Johnny Brodbeck of K&B Allyn talked me into putting a K&B 45 in my P40N Warhawk while he was Contest Director for USAF Model Airplane Championships in 1960. He had just introduced the 45 as smooth running RC engine.
He had his son John Junior bring one to the Dallas Nats. In the mean time I removed the Fox 35 and retro fitted a K&B 35 in my P40N, which had the same mounting holes and crankshaft length as the 45.
Mr Brodbeck convinced me, sight unseen, that the 45 would hold a solid, unchanging 4 cycle run and would easily haul my 47 ounce, 57 inch wing span model through the pattern with ease. Fortunately John Junior had the engine broken in for me.
The engine fit perfectly in place of the K&B 35. One big short coming of the engine was that it needed more fuel than the Fox 35 to run at a steady four stroke, which was what I was used to. It ran out of fuel in the middle of the clover leaf ever time I flew it, using 70 foot lines eyelet to eyelet. I shortened the lines to 65 feet eyelet to eyelet, but that did not help the fuel problem. It just made lap times faster.
I had mounted the tank permanently as was the custom back in 1950s and digging it out of the model and installing a bigger tank was not an option.
Being on the Air Force Team, I had a bunch of events that I had to fly for team points. I knew I was not going to be allowed to spend a lot of time with the Stunt event. So I put in my two officials, setting the engine just breaking off four cycle. The 45 would lean out in each maneuver and with a Top Flite 12 X 6 paddle blade prop it was like a rocket, much like a Torp 35 Combat Special engine.
It ran out of fuel in the middle of the Clover Leaf on both official flights. Of course that cost me pattern points, landing points and only minimum points for the clover leaf.
1960 Nats George Aldrich was the Event Director and due to so many entrants he had set up the multiple circles and eliminations down to a final top 10 qualifiers from each circle. I managed to be in the top ten in my circle but I did not fly anymore because I knew the 45 was not going to get any better gas mileage and I was being pressed to get hopping on my other events.
Lew MacFarland was not on the Air Force Team that year. He did fly in competition and if I remember correctly, he would have won had he not left out the triangle loops on his final official flight. He was flying his Ruffy. I would suspect Johnny Brodbeck probably gave Lew his K&B 45 for his Shark at that Nationals. You will have to ask Lew about all of that. My 69 year old memory tends to falter lately.
I later put a 5 ounce tank in the P40N and with the K&B 45 went on to win a few more contests. It was great to fly on 67 foot lines and run it on a dead four cycle with 6 second lap times. It was a good engine but like the green head 35s the piston and liner wore out rather fast.
Johnny said he the engine he gave me was timed for Controlled Line Stunt flying. He never revealed any technical details. It had a ventura insert with a standard K&B needle valve assembly.
I have a like new RC version if anyone wants to buy cheap. I am getting too old to build let alone fly anymore. Like some of the other old timers, I fall when I have to look up and walk at the same time.
Hawk
Hoyt D. Hawkins
34 Arledge Drive
Attalla, Alabama 35954
256-538-0110