Testers Sprite engine swap

Ok here are a few pictures. It is almost a 24 inch wing span.

I will use the orange bulkhead to measure to lay out the size of the new one. I’m thinking I will have to set the new one just behind the former location. So that it can be removed if need be I will carefully mark the location and install it with 4 small screws. That’s the plan anyway. The engine that I plan to use has the integral fuel tank so I don’t need to worry about that. As you can see I have the plane but I am waiting for the teflon material and then I will have to order 2-56 screws and hardware

Greenman38633 wrote:I will use the orange bulkhead to measure to lay out the size of the new one.   I’m thinking I will have to set the new one just behind the former location.   So that it can be removed if need be I will carefully mark the location and install it with 4 small screws.   That’s the plan anyway.  The engine that I plan to use has the integral fuel tank so I don’t need to worry about that.  As you can see I have the plane but I am waiting for the teflon material and then I will have to order 2-56 screws and hardware

I can see the conundrum you are in, @Greenman38633 , the Testors .049 engine engine is quite compact. But, I can also see how a Cox .049 tank engine can be installed.

Just out of curiosity, the Thunder Tiger .07 is similarly compact:



But as such, would require removing cowling material to accomodate the muffler and needle. I could also see how say with two 1/8" thick aircraft ply glued together to tive 1/4" thick could be used mounted maybe an inch or so back, mounted with 2-56 or metric equivalent sheet metal screws spaced evenly around the perimeter could also be a possible method. Seal ply with fuel resistant coating.

Please don't let me sway your thoughts, just thinking out loud to myself. However, you've got an interesting project at hand, more kudos to your success.

Thanks so Much. All suggestions are certainly appreciated. It helps get the old gears turning in the old noodle

Not sure why? The Testors engine should run close or better than a Golden Bee? The plane itself isn't much of a flyer, a more powerful engine would give you faster lap times, but the enjoyment of a project is often the journey.

Thanks Mark for the reply. However this Testers engine has very little compression compared to all of the Cox engines that I have. This is a Modified golden bee with a tee dee cylinder. I’m thinking it will push it around much better. It’s also easy to buy the Cox engines and modified ones. Ive seen no such selection for the Testers engines. If I am wrong please send me to the source of them as using a Testers engine would be a whole lot easier. Thanks

Also I must admit that I am a tinkerer and modifier from way back. I’ve got plenty of ideas that may or may not work. I will try to post them here on this Forum. It should be good for a few laughs

Greenman38633 wrote:Also I must admit that I am a tinkerer and modifier from way back.  I’ve got plenty of ideas that may or may not work.  I will try to post them here on this Forum.   It should be good for a few laughs

There's nothing wrong with that.:

Here in this forum, I've seen some of the repairs done on these plastic C/L ready-to-flies that are incredible, restoring them to showroom appearance or better.

But, we all enjoy experiences, just to peer into what others are doing with these now long gone from the manufacture aeromodelling renditions.

Some may cringe at engine mods detracting from OEM appearances, but the reality is, with many baby boomers passing, their prized engines become estate lot sales for a far fraction less than their value, because their children/grandchildren don't value the deceased's hobby items.

Thus, although the are collectables, the value of it is according to its owner, not the market.

Looking forward to watching your modifications.

Thanks so much. My Teflon board is arriving today. I plan on laying it out and cutting it and checking fit up. Then the search for hardware. If memory serves the metal fuel tank mounts with 2-56 bolts washers and nuts. Shouldn’t take too long. I work 50 to 60 hours a week but I’ll find the time

I remember back in the late 60s or early 70s I had a paper route. When I was finished delivering papers I would stop at a store the was selling this and drool at it . When I had enough money saved to buy it , it was gone ….. 50 years later , I have 4 of them in my hobby room

Akjgardner. Do you fly any of the 4 Cosmic winds that you have ? Thanks. Mark

Greenman38633 wrote:Akjgardner.  Do you fly any of the 4 Cosmic winds that you have ?   Thanks.   Mark

I haven’t yet Mark, but I plan to this Spring

Cool

This is the engine of the Sprite and an extra Pictures to follow

Ok finally got started on this. Using the firewall of the Testors engine I marked out on my sheet of 1/4” Teflon the shape of it. Thin today at work using a vertical band saw I cut it out. Then contoured the shap to the line with a bench grinder. Now on to mounting it into the Fuselage and drilling and mounting the modified Golden bee to it. After that a few more surprises as to the crazy things I have in mind. Stay tuned

I like the color trim of this engine You could call her the golden widow
And surely this engine should give good results in this plane