Control Line
Speed
Gene Hempel
During the past several months I have received quite a few interesting letters and photos about antique Speed engines and models. This has been an enjoyable experience for me — a chance to look back into the Forties and Fifties. I love it!
Doug Dahlke — Oshkosh, WI
"As per your request, I have enclosed photos of my genuine Topping 100 Speed Model from the mid-Forties. The original plans that came with the model suggest bolting in any engine you have. Details of different engine output didn't seem to bother the performance of the model.
"One of the photos shows an O&R .23 sideport ignition engine installed. Some daring fliers might not think of it as being a true racing 'gassie,' albeit a popular engine of the time. The engine was rated optimistically around 1/5 hp. It puts out about what a Cub .09 would, or a weak, single-port Fox .15.
"Directly above the O&R .23 is shown one of the strongest mills of the period — the Hornet .60. The engine was designed and built for all-out racing and was capable of developing 1/4 hp in good tune. All this for the same model! The engines of today would be too much for the Topping Speed Model.
"Another of the photos shows most of what came with this kit. Note the inside mounting brackets for coil, condenser, etc. Also included is a genuine Topping prop, although I don't believe it was the correct one for the Speed Model. Note the neat cowl venting, a real 'class act.' The plug-in wing and stab tips are bright plastic. This was undoubtedly valuable when flying under the blinding speed of the O&R .23 ignition.
"Another photo shows the finished product without engine of choice. The radically swept-forward gear has tons of style, but is prone to generate equal amounts of bounce. Wheels are by Heliarc. Those who are sharp of eye and warm of blood have already noted the rudder is on the bottom, and better yet, it has an effectively trousered tail wheel."
Doug indicates he has many other interesting Speed goodies he will share with us at a later date.
I hope this has been as interesting to Speed modelers as it has been to me.
Les Deily — Douglaston, NY
"Dear Gene: Here's a few pictures, odds and ends, ideas, and old pictures and articles I thought might interest you.
"Number one, I want to say how much I enjoyed seeing early CL Speed models and engines in your May column. I personally would like to see an Old-Time Speed event! A class D Old-Time Speed event would be a likely starting point. The class would be limited to one engine, the side-exhaust McCoy .60. It really was the only engine used for Class D Speed during the late Forties, the Fifties, and the early Sixties. Also included is a photo of Harold deBolt attempting an FAI rise-off-water speed record at the Plymouth Internationals. Hal used a McCoy .60 for power.
"Keep up the good work."
I would like to thank each person who took the time to write concerning Old-Time Speed. Keep those cards and letters (and photographs) coming!
Gene Hempel 301 N. Yale Dr. Garland, TX 75042
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
