I built a couple - both static and flying models. The static ones I recall were a white pine P-80 (before redesignation to F-80), a plastic DGA-4 "Mike", and a plastic P-51D with clear fuselage panels so the Merlin, tanks, radios etc. were visible.
Also had a cheap controlline trainer - with a cranky .049 glow plug engine that was really difficult to start. Also several scratch-built rubber-power planes - one with the fuselage made of a thin balsa sheet roll-formed into a tube; a true monocoque fuselage.
I also made a small hand-launched flying wing glider that I launched from the roof on a few occasions!
But I had an older cousin who got into very early radio control (late 40s or early 50s). Windup rubber escapement giving rudder control only (neutral, hard left, neutral, hard right...) He later went on to restore fullscale biplanes and won several trophies.