Bax

My Feedback: (11)

I remember that a friend of mine had several of the Testor's Skyhawk over the years. His last one was purchased brand-new from AHC, in New York, in the spring of 1971. He took it out of the box, put in the batteries, fired up the engine, and flew. I don't remember if it used dry cells in the airborne system, or not. If it had rechargeable cells, then he charged first and then flew. He didn't have any power problems with the engine, so either it was a goodie, or he ran it more than he told me. The ones I saw always flew quite well.

I had single-channel experience with the Ace Baby Twin installed in a Cox PeeWee .020-powered Ace Dick's Dream. A nice combination for sport flying. A couple of friends and I bought similar models and equipment and flew them together. We'd ROG off a country road nearby. We had to make sure we stayed in the middle of the road or the crown would cause the model to veer off to the side!

Frank Schwartz

My Feedback: (1)

Well, as soon as the weather permits I will get my Testors Skyhawk flying..thanks to Jay Mendoza, who did an expert job getting the radio working again.
My plane when I got it was missing the engine cowl...I am wondering if anyone has a spare one?????????????

Also for what it is worth...years ago when I first had my original Testors plane, I had a golden bee on it and used Kavan tank extension on it and really got long flights. I think Hobby Lobby still sells these...the originals were machined aluminum tank extensions, but if I remember correctly, the ones they sell now are plastic. If Hobby Lobby doesn't have them any more, check with David Martin at Sig...he married Kavan's daughter and they work with sig and live out there in Iowa....

Regards to all,

Frank Schwartz

jaymen

Frank,
My Kavan extension I purchased in the early 1970s had a plastic extension, and longer screws. As I recall, it leaked, so I had to just use my stock Golden Bee tank.

Contact me about a SkyHawk, my very good friend has some stuff for them he may part with.

Jay

maxpower1954

The maiden flight grows nearer! Finished painting the wing, radio installed and working and the new old stock Cox Golden Bee has been run and broken in about 15 minutes on my test stand. All up weight is 22.8 ounces.

I'm using Sig Champion 25% nitro, 1/2 castor and 1/2 Klotz oil. My tach shows around 13,000 RPM on a Cox grey 6 X 3 prop. Does that seem about right? I've been away from .049 reed valve engines for nearly 40 years!

Awaiting clear skies, calm winds and temps over 60. I've never flown a single-channel model so this should be interesting! Russ Farris

Deadstik

My Feedback: (8)

Russ,

I hope that maiden flight goes well.... just remember all those single channel tricks like banging the rudder from left stop to right stop to bring the nose up.... I'm looking forward to flying BobHHs plane at his meet.... great memories..


Dan

DaveSR71

WOW!
Glad I check this forum out.
This was my first R/C airplane.
Had completely forgotten about this airplane. Had one some where around 70 with the cox golden bee.
The engine had enough power to get it up higher than a 12 year old liked! Good climb up to 300+ ft., then spin it down , loop and climb again.

I have never talked to anyone else that ever even heard of one.

Thanks for the memories!
David

DaveSR71

Max54
The 6X3 sounds right.
For the engine to last probably need all castor for oil.

I have gone back to Fox castor based fuels and cured a lot of running problems on old engines, Better starts and needle with consistent runs. Makes that good old oily mess.

Always thought the Testors airplane coming with a Cox engine was a clue.......

Good luck and have fun!
David

Fravits

All this talk made me climb into the rafters and see if the Skyhawk I picked up years ago was still there. The pulse system is long gone, but I have been thinking about using a new Hitech system, rudder only of course. It was, and in better shape than I remembered. The wing and stab will clean up just fine, but the previous owner replaced the original firewall with a block of balsa with a Golden Bee screwed on. Not pretty. That can be dealt with, but does anyone know what kind of glue is compatible with the Testor's plastic. There are some cracks in the fuse that have to be addressed. Thanks.

Bax

My Feedback: (11)

With older plastic models, you can many times get away by using clear silicone bathtub caulk or clear RTV silicone that's used in electronic projects. This will adhere to almost anything. You can replace the old firewall by gluing a piece of plywood inside the model and another one on the outside. A piece of 1/32" ply on the inside and 1/16" ply on the outside will be very strong and hold the .049 engine very well.

Fravits

Thanks Bax. I'll give it a try.

maxpower1954

The radio is back from Jay Mendoza. I had to send it to him again because the acuator wasn't working right. He found the problem (broken magnet) and now it works great. A first class guy to deal with - thanks Jay!

Seems a little tail heavy, probably due to the re-finishing I had to do on the wing and horizontal stab. Calling Bob Harris!!! Can you check where the CG is on your Skyhawk and let me know? I want everything right; I've put some time and money into this toy and I'm more nervous about flying it than my Hobby Lobby B-25!

Russ Farris

BobHH

My Feedback: (18)

Russ, let me dig her out. I can't remember. I think I just used the 30% of the airfoil from the leading edge as reference but i'll check her for sure. You coming to the 1/2A flyin and Reedie Race April 17th in Julian NC. Pleny of room to fly your Skyhawk!!

Bob Harris

maxpower1954

Thanks Bob, whenever you get the chance to check it. Sorry, I've got family coming in that weekend so I won't be there. Give Jim Katz a hard time for me! Russ Farris

Frank Schwartz

My Feedback: (1)

Not to break the thread...but are you the Russ Farris that used to live in Nashville TN..or did I ask you that before? (Senior moment).
Frank

maxpower1954

No Frank, I'm from Florida originally - and having my own senior moment...I can't remember if you asked me before or not! Russ Farris

bh307

My Feedback: (143)

I just pickup a testors Shyhawk from a estate sale off craiglist , It was in alot of planes and parts some old stuff I have not check everything out . But I was unload the stuff in my garage and one box have Testor RC shyhawk on it ( original box) it felt lite so I open it to see what was in it and there it was a testors shyhawk looks like everything is there but it was late so I will check later and post a picture.

bh307

BobHH

My Feedback: (18)

Well Russ, I brought the Skyhawk out for Deadstik to fly at the 1/2A flyin this past weekend but he was a no show. By the time I got everything setup and running the wind got up and I did not fly it. Maybe in the next few weeks I'll take her up again. BTW mine is balanced about 1-3/4 to 2 inches back from the leading edge about 6 inches from the fuselage.

Bob Harris

bh307

My Feedback: (143)

Did a fast look again in the box before leave for work and does not look like it was ever put toghter. looks like everything is there inclueing the charger.

bh307

My Feedback: (143)

Ok here are the pictures of the one I pickup so if anyone is inter. it will go up for sale.

maxpower1954

That is easily the most pristine Testors Skyhawk I have seen yet! Any idea how much you might want for it? Russ Farris

bh307

My Feedback: (143)

send you a email Russ on the price

bh307

My Feedback: (143)

ok its on ebay if anyone wants to bid on it

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...:L:LCA:US:1123

Howard Cano

Hi Frank,

Is that you in the Skyhawk instruction manual? The person in the manual photographs seems to bear a resemblance to your photo in the MAN article.

BTW, I just found a NIB, never-started Skyhawk. The original AA cells were in the TX! And the RX NiCads actually hold a charge!

Like most guys here, I wanted one of these when I was a kid. The price was a bit much for my parents to bear! (My dad was a Bell Labs engineer, but never completed his BSEE, so was paid as a tech.) So now my wish is granted.

Howard Cano

jimboat

Hi there,
I am trying to find the voltage / current specs on the charger used to recharge the Testors skyhawk model. Anyone out there have this data?

mrlogin

I have one for sale with out radio if anyone is interested , never taken out of box has been in storage since bought