What classic model could be fitted with an old unmuffled FOX .15

Dear Friends,

I now have 2 old FOX .15 stuntmotors. Both are from the times when mullfers were unknown and both have never been flewn - I have started to run in one of them (very nasty little motors making what they can to kick backwards).

I am now seeking a suitable model with good stunt behaviour for this tiny motor. Preferrably this should be a very classical model designed at least 40 years ago..... At first I thought that the classic "Jr Nobler" would be perfect, but on second thoughts I think the Jr Nobler requires some more power than what could be the case with the FOX .15 - especially if I keep on running my stuntmotors with 28% castor oil.

An other idea could be to make a "twin" , but as I have understood there must be enough power in each motor to keep lines tensioned in level flight if one stops before the the other.


Any hints


Cheers // Ingvar, City of Boraas in Sweden

You have the Flying Clown and the Circus Prince both Are OTS legal.

Jr. Noblar?

Shark 15. [photo not recovered: sipcof.gif]

Larry Scarinzi had a number of small size stunters that would be classic legal, Sig had a great little profile ship that might be classic, and let's not forget the Flying Clown! Flapless, simple and OTS legal as well. Much better built lite with a .15 than a kit built dog with a Fox .35 that I used to build! But for $1.95, I was in the air!


Ward

I believe this engine would fly an ARFstreak because it weighs next to nothing.

Jr. Flite Streak, Ringmaster Jr., Sig Acromaster were all designed for lite case .09 -.19 engines. You might even get away with an ARF Flite Streak on medium length line- 42-28 ft, but a .15 may be too weak for really good maneuvers.

For a twin the Sterling profile P-38 was designed for 2 old loop scavenged engines. The plan shows 2 FOX .15s, they look like the steel fin model. If you have the .15X you aill have plenty of power.

Just remember- even an engine powerful enough to fly a twin with 1 stopped won't help if you run out of airspeed, altitude, and line tension!

Flying Models "Dominator" by James Wilson. I don't know where you could get plans, but it was late 1950's. I built mine as a profile, being somewhere around 14 or 15 years old, and it flew quite well, considering.

The Fox .15's started out as the "steel fin" version, then became monoblock, which are called "slant plug" version. The steel finned ones will run more of a 4-2-4. Modern props would help a lot. I used an 8-4 Tornado nylon and Francisco's "Blue Blazer". Steve

Steve Helmick
Renton, Washington
USA

Larry Scarinzi had a number of small size stunters that would be classic legal...

Ward


The "Lil' Dynamite" comes to mind. The plan is available from our host.

George

This is the little slant plug motor?

Flying clown for sure.

Jr Flite streak

Magician 15.

I think any of the 33 inch Midwest war birds.

BLACK HAWK

The "Custom Special" Walt Musciano design 1956 built up wing, profile fuselage.
"Glow Bug" OTS designed Carl Goldberg 1947 sheet wing, profile fuselage.
"Perky" 1946 Speed model Build up wing and full fuselage, Matt Kania design

From the American Classic line at Black Hawk Models.
WWW.BLACKHAWKMODELS.COM

Dear Friends,

...At first I thought that the classic "Jr Nobler" would be perfect, but on second thoughts I think the Jr Nobler requires some more power than what could be the case with the FOX .15 - especially if I keep on running my stuntmotors with 28% castor oil.

Cheers // Ingvar, City of Boraas in Sweden

Ingvar,

Actually, George Aldrich ran the steel-fin Fox .15 in his original.

There is no need to run a Fox .15 with 28% castor, in fact Duke Fox recommended Missile Mist which, I think, has only 17% oil. I would suggest 15%-25% nitro, 20%-22% all or mostly castor. Since they are new, some synthetic is good to keep it clean. I would suggest at least a short break-in.

Do not over-prop the Fox. I would suggest an 8x4 or a 7x6. For the Jr. Nobler, an 8x4.

So, don't be afraid of the Jr. Nobler if you want a built-up model. Some excellent profiles have already been suggested.

Good luck.

George

The Papoose by Bob Palmer is just the right size for this engine. I have a set of plans by Tom Dixon and it reccomends the Fox 15.

Joe Connelly

I ran a Fox 15 in my Jr Nobler in the 60s and it was a good combination.

Lazer Works has the Jr. Nobler kit that is all laser cut and updated consrtuction with pretty good wood. It is designed for that motor and flies just like its big brother. Has canopies and decals too. Really nice plane....

Is this the Fox 15 that started the Fox 15 hurl out here in CA? Meaning, no one here could ever even get the engine started let alone fly anything...

When I was in junior high I had a Cox Tee Dee .049 that I would fiddle with for it seemed hours on end trying to get it to start. Of course I had no idea what I was doing. My dad had been given a Ringmaster Jr kit that he had never built (he didn't fly models) and he had a NIB Fox .15 (slant plug) too. I put the kit together and one day got up the courage to try and start the .15. It looked so BIG to me. I put fuel in the tank, squirted a little in the exhaust, connected the battery, and imagine my suprise when the dang thing fired up on the first flip! I would run tank after tank though that thing just for the joy of having an engine that would run. I'm sure I drove the neighbors nuts. I've still got the engine. Anyone know where I can get plans for a Ringmaster JR?

Jim

Is this the Fox 15 that started the Fox 15 hurl out here in CA? Meaning, no one here could ever even get the engine started let alone fly anything...

Yup! The same one. They run pretty good everywhere else, but are known to not run and cause cancer in CA.

George

OK all Friends,

thanks for your suggestions. As I just "by occasion" happen to have a copy of the Jr Nobler somewhere it might be my "holiday project". But the Papoose by Bob Palmer sounds very interesting...

However - my stunt teacher says that I am just in the phase where I destroy more models than I can build....

...... of course there are ARF and this - but I am very addicted to cover with silk (or Nylon where extra strength might be needed) as the result is far better compared to Solartex, Glosstex etc. when I do it. Even with aid of a microprocessor controlled covering iron my results suits best in total darkness...


So - even if the little slant glowplug .15 FOX is nasty and required a bunch of even nastier verbal expressions, once it was tamed it has showed to be quite OK to start and run. And so far I have not notieced any forms of cancer. But I'll stubbornly continue to run my engines with 28% castor oil. My teachers are still running engines bought in the late 50-ties on this oily mixture while others wore down their tittle jewels decades ago...


So - I am looking forward to my 4 weeks holiday in July, a month that statistically is the rainiest priod of the year in Sweden.


Cheers // Ingvar, City of Boraas in southwest Sweden.

>OK all Friends,
>
>thanks for your suggestions. As I just "by
>occasion" happen to have a copy of the Jr Nobler
>somewhere it might be my "holiday project". But the
>Papoose by Bob Palmer sounds very interesting...
>
....SNIP.....

>So - even if the little slant glowplug .15 FOX is nasty and
>required a bunch of even nastier verbal expressions, once it
>was tamed it has showed to be quite OK to start and run. And
>so far I have not notieced any forms of cancer. But I'll
>stubbornly continue to run my engines with 28% castor oil. My
>teachers are still running engines bought in the late 50-ties
>on this oily mixture while others wore down their tittle
>jewels decades ago...
>Cheers // Ingvar, City of Boraas in southwest Sweden.

Dear Ingvar, please do yourself a favor and use 22% Castor as GCB
suggested;
your engine will last just as long as with 28% and you'll enjoy a bit
more power as well.

Tony G(running engines since the late 1940s)

> Is this the Fox 15 that started the Fox 15 hurl out here
>in CA? Meaning, no one here could ever even get the engine
>started let alone fly anything...
>
>Yup! The same one. They run pretty good everywhere else, but
>are known to not run and cause cancer in CA.
>
>George

Dear George, Ha Ha Ha...so true...

Tony G(Corona, Calif)

>Is this the Fox 15 that started the Fox 15 hurl out here in
>CA? Meaning, no one here could ever even get the engine
>started let alone fly anything.

Yep, the very same.

When Aaron(my son) and I hurled those two Foxs' into the plowed field ajacent to the flying site at the Nut Tree Airport in Vaccaville, that fatefull day, Uncle Jimby was heard to say "That was the longest time those motors have ever spent in the air."
History was made that day.

And now people stand in line to hurl these mechanical wonders at the "Meet and Meat Bar-B-Que and Stunt Extravaganza" every year!!

Larry, NorCal Circle Jerks

Larry,

I have followed that event online, and it looks like you guys have a lot of fun at that event. So, what started as an act of frustration has become a major sourse of enjoyment.

In all honesty though, I wouldn't throw an engine if I could get another run out of it. Now if it's not runnable...

BTW, after you hurled those Foxes, what did you replace them with in the airplanes?

Do you retrieve the Foxes to use again next year?

Warped minds want to know.

George

When I was about 12 I had a slant plug Fox15 in a Magician and it was mean as a snake, and I bled all over my handle throughout the one and only flight. It popped and snapped and ran backwards. I winced and fumed and primed and flipped and flipped and flipped. It seemed to exist in a perpetual state of over prime....or dry. Damned needle vibrated so bad that when I did manage get a start long enough
to affect an adjustment I promptly buzzed the skin off of my knuckle to match my cut fingers.

Donate em to Uncle Jimby!

Geez,

This thread makes me want to go out and get one just to see if they are as horrid as everyone says. Given how over powered my JR Flite Streak is with an OS MAX .15, it might make a good replacement

cheers,
Colin

John,

At one time Fox noticed that power was down on the slant plug .15 and Duke tightened up the tolerances and made some improvements (from "Duke's Mixture" in one of the mags). Perhaps you got one of the ones set-up for higher compression. They also made an XX and XXX version that was for higher performance. If I remember correctly, the XXX version was available only from the factory.

I have several slant plugs of various vintages, close one has no muffler mounting provisions, rear ones have over/under stack muffler mount that use muffler shown. A couple not shown are in planes (Akromaster, sport original). These have side lugs for mounting a flow-through Fox muffler that mounts either side or over/under.

Also shown (poor pics) are Fox steel fins from when they first were released (left) and a later release (right). Note the more rounded head fins on the later one.

None of these were hard to start. Guess I was just lucky. Also, none have been hurled.

George

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>>BTW, after you hurled those Foxes, what did you replace them
>with in the airplanes?

I used OS FP .10's
>
>Do you retrieve the Foxes to use again next year?

Yes they are used over and over again. However, I am always looking for pristine examples to mount to the trophy. The Fox .15 Hurl trophy is a sight to behold.

Larry, NorCal Circle Jerks

Yes they are used over and over again. However, I am always looking for pristine examples to mount to the trophy. The Fox .15 Hurl trophy is a sight to behold.

Larry, NorCal Circle Jerks

Any chance of a pic for us folks who can't participate?

George

> Yes they are used over and over again. However, I am
>always looking for pristine examples to mount to the trophy.
>The Fox .15 Hurl trophy is a sight to behold.
>
>Larry, NorCal Circle Jerks
>
>Any chance of a pic for us folks who can't participate?
>
>George

Maybe Brett or Phil (PTG) would be kind enough to post a picture. Brett is a former Hurl Champ and Phil has won it two or three times(thanks to the Geezer points).

In fact, Brett happens to be the only person on the planet to hold the title of Hurl Champ AND Nats Champ at the same time.
What an honor

Larry, NorCal Circle Jerks
>

>>>BTW, after you hurled those Foxes, what did you
>replace them
>>with in the airplanes?
>
>I used OS FP .10's
>>
>>Do you retrieve the Foxes to use again next year?
>
>Yes they are used over and over again. However, I am always
>looking for pristine examples to mount to the trophy. The Fox
>.15 Hurl trophy is a sight to behold.
>
>Larry, NorCal Circle Jerks
>

Hi Larry,
Havent spoke with you since the Nats several years ago when that
flawless scale creation of yours garnered....
Sorry,.. sore subject. Gorgeous airplane!

I had an idea, concerning the Fox 15 Hurl. Perhaps it would be a fun
unofficial event similar to the Perky Postal Race. Email in official
hurled distances, with the object being, to meet the average distance
of the total entries. Might be fun at a larger level and also give
the entire CLPA community to participate in this legendary event!



John Sunderland

Just wait 'til you guys see one of the items in "The Lighter Side" column, July-August issue of Stunt News.

Mike Keville