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The 20th century saw the rise of numerous manufacturers catering to the model
aviation hobby, supplying engines, hardware, radio control systems, covering materials,
and other essential components. These companies played a crucial role in shaping
the hobby, evolving from hand-built experimental parts to mass-produced precision-engineered
products. This article delves into the most influential manufacturers and their
contributions to the golden age of model aviation.
Engine Manufacturers
From the earliest days of model aviation, propulsion was a critical factor in
expanding the possibilities of flight. Throughout the 20th century, engine manufacturers
introduced various powerplants, from internal combustion engines to CO2 and electric
motors.
Cox - Arguably the most famous brand in small glow fuel engines,
Cox introduced the .049 cubic inch reed-valve engine in the late 1940s. Their engines
powered countless control line (CL) and radio control (RC) models and were widely
included in ready-to-fly kits.
O.S. Engines - Founded in Japan in 1936, O.S. became a dominant
force in the high-performance glow and gasoline-powered model engine market. Their
innovations in 4-stroke model engines helped push RC aviation to new levels.
Fox - Duke Fox established his brand in the 1940s and became
a staple in control line and early RC engines. His high-compression glow and stunt
engines were known for their reliability.
McCoy - Famous for their red-head glow and ignition engines,
McCoy produced durable and powerful engines for control line stunt and speed flying.
Enya - Another Japanese company that entered the market in the
1950s, Enya produced high-quality glow and diesel engines, competing directly with
O.S. and others.
Super Tigre - Based in Italy, Super Tigre was known for their
precision-engineered stunt and racing engines, which were highly sought after in
the 1960s and beyond.
Model Hardware Manufacturers
Critical to building and controlling model aircraft, hardware manufacturers provided
components such as bellcranks, pushrods, clevises, control horns, and wheels.
Du-Bro - Founded in the 1950s, Du-Bro pioneered many accessories
still in use today, including fuel tanks, landing gear components, and RC hardware.
Kavan - A European manufacturer known for precision hardware
and high-quality accessories such as wheels, hinges, and linkages.
Sullivan - Known for their flexible control linkages, starter
motors, and fuel tanks, Sullivan products became a staple of serious RC and control
line enthusiasts.
Radio Control System Manufacturers
The development of radio control systems was pivotal to the expansion of RC aviation,
allowing modelers precise command over their aircraft.
Heathkit - One of the earliest providers of RC systems, Heathkit
allowed hobbyists to assemble their own proportional radio gear.
Kraft - A dominant force in early RC development, Kraft's proportional
radio systems set the standard for reliable control in the 1960s and 1970s.
Futaba - A Japanese company that emerged as a leader in digital
and PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) radio systems by the late 20th century.
Airtronics - Known for their innovation in servo technology
and proportional control systems.
JR - Another highly regarded manufacturer, JR produced high-quality
radios with advanced programming options.
Multiplex - A European brand known for early digital advancements
and reliable proportional radio systems.
Covering and Finishing Material Manufacturers
Model aircraft require lightweight, durable covering and finishing materials.
Over the decades, companies introduced improved materials for aerodynamics, aesthetics,
and durability.
Jap Tissue - Early rubber-powered and free flight models commonly
used lightweight Japanese tissue, doped to provide a smooth, taut surface.
Silkspan - A more durable option than Jap tissue, Silkspan became
a preferred covering for control line and free flight models.
MonoKote - Introduced by Top Flite, MonoKote revolutionized
model finishing with its heat-shrinkable plastic covering, eliminating the need
for dope-based finishes.
Solarfilm - A UK-based company producing similar heat-shrink
covering to MonoKote.
Butyrate and Nitrate Dope - Traditional finishing materials
used to strengthen tissue and Silkspan, providing color and durability.
These manufacturers collectively shaped the golden age of model aviation, laying
the groundwork for the hobby's continued evolution into the 21st century.
Hat tip to ChatGPT for assisting in the research and composition of this
article.
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Titans of the Hobby: Well-Known Manufacturers of Flying Model Aircraft
in the 20th Century
For model aviation enthusiasts, the 20th century was a playground of innovation,
and the manufacturers behind it were the unsung heroes. From roaring glow engines
to whisper-quiet CO2 cartridges, clunky bell cranks to slick digital radios, and
fragile tissue coverings to glossy shrink films, these companies turned hobbyists'
dreams into reality. This article, crafted with a nod to Kirt Blattenberger's AirplanesAndRockets.com, dives into the legacy of the century's
standout hobby manufacturers - detailing their contributions, timelines, and the gear
that shaped miniature skies.
Engines: Powering the Passion
The heartbeat of model flight was its engines, and these manufacturers led the
charge:
- Brown Junior Motors (Philadelphia, PA)
Founded by
Bill Brown in 1934, this outfit birthed the
Brown Junior, a 0.19 cu.in. glow-fuel engine - crude at 1/3 hp but
revolutionary. By 1939, glow plug tweaks made it a free-flight
staple, fueling balsa models with methanol-castor-nitromethane
mixes. Hobbyists loved its affordability - $7 in 1936 - and its growl at meets like
the Detroit Nats.
- Ohlsson & Rice (Los Angeles, CA)
Starting in
1937, Irwin Ohlsson and Harry Rice churned
out gasoline and diesel engines - e.g., the O&R 23 (1940, 0.23 cu.in.) - beefy powerhouses for control line.
Their Tiny Tiger diesel (1946) ran on ether blends, a wartime workaround
when glow fuel was scarce. Priced around $10, they were garage-friendly giants.
- Cox Manufacturing (Santa Ana, CA)
Leroy Cox
kicked off in 1945 with the iconic Cox .049 glow
engine (1949) - a 0.049 cu.in. gem dubbed "Tee Dee." At $3.95, it powered millions
of spruce and balsa kits, from free flight to
RC. By the '60s, Cox's "Red Can" glow fuel (15% nitro) was a hobby shop staple - cheap,
stinky, and beloved.
- K&B Manufacturing (Downey, CA)
Launched in 1916
as a tool shop, K&B hit modeling gold with glow engines in
the 1950s - e.g., the K&B .61 (1958, 0.61 cu.in.),
a control line beast pushing 1 hp. Their Torpedo line (1960s) ruled
RC, paired with methanol-nitro blends. Priced at $20+, they were
the Ferrari of glow.
- Telco (Switzerland via U.S.)
From the 1940s,
Telco pioneered CO2 engines - tiny gas-cartridge
powerplants for quiet flight. The Telco CO2 (1948) hummed in
balsa models, a niche hit at $5-$7. U.S. hobbyists imported them
through Brown's Hobby Shop (NY), dodging glow's noise.
- OS Engines (Osaka, Japan)
Since 1936,
Shigeo Ogawa's OS became RC royalty by the '70s
with the OS Max .46 (1975, 0.46 cu.in.), a glow powerhouse at 0.8
hp. Their precision - $30–$50 - made them Nats winners, running on nitro-heavy
fuel for aerobatics.
Model Hardware: The Nuts and Bolts
Hardware makers turned raw frames into flying machines:
- Du-Bro Products (Wauconda, IL)
Founded in 1959
by Dewey Broberg, Du-Bro supplied bell cranks,
pushrods, clevises, and control horns - brass
and steel bits for control line and RC. Their wheel kits (1960s,
$1–$2) and landing gear struts (aluminum) were kit staples, rugged
enough for crash-prone newbies.
- Sullivan Products (Baltimore, MD)
Since 1962,
Bob Sullivan offered nylon control horns,
steel pushrods, and fuel tanks - e.g., the Sullivan Slant Tank (1965, $3) - for glow engines. Their
engine mounts (aluminum, 1970s) tamed vibration, a godsend for RC flyers.
- Perfect Parts (Baltimore, MD)
From the 1930s,
Perfect churned out bell cranks and wheels - brass
and rubber - for free flight and control line. Their Perfect Prop
(1940s, $0.50) was a balsa spinner classic, sold via hobby mag
ads.
- Sig Manufacturing (Montezuma, IA)
Started in 1951
by Glen and Hazel Sigafoose, Sig went beyond kits with
hardware - nylon clevises, spruce pushrods,
and engine mounts (1960s, $1–$3). Their Sig dope
tied hardware to finishing, a one-stop shop vibe.
Radio Systems: From Twitch to Precision
Radio control's evolution owes much to these trailblazers:
- Good Brothers (Maryland)
Walt and Bill Good,
hams since the '40s, flew the first RC model at the 1952 Nats with
a 27 MHz vacuum tube rig - galloping ghost style
(rudder wiggles via tones). Clunky at 5 lbs, it cost $100+ to build - DIY heroics.
- Orbit Electronics (Van Nuys, CA)
Don Brown's Orbit (1957) brought transistorized reed systems
- 4
channels on 27 MHz for $150. By 1965, their analog proportional sets ($200) smoothed
RC, a leap from ghost's jerks.
- Kraft Systems (Vista, CA)
Phil Kraft's Kraft KP-4 (1964) defined proportional control
- analog
sticks on 72 MHz, $250. The '70s saw Kraft's PCM (pulse-code modulation,
1980s) go digital - 6 channels, crash-proof, $300+ - a pro's dream.
- Futaba (Chiba, Japan)
Since 1948,
Futaba hit RC in the '70s with the FP-T4N (1975,
4-channel analog, $200). Their PCM 1024 (1987) and 2.4
GHz FASST (1999) set digital standards - $300–$500 - ruling late-century fields.
- JR (Tokyo, Japan)
Spun from Japan Remote Control
in 1978, JR's NES-1 (1980s, $250) matched Futaba's
analog finesse. The JR PCM10 (1995, 10-channel, $400) and 2.4 GHz
shift (1999) kept them neck-and-neck - precision for scale buffs.
Covering and Finishing Materials: Dressing the Wings
Coverings and finishes turned models into eye candy:
- Japan Tissue Co. (Various)
Pre-1900 roots, but jap
tissue - light, porous paper - hit hobbyists via Joe Ott kits
in the '30s ($0.10/sheet). Doped with nitrate dope (e.g., Sig's,
$1/pint), it was free flight's fragile skin.
- Silkspan (USA)
By the 1940s, silkspan - a
tougher tissue - sold through Comet and Guillow's
($0.25/sheet) outshone jap tissue. Paired with butyrate dope (Randolph,
1950s, $2/quart), it weathered control line speeds.
- Coverite (NY, NY)
Bob Novak's Coverite
(1955) brought silk and polyester coverings - $1–$2/yard - doped
slick. Their MonoKote (1965), a heat-shrink plastic film ($5/roll),
revolutionized RC with durability and gloss - reds, blues, and yellows galore.
- Solarfilm (UK via USA)
From 1968,
Solarfilm's polyester film ($4/roll) rivaled MonoKote - lighter,
stickier, and shrink-tight. U.S. importers like Hobby Lobby pushed
it for scale models, paired with epoxy paints ($3/can).
- Top Flite (Chicago, IL)
Since 1950s,
Top Flite's MonoKote (1968, $5/roll) and
Super MonoKote (1975, tougher) set the RC standard - heat-gunned
to balsa or foam. Their dope
and enamels (1960s, $1–$2) polished free flight relics.
Other Contributions: Kits, Tools, and Communities
Beyond categories, these firms shaped the hobby's soul:
- Guillow's (Wakefield, MA)
Paul Guillow
started in 1926 with balsa kits - e.g.,
P-51 Mustang (1940s, $0.50) - rubber-powered free flight icons. By the '90s,
RC conversions kept them alive—$5–$10, nostalgia in a box.
- Comet Models (Chicago, IL)
From 1929,
Comet's Zip and Sparky kits ($0.75–$2)
flew with rubber or glow. Their plans
and dope (1930s) taught a generation - Bill Winter
designed classics here.
- Sterling Models (Philadelphia, PA)
Since 1946,
Sterling's Stearman PT-17 (1950s, $3) shone in
control line - balsa/spruce, silkspan-covered. RC
kits by the '80s ($20+) kept them relevant.
- Model Airplane News (NY, NY)
Launched 1929
by Charles Grant, this mag wasn't a maker but a megaphone - ads for
Cox, Futaba, and MonoKote built the hobby's buzz, $0.25/issue.
Legacy of the Makers
From Brown's glow sputter to Futaba's digital hum, these manufacturers weren't
just vendors - they were co-conspirators in hobbyist joy. Balsa,
spruce, and foam met glow,
CO2, and electric; tissue evolved
to MonoKote; bell cranks gave way to servos.
Names like Cox, Kraft, and Sig turned garages into hangars - prices from pennies to
hundreds fueling a century of flight. For AirplanesAndRockets.com
fans, their gear isn't history - it's the toolkit of memory.
Big thanks to Grok 3 (xAI) for digging dates and details—keeping the hobbyist
flame lit!
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