RockyTop Models was formed out of Buzz’s friendship with Mike Midkiff after noting that many of their modeling tastes were similar.  While looking at some of Mike’s new models, Buzz said, “These are nice, someone should kit them” and RockyTop Models was born.  We get our name from our location in the hills of central Tennessee.  We offer quality laser cut kits, with hand selected wood, Esaki tissue and a complete hardware package.  We are proud of our kits and our goal is to make them some of the best available.

The first four kits off our line are Mike Midkiff designs.  Mike, who hails from Hurst Texas, is an experienced modeler who has a reputation for good looking and flying model designs.  Mike has taken his design and drafting skills to a new level by utilizing Computer Aided Design (CAD) tools that allow him to produce an extremely accurate set of drawings.  As a result of Mike’s CAD techniques, these CAD drawings are not only accurate but perfectly symmetrical, including all formers, cowls and ribs. 

RockyTop Models relies on Top Notch Products for their exceptional laser cutting. Top Notch Products is located near us in central Tennessee, allowing us to closely monitor the laser cutting.  Our CAD generated patterns are directly fed into the laser cutter as “cut files” making the process complete with Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) on the laser.  This true CAD/CAM process ensures all parts fit each other and match the plans.

Buzz Trabbic personally ensures that our kits are of exceptional quality.  Buzz’s process involves the extensive critique of all CAD plans and proofing the kits before they are released.  Proofing involves the actual building of a pre-production laser cut kit paying careful attention to part fit and ease of building.  Any changes needed are fed back to the original CAD drawn plans ensuring that any small changes needed are incorporated into the entire CAD/CAM process.  This closed loop process ensures that our kits are some of the finest available.

Why are we producing these quality laser cut kits?  First, because we love them ourselves, and second because we want others to enjoy them too.  We believe there are many modelers out there like us who would like to build these kinds of models.  By offering these quality laser cut kits, it is our hope that others can also share the joy of building and flying them too.  No longer do you have to cut out complicated formers and ribs with a razor blade; they are cut perfectly by our laser!

Joe Mekina is our webmaster and lives in Dayton Ohio.  In addition to his website duties, Joe offers his expertise by serving as a marketing consultant for RockyTop Models. If you need a website for your product, contact Joe directly to discuss what he can offer for you: joemek@sbcglobal.net

Future offerings from RockyTop Models include more of Mike Midkiff’s designs as well as a complete line of Earl Stahl Classic Series airplanes all done with our proven CAD/CAM laser cutting techniques.

Our kits are available for direct online purchasing on our website, www.rockytopmodels.com.  For those without internet capability, kits and supplies may be purchased by phone or regular mail order.

RockyTop Models hopes that you have fun building and flying our quality laser cut kits!  

copyright 2006 RockyTop Models