Jim Walker "Firebrand"...It Flys !!!!!

Ken Cook wrote:            Kim, is that a original QZ .049? My dad bought a half dozen QZ's in the late 60's. He removed the mufflers most of the time and the engines appeared to be a normal Babe Bee to me. I quickly realized that these things ran like no other Babe Bee's and I never knew why until years later. These were dual ported cylinders to offer power to the restrictive muffler. Some also were offered with the high comp head even furthering the rpm's. Over the past 30+ years, I gathered up all these parts and sought out to return these beauties back to original. Following many threads on here from Mark Bosen, I've put back these beauties to their former glory. I've found parts all over the place. Occasionally my dad will show up with the clip that rotates around the muffler, or the spacer for underneath to eliminate SPI. All in all, it's been fun to run these once again like they were intended. Now I have about 20+ more Babe Bee's which unknowingly as a youth committed a crime in interchanging cylinders, tanks and parts. I did what I needed to do to keep flying. Now I'm faced with the task of enjoying them for what they are instead of what they did for me back then.  It really upsets me now knowing what I was doing back then. I find it rewarding when I systematically clean them and carefully associate the proper items back onto these engines. Ken

roddie wrote:

Ken Cook wrote:            Kim, is that a original QZ .049? My dad bought a half dozen QZ's in the late 60's. He removed the mufflers most of the time and the engines appeared to be a normal Babe Bee to me. I quickly realized that these things ran like no other Babe Bee's and I never knew why until years later. These were dual ported cylinders to offer power to the restrictive muffler. Some also were offered with the high comp head even furthering the rpm's. Over the past 30+ years, I gathered up all these parts and sought out to return these beauties back to original. Following many threads on here from Mark Bosen, I've put back these beauties to their former glory. I've found parts all over the place. Occasionally my dad will show up with the clip that rotates around the muffler, or the spacer for underneath to eliminate SPI. All in all, it's been fun to run these once again like they were intended. Now I have about 20+ more Babe Bee's which unknowingly as a youth committed a crime in interchanging cylinders, tanks and parts. I did what I needed to do to keep flying. Now I'm faced with the task of enjoying them for what they are instead of what they did for me back then.  It really upsets me now knowing what I was doing back then. I find it rewarding when I systematically clean them and carefully associate the proper items back onto these engines. Ken

Hi ya' Ken. I enjoyed reading your response. You mention your dad occasionally showing-up with some QZ parts.. and it made me smile! I have photos of you and Sean.. but none of him. Can you post or PM me a photo or two?

I don't consider it a crime... for you to have swapped some engine-parts in an effort to obtain optimal-performance for a given model-airplane. You're still here.. and still passionate about these engines. I did it.. and still do it. If you hadn't tinkered with those engines.... well.. our paths may have never crossed here at CEF. I am glad that they did Ken.. because you have given me LOADS of helpful modeling information (in general..) that I have applied with favorable results!

944_Jim wrote:Hi Kim,

RSV Bob's recent thread on his JW Bonanza with Fire-babies, along with Roddie's Fire-others got me chasing rabbits...right to this thread.

Since you own this and a Big Otto, can you do a stare and compare between them? Also, which plane flies better?

I'm curious about root chord length, rib thickness, and general top-view wingtip shapes. While I don't endeavor to clone either one, I do hope to try a foam bow I got years ago. I'd like to try cutting whichever wing performed best. Personally, I think the Firebrand is a sweet-looking plane. I have no love for Big Otto, even if it is a Scientific).

Thanks for your thoughts.

944_Jim wrote:Thanks Kim,
Those are the stats and diagrams I needed. I've read the "pointy" leading edge like on Scientifics causes the wing to stall in hard maneuvers. Conversely, the more rounded leading edge reportedly turns up/down better with less loss of lift. I can scale your images to create full-size wing tip templates for my foam bow. Wingtips will probably be vac-formed from disposable plastic dinner plates. Now to find a suitable power source and get to to melting lots of foam!

I appreciate the data!

rsv1cox wrote:Big Otto looks so evil when compared with the lilly white Firebrand.  Needs one or two of Levents Red Devil stickers.    Bob

Yeah Man!  I ought to also include a repro of the original elevator decal "Killer Combat".

My cousin Bobby kidded with me about the one on my original Big Otto, since I would always chicken out whenever we'd fly our little bouts of "combat".  But his dad (Uncle Wayne) built his planes...I had to get more mileage out of mine!!!!!

944_Jim wrote:Wow, Kim,
Your scan guy did a great job. You know I want copies at your convenience.

College season for BOTH my boys begins shortly...been busy getting a truck ready for my youngest. The oldest is going to jump out of his thirty year old Jeep and into his grandfather's ten year old Mazda 6.

My wife is already giggling about being empty-nesters. I'm looking forward to doing what I/we want...not what the boys need. Guess who's planning on flying this fall!

944_Jim wrote:Got them, Kim.

I didn't do a mail sweep to "the night before" yesterday am. I'll check them closer tonight.

Thanks much for your detailed notes too! They will be stored with these files.

You're Welcome....and
flying a Firebrand or Bird would be great fun during your upcoming "Fun Time"!!!!