Cox pee wee in 300 series kits

[Shug]

Hi everyone, new to this forum, currently building a Cessna 150 from the 300 series, of which I plan to post pics when it is finished, it is my second guillows kit which I am trying to build as a "flyer" for rubber power, and I have tried to keep it light, substituting the kit wood with lighter stuff as I go. I built the cub kit last winter, but using all the wood supplied in the kit- consequently I think it's better left as a display model!

I am very interested to know if anyone still fits Cox pee wee engines to these models for free flight as described in the kit- I realize that nowadays electric power and micro RC are all the rage, but if anyone has any experience of using these engines, or indeed has a model with one fitted currently I would like to hear from them, or if anyone has photos of a Cox powered guillows plane they could post? I have seen a couple on Ebay here in the UK, and I am very tempted to try and get hold of one and try it out- I wonder if these little motors are still relatively easy to come by in the United States?

Thanks,
Shug

[supercruiser]

I really can't help you with the gas engine selection for these models but, if I might interject some advice about building this model. Since, you are going to fly it, I think it's best to join the two wings together at the top of the fuselage. The instructions show making a couple of wooden skewers. Instead, I build the wings with the 1/8x3/16 spars about 1 1/8" longer the plans show. (The plans end the spar flush with the F1 root rib.) After the wings are joined to the fuselage, then I glue a 1/4" by
2 1/4" piece of balsa sheet (1/16" thick) to the front and back side of the spars, joining them together where they go under H4, A2, and M1 pieces. The grain of this additional piece should run lengthwise or parallel with the spars.
Also, former B3 tends to split. Gluing a 1/16 stringer across the top of B3, just under H4,A2, M1 will reduce the chances of splitting.

[ADW 123]

The Cox motors are easy to come by on ebay around here, and it doesnt look like we are running out. You want to talk to my buddy Bill Parker for anything Cox Motored. He flies U control but im sure he can tell you everything you need to know about the engines. I myself learned everything i know about the engines and U control models from him. He guided me in the construction of my first U control model, and has been of great help/support since. Here (was) my Corsair from earlier. Love those cox motors. They are very simple once you have figured out the tips and tricks of getting them started, but sometimes they are tempermental. I would recomend them for some U control. I think its more fun (and simpler) than Gas powered FF. we dont need any nitro fueled props in anyones head... I had One heck of a time with that corsair too... like i said... Try some U control First. It will help you get good with those engines.

http://balsamodels.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1952&p=9739&hilit=Corsair+to+U+control#p9739

[Shug]

Thanks for your replies guys, Supercruiser, I'm afraid it's too late for that as I have built the wings/fuselage as described. I did however reinforce the B3 former anyway!

ADW 123, It's nice to hear some kind words about the Cox engines- I wasn't sure if they were so temperamental that maybe people were glad to see the back of them! I don't really understand what U-Control is or how it works, maybe that's something I should research. If I do manage do get hold of a little Cox engine, I will know who to direct my questions to!

I wonder if anyone has tried a Nitro powered micro RC 300 series kit? I presume that would solve the prop in the head problem!!!! (mostly)

The corsair build looks great btw!

Shug

[ADW 123]

I would defiantly try some u control. We can do a build right here, and take it nice and slow. Go on YouTube and look up u control plane. You'll get some neat planes flying. If you look up how to start a cox engine, they have lots of videos on that. I learned to start my first one, a .049 tee dee, through lots of trials. I eventually got to a point where I could "feel" the engine and could start it up with one or two turns of the props.they certainly are fun engines. I was terrified of putting my hand near that prop to turn the needle valve but I eventually did, and realized it wasn't so bad after all.

[Shug]

I will do, I have already had a look at a few Cox Tee Dee videos on Youtube, so I will look up U control to see how it works. I will see if I can get my Cessna 150 to fly with rubber first, Its at the doping stage now, and needs a little exterior paintwork, but is more or less complete and should be flyable once the weather here calms down a bit! I had a more detailed look at your Corsair thread this afternoon, you made a beautiful job of the build, covering etc, you must have been gutted that it got smashed up like that! You gonna try to fix it up or simply start again and re-use the little engine?

Shug

[ADW 123]

Thanks. I gutted that plane a while ago, and plan to use the fuel tank from it and the engine/mount in the cessna im building. I think there were a few things that made the corsair hard to fly. One major one was that the elevator probably had too much control to it. the cessna im building has a pretty big elevator control surface, but my bellrank doesnt move as much as the corsairs did before hitting the fuselage planking. I expect it to fly well since it will be harder to over control. I suppose having the Fuel tank located on the CG could have helped a little. also, i could have done for slightly longer lines. We learn something knew every crash...