Author Topic: What is this Plane? (Read 5988 times)

Allen Eshleman · « **on:** June 25, 2007, 10:16:14 PM »

Hopefully, pictured below is a third hand at least, hand me down plane. It needed all the glue joints redone in the wings. It was not covered. My mentor, from the 60's repainted it and covered the wings. My brother retouched the silver monokote. The silver monokote came with it (for free). I had enough red for one wing. Hence, a silver wing and a red wing. I put did some gluing and put on the gas tank. The engine is a Fox 35 which seized up twice on "green" fuel. It will not get Fox Super Fuel. We'll see if it will run.

What plane is this? Does anyone know.

Secondly, with this kind of gas tank, does the out flow tube need to line up with the venturi or the origin of the flow in the back of the tank?

Flying Owl

Allen Eshleman · « **Reply #1 on:** June 25, 2007, 10:23:18 PM »

I want to correct something. It will now get Fox Super Fuel.

Flying Owl

Steve Holt · « **Reply #2 on:** June 25, 2007, 11:33:47 PM »

It looks like a Guillow Trixter Profile. I never flew one, but I understand that they flew better than a Ringmaster.
Steve

Allen Eshleman · « **Reply #3 on:** June 26, 2007, 04:40:15 AM »

Here Are two more looks.

Marvin Denny · « **Reply #4 on:** June 26, 2007, 09:14:48 AM »

The peak of the wedge on the tank should be the alignment point with the center of the Venturi. HOWEVER !!!! as with most Fox 35s mounted on profile type planes, you may find that the peak of the tank wedge "may" have to be positioned up to 3/8ths of an inch ABOVE the venturi center line to get consistant runs both upright and inverted. A lot depends on what the plumbing is like inside the tank and which vents/overflow lines are capped. With the tank shown, I would leave both the fill and overflow lines open and start off with the tank wedge peak centered on the venturi, and go from there.

Bigiron

Allen Eshleman · « **Reply #5 on:** June 26, 2007, 10:48:41 AM »

I found this in a thread in the under the OTS board about What profile plane to build? The Trixter Profile BC (sort of like a profile Barnstormer) is a nice change from all the Ringmasters. Designed by Lou Andrews, and kitted by Guillow. 1948 Nats winner.

If this is correct, then this must be an Old Time Stunt plane.

Also. Thanks for the advice about the tank. That's sort of what I expected. I am aware of the 3/8" above venturi for the Fox 35. I made this tank mount adjustable from a piece of advice that was given me on the Engine tips board. Thanks again!

Only question - are we sure that it is a Trixter?

Flying Owl

Steve Holt · « **Reply #6 on:** June 26, 2007, 11:13:41 AM »

The new pictures show a swept wing. The Trixter had a swept leading edge but a straight trailing edge. I guess I don't know what it is but the fuselage and tail still look like Guillows. Maybe a later design than the Trixter?
Steve

minnesotamodeler · « **Reply #7 on:** June 26, 2007, 04:00:42 PM »

I gotta say that's one weird looking airplane, especially evident in that 3rd picture... Are we sure it's a kitted design, not a home-grown? I can't imagine that picture on the box being much of a selling point.

--Ray

Allen Eshleman · « **Reply #8 on:** June 26, 2007, 08:29:58 PM »

Miracle of miracles. This thing really flies. It seemed to fly better than the two ringmasters I had long ago, in the 60's. Two things at least were pleasant surprises. One, it cut really tight corners. Two, the old Fox that I thought was burnt up by two miscues with wrong fuel when I was just getting back into control line, actually ran quite well. The first flight we had it set just about perfect. It had a nice 4-2 break. I was stunned. The next flight I had it set too rich but still ended up doing loops, and flying upside down. That's a miracle. I haven't flown inverted for over a year after I wrecked a McCoy 19 powered P-63 King Cobra with which I was flying inverted and doing horizontal figure 8's. The third flight with this "Trixter" or whatever it is, I had the engine too lean. It cut out on me as I was coming out of inverted. Actually I reacted fairly well and got it almost straightened out right side up. However, it hit hard and broke off the back tail wheel. I glued it back on immediately upon arriving home. Well, I sure am having fun with "whatever it is". I might just learn my square loops and 8's on this thing.

I too wonder if it is a kitted model but one thing is certain, I am delighted with the way it flies.

Flying Owl

john e. holliday · « **Reply #9 on:** June 26, 2007, 09:07:15 PM »

I just went to Barry Baxter's control line plans site. The plane in the picture looks just like the Guillows Trixy. Shows 46 inch span and listed as profile stunt/combat circa 1955. Hope this answers your question. To verify you can go to: www.controllineplans.com . Have fun, DOC Holliday

minnesotamodeler · « **Reply #10 on:** June 27, 2007, 02:11:57 AM »

I believe you are right. Wow.

Allen Eshleman · « **Reply #11 on:** June 27, 2007, 04:59:31 AM »

Yup, you nailed it! That's it. Interesting, some parts like the bellcrank platform and a piece related to the tailwheel were made of something like masonite. Well, mystery solved. I know what I'm flying. Thanks. I enjoyed Barry Baxter's site.

Flying Owl

George · « **Reply #12 on:** June 27, 2007, 08:08:32 AM »

Allen,

You probably have the old Fox needle valve that adjusts funny. If so, there is a flat spot that causes it to go from rich to lean with a small adjustment. One way to approach the adjustment is to go full turns to where you return to the flat spot as a course adjustment, then use individual clicks from the flat spot as fine adjustment.

Hard to explain..ya gotta be there.

George

Keith Spriggs · « **Reply #13 on:** June 27, 2007, 08:37:13 AM »

Quote from: George Bain on June 27, 2007, 08:08:32 AM

Allen,

You probably have the old Fox needle valve that adjusts funny.Hard to explain..ya gotta be there.

George

When I flew the Bi Slob it had an old but good condition Fox 35 Stunt on it. We had a problem getting it to draw fuel (the spray bar was correctly orientated) and after it did start and we adjusted the needle valve it was still a lean 4 cycle with the needle valve tightened all the way in. It flew OK until something went wrong in the control system and it pancaked in. When I started to rebuild it I took the engine off and removed the spray bar.(2 hole) I blew air thru it and quite a bit of air was coming thru even with the needle valve all the way in. I substituted a flat side needle valve and now it will shut completely off so no air goes thru it. I had always thought that the tapered NV was a direct substitute for the flat ones, but not in this case any way.

Andrew Hathaway · « **Reply #14 on:** June 27, 2007, 09:27:13 AM »

I had that same issue with the current style full taper Fox needle in a vintage brass spray bar about a week ago. I'm running that same combo in a couple other 35's without a problem. One of the things I noticed is that of the 3 needles I compared, no two had identical tapers/lengths. I tried two different needles before I swapped to a different spray bar.

Dennis Leonhardi · « **Reply #15 on:** April 08, 2010, 02:52:26 AM »

I was rounding up the parts for an old kit, did an internet search for the Trixy 'cuz the kit plans (illustrated building instructions really) I have are in many pieces, and found this old post. Allen is right, some of the materials are pretty unusual!

The wing area is 435 square inches; construction (and kit parts) are pretty light. A modern .25 is probably a good choice.

Allen, is yours still flying?

Dennis

EddyR · « **Reply #16 on:** April 08, 2010, 05:59:06 AM »

Trixy was kitted in 1955 but Lou was giving out parts for this plane and the Barnstormer back in 1951. The kit had a very strange control system.The leadouts crossed over each other.The front leadout crossed over the rear so it came out behind the rear one at the wing tip. Also the bellcrank and the pushrod was on the inside wing but then it had a bend and came out the outboard side. This oddball pushrod led to a weak mushy pushrod and poor controls. If built with a straight pushrod the plane flew much better than the Ringmaster as it has a thick wing and bigger wing span.It had a plywood tail wheel,skid that broke off on the first flight every time.Most people modified the control setup and changed the fuselage a little bit and it became very jet looking.I do not remember the plans that Lou gave out as having the odd controls.Also his had center sheet planking but the kit did not. I have all the parts cut for one but have not built it yet.
Ed

dennis lipsett · « **Reply #17 on:** April 08, 2010, 06:24:11 AM »

I had one of those in the mid 60's but never used it as a stunt model. It was the first model that i put a 3 line system and an OS35SR/C on it. Used it to fly formation flying with a friend at Langly AFB and it was a great flying model. With the 3 line i only did round maneuvers inverted flight etc, a decent flyer even with the 3rd line handicap.
Dennis

Allen Eshleman · « **Reply #18 on:** April 16, 2010, 06:18:45 AM »

I want to get this out and fly it again. I'm having troubles with the Fox motor which I will work on soon. Does anyone have the plans? What is the correct center of gravity?

Thanks again!

EddyR · « **Reply #19 on:** April 16, 2010, 06:31:15 AM »

In John's answer above he gives the link to the site that has the plans.
Ed

dale gleason · « **Reply #20 on:** April 16, 2010, 08:22:50 AM »

dang! Aaarrrgghhh! The Trixy was to be my VSC surprise for next year*. It is a good flying plane, the first control line plane I ever saw fly...1956. Barry Baxter has the plans. I don't think it will make the OTS Cutoff.

*I've been saying that for about eight years now.

dale g

Allen Eshleman · « **Reply #21 on:** May 17, 2010, 05:15:46 AM »

I finally flew the Trixy again after a couple of years. The problem that developed was with the motor, an old Fox. It wouldn't stay running. We would start it, get out to the handle and it would stop. On a close examination I noticed that the bottom part of the motor mount was broken. Ah - it's a vibration problem, I thought. We repaired that motor mount area. I still had the same problem. My brother noticed fuel oozing out of the back of the motor. He made a new gasket and bingo! It's running great. I thought it was a blown engine. I only did one flight and that was just circles and wingovers. It was pretty windy. I will fly it again soon. Hoping to use it for learning a few more stunts. Right now I only do loops and figure eights and a bit of inverted. It's time to go for some triangles, square loops and eights and possibly the vertical eight. Am I expecting too much of this plane to try those?

john e. holliday · « **Reply #22 on:** May 17, 2010, 07:45:03 PM »

That plane was designed to do the pattern. Take your time and don't push it. Hope you have someone to help you with the pattern.

Author Topic: What is this Plane? (Read 5988 times)

Dennis Leonhardi