Airplanes and Rockets' history & copyright Google search American Modeler Air Trails American Aircraft Modeler Young Men Hobbies Aviation Flying Aces Saturday Evening Post Boys' Life Hobby Distributors Amateur Astronomy Engines & Motors Balsa Densities Silkspan Covering Comics Electronics My Models Model Aircraft Articles Plans Model Boat Articles Plans Model Car Articles Plans Model Train Articles Plans 1941 Crosley 03CB Radio Model helicopter articles & plans Crosswords Model Rocket Articles Plans Restoration Projects Photos Peanuts Collection Model Aircraft Articles Plans Sitemap Homepage Hints and Kinks Amateur Radio Archives of the homepage R/C Modeler Electronics About Airpleans and Rockest, Disclaimer, Terms of Use Model Topics Please Donate to Airplanes and Rockets Parole Plaza, Annapolis, Maryland Hobby Items for Sale Airplanes and Rockets Hero Graphic




Thimble Drome TD-1 Control Line Airplane

Box Top, Thimble Drome TD-1 C/L RTF Model - Airplanes and Rockets

Thimble Drome TD-1 Box Top

Thimble Drome TD-1 C/L RTF Model - Airplanes and Rockets

Thimble Drome TD-1

Box Edge, Thimble Drome TD-1 C/L RTF Model - Airplanes and Rockets

Thimble Drome TD-1 Box Edge

Cockpit, Thimble Drome TD-1 C/L RTF Model - Airplanes and Rockets

Thimble Drome TD-1 Cockpit

Thimble Drone - later to become Cox - sold its first ready-to-fly control line model, the Thimble Drome TD-1, beginning around 1959. Reports have it that the original selling price was $9.99, which according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' inflation calculator, is about $95 in year 2021 dollars. The wings were of built-up construction with ribs and thin, molded sheets of aluminum skins. A modified Space Bug .049 engine was used for power. There was no spring starter on the early .049 engines, but a rubber finger guard was provided to help spare the modeler's finger.

As I write this, there is a TD-1 being auctioned off on eBay. With 8 hours left, the price is at $870 !!! I wouldn't be surprised if it topped $1,000 before it's over.

I was close - it sold for $998!!! (see below)

Thimble Drome TD-1 Auction on eBay - Airplanes and Rockets

Here is the manual for the Thimble Drome TD-1 manual.

Here is a great website that documents many of the early Thimble Drome / Cox model airplanes, boats, cars, and helicopters: The Cox Model Database models (they must be worth a small fortune!)

Accessories, Thimble Drome TD-1 C/L RTF Model - Airplanes and Rockets

Thimble Drome TD-1 Accessories

     Fin & Rudder, Thimble Drome TD-1 C/L RTF Model - Airplanes and Rockets

                Thimble Drome TD-1 Fin & Rudder

Box End, Thimble Drome TD-1 C/L RTF Model - Airplanes and Rockets

                    Thimble Drome TD-1 Box End

 

 

Posted October 16, 2021
(updated from original post on 7/2/2011)

About Airplanes & Rockets 

Kirt Blattenberger, Webmaster - Airplanes and RocketsKirt Blattenberger

Carpe Diem! (Seize the Day!)

Even during the busiest times of my life I have endeavored to maintain some form of model building activity. This site has been created to help me chronicle my journey through a lifelong involvement in model aviation, which all began in Mayo, MD ...

Copyright  1996 - 2026
All trademarks, copyrights, patents, and other rights of ownership to images and text used on the Airplanes and Rockets website are hereby acknowledged.

Homepage Archives  |  Modeling News Archives

Webmaster:

Kirt Blattenberger

BSEE - KB3UON

Family Websites:

RF Cafe

Equine Kingdom

Model Aircraft Museum, AMA - Airplanes and Rockets

Academy of Model Aeronautics Government Advocacy Coalition - Airplanes and Rockets

Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) - Airplanes and Rockets

Academy of Model Aeronautics

Tower Hobbies logo - Airplanes and Rockets

Tower Hobbies

Horizon Hobby logo - Airplanes and Rockets

Horizon Hobby

Sig Manufacturing - Airplanes and Rockets

Sig Mfg

Brodak Manufacturing - Airplanes and Rockets

Brodak Mfg