cox control liner

[robertc]

I read once that cox was selling an electric control line model. Anyone out there had any experience with one?
I have had a successful control line model and could provide some details if anyone is interested. I am building a speed 400 model at the moment as a diversion from radio. Should be ideal in a park -or so the theory goes.

[dr.E]

WE have tested all the new cox c.l stuff and honestly, it works best a a tethered car.

Brodak will be supplying an ecl EXTRA that flies better than the cox and should be marketed throughout wallmarts and K marts too!! The price is in the low 20's (dollars) and you get the plane, motor and battery chager. We suggested adding one more battery to the motor for more oomph. This has been the most serious attempt to bring U/C back into the limelight by a big distributor.

Ever since Cox was bought by Estes, the R&D of cox products has taken a back seat. Rumor has it that Estes almost went under thanks to bad investments.

Estes bought the rights to produce the star wars fighters from the last star wars film but the movie did not do so well. There are warehouises of cox u/c nabu figters gathering dust. This cost Estes millions of dollars and they have had to scale down their product lines.

[gponder]

Does anyone know an ETA for the Brodak-supplied ECL Extra mentioned in the above post?

[Bare]

Brodak has a web page I believe, he is a rather small shop tho, operating out of his basement last time I looked so don't expect major anouncements as what he may not be able to quickly deliver.

[scififlyer]

Didn't Cox make ECL planes in the 70's? I had 2, a Mustang and a Spitfire that I flew to death! Maybe they weren't Cox but I don't know who else would make such things. The planes charged on top of a lantern battery for 5-10 minutes, and the motor activated with a down-elevator command from the control handle so you could fly it without an assistant. Really miss those planes but nothing's stopping me from building my own....

[Mike Palko]

John Brodak is the owner/president of Brodak manufacturing. His business has grown very rapidly since it's begining about 7yrs ago. He actually has a very good manufacturing facility and hobby shop. He is able to make fuel tanks, props, kits, (die cut or laser cut), he also has his own line of hardware, bellcranks, paints, and the list goes on and on.

If you are a control line flyer or have any interest in control line Brodaks contest is the place to go. It is held fathers day weekend every year (thurs, fir, sat and sun). This past year in the 4 days there was 175 entrants and 850 judged flights! His home is your home when you are there. His shop is open to anybody at the field who may need to balance a prop or rebuild an airplane after a crash. During the contest there are tours of his manufacturing facility also. Saturday night he has a buffet style dinner for everybody who has entered the contest, helped run the contest, or is a guest of either. Thats over 200 people! Also through out the 4 day weekend there are painting demo's, crash repair demo's, a mass fly, and all types of demo flying.

This is by far the most fun you will ever have at a control line contest! It is held in his back yard and he has 6 circles to fly on. I may have missed a few things but i just wanted to give you a little backround about him. He is honestly one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet and best thing to happen to control line in a long, long time.

[Flyer103]

Cox did indeed make electric powered control line models back in the 70's. They were called "Electro Chargers." There was a P-51 Mustang model in yellow with bright flames. It was called the "Fireball." Cox also made a Spitire that came in two color schemes; one was a military scheme with the British markings, the other was a civilian white and green racing scheme. I had a Fireball (P-51) and racing Spitfire.

They did little more than go around in a circle, but the DID fly. And to the 8-year-old me they were really neat. :)

By the way, you can occasionally find them on ebay. Just do a search for "electro charger."

Gene :)

[Curtis1966]

Back in the late 50's and early 60's, I flew a COX control line model called "Flying Circus". It was vacuum formed and flew great. I think they (Cox) even had an aluminum wing version of this model. I haven't been able to locate any information on this model. Do any of you remember this airplane or can lead me to a source for info?
Thanks, Curtis Mees

[McGiver]

Much later than the Fireball and Spit they did a power down the lines Bearcat. I bought one flew it a couple of times and sold it. Although it did actually fly, the lines were extremely short and the lack of performance made me woder why they bothered putting it into production. They are still easily found new online and of course Ebay. With Lipos on board, far thinner lines and a better spec motor it'd fly fine.

Here's a pic of the Bearcat
http://www.mh-aerotools.de/airfoils/images/cox_bearcat.jpg

and here's a cutaway drawing of the Fireball showing motor, nicads etc.

http://www.mh-aerotools.de/airfoils/cox_fireball.htm

Cheers,

[JackHiner]

Curtis, Google Cox Engines. There is a web site with the engines and models fom Cox. The plane you remmber may be the TD1. A lot of good stuff on the web site. Jack

[Curtis1966]

Thanks Jack! I found it at> http://www.mh-aerotools.de/airfoils/cox_frameset.htm
It was "TD-3 Flying Circus".
Curtis