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Author Topic: FF Rubber then Cox- then an addiction  (Read 3507 times)

Offline Bill Heher

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FF Rubber then Cox- then an addiction
« on: September 18, 2014, 06:25:34 PM »
I started with plastic scale models back in the mid 60s as a 7 or 8 year old. Like a lot of others here, my room was a swirling dog fight of Mustangs, Focke-wulfs, Zeros, P-40s, ME-109s, WW I bipes, jets, you name it- they hung from the ceiling and the box art adorned the walls.
Moved up to Guillows and Comet Rubber powered scale stick and tissue planes- and even got some to fly pretty good. But the "Gas Powered Plane Bug" had bitten me hard, the older kids in the neighborhood ( Beloit Wisconsin) had Real planes, and the sound of a Cox .049 in the schoolyard brought boys from blocks around to watch.

 I asked Santa at my Dad's company Christmas party for one- They Had Them On The Gift Table! - but I was too honest to lie and say I was 12 so I was too young, got a Tonka Dump Truck instead- man I used to hate that truck!

My dad had flown models in the 40s/ early 50s, and supported my interests as much as possible- but with 8 kids, a Cox RTF was a bit of a luxury. He knew how much I wanted one - my friend had a PT-19 by then, and I was the guy who could get it started and running right, I even got to fly it sometimes- especially if I had the fuel!

Dad made it happen and on Christmas Day 1969 I got the present I dreamed of- kind of like Ralphie getting the Red Ryder BB Gun in A christmas Story - I had a Cox P-51 under the tree. It was the early one, side mounted engine, B-series canopy, and landing gear molded into the wing ( bad design it turned out). The box had a Mustang escorting a B-24 and a FW 190 going down smoking on it. It also had a full flight kit w/ fuel- Lets GO!!! C'mon lets GO!!!!

We lived in Wilmington N.C. at that time, so Christmas was a nice day. We had a big yard , so the whole family came out to watch. After setting everything up and running a tank thru the engine ( Dad insisted)- he took the 1st flight, flew it high, low, climb-n-dive, WOW is that thing fast. He ran the tank out and landed- a bit wobbly from spinning.

My turn - Dad says take it easy- it's fast and doesn't have a lot of elevator authority- no problem, I got this.
I started it, tweaked that dual port Cox .049 to a screaming pitch and ran to the handle. Check the controls-OK, let her go! Classic figure 9 over the top and straight in. Smashed the crap out of it. Those molded in gear legs snapped off with a good chunk of each wing, elevator broke in 1/2, but the motor was O.K.

I learned at that point that Ambroid would not glue Cox plastic, and neither would anything else I tried. Dad brought home some new stuff called E-Pox-E, and it helped- but the poor 'Stang was never the same. He sympathized and told me he wrecked a bunch, and my birthday was only 6 months away- he would help me get another one.

6 Months- might as well be next century. I mowed lawns and did chores, and got $4.95 to by a Sterling Beginner Mustang. Used a babe bee tank from a buddies plane that ended up with a broken crankshaft, built that Mustang in a day and brushed on 2 coats of AeroGloss Silver.

Next day it was Test Flight day. We were still leaving fingerprints in the paint, and the Cox fuel was just washing it away, but it didn't matter. That collection of balsa sheet and bent aluminum flew like a bird. Even would do loops nd wingovers without scaring the crap out of us. But we were hooked, we built and flew every Sterling Beginner series model with those salvaged engines, and once we got baby Ringmasters with built-up wings, we thought we were top Gun!

Dad kept supporting my interests, and taught me auto repair, mechanical drawing, electrical troubleshooting, handgun /rifle/trap shooting, and in general how to be a productive member of society. He is smiling down now as I write this in an airport lounge, about to fly 1/2 way around the world to learn from our factory experts the ins and outs of the latest high tech Semiconductor Manufacturing equipment. I try to follow his example and help where I can, otherwise DO NO Harm! Still great advice...

Oh yeah- still build profile 'Stangs, got a Twist-Stang on the board now, with the requisite mods, and plan to make the profile look like Precious Metal- the Reno Racer, and paint to match!
Bill Heher
Central Florida and across the USA!
If it's broke Fix-it
If it ain't broke- let me see it for a minute AMA 264898- since 1988!

Offline john e. holliday

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Re: FF Rubber then Cox- then an addiction
« Reply #1 on: September 19, 2014, 08:09:37 AM »
This is a great story.   How many of us have had parents that supported our affliction, but couldn't really afford too.   I picked fruit for a neighbor and worked a riding stables to support my hobby.   This was after I paid for school supplies and fees.  I sit here now thinking did I ever really thank my parents enough for what they did for me.
John E. "DOC" Holliday
10421 West 56th Terrace
Shawnee, KANSAS  66203
AMA 23530  Have fun as I have and I am still breaking a record.

Offline Bill Heher

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Re: FF Rubber then Cox- then an addiction
« Reply #2 on: September 22, 2014, 02:42:33 PM »
John,
I don't anyone who realizes what our parents go through to raise us and guide us into adulthood, ever thinks they thanked their parents enough. So I continue to thank them every time I think of them, which is almost every day....,
and wish I could tell them in person 1 more time.

Bill Heher
Central Florida and across the USA!
If it's broke Fix-it
If it ain't broke- let me see it for a minute AMA 264898- since 1988!


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