My Favorite Tools #4 – Bending a Figure 8 Hook

Short video on how to make the Figure 8 propeller hook for rubber model airplanes

Miles M.18 front end showing braided rubber motor loaded onto the Figure 8 prop hook

This 4th short video in our My Favorite Tools series includes:

  • The right pliers for the job (roundnose, needlenose, etc)
  • Why make a Figure 8 prop hook?
  • Bending the Figure 8 prop hook
  • Loading the rubber motor onto the prop hook
  • Overview of other front end components (e.g., winding hook, free wheeler)

Watch the video 

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Build A Simplified Folded Depron Foam Float

Read how to build the float including the unique pivoting mount

32in span Puss Moth on Folded Depron Floats

View/Purchase Folded Depron Float Plan


Recently, I met a few guys who fly free flight models off the water in Southern Vermont.  They spoke of 2 minute flights with rubber powered models on floats.  One of them, Jim Woolnough, had developed a spring loaded pivoting float that enabled his rubber models to ROW consistently at less than max winds. 

I had to know more and give this a try.

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De Havilland’s record-setting D.H. 80A Puss Moth

While the Gee Bee’s were setting speed records around the pylons, the Puss Moth was setting transcontinental long-distance records

Jim Mollison’s “The Heart’s Content” completed the first East-West transatlantic crossing in August 1932

Featuring Press Release photos from the Len Wieczorek collection


The Great Depression started in the U.S. with the market crash in October, 1929 and the economic impact was felt around the world.  Despite this, aviation technology advanced by leaps and bounds.  The D.H. 80A Puss Moth was part of that revolution in the sky.

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My Favorite Tools – Little Giant Planer

For shaping balsa or other softwood leading and trailing edges, the Little Giant 3 Way Curve Razor Blade Planer is the proper tool.

Little Giant Razor Blade Planer disassembled to show blade

NOTE: this tool is not a toy and should not be used unsupervised by children.  

Hi Gang.  Every now and then, we’d like to highlight some of the little tricks of the trade that we use to design, develop, build and fly scale models of aircraft of the Golden Age of Aviation.

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Announcing The Gee Bee.com!

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I’m excited to let you know about our new site www.thegeebee.com .  Tom1 and I talked about doing this for a number of years, but with work & kids it never happened.  Now it has. 

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