Miniature Aircraft Company ????

[E-Challenged]

I used to see photo ads of large detailed scale models in model mags and I think the company name was Miniature Aircraft Company. Does nybody remember these models and company name ???

[swapdaddyxx1]

I have quite a few old model mags,and see their ads in these quite often. One of the kits occasionally turns up on ebay. It seems that I may even have one myself,but have never inventoried what I have or made a list. Jerry

[50+AirYears]

Late 40s to late 50s probably. Seem to recall that for a while they advertised things like a 9' taylorcraft for RC and a twin engine B-25 for control line. A number of other planes, and even a twin cyclinder ignition engine. If that's the same company.

[TLyttle]

Sounds like it. I used to drool over that ad, then settle for another AJ Interceptor, or another wing for my Firebaby. It was ads like MACs that keeps a kid dreaming... or it was then...

[50+AirYears]

Over the years, Model Builder magazine, SAM Flys, and the FAC newsletter have run reproductions of some of their plans. They were definitely for the experienced builder. Printwood, not die crunch. Quiet well detailed. The plans had copies of almost all their parts, so with a copy of the plans, the model could be built.

One of our late club members was an engine collector and had several of the engines they advertised, including the Boxer twin, something like a 2.7 cu in twin, and the Elf twin and four cylinder engines.

[pd1]

For those that are unfamilliar,here's a picture of the advertisement.

Since the AJ line was also mentioned...

[50+AirYears]

Boy, 41" wingspan Army Speed Vega, practically crashproof, and for only $4.95, you even get bottles of dope and a 2 ounce tube of model airplane cement. And you could use the 1/10 hp Elf motor, which they also sold. I think the Elf was about .099 displacement, and they used the same basic cylinder/piston up to a reported 6 cylinder horizontal opposed engine. Of course, in 1937, there was no electric power, and if you wanted RC you had to get a ham liscense and design/build your own transmitter/reciever/actuator from articles using vacuum tubes, and although there were a couple small diesel type engines available, all flying models were either gliders, rubber powered, or spark ignition engined. Mostly free flight, although there was also some work going on on forms of control line. With only about 120 or 140 million people in the country, there was a LOT of room for free flight models.

I just purchased a reproduction of that AJ Firebaby. Almost $80 for the plane alone, No engine, but I think the firebaby in that add included an .049 for $7.50. The fuel tank was a latex balloon tank. My dad brought me one home about 1950, and it only cost him about 3.5 hours pay.

I think the F4B-4 and the F11C were available till sometime in the late 1950s.

I still dream about getting some of those kits. Maybe I can find some of the kit plan copies I mentione earlier from my files, scan them to jpg, and print them out using tile print.

[pd1]

50+,
Look at the AJ add. Isn't the Interceptor and the fighter labeled wrong?
The add states the A J Interceptor has folding wings, the picture of the 74 Fighter has the folding wings, and hook for catapult launch.

I can't tell you how many ceiling walkers I had.

[50+AirYears]

How'd I miss that? And to think I actually have a repro 74 and a repro Interceptor at home right now. But a magazine editor back then could still screw up an ad just as easily as he can now, but without computers then, it just took him a little longer.

Those ceiling walkers were fun inside the house, at least till mom started making her objections known, but they could realy cover some distance outside. Also had many of the 74 gliders and Interceptors and had a couple of the early Hornets where the rubber motor was put throurh the prop center and retained by a small pin, that was very easy for a young person in a single digit age (me) to loose. I think when they started using a prop hook and bearing they started getting beter flights. Or I got better with adjustments. Got a lot of prop cuts from those. Big heavy red rubber band with a lot of torque.
Even got to work on a fireball kit once. Machine carved fuselage halves, four printed precut pieces of balsa that had ribs glued to the bottom pieces after which you glued the top pieces on, then joined the wing halves using gauze. Never got to the point of installing the O&R side port .23 though. Friend's boxer used it for a chew toy.

[TLyttle]

Tough Boxer! My ex-mother-in-law had a Boxer whose favourite toy was a snowtire off a Cadillac, used to shake it like a rag...

I still have an original AJ Hornet prop, not sure why...

[E-Challenged]

Go here, great fun website with Jim Walker tributes, videos, old ads, reproductions of AJ products. You can subscribe to their newsletter

http://www.americanjuniorclassics.com/

Have fun!!