Wen-Mac Models, a brief history

[@stephenmiller9124]

Great video! My parents gave me a red and white Wen-Mac Beechcraft Bonaza flying model airplane for Christmas in 1959. My dad had no problem starting the engine. I was intimidated by the loud engine noise. I tried without success to fly the rascal. I crashed every time before completing a single revolution. It was a good looking model. Wish my father and I hung it from my bedroom ceiling to admire. No, I wrecked it in pretty short order. For Christmas 1962, my uncle and aunt gave me a Cox Stuka. I also crashed that model. I sent away for replacement parts, reassembled it as good as new and obliterated that good-looking model in half a curcuit. My mother said I should never attempt learning to fly real aircraft because to quote her "you always crash"! I earned my private pilots license in Cessna 152 aircraft. I felt somewhat redeemed. I never crashed during my 3 year flying career. Thank you for sharing the Wen-Mac story with us! You provided a great trip back in time for this 74 year old.

[@jamesjustice4515]

Love the commercials your showing. In the 1970s I had a world war ll plane. It had a string hook to it and me and my dad was flying the plane and the string broke and the plane went up and over the mountain in east ky of knot county in the city of hindman and never saw the beautiful plane again. Oh I was so mad and I never forgot what happen. Been looking for years sense then for another one. I think the color of the plane was green. It's been a long time sense 1978 I think. God bless you and ur wife. I have the model to send to u this week when u get ready. Thank u oh yea, just want say I love the motorized boats and planes

[@maxsmodels]

airplanes will do that!

[@carsten4594]

I remember the Wen-Mac .049 as a temperamental vibrating engine when compared to the Cox.

[@workonesabs]

I bought a new old stock Wen Mac today, and looks like it not been started. but was not gummed. I put fuel in it, freed it up, put a glow on it, turned it over without using the starter and it popped. Filled the tank and after 2 or 3 goes with the roto starter ran straight away until the tank was dry. Impressive!!!

[@moparnut6286]

The .049 engine is the single most influential engine in my life that lead me to be a mechanic. I have a special place in my heart for these models.

[@lancerevell5979]

Sadly I was a bit too young for Wen-Mac, never heard of them til Max here clued me in. That Ford Mustang is the coolest!

[@franksmodels29]

Thank you , more mustangs to come..

[@modspell]

Oh wow, I had that Texaco tanker and the fire truck when I was 4-5 years old. I never knew who made them. Thanks for the info.

[@mbryson2899]

I had that tanker, it was something else! I got the coolest hand me downs from my brothers and their friends.

[@maxsmodels]

still is

[@patjohnson3100]

They certainly did make this kid happy. I had a Wen Mac Corsair, still have the .o49 engine. This was a serious company with advanced, high tolerance manufacturing techniques used to build cool toys, not advanced aircraft. RIP to these two brothers who lived the American dream and made a lot of kids happy in the process.

[@garfieldsmith332]

Never saw then in Canada. I did see the Cox motorized aircraft. At the time beyond my budget.

[@edmondreynoldsjr.4445]

Have to say that was a really nice change. I really miss these type videos.

[@maxsmodels]

thx

[@billhershkowitz5759]

I'm surprised you didn't mention the Mustang GTs they produced as promotional models for Ford in 1966 and 1967. They are accurately detailed in 1/12 scale and could be powered by batteries or a gas engine. The '66 was a hardtop in red and the '67 was a fastback in blue

[@harry4of4]

I had the hovercraft in 1964. It was the first time I got a glow engine to run correctly after several failed attempts with a Cox Pt-19 with the .049. That success turned into a life long hobby. It was a great time to be a kid. Thanks for the memories Max.

[@maxsmodels]

welcome

[@diestimmeausdemnirvana8286]

I have some cox motors left and would like to build a hovercraft from scratch. I probably ask too much, but do you remember how the model had been prevented from spinning caused by the torque of the motor?

[@ShortBusScotty]

Rodger Ram Jet, he's our man, hero of the nation, for his adventures just be sure to stay tuned to this station.

[@RWSBaden]

Hi Max, I never owned any Wen-Mac models but did have a Cox Fokker DVII control line airplane that was also of all plastic construction. The Cox 049 engines had a metal spring that was used to start the engine. You would engage the metal spring around the propeller, then wind it a turn in the clockwise direction, release the propeller and the little engine would start. You'll never forget the sound of those little 049 engines and just watching your video brought back all those wonderful childhood memories. Thanks Max for posting the video. Cheers, Rich S.

[@FastSports-ScaleCarGarage]

Great story very well presented! Thanks so much! Keep 'em coming!

[@maxsmodels]

thanks

[@michaelnaven213]

Roger Ramjet was a really funny cartoon even for adults.

[@garfieldsmith332]

It seems it was meant for adults. . When Ramjet takes his Proton Pill The crooks begin to worry They can't escape their awful fate From Proton's mighty fury . Roger Ramjet, he's our man Hero of our nation For his adventure just be sure And Stay Tuned to this station

[@JeffFrmJoisey]

Whoa!! Major time travel with this video!! My brother and I had many of the Wen-Mac Texaco toys!!! My Uncle Teddy in Los Angeles would send them to us for birthdays and holidays!! Had the Oil Tanker Ship - it had wheels, and the C batteries made the props turn - don't remember it working well in the tub!! Had the Texaco American LaFrance Fire Engines - we even got to use the hose in the summer to make them shoot water!! And those Texaco Tanker Trucks - they steered when you tilted the cab left or right!! Unfortunately, none of them lasted to today. Fire Truck and Tanker Truck wheels stretched their axle meets tire holes because we tried to ride them!!! Also had a hand-me-down Jr. Monorail. I was in love with the NY World's Fair AMF monorail and this was the best toy ever at the time!!! Thanks for refreshing my memories Max!!!

[@maxsmodels]

my pleasure

[@bluetopguitar1104]

Thanks for the awesome video. I spent some time on .049 resdy to fly control line models before the discovery of guitars, cars and girls. Really brings back those memories of Saturday flying. I always wanted the P38.

[@dalecomer5951]

That P-38 is the only ready-to-fly twin engine U-control plane I remember from that time.

[@waynepetrevan]

When I was a kid I had a wen mac engine. I could never get it to run no matter how hard I tried. I could get my Cox engines to run without a lot of fuss but the wen mac was nothing but problems. My friends couldn't get theirs to run either. I am surprised by the high praise this video gives to the engines. This vid came up on my feed so I decided to watch it (with a chuckle) to see what they said about them. I was not expecting the glowing (pun) report on their supposed high quality engines. Mine was a lemon.

[@mpojr]

im 74 now but how l miss those days flying a wen mac or thimble drone l still fly rc l guess l will always be a kid at heart and l still bare the scares of a nylon prop 049 boy they were nasty little buggers ,,,

[@jamesjustice4515]

Hey max young man. This is #sledgemaster here for another show. I'm glad u keep good clean shows so I can show them to young people in church and nephews

[@maxsmodels]

Absolutely

[@modspell]

perhaps those nephews might enjoy church too!

[@jamesjustice4515]

@@modspell they do.

[@davidkastin4240]

Great video sir!

[@maxsmodels]

thx

[@sunguar]

What can I say but, "Thank you for the videos".

[@maxsmodels]

my pleasure

[@modspell]

A shout out to Sunguar for his Moonliner rocket icon!

[@sunguar]

@@modspell It's probably the first rocket I ever saw (tv), so I used the photo of my build.

[@billypaulwilliams]

This Charming Man...

[@michpatriot9097]

I had a Testors teathered funny car. I remember one of my Dads friends trying to hop the line, he ended up with his ankles tied together and going over like a tree! Funny car screaming and us all wound up with excitement!

[@rickbachman993]

Lol, I remember Roger ramjet. I had the Texaco fire truck when I was a kid. You could hook the garden hose up two it, and squirt water out of the water cannon. It had a wind up siren, used to drive my parents nuts LOL. Thanks max.

[@larrybrown1824]

I had one of the Texaco trucks. Was one of my favs growing up!!! "Thanks guys!"

[@joeschenk8400]

I had never heard of Win Mac but had several Cox aircraft, including the SBD, several times, my favorite and I remember the Cox Chaparell CanAm race car. Dang it, I could have used the Texaco Tanker as a target for my LIndberg Fleet Boat submarine in the way back when. As Jeff or Geoff said, live long and model on!

[@adamhay2798]

Super cool, Max! I've had several Cox products, but never owned any Wen-Mac. A friend of mine did have the P-63 with the shiny aluminum finish back in the childhood days. I remember being quite astounded at how shiny and cool that airplane looked.

[@bluetopguitar1104]

I had that plane. Not enough engine power. Very cool though.

[@adamhay2798]

@@bluetopguitar1104 I never did see it fly, but that makes sense. Most of the Cox products flew like logs as well! Still a lot of fun times!

[@IronheadGarage]

Great video! Thanks for taking the time to share the history of Wen Mac That was pretty cool. Love my old tether cars they use to build such neat toys back then when kids would play out side not much today lol. Take care👍🏻

[@thomastims9583]

I just wanted to say how much I enjoy these videos. I’ll listen to them while I am putting my models together and it’s a great combination !

[@ottovollmerhousen9055]

Great material and video; enjoyed the montage at the end. I had aTExACO fuel truck and a Testors Curtis P - 40, it flew.....? it flew.

[@davidshell1738]

Great video Max! Thanks

[@FFND16N]

You just brought back check of a lot of memories...from when I was about 7 or 8 years old, and these Wen-Mac products were circulating around, mostly as second hand or clearance, yard sale even. In the Toronto of my youth in the early 70's. I never knew of the company or how their products worked at that age, but the packaging & styling of the equipment was unmistakeable and set my imagination on fire!

[@clarkmarkey1498]

The sound of those 049s triggered my memory of model airplane fuel with castor oil. A virus damaged my sense of smell in '17 leaving me with days in a row with no sense of smell whatsoever. Other times, everything smells like mustard or ....urine and baby powder...YUCK! That was a very pleasant memory. Thank you

[@maxsmodels]

😜😂

[@douglasw.7864]

Love this series of videos the best Max. What’s bittersweet to me, is that today’s kids have no clue how exciting it was for our generation to see (and own) such products.

[@maxsmodels]

agreed

[@RAK402]

I am a big Wen-Mac/Testors fan and collector. This video is FANATASTIC!

[@tgmccoy1556]

The neighborhood really loved the model flying🙄 BTW Roger's voice was Bill Conrad -"Cannon"

[@maxsmodels]

cool

[@garfieldsmith332]

Actually it was Gary Owens from Laugh-In. Bill Conrad narrated the Bullwinkle and Rocky cartoons. He also narrated a lot of other shows.

[@maxsmodels]

@@garfieldsmith332 still cool

[@dalecomer5951]

Before _Laugh-In_ Gary Owens was a local "Top 40" deejay in L.A. and also did local TV commercials. I still like to borrow and make up my own Gary Owensisms.

[@garfieldsmith332]

@@maxsmodels Yes. Interesting how many big actors did/do voice overs.

[@paulbervid1610]

Great video. Had the Texaco tanker. Have the SpriteTestor indy car from 69, look like the Lotus in your story.

[@robbie.205]

Roger Ramjet sent me to tell you that your modeling history vids are the best.

[@kahirdey6200]

I fondly refer my first fly by wire and how I let my sister crash that beautiful p47

[@stephensobieralski51]

Got the Wen-Mac SBD Dauntless for Christmas when I was 10 years old. it had a droppable bomb, but what I hadn't anticipated was the centrifugal force that sent the bomb flying way outside the flight circle once it was released. Bombing accuracy was therefore non-existent. It also had a tailhook that could be used for "carrier landings" but I never tried that. I remember the plane had a very detailed cockpit, which impressed me because I had just built the Monogram Dauntless kit, which had no cockpit at all to speak of. Great video, brought back lots of memories.

[@maxsmodels]

too cool

[@wkelly3053]

...The memory lane tour driver rides again.🥇 Truthfully, I had never heard the name "WEN-MAC". Why, I don't know. COX, yes, but what a great review, and so much I missed slightly before my time. The sound of an .049 is almost as good as a Merlin.

[@HobbyView]

Thanks for this. I have a couple Wen-Mac control line planes waiting for me to restore and was wondering how good the engines were. I understand their spring starter is a very good design even to this day.

[@MODELMIND72]

Maxmodels, Thank you for the cool history videos!

[@maxsmodels]

my pleasure

[@larryfisher7056]

I got the SNJ for Christmas probably in 59 or 60. The spring starter was really nice for a young lad.

[@jamestyler6782]

That was fun. Well done Brother Modeler.

[@maxsmodels]

thx

[@spottydog4477]

What a great story and soooo well told - THANK YOU!

[@maxsmodels]

thx

[@GuitarGuys7299]

Awesome video. Thanks for posting it. Q.C. definitely went way down when Testors took over. Although I had pretty good luck with the Testors gas stuff, especially the cars, I had nothing but problems with their Zip Start P-51. The teeth on Zip Starter stripped out after the first couple of uses and the engine was extremely hard to start and ran like garbage when it start and the plane flew like a brick. But I had a few others including the Galax that screamed and flew like a homesick angel.

[@mouser485]

I wasn’t familiar with Wen mac growing up in the 1970’s. I was a Cox kid. I had a lot of their models and motors. However, I do have a collection of Cox models and Wen Mac models too and realize Wen Mac made some really good, interesting stuff. While Cox stayed with planes and cars, Wen Mac did the hovercrafts and the twin engine P38 which I have one. I wish I had been aware of them grow up.

[@ervinthompson6598]

Among their other models, they marketed a Cessna 182 - I got one for Christmas in 1960, beautiful white with a daylight orange stripe on the wing ; wheel pants, remarkable detail for the day..... I bugged my dad to fly it, its first and last flight that cold New Year's Day ended terribly for four year old me having to pick all those unrepairable broken parts up off the concrete parking lot.😢

[@diestimmeausdemnirvana8286]

Very interesting story. As a child, I owned and flew several Cox and Testors control line models. These had been an awful lot of fun. May be you also can find out about Testors and Cox and make a video about it?

[@RMJTOOLS]

I had no idea about the quality control. In the late 60’s and early 70’s as a young teen my friends and I would fly .049 models and the Wen Mac’s was always the most trouble to get to run. I don’t ever remember one running for any length of time. The Cox .049’s and Fox 35’s were far easier to get running for a teenager.

[@jeff72_]

Great review but wasn't aware of them this part of the world. Some very interesting RC's in their catalogue.

[@pauladams286]

Another great history video, and interesting even to someone with no previous knowledge or interest in flying models. I really do love that Texaco tanker.

[@maxsmodels]

thx

[@tomshiba51]

I had that Boeing P-26 model. What a classic thirties airplane model.

[@vulcrider]

Received the P-26 for Christmas one year. Made 3/4 of a circle before it reverted to its component parts!

[@tomshiba51]

Wen Mac's story sounds very much like Henry Ford's in that both manufactured most needed items within the corporation. I never realized how busy Wen Mac was during it's heyday. I grew up mostly with Cox models.

[@garyvision3938]

Love the old Roger Ramjet AMF commercials. Where on earth do you find this stuff at??

[@brittboyette8617]

I recieved the P-63 for Christmas back in the 60's. It was aluminized and I had zero flight skills, augered it in from over the top after two or three laps. Sad day!

[@jeffussery4884]

I had a actual Wen-Mac .049 my uncle gave me. It was a vary good engine, but I still liked COX better. I was looking at my dad's glow engines he had a couple of the Testers Wen-Mac engines. One of his engines came on a Curtiss P-40. It was around 1/32 scale. It was small enough we could fly it in the front yard on 20 foot lines. It wasn't vary maneuverable, but it did haul butt with the short control lines. It had a glide path of a brick and landed hard if you weren't close to the ground when the fuel ran out. It was a durable plane, and took some punishment. We got a lot of flights out of it. It's last flight my dad was flying it and he did a wing over just as it ran out of fuel, the control lines went limp and it nose dived right in the lawn. He had that goofy look on his face and he said "Well that's all folks". It's funny how little things like a model engine can bring back cherished memories with your dad.

[@maxsmodels]

yes it is

[@chrispacer4231]

Had to move my ANTENNA... A history of....by MAXSMODELS... I LUV THESE EPISODES.... I DO MISS BEING A kid My brother and cousin , and myself had the TEXICO FIRE TRUCK ... too cool OH MY GOODNESS... Roger Ram Jet... 🤣😂😅😂🤣😂😅 LUV IT 🤣😅😂😂😅 My friend... another AWARD WINNER!!!!! Where’s that BANANA

[@HootOwl513]

Adjusting your Rabbit Ears, Chris?

[@timbassford7701]

Hi I have many of these engines and I've run them all with the factory supplied prop just like you have and the same age without problems. Don't over prop it as they like to rev. Like Stephen I have a 59 red and white Bonanza as well as Marks 1-4 and the Hotshot, one of the last produced.. The particles inside should rinse out easily using a little glow fuel and these engines run best with a high nitro fuel. Starting should be easy if you open the needle valve around 2.5 to 3 turns and prime the engine with the piston up to avoid flooding. The rotormatic starter saves fingers as these engines will bite especially if you flood it, but don't exceed 2'5 turns as you will break the spring, Check the fuel line has fuel by covering the air intake and turning it over till the fuel is almost at the needle jet, but they flood easily if you overdo it. . Get the engine two stroking before you remove the glo starter. Note its a short reach plug. I'm sure it'll fire up quickly if you do this. The early ones were best, the quality of the engines made by Testors/McCoy were not as good and the Hotshots had a plug integral with the head like on the Cox range. Bit difficult to source those today as you cant use a plug like yours. Good luck, I'm sure it will run well, they're tough little units.

[@Captain-Nostromo]

2:51 that Peashooter is awesome 😎

[@maxsmodels]

yup

[@CharlesFlahertyB]

The Smiths?!

[@modspell]

From their album “The Magic Triangle.”

[@garfieldsmith332]

You rang!

[@fucqtheworld]

You called????

[@maxsmodels]

Karaoke version, yes

[@garfieldsmith332]

@@fucqtheworld Yes, as a "Smith" i responded to your question. :-)

[@stephenfarmer3908]

I had a wenmac hot shot a long time ago made a free flight aeroplane for it out of balsa wood it was about 36inches in length and glide really good I was in the Pegasus model flying club in Dulwich se London ,Cyril the guy who owned the model shop where I bought the engine from was the chairman of the club way back in the early 60s magic times and a great little engine had it for a good few years

[@kevingoodwin9264]

History of hubley models please!

[@oldmodelbuilder6941]

Hi Max , hope you're well. another great history video, I Do love these . There can't be too many companies left that you haven't covered? All the best...

[@maxsmodels]

there are still alot.

[@thewaltbrownellchannel9318]

Love that Mustang

[@kennethkwilinski4899]

Gerry Owens first job on television was being the voice of Roger Ramjet.

[@maxsmodels]

Interesting

[@coxgaspoweredtether]

Nice 😮

[@timbassford7701]

Just to confirm no more than 2.5 turns on the spring starter, less if its an easy starter.

[@juanpabloruizleal1833]

Hermoso todo

[@calescapee9642]

A Direct read from Model Engine 1964

[@ronaldvermeulen9561]

Weren't they called Cox Babe-bee engines?

[@123jerro]

I only operated a few Wen Mac engines back in the day and they were ALL very poor performers. Yes, before you ask,I tried their fuel and Cox fuel both!

[@Paladin1873]

0.000015" tolerance? That doesn't sound right. I'm not sure that would have been possible to achieve and certainly would not have been necessary.

[@maxsmodels]

that is what they claimed

[@MrSuzuki1187]

Wen-Mac .049 engines engines were just awful compared to Cox. I flew control line models all through the Sixties and learned quickly as a 12 year old to despise these engines. By the way, flying control line models as a kid led me to a 29 year career with United Airlines.

[@jamesburns2232]

I would believe the tolerance if it was .001 (one thousandth) or .0001 (one ten thousandth), but not .0000015 (15 millionths) of an inch. 🥸