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
I have always wanted a OS 320 four cylinder.
Tom Watson Sydney Australia
I have always wanted an Astro 05 and a few more Razor 400's would be nice!
For a long time it was the HP .61. Not sure now, maybe an old ignition engine, or replica, no particular brand.
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
Better watch it, David. Someone "out there" might be packing a box up for you right now.
Ed Cregger
Hey, if you are going to dream, dream big!
Ed Cregger
Oh. I have that now. A worn out four bolt and a Gold Cup with slide carb. I think you can buy them new from Mecoa.
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. :)
A Technopower radial!
Odd, but the HB was the last of the cross flow engines, and HP was the first of the schneurle ported engines.
Hi Ed,
I have a HB .40 PDP that I'd part with cheap. Interested? If so, send me an Email.
Cheers,
CR
Googling that but feel free to elaborate. mk
knowledgeable,
Yep. That's a fact.
I remember when the HP engines were rare and exotic. I'll bet that you do too.
Ed Cregger
I hope you won, Kevin. Kevin? Anybody seen Kevin?
Chukka-chukka-chukka-chukka-chukka-chukka.
There he goes!
Ed Cregger
I read that!
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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