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Building Tips and technical articles. => 1/2 A building. => Topic started by: dankar on May 06, 2011, 11:33:43 PM
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Thanks to Ty was able to make two kits of this. One just needs top coat/ other needs to be assembled. Graffics are done with markers from craft store. Got to make my own control horns etc. It was kind of fun and now hope to get tracings of FireBee parts.. I have the instructions but need correct parts to replicate. I don't have a Firecracker .065 but a AP .061 Wasp that has some sting. This stuff will be at next VSC for display with color add posters and a table. So any and all help is most wanted as alot of this stuff is well packed away. In all my trading I found very little AJ items for sale. Frank Macy started it back up again but had problems and then he passed away. Now ??
Cheers,Dan
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Hi Dan,
I have a Firebaby with an OK .049X on it and it flies great, just like the one I had as a kid #^.
My stash of engines has 3 Firecrackers in it. How about a trade for that Atwood Wasp you have?
I also have a Bonanza kit and could make tracings of that for you if you want and I too am looking for tracings of the Fire Bee. My goal was to get the Firecrackers along with a Fire Bee so that I could replicate the Sabre Dance hovering maneuver. A few years ago, Frank Macey sent me the instructions as to how to rig the Bee for the maneuver.
The rubber pneumatic throttle parts for the Firecracker are impossible to find in usable condition. I was going to make some replicas but still haven't gotten to it.
Orv.
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Dan,
If memory is correct I think the Firecracker was a spitfire .065. So that could be used if absolutely needed.
Dennis
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Hi Dennis,
The Firecracker indeed is a Spitfire .065 but specially made for Walker. The crankcase has Jim Walker embossed on the side opposite the exhaust. They were available with and without the throttle. Of course, to make the Fire Bee sabre dance, you need the throttle and it (the throttle) actually works quite well.
Orv.
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Did that throttle really work well with that squeeze bulb and then the tubing out to the model. I looked at that back then and thought no way .
Dennis
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Actually, that squeeze bulb system worked very well as long as there were no leaks in the system. It was sensitive and accurate enough to allow the Fire Bee to hover in a vertical attitude. Tail sliding and gaining altitude in this attitude was possible with lots of practice. You had to pressurize the line to go to high throttle, if you let go of the bulb, the engine would go to low speed. When you were ready to fly, you would leave the control handle at the center of the circle and bring the bulb and air line to the plane. You would put the bulb under one knee to squeeze it to open the throttle to start the engine. After the engine started and was adjusted, you would release the pressure and the engine would go to low speed. With some planning like chocking the nose wheel, the plane would sit there until you picked up the control handle and gave her a squeeze to take off. No stooge was needed. You could land, taxi and take off again. I can't wait until I get my system operational, should be fun.
Orv.
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Orv, Dennis,
Thanks for info on this. Orv, not quite sure what to do about the Atwoods. Dennis I knew about the Firecracker engine but was not up on the squeeze bulb idea. That sounds like alot of trouble. I also made a Pursuit rubber band job that uased the Firebaby wing. Pretty big for a rubber band job but looks nice. Made my own wheels/ hardware etc and its looking good. Someware I have some contest rubber and a decent winder. My main hope is to find tracings of actual Firebee parts or find a whole kit.
I might be able to get a Bonanza if lucky but who knows.
Cheers,Dan f~ (051) AP^ f~ %^
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History and pictures of the FireBee
http://www.americanjuniorclassics.com/Firebee/firebee_gallery.html
#^ #^ #^ H^^
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Great add for the FireBee. I never seen any up close. I got into UC in early 60's. This time frame alot of action for UC came to be. Combat/ stunt/rat race etc. The VooDoo and Shoestring stunter saved goldberg from going under back then. Then the Hi-Trust Viking and 1/2A blazer etc. AJ was without its leader who died several years before.
Dan
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I had alway wanted the Firebee, but by the time I got the money together I was into other bigger planes. H^^