Cox Powered Tether Pole Hovercraft - Plans Now In Building Plans

Cool. At least I have something to look for now. If found, I will post it. And after reading your response, it does seem to sound familiar about the Popular Mechanics. Thanks.

Read through this thread.. Ken Willard apparently had a book "1/2A Projects" featuring models you could build for your Cox engine.. after the airplane it came in was broken.

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/1-2-1-8-airplanes/10002147-what-book-print.html

Found it online, thanks. I just don't think it warrants the $375 Canadian price tag though. I think that shipping is also on top of that price. It would be cool, but I think I can come up with something for that price. Even another Cox engine or two plus a boat-load of materials I would still be under that. But, I thank you kindly for pointing the book out for me.

Holy CRAP!!! I hope it's hardbound! Sorry to lead you down that path. Maybe you could ask for it for Christmas? I'd love to know more about that book though. Ken Willard had some nice amphibious 1/2A RC airplane designs.

HobbyKings new bleep. RC on a stick.


It is called Flyline Room Raiders. So what do we do? Start it, then leave? Come back later?

What do you think?  I still like the old way.

happydad

First Question. Is it over .55 lbs. I wonder if it would have to be .55 lbs each, or together as I see two on the pole?

@NEW222 wrote:First Question. Is it over .55 lbs. I wonder if it would have to be .55 lbs each, or together as I see two on the pole?

shipping weight is shown as 1516 grams. So actual weight is ??  most likely > 1/2 pound. Hello FAA registration...


happydad

Please forgive me if I am not allowed to post a link from another rc website, but a few questions will be answered by this single post. Here are 6 of the 8 plans from the book.

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showpost.php?p=19422187&postcount=6053

@happydad wrote:

@NEW222 wrote:First Question. Is it over .55 lbs. I wonder if it would have to be .55 lbs each, or together as I see two on the pole?

shipping weight is shown as 1516 grams. So actual weight is ??  most likely > 1/2 pound. Hello FAA registration...


happydad

I would doubt that the regulations apply to indoor flying.

Plans now added to Building Plans.

...would this be 2.4 or narrow band?

Lol, addalog! nice!

Actually it had a bellcrank assembly that was spring loaded and if lines went slack it would climb a little, i'll post pics tonite. On a calm day it probably worked pretty good, little wind not so much!

@NEW222 wrote:Hi there. I was talking to a guy at work who told me he had seen in an old magazine somewhere of plans for a 'hovercraft' powered by a cox engine. He also said he recalled that it was tethered to a pole, I am assuming like the old race cars? Anyways, if anyone out there would happen to know where this may have been published or even have a copy of this, I would love to see it, and attempt to build it as winter is here and I got a lot of time ahead of me here. Thank you.

I realize that this request is almost 4 years old; however after reading through the thread, I believe because of your thread description that your model has not yet been identified. Your description reminded me of the Cox .020 powered tethered Hovercraft that I built back in 1971 from a Popular Science article. It was designed from the model builder from years past known as Roy L. Clough, Jr.  He truly was an innovator and experimenter of new model designs (land, air and sea). A search of his name will bring up this Hovercraft model and many of his models printed for enthusiasts to try.

I also built two of his Cox .020 powered free flight Hoopskirts, one back in 1971 and one in 1976. The second one built, was truly a sight to behold in the air.

Hope this possibly identifies your queried Hovercraft in question.

Yes, that was it. Thank you. I believe I have the plans now too, but have not gotten around to building yet.

@Mark Boesen wrote:...would this be 2.4 or narrow band?

I was cleaning my work room and found my Wen-Mac Remote Cockpit Control.  I'll have to set it up someday.

The Procrastinating Mark

[quote="DrCox"]

@NEW222 wrote:

That's gotta be the same mag I saw in High School. I remember starting on building the hovercraft (see my earlier post) and the Hoop-wing model was in the same issue. Would have been mid 70s.

Every seen one those fly ??

@Oldenginerod wrote:
That's gotta be the same mag I saw in High School.  I remember starting on building the hovercraft (see my earlier post) and the Hoop-wing model was in the same issue.  Would have been mid 70s.

Hoopskirt model also found in April 1963 issue of Popular Mechanics.

@Oldenginerod wrote:Pretty sure I remember seeing it in Popular Mechanics magazine back in High School.  I remember I started to build one but gave up when I couldn't figure out a workable skirt.
Rod.

Same exact problem I had when I was constructing it. Remembering back to 1971, I believe I had to cut the skirt out of balsa against the grain and soaked it in warm water to gently form the skirt. Never completed the project, but I think I still have the partially built model in storage (48 years ago). If anyone is interested, I'll look for it to post a picture. No guarantees of what it looks like after all those years in storage.

@getback wrote:Every seen one those fly ??  

Here's a Hoopskirt image from Roy L. Clough, Jr:



No video camera back in 1976; however here's a video of somewhat the same idea in flight:

Click Here for Hoopskirt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YP9PizYicxY And this is cool too. https://www.facebook.com/PhillyFliersCL/photos/a.513142608755878.1073741825.513140418756097/731890976881039/?type=1&theater There is/was a newer version of this older remote Ukie contraption too. I think it was called the Revolution, but apparently it did not sell well. It was about $200 which was not outrageous, but a radio can be had for $50 now. It would be nice to see that old Testors remote handle/pylon thing up close rather than a drawing.

Okay, I didn't see an actual link to plans for the Aircar, so here's a link to the RCG plans thread for some Roy Clough .pdf's, which includes the aircar:

Clough Designs thread

The Archivist Mark

Great find Mark. Thanks for sharing the link.