Cox Golden Bee .049 engine.

The Golden Bees and all Cox engines that are colored vary quite a bit in the depth of color because they are anodized. The anodizing solution used to add the colors to aluminum gets progressively weaker with each batch of parts placed into the anodizing bath. Eventually, the solution gets to where it is exhausted and needs to be replaced. So the parts that were anodized right before the solution gets replaced will look faded compared to the ones that were anodized when the solution was new.

After 1980, I saw many weird variations of anodized parts being used by Cox to assemble Golden Bees and Black Widows. Apparently, they had run out of gold, and black crankcases, so they used clear anodized cases with either a gold or black tank. Conversely, they also used clear tanks with gold or black crankcases as well on some of the engines. This was because Cox was trying to use up all the odd inventory they had to meet orders. They were running on a very small budget and often could not afford to get a batch or parts anodized, so they used what they had on hand at the time. There were sporadic small batches of Golden Bees produced after 1980, , mainly to use up inventory, but they were not listed in the catalog.

jmendoza wrote:The Golden Bees and all Cox engines that are colored vary quite a bit in the depth of color because they are anodized.  The anodizing solution used to  add the colors to aluminum gets progressively weaker with each batch of parts placed into the anodizing bath. Eventually, the solution gets to where it is exhausted and needs to be replaced. So  the parts that were anodized right before the solution gets replaced will look faded compared to the ones that were anodized when the solution was new.

After 1980, I saw many weird variations of anodized parts being used by Cox to assemble Golden Bees and Black Widows. Apparently, they had run out of gold, and black crankcases, so they used clear anodized cases  with either a gold or black tank. Conversely, they also used clear tanks with gold or black crankcases as well on some of the engines. This was because Cox was trying to use up all the odd inventory they had to meet orders. They were running on a very small budget and often could not afford to get a batch or parts anodized, so they used what they had on hand at the time.  There were sporadic small batches of Golden Bees produced after 1980, , mainly to use up inventory, but they were not listed in the catalog.  

So, when you say "clear anodized cases" what does that mean?  It doesn't seem plausable that Cox would market Golden Bee engines as true Golden Bees that were a mix of various parts.  But I could see them sticking them in some of their powered models just to use them up.

To me a Golden Bee on the outside at least has a gold anodized case and tank with a black drive washer.

Edit add: Might have to modify that "black drive" statement. Scored this yesterday on ebay.

Bob, I also purchased the TD .051 and it came with a black carb body. In the box was a note saying they ran out of red carb bodies and were not certain when they would receive more. I still own that .051 and I even installed a black carb body on it again. I don't want to jinx it.

Ken Cook wrote:               Bob, I also purchased the TD .051 and it came with a black carb body. In the box was a note saying they ran out of red carb bodies and were not certain when they would receive more. I still own that .051 and I even installed a black carb body on it again. I don't want to jinx it.

Prudence never hurts.
The Other Bob

I bought that blister pack GB because it does not have a black prop drive plate and because it couldn't have been corrupted by a former owner. Of my other Golden Bees less than half have the black plate.

The other question, about natural cases and gold fuel tanks. I have two of those that I'm sure I didn't make up from parts, but maybe a former owner did. But, I think not. I believe they are factory probably sent without notes as to a change in assembly. I can see a note being included in the much more rare .051 though.

The lightly anodized Golden Bee (next to the white spinner) does have the black plate. Others (mixed case) pictured to the left do not. Little thing, but it bugs me that there is no mention anywhere of mixed case/fuel tanked Golden Bees.



My single RR-1 does have a black drive plate.

rsv1cox wrote:Little thing, but it bugs me that there is no mention anywhere of mixed case/fuel tanked Golden Bees.

If you scroll down here in the link below to the 'Golden Bee', there is mention of mixed tank and crankcases there. From MHAerotool website.

https://www.mh-aerotools.de/airfoils/cox_frameset.htm

So the link does not work as planned. You have to go to 'Bees' on the left side bar, then scroll down to find the Golden Bee. But I took a screenshot and will post it here. Shot was grabbed from MHAerotools website.

Thanks Chancey, found it. Copied it for my benefit too.

Bob

Golden Bee (0.8 cm³)

Manufactured in ca. 1962 (top), 1970 (center), 1972 (bottom) (#120)

This engine is basically a Babe Bee engine with cross flow vents in the enlarged tank. The larger tank made this engine attractive for R/C applications. The cylinders have one bypass port, a later version came with a throttle ring (#120-1) and had 2 bypass ports. Due to the longer tank, the Golden Bee has a slightly larger Venturi diameter (4.37 versus 3.57 mm) at the reed valve.

It was planned to manufacture the engine with a gold anodized tank and crankcase, but some runs of these engines have also been delivered with a black tank and others with a plain anodized crankcase and propeller drive plate (like the early sample shown on top). It depended on what parts were available, as anodizing was subcontracted and not done at Cox.

As I do not have teh Cox Engine Handbook, I use that website for much of my information. If one has the time, there is some really good reading. Just got to click all the links at the left side. It has all teh cars, planes, etc listed by date of manufacture or part numbers, etc.

what beautiful information friends have poured here, it even generates nostalgia in the past times of Cox ... I imagine all that world of activity in the factory itself, in the airfields, anywhere in nature, enjoying the march of the flight of any of these engines.
That nostalgia for times past has awakened me and imagining moments, so I have decided to make a model for my Cox Golden Bee.
I am going to share with you the step by step of this model and I invite all those who want to build a model for Cox .049, they will be able to find here a model very suitable for flying and having fun. As soon as I have time I start this project.