Boxcar Chief/Torpedo .32

TIA,

Thank you Jim, I'll do that!
Nils

Edit: Done, we'll see what happens

One of the only quirks that ever annoyed me about the "pre '61" Torps was the left-side exhaust. It faces upward on a profile, and the 4 bolt 35's were quite loud. All of the older ones were somewhat easy to flood with an exhaust prime, and I didn't know about back-flip starts when I used those a lot.

I had both 29's and 32's of the old 3-bolt type; they were good runners for their era, but on the Circus Kings and Tomahawks I had mine on, top speeds seldom exceeded about 65 mph with 10-6's (about that 4.0 second lap referred to already, but at a faster needle setting, more like 11K rpm's). I really don't consider that as "fast." With 10-5's, and a good needle setting, about like your 10K, you'd have about 53 mph or so - 4.8 second lap times.

>My question is, what would you OTS guys suggest I use
>in the way of a prop/line length for this setup for
>starters? With the 10-6 at 10K that little Boxcar Chief
>with it's 42 inch wing is going to be really honking on.

As mentioned above, it won't be THAT much of a speed demon, not really! Incidentally, I flew some OTS at one time, but we just called it stunt when I was doing it. I haven't flown the old OTS pattern in 45 years or so.

>I have some 10-5 B-Y&O's & I can repitch something if need
>be, I pitch the props for all my stunters so that's no
>problem. I know the OTS airplanes are generally pretty fast,
>should I go with 60' eye to eye lines & just hang on or
>what?

Most of the time when I watch people flying the oldest designs over the last 15-20 years, most of the pilots slow them down a lot more than was the style of the period when that old stuff was designed. You have probably read about some pilots flying at 75 mph or faster with big roaring 60's and 65's (deBolt's larger Stuntwagon is a common example), but by the time I was watching patterns it was 1952 and the speeds were about like the 4.0 second laps that an old Torp with a 10-6 just naturally flew at.

When the 4-2-4 was first catching on, most pilots using that new way to set an engine were flying quicker than 5.0 second laps - George always told me that he was an exception, and always was looking for very slow operation, around that 6.0 second mark he began to claim was "right," but I never saw anyone, including George, slow down quite that much until I saw Giesecke in the 1960's.

>I'm a reasonably accomplished Advanced PA flyer so
>I can handle the thing going fast if that's what
>it takes, I'm just looking for some suggestions.
>I've only actually seen one Boxcar Chief, & that
>was in 1964, so I'm not really up on how they fly.

Personally, I've only seen one in the air on one day, and that was at a relatively recent VSC. We used 60' lines from handle to plane center line on those Tomahawks and Circus Kings with the old 3-bolt Torps; I don't believe there's any reason to change that (both of those are in the same general size range).

>I DO know that the Boxcar Chief I saw back then was the
>first airplane I ever saw fly the pattern, & the main
>reason I came back to this hobby after all those years
>& I WANT ONE!
>
I'd never seen a Viking fly before that particular VSC, either, but I have an F&B kit of that one now, and intend to build it. Have fun with your Boxcar Chief!

Kiwi

I liked the upward exhaust on a profile. The "trick" I would use on these engines was to never choke or prime. Just move the piston all the way to top dead center, closing the exhaust, and then FILL the exhaust with fuel. Hook up the plug, give it one flip, and off it would go. Don't know how that would work with a muffler, but who had mufflers (or even has them now) for those engines?

Other than Foxes and Tigres, I have had more GH Torps than any other motor (wish I STILL had the whole lot, I'd have a heck of a collection!). I currently have 5 .35s, one .23. The .32, .23, and .201 are the hardest to find of the series, the .09 is next. The .32 is a very good motor, and no slouch in the power dept. It should give you good service on the 'Chief. DO watch those wing "gummy bands" (as I am sure you already know!) for wear or rot!

I've had good luck with Sig rubber bands. I had several RC trainers with rubber banded on wings back when I was learning to fly RC. I always used 12 bands on a 40 sized airplane, 10 fore & aft & two criss cross to hold the rest on. If they looked wiggly I replaced 'em. I never had any trouble with wings coming off, but I've seen it happen a few times. The fuse beats the wing to the ground by quite a bit! I found that if you store the wing hold down bands in a baggie with some kitty litter they last longer & aren't as disgusting to put on.
I also use them to hold the plastic tanks on my profile stunters & Ukeys.
Nils