I have been a model plane enthusiast for 65 years. I have been in the hobby business over 45 years. I do a lot of custom rework on model engines and I would love to fly some control line again but I don't think my health is up to it. I want to thank everybody who has purchased engines or parts from me. I am a 100% disabled Veteran and I love working on engines and such. I have accumulated lots of parts especially for high performance engines. This is a rare and significant engine so I'm going to give a little more detail of this engines history. Remember these were only made for 2 years so they are scarce.
The 1945 Rocket Victor Model was a development of the 1940 May "Silver King" manufactured in Detroit by George May. World War II brought an end to the May "Rockets" and by 1945, the engine was made by Corporate Products, Inc,. still in Detroit. Production (and the company) apparently ceased by 1947 and the product was sold off by Little Mike Marx Toy Co. for as little as $4.50. The demise of Rocket Motors has been linked to General Motors! When GM was about to launch the Olds 88 "Rocket" their marketing people discovered the Rocket model engine - not wanting brand name competition, GM bought the Rocket Motor operation and crushed all the dies.The engine offered here has several features which distinguish it from many of the Rocket Victors of 1945. The back cover has the tank mounting rim that was used for the streamline tank on the 1940 "Silver King" - my guess is that this casting was never changed and that most of the production engines had the rim machined off and at some point it was decided that it was not necessary to remove it. Of more consequence, some of the Victors had a small set screw in the bottom of the case extension to retain the main bearing - this engine has that setscrew.The Rocket Victor is a beautiful engine which exudes that styling of the 1940s. The engine case can be polished to a brilliant shine; I have not polished this engine - it is in the basic "as sold" bright condition. The engine is tight with excellent compression and I can't tell if it has been used. The tank bowl is original. One more Rocket model came out in 1946, the Rocket "4610" with an enclosed timer and a hex-shaped venturi and separate tank - the last of the line.
Victor Rocket 45 vintage ignition engine
In Excellent Condition
This is a great collectible engine or use for sport
Excellent condition throughout
I don't have any plans to use this engine so it's time for it to move on to a new home says my wife.