My Swap-Meet Ringmaster ! Smack Down!!!! The Resurrection Begins!!

I should've explained that I used a piece of brake line material. It's a bit more durable than brass. If I did use brass, I would probably oversize it a bit so that the threads of the screw won't vibrate and cut through it. Ken

Maybe I should have started a new topic...sorry.
This ain't wonderland Alice.

What an UGLY little door...

The .35 from my Dad is a bust. There were a couple Mccoy's not on airplanes, a Fox 19 NIB, and an interesting 049. I left all the loose engines behind. I will be back in a few weeks to clean and re-insulate this space.

I did return with 2 more ringmasters, a Baby with a Cox 049, and a Jr sans engine, with a decoration scheme that my brothers, parents and I agree *I* did, but I don't have clear memory of building this model. I think it was an experiment in film coverings right when I was starting into RC gliders. I may have the engine that was originally on the Jr here already, converted to RC. I can convert it back, not trivial but quite easy.

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Fallen insulation from the roof job last winter (I get to be the insulation installer again!)
gonna attempt clockwise...
The large warbird is one of my Dad's combat airplanes. The yellow and blue elevator and horizontal stab barely visible is a Baby Ringmaster with a larger Cox TD on it. The red wingtips on white wing is my oldest brother's (1) Jr Ringmaster. The red with 049 is my older brother's (2) unknown. The large fuselage is my Dad's RC Cub(?) that he never flew. The white wing with black fuse and trim is the Baby Ringmaster with Cox engine I brought home. The white wings with blue fuse and elevator, red nose, cox engine is my oldest brother's (1). (I am the youngest of 3)


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another of my Dad's combat airplanes with a typical franken-plane graft. A stack of model rockets.


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Cox 049. Does not currently rotate under finger power. Left alone for now. Dad says it was on his first RC airplane. After the airframe was rebuilt a few times he gave up on RC.


what a mess...


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Tether car?

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I don't ever remember running a tether car...


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The flames and the spider look like something I would have done 20 years ago. I don't specifically remember building a Ringmaster Jr, but apparently I did. I did build a lot of models about that time.

I also brought home some cables of unknown lengths, a control handle, and extra parts to my Fox15.

My parents won an auction and brought home a literal truckload (Chevy Blazer, seat folded up, filled neatly) of models, kits, engines, and whatnot about 20 or 25 years ago, maybe a bit more. The Baby ringmaster is from this auction.

Phil

Holy crap Phil,

What a goldmine of cool stuff.

If you are interested in selling a Baby Ring or the Jr. Let me know.

Wow!

"Goldmine" is right!

What surprised me is I did not find any of my Mom's airplanes. I think the two loose Mccoy engines were from her planes, but I am not sure. I'll ask when I am helping with the insulation and cleaning.

Phil

pkrankow wrote:
https://i.servimg.com/u/f44/17/84/87/39/12080213.jpg
Cox 049. Does not currently rotate under finger power. Left alone for now. Dad says it was on his first RC airplane. After the airframe was rebuilt a few times he gave up on RC.

Phil

Phil,
That Cox engine is a 1953-1954 Space Bug Junior. The moulded fuel pickup is opposite the needle so it does appear to be in an "RC" configuration. To use it for CL you would rotate the backplate so the needle is inside the circle.
It has a spinner nut instead of the original Acorn nut. Replacement Acorn nuts are available from Cox International.
It seems to have the smaller glow head, which is VERY scarce. If it is burned out you may need to switch both the glow head and cylinder.
They are very user-friendly engines. Good luck with it.

George

Got the fuel tank adjusted and locked into place, and the hatch epoxied on. Now, the "mummification process" begins.

Hopefully, the Ringmaster's stint "under wraps" will not compare with King Tut's !

The wings look nice, but that covering on the fuselage could use a little shrinkage. Sorta reminds me of my planes.

andrew wrote:The wings look nice, but that covering on the fuselage could use a little shrinkage. Sorta reminds me of my planes.

Durn Wrinkles....

Dang Kim Hurry up!

Just kidding, just eager to see the completed Super Ringmaster!

Ron

Finally ! A free day, 50+ degrees, and fairly low humidity...though with a breeze that would make March proud. STILL...it's PAINT TIME !!!

The trusty and ancient Sears air-compressor gasps to life, helping my Badger Detail Gun expel left-over bits of paint from it's gullet.

A wild-cat guess at the proper ratio of Mr. Brodak's liquid gold products, a warning to Patrick (who just showed up to be part of the glory) to stand aside and off we went!

Leaving the fuse masked and covered, I hit the wings with "Lemon Yellow" and must have gotten close to the proper thinner/paint ratio as the Badger was able to lay down a reasonable swath.



A couple coats on each wing panel, and a break while the dope dried, and the Badger got a hosing with thinner.



I took a chance on the fresh dope being "tape friendly" and re-masked the wing for the next color coat.

Then Mr. Brodak's can of Caribbean Turquoise was popped open with a deft flick of a screwdriver, mixed with some thinner, shaken (not stirred), and a few minutes later, I had the Badger loaded and ready for action. I somehow managed to hang onto the Ringmaster in the the 20 mph gusts, and got what, by my standards, was a pretty even coat, with no straw stem or other debris embedded in the finish.



A little bit of a wait, and then came the big moment!





I think the Caribbean Turquoise matched the original quite well, and am a pretty happy camper at the moment! Some of the original paint DID come off with the masking tape (Don't leave it stuck on so long, dummy!), but I'll seal it with a touch-up brush.

"Step Back, Big Boy !!!!"

Very nice work. That's a big ol' tall engine poking out of the nose there.

Boy howdy that is a sweet looking plane now!

Phil

Bang up job Kim!!! Looks really good. I saw one of those NIB today! Drool.....

way to go idaho! looks great!

It's tough to beat the looks of the classic paint jobs. Very nicely done!

Thanks Guys! A little more detail stuff, and this old/new dog will be ready go.

Since it takes me a hour and a half to assemble my painting gear and re-teach myself to use it, while it's all laying out and around, I think I'm gonna try to get some color dope on my Uncle Wayne's Goldberg 'Buster' this week as well.



I wish there was some way for a bunch of us to get together this Spring, and crank these things up as a group !

Got the chance to hit my Swap Meet Ringmaster's Fuselage with some color paint to cover those places where the paint was pulled away by masking tape, and also brought the blue in around the windshield seal a little neater Finished with a light coat of clear, and actually got a bit of a shine on the ole gal !!!

If things go well, I intend to test fly it this weekend at the airport, then head to Uncle Wayne's house and fly it in his backyard!

Gonna be hard to believe actually seeing this thing out at the end of some cables !!!

Everybody, direct your positive vibes in this direction, please !!!!

Blue-Handed Kim

+++++++VIBES+++++++


Looks good Kim all will go well. Post a report on how it goes.


Ron

Very nice Kim. I hope you can get some action shots or video. I think it looks better than mine done up in dope proper like.

I got my engine on order. Brand spankin' new Fox Stunt .35. Fox's trade in deal is pretty good. I hope to have my engine in hand in about 2 weeks.

Phil

pkrankow wrote:Very nice Kim. I hope you can get some action shots or video. I think it looks better than mine done up in dope proper like.

I got my engine on order. Brand spankin' new Fox Stunt .35. Fox's trade in deal is pretty good. I hope to have my engine in hand in about 2 weeks.

Phil

Yeah, you can't beat that deal, I wonder what they do with the old engines? Maybe I should pop in and ask.

I sent them scrap.

It was an old Fox15 slant head that seized and apparently burned (the cowl of the airplane I took it off was blistered and charred) When trying to free it I was ham handed and popped a wooden dowel in the cylinder to push, and collapsed the piston.

Knowing what I know now there is a chance I could have saved the engine by soaking it in denatured alcohol for several days, then warming it with a heat gun. Then again the piston collapsed under a push, no hammer used, so maybe saving it wouldn't have happened.

Phil