Space Hopper .049/Thermal Hopper .049

I was quite upset to find all my hobby stuff gone. All but one engine a Veco Combat special that was in tool bag for lawn mower. I still have that engine. Sad as many a rare engine now. Dad just decided I was done with them. Sure wished he would have asked me. Anyway later he co signed for my new Plymouth Road Runner and that was great. Early 22 year old with new Muscle car and nice summer coming up. Great times late 60's.
I was temped to get a RR2 on ebay but they kept jacking the price. Not the same but it was a rear drum induction. I found the early version RR1 and gold/blue one a collecto but they were really beat up. Then some guy bought the whole box from seller as he was his good friend. I stalled a moment and they were gone,but really beat up. I like nice items not beat up junk. You just don't find parts for these. Maybe some day get a good one in some sort of trade. I buy and sell from time to time.
Cheers,Dan

man, at least you got a nice car i see an rr1 going cheap or wanting a swap i will be sure to let you know.

Dan,
I feel your pain. I lost a lot of my modeling stuff while I was in the Navy (1960-1966). Two engines I never replaced were my Olympic .15 and my K&B Sky Fury .15 twin.

The major difference between the Thermal Hopper and the Space Hopper was the beam mounts on the Space Hopper vs the radial mount on the Thermal Hopper.

The first CL plane that I mounted a Thermal Hopper in was a Blue Tail Fly built from a magazine plan. I had to remove the intake and needle assembly to mount the TH's backplate through the hole in the 1/8" plywood firewall, then reinstall them. Remember the Space Bug, Space Bug Jr. and the Thermal Hopper required that you drill a 1/4"-3/8" hole in the firewall for the intake.

BTW, if you run out of the old narrow plugs, a modern cylinder fits. If I remember correctly, the switch in plug size occurred in 1954. I have one SB Jr. with the older plug and two with the newer ones.

George

How would a thermal hopper fair as a diesel?

I've never been around a diesel but like the idea and the sound of them.

Running old diecast case material probably wouldn't be the best idea, I think it wears faster than a new style extruded type. The crank is thin and long on these. You can be the judge on that one but it looks thin to be a diesel crank.

The RR1's are something special. Very intricate motors inside and outside and the anodizing when brand new, untouched is something really nice to look at, I am sure.

I owned an Olympic .15 brand new from my cousin in my teens but like a fool, I never imagined building something to fly it in, nor was it a collectable at the time and sold it off to a fellow flier for below new price. Ouch. Such a beautiful motor, and the only one sporting a real ball bearing in its design.

Most of the old English diesels had cast cases and they hold up great but long and thin parts don't usually go well on diesels.
The rr1 is a real pert and i would love to own one but they cost so much. And for that money I would rather a valentine nano be 0.00039 the smallest ic
Engine ever.

I don't have any comparison pictures of the TH crank to any others to show you, only a technical drawing. It might help give you an impression on crankshaft diameter

Edit: Looks like the image hosting is down right now I cant load the picture I will try later on.

Yeah we are having problems with space we are trying to find a way around it.

Could be me in the gallery adding pics...LOL. Someone send me a note if it is, I'll resize if there isnt an automatic resizer on the program.

jetpack wrote:Could be me in the gallery adding pics...LOL. Someone send me a note if it is, I'll resize if there isnt an automatic resizer on the program.

you do have some rather large high quality images. If you dont mind resizing a few it would be cool.

I had given it a thought before I began adding pictures but after the first large pic was sent and automatically resized, I continued without resizing first. I did wonder if that would be a problem.

Thak you for your consideration.

Oh yes 500 posts

Windows Power Toy Re-Sizer is armed and ready.

The pic sort of shows how undercut the crank is and there is a long nose on those Thimble Dromes to consider for it to not break on diesel.

It looks lie it would be fine but I do not think i would risk it.