Cox Model Engine Handbook

Another publication by "Dave Thornburg" that I've been told is worth having in your aero-modelling library..

https://www.amazon.com/Do-You-Speak-Model-Airplane/dp/B002ANRY8G

I think the Handbook is meant mostly for engine collectors, as it lists and describes just about all the known variations of different product- and other engines.

Correct me if I am wrong, but as far as I know, in this book there is not a lot of practical info about how to run and troubleshoot the engines.

I guess the usefulness of this book depends on what you want from it. I personally do not own a copy, even though I am more a collector than a flier. But I am working on becoming more of a flier

Kari if you mean this one (which is different from what Roddie refers to above) https://www.ebay.com/itm/Cox-Model-Engine-Handbook/183698811758?hash=item2ac54d6b6e:g:xV8AAOSwYh9b8zSe, then yes, this is a listing of all COX engines with a plethora of component combinations, ever made, without any technical advice on how to run, trouble-shoot and maintain COX engines, and this was really meant to be read by collectors.

Yes, Andras, I did indeed mean the "Cox Model Engine Handbook". Seems like an interesting book, but with the postage and everything, I have not yet found it "interesting enough", since I am just a "casual" collector, with no plans to collect all of them.

I have a question while we are here does anyone know if the engines inside have the breakdown of the components used in each engine , or just a couple pics of the engine and read on it . ??

Eric the handbook details - mainly for the product engines though- which version of various components were used in which production years. Here is an example:



The component numbers and lettering like 30b, 71a etc. differentiate the versions and are explained with photos in the first chapters of the book. So looking at  the combination of  various engine components you may be able to identify in which production years your engine may have been manufactured.

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I got 2 of those type engines. One was from a turtle deck P-51 (A or B?). I bought it for something less than a dollar back in the late 1960's / early 1970's from Gemco, a department store in Waipahu, Oahu, Hawaii. They were having an outdoor clearance sale. The P-51 RTF had a fuselage and wing, but was lacking the fuselage rear bottom and movable elevator. Then in high school, I completed it by making a squared off balsa sheet bottom and balsa sheet elevator halves connected by music wire using cloth hinges. Used gloss Olive Drab paint, which matched it close enough. It looked quite good, actually. Still have the donor engine.



The anodized black prop thrust plate I added after along with the aluminium nose spinner, mounted it to a Goldberg EB-1 engine mount. It originally used a prop 5-40 stud and barrel for a red rubber spinner. Being light weight at 1.6 oz. less prop, I may install this on my Pat King .020 Pee Wee Baby Ringmaster. Install prop backwards to reduce thrust and use a glow plug mount head to reduce power.

These 190-s, no matter that not the strongest 049-s, remain my favorits from the 1970-s when I first saw a COX engine that instantly and eternally mesmerized me with its miniaturism, beauty and brute power..I also have a few of them including the one from the 1970-s and I will never part with them

They may not be the strongest .049 reedies, but they are IMO sufficiently powerful. The twin intake ported ones for the heavier RTF's was indeed very decent as they were used for 1/2-A proto speed back in the 1960's, probably Black Widow like. I was under the impression that the single ported ones were a tad stronger than a Babe Bee. Don't have any numbers, but would be interested to know if the single ported one with high compression head compared with the Golden Bee.

I like them because they are very light in weight, lighter than the Sure Starts. I weighed mine using my scale and this is with the EB-1 mount. With a starter spring it would be a little heavier. The beauty of these is they came with a finer thread needle, finer than the Sure Starts.

Mudhen wrote:This is the engine from Feb. 1962.

It's the 190-2 from the initial issue, red P-51 Bendix Trophy Racer.
The "ECJ #12c" shown in the handbook is a 290 from 1964, (or later,) not February 1962.

I have one that has the narrow nose crankcase without the groove for the starter spring, I gather it is one of the early ones. The needle has a yellow plastic ”handle”. The cylinder is a #2. No idea where ot was originally installed, it came with a bunch of other engines.

KariFS wrote:

Mudhen wrote:This is the engine from Feb. 1962.

It's the 190-2 from the initial issue, red P-51 Bendix Trophy Racer.
The "ECJ #12c" shown in the handbook is a 290 from 1964, (or later,) not February 1962.

I have one that has the narrow nose crankcase without the groove for the starter spring, I gather it is one of the early ones. The needle has a yellow plastic ”handle”. The cylinder is a #2. No idea where ot was originally installed, it came with a bunch of other engines.

With all due respect, I'm pretty sure the engine pictured is actually the 190-1 from
1961. It was used in the early Stuka airplane. The lack of bumps or ears on the sides
of the backplate, bear this out.
The 190's are one of my favorite engines, and I own way too many of 'em.
Bob

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Mud, please write a book. You'll sell out immediately.


I have the Cox Model Engine Handbook and love it, even if there are a few issues here and there which is expected for something covering over 50 years of engines.

there is one on ebay right now

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Even with blurry pictures I can already tell that I like that format.

Taking pre-orders?

Iceberg wrote:Hi Guys
I've heard about the Cox Model Engine Handbook that was produced in the past. Is it worthwhile to get? Where to find it? Seems tough to find.

Thanks
Iceberg

q
Oops corrected

From Tim Dannels   www.modelenginecollecting.com.  it is on sale right now.

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That sounds Great , i am in for one !!

Id like one if electronic. Books are hard to travel with.
Ice

Mudhen wrote:

Jason_WI wrote:Taking pre-orders?

Not yet. Still a lot of work ahead of me.
I started the project in 1991. Terminated it in 2006, and picked it up again in 2018.
I'm still in my catch up phase.
But CEF will have first dibs.

Looking forward to your work. I know well what you are facing. It took three of use a couple of years to do the Fox index for Tim Dannels ECJ and there were only 307 of them.