 | The Streamliner | 32 | Sreamliner | OuterZ | |
| R | Dec-46 | Strato Baby | 20 | Duration | OuterZ | |
| R | Dec-46 | Vampire Semi Scale | 9 | Pusher | OuterZ | |
| R | Apr-47 | Contestor Wake (1946) | 45 | WAKE KK kit in 1949 | OuterZ | |
| J | Nov-48 | Skyjet 100 | 24 | Duration | OuterZ | |
| J | Nov-48 | Skyjet 200 | 32 | Duration | OuterZ | |
| G | Jan-49 | Comet | 24 | Chukkie | VMC | OuterZ |
| P | Mar-49 | Super Slicker | 60 | Duration | OuterZ | |
| J | Jul-49 | Skyjet 50 | 18 | Duration | VMC | OuterZ |
| R | Aug-49 | Contestor | 45 | Wake | Belair/VMC | OuterZ |
| J | Nov-49 | Jet Wing | 19 | WWW.Outerzone plan | OuterZ | |
| Sc | Jan-51 | Piper Super Cruiser 40 | 40 | Power Scale | OuterZ | |
| J | Jan-52 | Duo Monoplane | 15 | All sheet Jetex 50 Outerzone | OuterZ | |
| P | Jun-52 | Skylon | 38 | Duration | OuterZ | |
| R | Dec-52 | New AM Cabin Duration | 20 | Update of AM Cabin Duration | OuterZ | |
| J | Jun-53 | Supermarine 508 Scimitar | 28 | Ducted Fan | OuterZ | |
| J | Mar-54 | Conrad Conrod | 13 | WWW.Outerzone plan | OuterZ | |
| G | Jun-55 | Eaglet | 65 | WWW.Outerzone plan | VMC | OuterZ |
| G | Jul-55 | Eagle | 66 | A2 Glider | OuterZ | |
| RcSc | Jan-60 | Piper Cub J-3 | 70 | RC | OuterZ | |
| R/C G | Feb-60 | Chief | 60 | R/C glider version of KK Kit | VMC | OuterZ |
| P | Jan-64 | Shrike | 21 | Ducted Fan Outerzone | OuterZ | |
| G | Dec-46 | Spook | 12 | Chukkie Outerzone | VMC | OuterZ/M-P |
| P | Aug-47 | Slicker | 42 | Duration | OuterZ/M-P | |
| P | Mar-48 | Slicker Mite | 42 | Duration | Belair | OuterZ/M-P |
| P | May-48 | Slicker 50 | 50 | Duration | OuterZ/M-P | |
| P | Jul-48 | Bandit | 44 | Sport | VMC | OuterZ/M-P |
| R | Jul-49 | Gipsy | 40 | Wake | VMC | OuterZ/M-P |
| P | Aug-49 | Pirate | 34 | Sport | VMC | OuterZ/M-P |
| P | Dec-49 | Southerner | 60 | Sport | Belair | OuterZ/M-P |
| G | Feb-50 | Cadet | 30 | Duration | VMC | OuterZ/M-P |
| G J | Mar-50 | Cub | 20 | Duration Glider/Jet | VMC | OuterZ/M-P |
| CL | Apr-50 | Skystreak 26 | 26 | Stunter | VMC | OuterZ/M-P |
| CL | Apr-51 | Ranger | 24 | Team Racer | Belair/VMC | OuterZ/M-P |
| CL | Feb-52 | Pacer | 30 | Team Racer | Belair/VMC | OuterZ/M-P |
| G | May-53 | Sabre | 12 | Chuck Glider Semi Scale Outerzone | OuterZ/M-P | |
| R | Jun-55 | Scout | 17 | Profile Rubber in ready cut balsa | OuterZ/M-P | |
| Sc | Jan-56 | Cessna 170 | 36 | Power Scale | VMC | OuterZ/M-P |
| RcSc | Jan-60 | Luscombe Silvaire | 40 | WWW.Outerzone plan | VMC | OuterZ/M-P |
| G | Jan-54 | Hawk | 12 | Balsa Profile | RC Library | |
| G | Jan-54 | Swallow | 18 | Balsa Profile | RC Library | |
| R | Jan-54 | Buzzard | 22 | Balsa Profile | RC Library | |
| G | Jan-54 | Condor | 24 | Balsa Profile | RC Library | |
| R | Jan-54 | Falcon | 22 | Balsa Profile | RC Library | |
| G | Jan-54 | Swift | 4.5 | Semi Scale Balsa Profile | RC Library | |
| G | Jan-54 | Skyray | 5 | Delta Balsa Profile | RC Library | |
| G | Jan-54 | Britannia | 11 | Balsa Profile Airliner | RC Library | |
| G | Jan-54 | Flying wing | 11 | Balsa Profile | RC Library | |
| G | Jan-54 | Canard | 13 | Balsa Profile | RC Library | |
| G | Jan-54 | DART Kite-launched Midget Glider | 4 | Balsa Profile Kite-launched Midget Glider | RC Library | |
| J | Jan-54 | Vulture | 18 | Balsa Profile | RC Library | |
| J | Jan-54 | Space scout | Balsa Profile – Flying Saucer? | RC Library |
Key
RC Library – rclibrary.co.uk – Free download full size PDF
OuterZ – Outerzone.co.uk – Free download full size PDF
M-P – model-plans.co.uk– Full size prints at cost
Belair – Belairkits.com – Plans and kits
VMC – Vintagemodelcompany.com – Plans and Kits
In addition some of Bill’s Jetex plans can be found here
Jetex – Jetex.org – Jet plans and Rocket motors
Note: If you download a full-size PDF plan you can tile print it on A4 sheets with joining overlap via Adobe Acrobat (free version). Select “Poster“ mode.