Thanks for the video, Tony. I never got to play with Wen-Mac planes when I was a kid. It was Testors by then, and my only Testors CL model was a little P-51 that I could never get started. But as an adult the past few years, I snag every Wen-Mac engine I can get my hands on. I love these little beauties.
A couple of years ago I went to a local hobby shop (Tammie's Hobbies, for those who remember the old mail order ads in the model magazines). The guy behind the counter knows to hold onto any engines that get dropped off because I'll probably want to restore them. When I walked in, he said a guy had dropped off a box with a couple of old engines in it and some plastic plane parts. He reached behind the counter and pulled out a box that said Wen-Mac on the side, and I got excited. I glanced in and was a little disappointed. It looked like junk tossed in and covered over with packing peanuts. But one thing caught my eye, so I asked what he wanted for it. He said, "Make an offer", so I said $45.00. He said okay, then noticed a piece of plastic was cracked, so he lowered it to $40.00. I paid the owner up front and took the box home. Emptying the box showed:
1) All the parts of a gummy green P-39. Including the two missiles that fire in flight. Even the manual. Everything for a complete restoration, hence the thanks for the above video.
2) All the parts, and I mean ALL, for a Cox Comanche. The Sportsman .15 powered plane. Probably the best Cox plane score I've ever had.
3) And a Cox Thimble Drome Champion tether car. I haven't taken it apart yet, but I think it has the Testors engine/gearbox conversion. Unfortunately, the previous owner took a drill and file to the chassis, so it won't be a pristine restoration.
A good day at the hobby shop. I guess I'll finally get to fly a Wen-Mac once the P-39 is cleaned up and restored.
Mark