I just bought a used HB .61. I have wanted one of these special engines
since the early eighties and finally obtained one via eBay. Which engines
have you always wanted, but never got around to buying?
Ed Cregger
A friend of mine, Syd Clement (NJ), was the first person I ever saw fly with
an HP .60. This was in the very late sixties or the early seventies. His was
mounted on a Taurus. What was really novel was that he used a 10x6 prop to
fly the model with that engine. Talk about scream!
I have always wanted one myself.
Ed Cregger
Yeah, but it isn't quite the same.
I have lately discovered that some things are best left as dreams -
unfulfilled.
No offense to Randy and his excellent efforts intended. His HP.49VT was a
masterpiece and a fine running engine. As were several MECOA two-strokes
that I owned and flew.
Ed Cregger
Ed, pardon my ignorance, but as a complete neophyte to this hobby I can risk
the embarrassment of asking what might seem like a stupid question. What is
so special about the HB .61 and what does the "HB" mean?
I saw a beautiful engine by Fitzpatrick on Ebay several months ago. I don't
know if their performance matched their aesthetic appeal, however.
You might also be interested in checking out the following article which
includes a write-up on Miguel de Rancougne and some pictures of his famous
model engine collection which was auctioned off at Christies for around
$1,000,000. An HB 61 was one of those engines auctioned off at that time.
The HB.61 was, as far as I am concerned, the pinnacle of crossflow (baffled
piston) model airplane engines. Schneurle ported engines (no baffle) then
took over as the standard type of glow two-stroke model airplane engines.
The HB.61 was reputed to be more powerful than several Schneurle ported
engines of equal displacement at the time. HB engines were offered with
Perry Directional Porting (PDP), which further enhanced their power
production.
HB stands for the manufacturer's name - Helmut Bernhardt (SP?) It is my
understanding that the innards of the HB engines were actually copied, by
contractual agreement, of K&B engines.
The first K&B Series 72 engines were very powerful. Later versions were made
more economically and did not reflect the high power production of earlier
versions. That is how I heard it, anyway. If anyone is more knowledgeable,
please correct me.
The HB engines were prettier than the K&B engines they emulated with better
looking castings, etc.
I owned and flew an HB .40 PDP for several years. It was easily as powerful
as the other schneurle ported engines of the era. Its only flaw was that it
was built in a heavier and larger .50 sized crankcase. The HB .61 was about
average in weight and size. It also responded well to a tuned pipe. More
than a few were campaigned as pattern engines.
Ed, NM2K
Rolls Royce 250-C47B.... Preferrably wrapped in a Bell 407
helicopter. If I win the lottery tomorrow night (78 mil!) I'll be
placing my order Thursday. :)
"The OTHER Kevin in San Diego" wrote in
message news: snipped-for-privacy@4ax.com...
I hope you won, Kevin. Kevin? Anybody seen Kevin?
Chukka-chukka-chukka-chukka-chukka-chukka.
There he goes!
Ed Cregger
Got about 80 minutes until the drawing....
I wish... I can't even imagine winning 78 million dollars...
Oh, who am I kidding, I can imagine it just fine!!
Driving to my hangar in my Aston Martin Vanquish V12 and wheeling out
rhe 407 to lunch with the wife in Tahoe at the top of some remote
peak... lol
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