Thimble Drome P-40 Flying Tiger

This was my introduction to CL and Cox engines - 1960.

Despite what it said on the box it was not really suitable for a beginner as it really didn't fly that well and it was not that crash resistant either.
Compared to other 'basic' engines of the time the Cox was in a class of its own for power and light weight, particularly when running on the hugely expensive Cox Thimble Drome fuel but then it was 30% nitro!

I think the P40 still exists (the Cox certainly does) in the depth of my loft somewhere.

And here it is!

Still with the Cox but missing the 3 blade 5x3? and spinner.
One of the first RTFs. There was no assembly required, you only needed fuel and a glow battery. Even the handle and lines were included.

However for control line the wing section is really a bit of a nonsense.

In effect just a single surface resulting in wing with a huge under camber.

By far the best bit was the Cox Super Bee!

So how old is this model governor

And what other gems lurketh in your loft

I remember looking lustfully at then in the Model shop, I don't think many survived the first flight!

It is 1960 - my Dad brought it back with him from the USA.

He went there quite a few times on military business (Civil Servant so 1st class!) flew DC7c, Constellation but his favourite was the Stratocruiser.

Envy of my school mates as I had the BOAC & PanAm flight bags. I wish I still had them!

When I put the P40 back where it came from I discovered where its 3 blade prop and spinner had gone, along with my 'spare' Cox 049.

This started life as a 1.5 times scale rubber powered Keil Kraft Spitfire (I drew up my own plan) in 1958 so is my oldest surviving airframe.
Actually completed only as a glider but modified and strengthened to become a control liner for my trusty Mills 75 and then again seriously rebuilt, recovered and fuel proofed to take the Cox along with a scale undercarriage.

Time has not been kind to the foam rubber tyres!
Although parts of this plane are over 50 years old it has never actually flown under power!

Stil plenty of time for its maiden then,it would probably go phwah phwah cough splutter splat :whistle: