Over Powered Hand Me Down Magician

[Allen Eshleman]

I have written before about my problems with a hand-me-down Magician.  I believe it's an old Midwest Kit.  It had a very nice Fox 35 on it but was extremely tail heavy.  Per other posts, I got that straightened out and it flew so much better.  However, I was still struggling with the "Fox Burp" on the "outsides".  Finally, I put a Brodak 40 on the nose.  With this slight boost in power there is no "burp" and no sag in power.  I am actually using an APC 10-4 prop at the minute.  It's working so well  that I wasn't afraid to do the final scary part of the vertical 8 and I even attempted a quasi "hour glass".  It cuts corners and is probably the best flying plane I have had to date.  (Bear in mind, I haven't built the Vector 40 yet - that will come later).

I want to thank this brotherhood of Control Line Flyers for several things I have learned.  I would like to list a few.

1.    Little or no offset on the rudder.
2.    Higher power and low pitch props.
3.    Shimming tanks 
4.    Correct fuels
5.    Balancing correctly - weight in the wing tip etc.
6.    4 D batteries in series for a starter battery.
7.    Good glow plugs

This is a long way from a Ringmaster with a McCoy 35 that took half an hour to start.  Even though, I dream of finding one of those real good McCoys that starts easy and has great power.  I may even have one but haven't taken the time to try them out.  These newer technology engines are a joy to run with a lot less "castor" and often easier starting.

[john e. holliday]

A good McCoy Redhead .35 is easy to start like a Fox .35 Stunt once you get them broke in.   The first McCoy I have was so worn that I had to open exhaust, put in 3 drops of 3-N-1 oil and a couple of drops of fuel.   Would start within 3 flips every time.  But, I'm glad the Magician is working.

[George]

...I want to thank this brotherhood of Control Line Flyers for several things I have learned.  I would like to list a few...

6.    4 D batteries in series for a starter battery.

I hope you meant to say in parallel!

George

[Allen Eshleman]

I did mean parallel.

[Allen Eshleman]

My first set of D batteries had wire soldered between them.  Now, I found a plastic battery holder from a scientific project web site.  I can stick as many modules together as I want and get the advantage of having that consistent power.  No soldering necessary, just replace the batteries.  I've had these batteries for almost two seasons.

[john e. holliday]

Some where in  my stash I have one of those that was part of a Cox start up kit that included handle, lines, fuel and battery holder.  I never used it because the clip wouldn't work on the bigger engines.   Was great for Cox engines.

[Allen Eshleman]

This connector was found by my brother at a swap meet.  It has long sturdy wires and fits large engine glow plugs.

[Randy Ryan]

A good McCoy Redhead .35 is easy to start like a Fox .35 Stunt once you get them broke in.   The first McCoy I have was so worn that I had to open exhaust, put in 3 drops of 3-N-1 oil and a couple of drops of fuel.   Would start within 3 flips every time.  But, I'm glad the Magician is working.

There really are allot more "good" McCoys then bad ones.

[Dave_Trible]

There really are allot more "good" McCoys then bad ones.

Indeed!  But the older center plug .35s are the real gems vs. the slant plug ones.  Not real sure but I think Dick McCoy was more involved with production of these.  If you find one latch on to it.

Dave

[55chevr]

Back in the early late 50-s I had 3 McCoy red heads.  They each lasted 20 flights before losing compression.  The metallurgy was terrible.  I don't really have a complaint as they cost $3.77 each. About 1/2 the cost of a Fox.  Which I broke down and bought.  I still have the Fox and it still runs.

Joe

[Randy Ryan]

Indeed!  But the older center plug .35s are the real gems vs. the slant plug ones.  Not real sure but I think Dick McCoy was more involved with production of these.  If you find one latch on to it.

Dave

Dave, you refer to the first model........YES! THERE WAS A FIRST MODEL RED HEAD!!!! Its identified mainly by the case, if you look at the intake stack the first model has only small round bosses where the spray bar passes through. The later ones, "2nd model?" has an elongated boss that extends up, it appears they were considering a dual needle arrangement similar to K&B's but it never came about. At any rate, the QC was much better on the first ones, most had the center plug but I think some of the later ones were offset. I have 2 of these 1st model Micks and they've very nice. I also have a number of the later versions. Out of approximately 25 of them, I have 2 that needed help. Testor's was bad for the McCoys but still, they did produce usable engines, just not as a high a rate as did FOX. The late George Aldrich told me in his opinion that the McCoy was a far superior design that would have easily supplanted the Fox had it not suffered from quality problems. I agree with that and if you have a good one, its sweet. For some reason Testor's managed to do a much better job on the .40s, but that's another subject.

[Dave_Trible]

Thanks Randy,  I didn't know about the bosses.  One of mine has the small boss.  I discovered another 'chuckle'.   These two I just got off the bay from different owners.  Without paying much attention I just grabbed a hand full of new acquisitions (27 engines in two weeks-don't ask-obsession) to go run them after starting these both in 2-3 flips and being happy how they ran I noticed the former owners had the backplates on wrong.  One off 90 the other 180 with the flow channel nowhere near where its supposed to be.  Neither engine cared!  Ran fine.

Dave

[Brett Buck]

Thanks Randy,  I didn't know about the bosses.  One of mine has the small boss.  I discovered another 'chuckle'.   These two I just got off the bay from different owners.  Without paying much attention I just grabbed a hand full of new acquisitions (27 engines in two weeks-don't ask-obsession) to go run them after starting these both in 2-3 flips and being happy how they ran I noticed the former owners had the backplates on wrong.  One off 90 the other 180 with the flow channel nowhere near where its supposed to be.  Neither engine cared!  Ran fine.

Dave

  It even says "UP" right on it!

     Brett

[Steve Helmick]

Perhaps the engines were mounted inverted and sidewinder, respectively? Some people take things like this to heart. Like the guy that faithfully closed his NV after every flight, so he could then open it exactly 3.5 turns for starting, per the instructions. Yes, they breed, and they vote, too!  Steve