Toy Planes
February 15, 2010 1:01 PM Subscribe
When someone says 'you know, like those revolving toy planes', what are they referring to?
I am working on a project where this concept keeps coming up (revolving toy planes) and I have no idea what they are referring to.
I think I'm looking for toys, classic or current, that involve toy planes that either manually or electrically revolve on the end of a pole or string (not remote control planes).
Throw anything at me.
I am working on a project where this concept keeps coming up (revolving toy planes) and I have no idea what they are referring to.
I think I'm looking for toys, classic or current, that involve toy planes that either manually or electrically revolve on the end of a pole or string (not remote control planes).
Throw anything at me.
Do they mean the model airplanes that stay attached to a long wire that you use to control it? Control line.
posted by cmoj at 1:06 PM on February 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by cmoj at 1:06 PM on February 15, 2010 [1 favorite]
I most certain the reference is to something that expends an awful lot of energy but gets nowhere. Planes on a string of my childhood were ones what you held the "remote" for (and the plane was thered by a cord to that remote) and turned round and round in a circle as they flew. There are also planes on a string that you hang from the ceiling and turn on...and they fly round and round.
A simple google search brought LOTS of results but here is one of them
posted by labwench at 1:12 PM on February 15, 2010
A simple google search brought LOTS of results but here is one of them
posted by labwench at 1:12 PM on February 15, 2010
This is a little out there, but the first thing that I thought of when I read "revolving toy planes" was the classic friction propeller toy that you rub between your palms. When you release it, it flies upwards.
Not exactly a "revolving toy plane," but not many concepts are *like* revolving toy planes.. so that's my guess.
posted by charmcityblues at 1:18 PM on February 15, 2010
Not exactly a "revolving toy plane," but not many concepts are *like* revolving toy planes.. so that's my guess.
posted by charmcityblues at 1:18 PM on February 15, 2010
You know, those plastic toy plans attached to a metal wire that was attached to a handle that housed batteries. There was a button on the handle that controlled the planes propeller. You would let it spin around your head and you could practice take-off and landings. Although, I can't find a daggum picture online. Did I dream these?
posted by studentbaker at 1:25 PM on February 15, 2010
posted by studentbaker at 1:25 PM on February 15, 2010
The "Tether Plane" about halfway down on this page is a more modern version of what I was describing.
posted by studentbaker at 1:28 PM on February 15, 2010
posted by studentbaker at 1:28 PM on February 15, 2010
It sounds like you are talking about the classic Cox control line plane. It was a model plane with a tiny 2-stroke engine that was attached to a handle by a long wire. You held the handle and rotated around with the plane. My friend had one in the late 80s. I think we flew it once before it was destroyed in a crash.
posted by Uncle Jimmy at 3:13 PM on February 15, 2010
posted by Uncle Jimmy at 3:13 PM on February 15, 2010
The first thing I thought of was a baby's mobile, like these.
posted by rokusan at 5:37 PM on February 15, 2010
posted by rokusan at 5:37 PM on February 15, 2010
I had one as a kid. No batteries or motor - it was just a plane on a string that you swung around by the handle. When it got up to speed, the plane's propeller would turn and make a noise.
posted by zamboni at 11:01 AM on February 16, 2010
posted by zamboni at 11:01 AM on February 16, 2010
I had one of the gas powered Cox's as a kid. Actually there were two lines connected to a plastic handle. They controlled up/down via the...what...elevators?
You'd start the motor using a battery to get the glowplugs hot, and then you'd turn the propeller, and then it would go...and damn would it go. And yes, you had to rotate in place with your arm out to your side very slightly tilting your wrist up or down to control the vertical orientation of the plan.
So, looking at the kid, you see him spinning around in a circle (pretty fast, maybe 5-8 seconds for a full rotation) with his hand held out with this funny bzzzzzzzzzzzz sound.
Then inevitably you're going faster and faster and you spaz and the plane smashes nose first into the dirt and dies. I think maybe the longest mine ever flew was....oh, maybe 1 minute.
posted by TomMelee at 12:31 PM on February 16, 2010
You'd start the motor using a battery to get the glowplugs hot, and then you'd turn the propeller, and then it would go...and damn would it go. And yes, you had to rotate in place with your arm out to your side very slightly tilting your wrist up or down to control the vertical orientation of the plan.
So, looking at the kid, you see him spinning around in a circle (pretty fast, maybe 5-8 seconds for a full rotation) with his hand held out with this funny bzzzzzzzzzzzz sound.
Then inevitably you're going faster and faster and you spaz and the plane smashes nose first into the dirt and dies. I think maybe the longest mine ever flew was....oh, maybe 1 minute.
posted by TomMelee at 12:31 PM on February 16, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks everyone for your answers, this got the juices flowing on our project idea. We don't have one right answer yet, but we are testing a few things.
posted by gillianr at 5:18 PM on February 20, 2010
posted by gillianr at 5:18 PM on February 20, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by muddgirl at 1:05 PM on February 15, 2010 [2 favorites]