Testors Silver Wind...........

Happy to help Robert. Balsa no problem but the metal nose-piece might be. I have that same OK Cub engine as a spare.

And roddie, that landing gear snaps forward into a slot, sometimes difficult to do. Made that way to facilitate a smaller profile for shipping as it lays back when not engaged. For some reason this one is not angled. I will have to remove it and vice it up and bend it forward. The other SW is fine. Go figure.

A scratced Cosmic/Silver Wind, profile or a hollow log type like my P-38. You may have planted a seed.

Yes, the Winds are pretty cheap, the planes but also the engines. This one I got for $12.00



This one I was outbid. First one ever on these.....Overbidder was a model engine guy (I check their codes) he exceeded my low-ball bid. Nice engine but the spinner is an over paint (white) to match.



These two arrive in a couple of days. $22.00 for both. Strange backplate on the yellow spinner example. Has me curious.




And yes, I just got a new in the package glow head for $10, about the price of a complete engine.

Haha That looks like something to put a set of pliers on Completed one came out good the one you made the wing for I think LOL Got behind and the way things jump around makes it hard for me to keep up that $12 engine looks never run from the fuel hose >> Firebaby time again with Robert at the helm ,,, I didn't realize the wing came in 2 pieces or are they two difft. ones on the firebaby ?

getback wrote:Haha That looks like something to put a set of pliers on Completed one came out good the one you made the wing for I think LOL  Got behind and the way things jump around makes it hard for me to keep up that $12 engine looks never run from the fuel hose >> Firebaby time again with Robert at the helm ,,, I didn't realize the wing came in 2 pieces or are they two difft. ones on the firebaby ?

A single wing Eric. I believe the powered and unpowered wings are the same, but we shall see. I can't remember if I ever flew my Firebaby clone. I will have to put that on my "Swan-Song" bucket list of models to fly. First on the list is my 50+ year old scratched P-38 then everything else................ oh ok.....then my 50+ year old Nieuport 28 still a favorite, then my......................

rdw777 wrote:

rsv1cox wrote:Ah Robert, you pushed me over the edge. I have been looking at the powered version for years. Made an offer which was accepted moments ago. For some reason I have always had a soft spot for the JW Firebaby. Now I can give you accurate drawings for either or both.

Congratulations on that fine example Bob!!….. A rare bird indeed!!….. Yes, I may hit you up for some detail photos of this or that and a measurement or two…. I look forward to sourcing or making the rest of the parts…. We’ll have a lot of fun with some new Firebaby threads when they come in

Robert

What is the 4" piece with the red pins?




Start a new Firebay thread when you get it. I agree, this will be fun.

Part #9… The leadout guide…. Interesting he placed them so far inboard….

Ah so..........I should have guessed.

I think there was another engine that came with that stamped metal prop, The K&B Infant - Enfant - etc.. maybe.

Hi Bob, Yes, The Infant came with a metal prop because there were no suitable wood props for it when was first manufactured ….. I think the metal prop was a rushed idea to be able to get it on the market….. The Infant also came with instructions if you wanted to carve your own wood prop  

I think the focus of the Firebaby’s metal prop was to be able to twist in more pitch as the pilot became more proficient and could handle more speed….I noticed your kit has the metal prop with it as well…. Of course we would never fly those metal props but all polished up for display would be pretty, well,…..Nifty to use a term from back then

Nifty, yes, I use it a lot.  Part of the language I learned in the 1940's and '50's.  I learned a different language when I joined the Navy, a bit more crude but effective when dealing with people.  

But, I picked up the second Jim Walker kit that was on ebay.  Not as nice and considerably cheaper as the seller also accepted my low offer.  One to put away, the other to mess with.  

What makes it attractive is the Jim (Walter) Walker engine included in the kit.  The box still says OK Cub so I'm wondering about the switch.  Comes with other goodies as well.  Someone had a plan.  We may have a forum Jim Walter Fly-em day soon....  I would love to see the membership scratch out clones and fly them.  Not much to the things.





Edit: Hmm, I had to wait 300 seconds to change my misprint "Walter" to Walker............300 seconds is a long time. My bothers name is Walter so it just comes out.

rdw777 wrote:Part #9… The leadout guide…. Interesting he placed them so far inboard….

You know................... I have to wonder whether mounting that lead-out guide that far inboard.. may have increased the stability of the model in level-flight; making it easier for the man to fly three of them at the same time.. Granted; that was done with his larger "Fireball" model airplane design.. but you have to wonder if that was in his way of thinking..  


Jim Walker bio

roddie wrote:

rdw777 wrote:Part #9… The leadout guide…. Interesting he placed them so far inboard….

You know................... I have to wonder whether mounting that lead-out guide that far inboard.. may have increased the stability of the model in level-flight; making it easier for the man to fly three of them at the same time.. Granted; that was done with his larger "Fireball" model airplane design.. but you have to wonder if that was in his way of thinking..  


Jim Walker bio

That is nifty roddie.

By the time of the first Olathe Nats (this year is a 20th anniversary), Jim had perfected his three-at-once act for the Sunday demonstrations. We all went home remem-bering Walker, rather than the Blue Angels! He had three McCoy 29-powered Fireballs, sitting there with engines throbbing—like the start of a team race. Waiting on the helpers to get all mills tuned, Jim would stand ex-pectantly in the center of the circle, a helmet on his head. In each hand he held a U-Reely. The third ship's lines ran to a pylon on his helmet. Its motor-control button was clenched in his teeth. All three had two-speed ignition; he flew tight formation without a slip. Eventually, he added a PA deal in his helmet and would explain what was going on as all three ships zipped around like angry bugs, motors zinging up and down to keep position. (It was rumored much later that he managed four ships simultaneously!)

I wonder if that is where Cox got the same idea, flying three at a time.

Roddie wrote:I have to wonder whether mounting that lead-out guide that far inboard.. may have increased the stability of the model in level-flight;

Possibly so Roddie…..Also interesting from a stability standpoint in his design is a wing with dihedral and also camber for lift ….. Along with a three oz. flying weight it nearly has the ingredients for free flight…. Add some more dihedral and trim it right it probably would….. I wonder if these were purposely built in to buy a little time in a slack line situation that beginners may find themselves in….

rsv1cox wrote: I picked up the second Jim Walker kit that was on ebay.  Not as nice and considerably cheaper as the seller also accepted my low offer.  One to put away, the other to mess with.  

Nice second kit Bob and Jim Walker branded engine to boot!….  I think those JW engines were some version of the Anderson Baby Spitfire…. One of the earliest 1/2 A’s…..First advertisement for Firebaby and a note mentioning the Baby Spitfire from the Model Engine Collectors website below…..Oct, 1950…..A blurb on the metal prop too…. Part of the fun for projects like these is chasing the history down….

"Part of the fun for projects like these is chasing the history down…."

Yes, Just search "Jim Walker" on this forum and you will get a history lesson.

I did that and found that I already had a Jim Walker engine and posted about it. Eric took me to school on it.

The extent of my "hobbying" today as most of it was spent outside with tractor and chainsaw.

Added the last piece of the puzzle to the "built" Silver Wind. A single lead-out guide like the original. A combination of Super glue gel which I don't really trust and backed up with Formula 560 which I do.




And....China. You gotta love them........sometimes. Vintage Ni-Cad 4.8v 2000mah battery with the correct Hi-tech connector. Really cheap with free shipping.

Vintage battery, vintage Sterling model, vintage radio, vintage operator.

I like the old transmitter with the Corsair Bob…. Probably 72 MHz….Spent a lot of time on those …. Long antennas…. Frequency boards … Frequency pins….Club guys would get pretty fussy if someone didn’t follow protocol….Was pretty cool when transmitters got servo reverse switches right on the case…..

rdw777 wrote:I like the old transmitter with the Corsair Bob…. Probably 72 MHz….Spent a lot of time on those …. Long antennas…. Frequency boards … Frequency pins….Club guys would get pretty fussy if someone didn’t follow protocol….Was pretty cool when transmitters  got servo reverse switches right on the case…..

Yes, 72 Mhz, I'm not sure if it's even legal today. Same club rules when I was a member in Florida. We used to fly at the Boy Scouts reservation, my old Sterling Fledgling. I still have it. Not much room to fly here in WV but I have taxied it around a bit. Reliable old Enya .29.

The first JW powered Firebaby arrived today. Seller packed it like it was going to Mars. It has me wondering, the control handle has the Dacron wound around and looks soiled and the fuselage has obvious castor residue yet the engine and the rest of the model is clean and perfect. I'm waiting for the other one to get here, that one looks unused for sure. The two Testors engines arrived today too.




But it's always those old dirty castor locked engines that get me excited. Doesn't matter, I have hundreds yet the thrill is always the same. Always the same but at times a little different as in this case. This add-on makes no sense unless it's there for nose weight. Maybe? A perfect fit and it's not coming off. We will see what a Berrymans soak uncovers. Engines numbered, probably from a collector.





It may have come from Testors Texan model, although it doesn't have the add-on. Same spinner (black) is on my Silver Wind.

Glad you got your FB and other goodies…. My parts are still in route….Will be bugging you for info and certain photos!!

I have a hazy memory of one Testors (or possibly Wen Mac)…. I received as a gift when I was a kid…. It either was, or was close to a Piper Cherokee… But it was all done up in camo….. Was never flown but rolled its tricycle gear across the floor a lot with my brothers….

I got the Corsair back together.  I wish they made a clevis spreader, I used a 90 degree pick but it still puts a lot of strain on the servo sliding it onto the servo arm.  Not much room to work in there.  



Outsized cockpit canopy necessary to house the receiver, there just isn't any space in the fuselage.  

If the wing wasn't permentaly attached (boxing issues, fragile) I would send it to Robert or Kim gratis.  I would love to see it fly, but never in tree/mountainous West Virginia or in my hands.  I have little invested, airframe was from a consignment shop, paint, monokote, radio, and engine all on hand.  

But, it's tail heavy.  Balances half way back on the wing and just ahead of the cockpit.  You would not think so with that long nose and the OS sitting up front.  Take off go straight up, straight down, no big loss.  Just as long as I'm not around to see it.  

Mystery Testors engine got a Berrymans soak which loosened the obviously intended nose weight thingy enough so I could pry it off with a pick. A slightly loose fit, I wrapped it in scotch tape.

What is it? I think it's a Johnson nut out of a Packard twin six.

Nice to see you at work there Plenty of stuff to do.

I see that one FB kit w/engine on the Bay now it gone LOL Is that a JW Firecracker in the box with the muffler and carb. dampeners on it ? I have that engine and couldn't get it to run just popping and now I think its over comprested ? Still mounted on the board that's pitiful https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-jim-walker-firecracker-065-c-1858280497

getback wrote:I see that one FB kit w/engine on the Bay now it gone LOL Is that a JW Firecracker in the box with the muffler and carb. dampeners on it ? I have that engine and couldn't get it to run just popping and now I think its over comprested ? Still mounted on the board that's pitiful  https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-jim-walker-firecracker-065-c-1858280497

I see that one FB kit w/engine on the Bay now it gone LOL Is that a JW Firecracker in the box with the muffler and carb.

Yup.......... It's now winging it's way to Capon Bridge West Virginia population at last census around 350 souls and me.  

I way over-paid for both of them, unusual for me but still somewhat less than their asking prices.  I researched ebay/RC Groups and others prices for these over the years and they ranged from $100 to $1000.

Got a Jim Walker marked U-Reely(Unreely) coming too.  Cheap, beat-up missing the handles knob.  Just my style.  

I have not tried to run mine, the one with the "hat" intake restrictor.  If you ever get your's running let us know.

PS - Changed my mind about that engine add-on. Closer examination shows it to be a crank pin out of a 1937 Duesenberg.

The $12 U-reely LOL I was looking at that and thinking about pulling the trigger but kind e want a throttle control ?!? WEll you have cleaned out eBay all but those parts >> https://www.ebay.com/itm/133904795537? Yes will let everybody know LOL