I've just run into a question that has me stopped in my tracks for the moment..

Supposing I was designing a product for 1/2A engines (why is another question, just go along with it) - are there enough choices to base a design on a 1" spinner? Normally I avoid spinners on small engines, but some types of design just call for it. 1.25" is more readily available, but I see Brodak has an aluminum 1", plus there are those Ace 1" plastic lumps around. Comments?

MJD
MikesRC

Mike, just in a wishing fashion I would welcome such a beast.
While I am wishing, I could also wish for a 1 1/16", 1 1/8" and 1 1/4".

Spinners can be difficult to make and still be affordable. I liked the Cox plastic spinners myself though I only had a couple of them.
lightweight, durable, and never came off in flight. I liked the little rubber spinners as well.

Sadly the Ace Spinners have been OOP for a long time. I liked them and had good luck with them (only a few of those as well). They were priced right but I have read where others had problems with them mostly regarding balance issues. They are kind of tough to find but some times show up at the big auction site from time to time. Often when you do find them it is in a spinner "lot" with a bunch of old spinners for the larger engines which I can do without entirely. I simply have no use for or place for any spinner larger than 1 1/4".

Robert

1 inch is plenty to fully blend into a sleek 1/2A design. Proportionally the same as a 2 inch spinner on a .40-50 size plane. The stresses from rpm on a 1 inch spinner won't be too high.
On a bushing engine a spinner might cause rapid wear. Especially if the plane does a lot of quick changes in direction.
I never could get an Ace spinner to stay on a TD, it would shake them off like an angry bull at a rodeo.

Ihave a stock of ace 1 inchers, but havent used one on anything yet,

Oh do you now?
should you decide to sell a couple Let me know!

Robert

Brodak has these available:

http://www.brodak.com/shop_productde...ProductID=8429

I tried using an Ace spinner once. I'm not sure anything I've ever attached to a 1/2A engine has ever caused so much vibration.

I don't know what else is out there that's suitable.

MJD

Lee's Machine Shop has 1 in aluminum spinners. Find his ad at Stunt hanger.

Never forget the nice CB Associates 1" spinners. Cox offered them at one time in their own Cox packaging.

They are still available at MECOA.

Top notch quality.

Wow, that's great. I was worried there might only be one viable source. 1" is far more in keeping with the overall dimensions of 1/2A sport ships IMHO. I'll score a sample or two of these to fool with.

Back to the drawing board..

MJD

I should mention these also come with a Medallion type prop washer, but it's not in the picture.

So, is Mecoa selling off inventory or manufacturing new articles - do you know?

MJD

Ya gotta look a bit but this pic shows the washer.

$4.95 is more than what I would like to pay for a nice spinner (I am a super tightwad) but in all honesty the CB looks like a real winner including the price. I just don't think you can buy a spinner for a 049 engine of what looks like good quality for less anywhere (C'mon prove me wrong I want to save a buck!!!).
too bad they are out of red.

Quote by MJD:
"So, is Mecoa selling off inventory or manufacturing new articles - do you know?"

I have no idea but I think it its old stock and once gone... Well lets just say optimistically that Mecoa has the ability to produce more of these jewels.

For all that is included it really is a bargain in today's economy. Might be a while before I can justify buying some. Anyone know how affordable their shipping is?

Robert

5 bucks each is nothing if they work, I think. I intend to grab a few, I'll take whatever color I get.

MJD

Shipping is dictated by the Post Office and the Common Carriers....+ perhaps a $1 or 2 to cover the Box, Bubble wrap, Tape and the Gas to go to the shipping point.

I think the last time I ordered from K&B it was $7.00 for their flat rate shipping. I don't know if this applies.

MJD, shipping from mecoa is even reasonable to canada. When I ordered parts for my Picco it cost me 7$ shipping and got to Montreal in a week.

My understanding, as I was told in 1980 by Dale Kirn, was that the spinner shown was a Cox prototype which they had decided not to produce. They came in white, red, and black, 1 in, and 1 1/8 in diameter. No doubt they produced a number of prototypes, which apparenty made their way to market.

No kidding, it ain't 1977 anymore. You can't get a fast food lunch for $5!

Flair also made a 1-1/4" plastic spinner, was only able to get a single red one. You may be able to find one in the auctions sooner or later.

Many that do not remember the 70's (for one reason or another) would be quite suprised by the level of 1/2a stuff that was out there, really the golden era of this class of flying.

This Hobbico one looks like it could work:
http://www3.towerhobbies.com/cgi-bin...?&I=LXPAB7&P=7
1" diameter, I have some, plenty sturdy for glow. And only two and a half bucks.
You do need to make an "adapter"" of some sort. I made one from a hex standoff.
Having said that, I ordered 7 of the CB units from MECOA, an assortment
of sizes and colors!
Dave

Sure was the heyday. The 60's into the early '70's was an era where a 1/2A construction article was almost as commonplace as a boring space-filler ARF review is today. The difference being that I would read the 1/2 article, versus glue-sticking the ARF pages together in protest.

I love thumbing through .60's and '70's mags. The technical resources were there, and mostly functional, but very primitive in comparison. Folks just made things work and had a great time, and took far less for granted.

MJD

Glue sticking the ARF pages together is a great idea!! Plan on maybe using up 1 whole stick per issue?

I think a 1/2A spinner could be made on either a drill press or on a Po' Man's Lathe. The trickiest part would be making a 5-40 threaded coupling, but they might even already exist?.
The backplate could be made from aircraft plywood and the cone from balsa with a fiberglass skin. It would only take about 2 weekends to make, VS having to shell out $5 for one that's commercially available.

It is sort of a shame that a spinner can sometimes make the difference between a really good looking plane and a great looking plane.

Designing a spinner was a real ordeal for me once. Quote by CP : "The backplate could be made from aircraft plywood and the cone from balsa with a fiberglass skin. It would only take about 2 weekends to make"
This is true but for me to get the outside shape right was a real bear and it never did come out right. Since I had no machining experience all I had to do was draw the stinking profile shape! It always managed to be just a little too curved at the nose and a little too flat at the base. @*$*%# parabolas! Sometimes a cowl shape or airfoil will get to me as well.
If it weren't for this weakness on my part I'm sure I could manage one myself.

There must be a Profili for spinners!!!

For most 1/2A flying we would hardly benefit from the performance aspect of spinners but some noses only look right with a nice one!

Robert

Couldn't be more true for my Little Toot plane and PeeWee .020 motor. It just looks unhappy without one, and the TeeDee spinner just looks wrong on it.

You snagged a couple with that one..

MJD