i recently ran across a NIB thimble drome PT19. my questions are does this plane have any value, and is it worth trying to fly.

for the record, i am a very expirienced rc flyer with limited CL experience.


rcpilotcd

The older ones with the box intact are worth about $50 or so according to the ones I seen go on Ebay.

As for flying ability of a plastic plane those Cox PT 19 were among the better fliers. I have had a few of them and we could get the best flights since the wing area was the biggest. We are not talking about loops and inverted flights here. Your basic go around circles until the fuel runs out is about all you can expect to achieve with these planes.

Take it out and fly it unless you are not a control line guy. Sell it to the highest bidder on the Bay .

Hope this helps.

Jay

Much of this is hear-say so may not be reliable. From memory, the original PT-19 was powered by the old Babe Bee which had a single bypass. Many people started flying CL with one of these. All of Cox's RTF CL planes were powered by the Babe Bee. This was before they came out with "product " engines. Later ones had a product engine and a plastic molded tank (I THINK). The last ones were just a bit lighter and sported a "Sure Start" product engine that has twin bypasses and a choke tube for easier starting. Reports say the new one flys better than the old one.

I have never had a PT-19 so this is from memories of seeing the old ones, and reading stuff on the boards about the new ones. I would say, if it is a new one, fly it. If it is an old one, I would suggest putting it on one of the auction sites so some collector can drool over it.

George

This will help some but not much, ask me how I know! The PT19 will get you dialed into going around though. After you get used to that you can use that product engine in may 1/2A CL planes built from kits or plans. 20/30% nitro and 20% oil some or all of it castor oil is the ticket for these engins.

I agree the PT19 actualy flew. One of the best Cox fliers was the ME109 super stunter IMO

Darren

I must agree that the Messerschmidt ME109 Super Stunter was probably the best flier. I had one and it was awsome! It wasn't till after I bought it that I found that there was another model like it and that was the really nice looking red, white and blue chipmonk.
I still liked my ME109 and there was not likely any difference in they way the two flew but I will always wonder if there might have been a difference. The Chippie certainly looked flashier!

Also Cox sold replacement wing panels for the Super Stunter which came with a full size plan of a plane you could build using those wing panels. By the time I found out these were available ( years later), it was too late. I wish I some of those today. The wings in the pack were blue like the ME109 and if I remember correctly the plan was for a ME109 ( possibly profile?)
Could there have been a set of white wings for the Chippie and a different plan with that set?

I cannot help but wonder if anyone might be making these in small quantities and if I could get the plan so that we can again build one of these wonderful but tiny beasts! I have looked from time to time on $bay and not seen these. I also wonder how much they generally run pricewise as to whether I would even bother to try and bid on them.

Here is the ad that got me hooked on the MED109. As you can see there was no mention that the ME109 had a brother and when I found it in the store the ME109 was the only Super Stunter on hand so I never really got to make a choice. Again I was still very pleased to have once had the Me109

Robert

I had the Super Stunter...my buddy had the Chipmunk...
We flew the snot out of those planes...
It was the first Cox airplane that I could get to do much of anything with. It would do inside and outside loops, and reverse wing-overs, inverted, etc.[8D]
They flew better if you took the nose wt. off (a 1/8" thick steel spacer behind the prop ) and glued it to the under side of the stab.[sm=thumbup.gif]

proptop, Great to hear that report!

Would you say that the two planes flew like identical twins or were there any subtle differences ( besides looks) between them? Did you trade places and have a chance to fly the other fellows plane? I have always wondered if there might have been any difference in flying or for that matter if one may have weighed just a tad more than the other. They seemed to be designed to be pretty equal as far as I can tell.
I also wonder what the production numbers were for each one. There seem to be far more of the ME109s than the Chippies, even on $bay you seldom see the Chipmunk. This also makes me wonder if the Chipmunk brings more money in auction.

I would really, really like to get some of those replacement wing panels and the plans that came with them. At least a copy of the plans and a method of making a reasonable facsimile of those wings.
Has anyone tried to do this? Wow! wouldn't that be something if we could! Does anyone have a copy of those plans floating around?

Robert

There was sort of a "kit" Me-109 on epay a few weeks ago...all the parts needed to assemble one airplane. Don't remember what it sold for though?
The Chipmunk didn't fly exactly the same as my Me-109, mainly because my buddy wasn't as experienced a pilot, so he didn't have his modified like mine was. The first few flights, before the mods IIRC were pretty much the same though. Jeez..I'm diggin' for that one...it was a long time ago probably 1975?

I did some of the mods to mine as per an article in one of the mags of that time...I think it was Flying Models? I think it was Larry Renger (sp?) who I believe worked for Cox at that time, and knew how to wring quite a bit more perf. out of the airplane.
I remember putting a piece of 1/4" sq. balsa behind the leading edge to stiffen the wings, and make them more ding resistant, because we occaisonally flew out of his back yard where there were tall weeds/sticks sticking up and we'd thwack into 'em once in a while.
I bent the gear back a little bit for smoother T.O. and opened up the bellcrank area for more deflection...
I'm forgetting a few, I know...maybe I'll remember 'em later?

It sure would be nice to get hold of that article so we could go back over it and see.

I remember my nose weight as being a modified vfersion of the prop nut. Remember the hollow "can" prop nut that you used the edge of the cylinder wrench to tighten? it was like that but instead of being hollow it was solid steel and about 3/4" long ith the same slot in the front for the wrench. it also had the raised ring that helped to locked the spinner in place.

Yeah I saw that "kit". This kit has everything but the motor. Actually there were 2 of them one went for $60.00 and the other for 61.55. both from the same seller. This same seller has another currently at $61.00 with 12 bids and 2 days left. These are NOS boxed replacement parts. A former Cox employee? I bet he has more...

What I really want is the bagged wings that had the plan with them. It was a big clear plastic bag that had the cardboard at the top and hung on a peg.

Robert

This is an old Cox super stunter flyer. In the late 70's a friend told me about modifying a cox super stunter per a magazine article (which I would like to get my hands on!). So I got two of the kits, and bent the rear wing leadout about 3 inches in from the wingtip leadout guide on each so it was parallel with the front leadout and replaced the original engines with Cox Black Widow engines. According to my friend, they made a radical difference. Added a small rolling tailwheel and painted the top of one model's wing black to add some pizazz (at least to me).

On 20 foot lines the line pull was very light, but without strong wind the model stayed on the end of the lines very well. Somehow I remember that they could be flown on 25 foot lines, but due to the light line pull I decided not to risk it. Loops, horizontal eights, wingovers and reverse wingovers worked very well. Vertical eights were not practical but an oversize rounded off triangular loop and enlarged square loops worked OK. Overhead eights were risky with almost no line pull. Takeoffs and landings were very smooth with the plane lifting off quickly. Inverted flight was as stable as upright flight. I flew these delightful stunters for two or three years and had a great of a time of it. No crashes in the process, either.

To complete the story, I still have both models, now unflown for twenty six or seven years. They are dusty but complete with the Black Widow engines and all parts. I would like to get a copy of the article that listed all the modifications so I could restore them and complete the modification process.

Livewiretrainer

Hi livewiretrainer,
I had one of those too painted all red...baby bee...gave it to my nephew who flew it and crashed it so many times we lost count!

Wish I could remember which magazine that article was in...but I think it was Flying Models? Could have been MAN though...

edit: I was thinking of the Guillows trainer...all balsa construction, shaped/sheet wing...

Hi y'all.

I learned to fly CL on a Cox PT-19 in '77 or so. Man, that was fun. A little underpowered, but it actually glided well, especially when compared to other plastic .049 planes that just fell out of the sky when the engine died (unless you towed them). Next plane I flew was a Testors "Fly-em" Zero. Short lines and tiny wing, but still kinda' fun. Then I got a Cox Corsair. I was just blown away by how loud and powerful the Corsair's engine was compared to the PT-19 and Zero. It was fast and much pulled harder too. I did my first loops and wingovers on the Corsair.

I had the Cox ME-109 too. I was never happy with how that thing flew. I think mine had a warped wing.

I used to fly a PT-19 all the time, but what makes it a great experience is to replace the single port cylender with a double. That will up the power a lot. Extend the control lines about 10 feet more that the usual (instructions say 25 ft), and most of all ... replace the landing gear with skid wire. We used to fly combat with these, and get them inverted by doing a wing-over the top of the circle, but start pulling out as soon as you get to the top of the circle. Getting back is harder, but possible. It just takes a couple of times around to get the altitude to whip it around. Lots of fun, and hard to damage the plane if you fly on grass. Cox has started re-manufactuing the PT-19 again as a nostalic model.

Hi all,

A family member just came across a NIB Pt-19 flight trainer. It is powered by a .049 with the snap starter. The box states that it is a 22" wing and all rubberband assembled. Some of the original shrink wrap is missing off of the box. I don't think he will ever try to fly it. Maybe Ebay
I will post some pics when I see him in a day or so.

-Andrew

About 1970, 8 years old. Testors P40. I was so proud of that plane. Just ran in circles until it ran out of fuel but it FLEW. I dont know how I never got hurt with that thing twisting a three blabed prop around that close to my fingers. To this day the P40 is my hands down favorite, Thanks Dad!!

hey i wanted to know something i went to coxs web site it said they were going to start making older models again like the comanche, but i wanted to know is are they going to start making the PT-19 again? and if so when?

I didn't find anything on their site about bringing back the old models, PT-19boy. It would be nice if they did, though.

NorfolkSouthern

virginiahobbysport.com has the PT-19 listed for sale along with others.

3352 COX9870 J-3 Cub ARF $35.99
4013 9501 F8F Bearcat Electric CL Comes without battery and Charger $37.48
4009 COX4070 Skymaster Easyflyer Series NOS $46.95
4015 COX4080 Piper Commanche NOS Easyflyer Series $49.98
4014 9561 F8F Bearcat Electric CL Comes with Battery and Charger NOS $49.99
133 9800 AT-6 Texan NOS $49.99
965 5700 PT-19 Flight Trainer $50.08
3630 COX6020 Hyper Viper fully stunt capable .049 dual port engin $50.39
4012 COX9891 AT-6 Texan Bomber NOS $57.68

While I have yet to deal with them, I have read only fine accounts of others doing business with them.

Robert

I got my first PT-19 at age 4. flew the wings off of that thing for the next year. Under powered and not very nimble, but It taught me how to fly. A TD piston and sleeve added a little bit of power. I saw one sell on e-bay this week for $65.

well i dont know if it is a classic it said it was,if you go to www.coxmodels.com and click on classic cox it will take you to the comanche helicopter and it said it was a older model they starting making again or maybe they never stoped making i dont know that's why i asked about the PT-19,but thanks for the reply!

The plans for a profile C*x Me 109 sounds really interesting. I too would like to get my grubby hands on a set. Wonder where to look beside the $bay.

wow, back in 1966, a buddy of mine had a Cox PT 19 flight trainer. Together we learned how to fly Control Line models on that one plane. He shared it with me and we had a blast with it. When it crashed, we'd look for the parts, put it back together with rubber bands and fly it again. That is one plane I'll never forget.

You can still get the PT-19 around here, I believe. Dan's Hobby and Craft on Empire Blvd., Rochester, NY.

http://www.danscraftsandthings.com/

I bought one a couple of years ago for my son.

One of the guys had a newer surestart PT-19 a few months ago we managed to actually get in the air. It was pretty evil handling. Tail heavy and I had to whip the crap out of it to maintain any control at all.

I got a Stuka sitting in a box, but it'll probably stay there for a while. That PT-19 was one of the hairiest flights I've had in a while.

Geez, maybe I'm doing the wrong thing then. My Cox PT19 was a Christmas present in 1960 (I was 12 then) and it's still flying with the original engine, fuselage #2, and wing #3. It **WILL** do loops (just barely missing the ground at the bottom of each) and wing-overs, but not much else.

Yeah, they were/are great basic trainers for learning to fly. Wouldn't part with mine if you offered me her weight in gold.

Dave W.