Wen-Mac - Cox's early competition

The Aero-mite had a long run from Wen-Mac (1950) through the 50's, into the AMF years (c.'65) different names, different engines, different colors, tail dragger and trike.


OK Cub (.049B) powered.


Mine, with Top Flite prop added, thought it looked better than factory red plastic Kaysun prop.


Tricycle gear c. 1958


Last of the line, still AMF (c.1965) Testors later used this type of packaging, '67-'68.

From a purely aesthetic point of view I prefer the look of the first edition Baby Spitfire. The cylinder stands thin and proud and the cutouts for the venturi and filler/vent tubes are so nicely done. Also the securing point at the end of the fuel tank seems to be a plus.

I have a couple of the Automite Wen equipped cars but found it difficult to justify the prices asked for the planes.

Nice examples all.

Bob

[quote="Mark Boesen"]The Aero-mite had a long run from Wen-Mac (1950) through the 50's, into the AMF years (c.'65) different names, different engines, different colors, tail dragger and trike.

Boy Mark, I have never seen the Cub version. Was this factory?

rsv1cox wrote:From a purely aesthetic point of view I prefer the look of the first edition Baby Spitfire.  The cylinder stands thin and proud and the cutouts for the venturi and filler/vent tubes are so nicely done.  Also the securing point at the end of the fuel tank seems to be a plus.  

I have a couple of the Automite Wen equipped cars but found it difficult to justify the prices asked for the planes.  

Nice examples all.

Bob

The Aeromite actually encased the nose and the Radial mount lugs of the Baby spit. This first fuselage was a lot thicker, thus heavier than the later ones. The screw on the back of the tank seems to really be used to secure the landing gear.

The Wasp version did use the screw at the back of the tank to retain the engine. From here on, the landing gear was retained between the top and bottom pillars and bolt and nut that held the fuselage together.

The Wen Mac version used beam mounts and machine screws threaded into moulded or pressed in brass nuts. Mark has pictures of an Aeromite with an OK Cub 049B. That engine had the same bolt pattern as the Wen Mac and was out in 1953. I wonder if Wen MAc was short on engines or something and used the Cub.

GWILLIEFOX wrote:

Mark Boesen wrote:The Aero-mite had a long run from Wen-Mac (1950) through the 50's, into the AMF years (c.'65) different names, different engines, different colors, tail dragger and trike.

Boy Mark, I have never seen the Cub version.  Was this factory?

....yes? I think so? it might be? don't really know?

lol, its a picture i swiped off of a eBay auction years ago, it looks like a factory set-up and i'm reasonably sure i've seen other Cub powered Aero-mites over the years, i also think i remember John Krickle mentioning it in his news letters, I'll do some research tonite!

WEN-MAC STORY
from American Modeler, September-October, 1964

In the custom moldings business producing plastic parts for others for some time, the McRoskey brothers, Len and Jack figured it might be less hectic if they did some of it for themselves. Pre-fabbed all-aluminum model airplanes that sold for $75 caught their eye. They felt a comparable affair could be done better and cheaper in plastic. Some molds were made and sales of the planes were good from the start. At first they used only 100 engines a week, but soon got up to 1000 per day; by this time they were obtaining power-plants from three different makers, but still couldn't get enough.

rsv1cox wrote:From a purely aesthetic point of view I prefer the look of the first edition Baby Spitfire.  The cylinder stands thin and proud and the cutouts for the venturi and filler/vent tubes are so nicely done.  Also the securing point at the end of the fuel tank seems to be a plus.  

I have a couple of the Automite Wen equipped cars but found it difficult to justify the prices asked for the planes.  

Nice examples all.

Bob

Yes, I love the early 1/2a's and the Baby Spitfire .045 was one of the best!

Thanks for that post Mark. I remember reading it long ago, but I sure missed the part about using 3 different manufacturers engines. So they would be Baby Spit, Wasp, and probably OK. The 049B would have been out at just the right time. It and the Wen Mac had the same beam mount bolt pattern (and radial mount pattern). I can imagine Aeromite fuselages coming off the line with the beam mounts and Wen Mac needing a backup for their engine if they hadn't ramped up production yet. Dang,now I have to find an OK Aeromite.

My buddies and I found out that if you removed the Aeromite's landing gear, you could loop it and fly inverted a little before the engine quit.