Engines

The acquisition of a NGH 38cc four stroke started after a friend gifted me an old part-built Sid King Privateer, a large model low wing trainer from the 1980s designed for up to 38cc engines, and specifically the Zenoah 38cc. Having dabbled with a 32cc two stroke petrol engine a couple of years previously, I…

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Company founder Gen Saito with one of his first model motors, a pre-war spark ignition unit. There will be few readers of RCM&E to whom the name ‘Saito’ is unknown: even those modellers who, like myself, have not yet bought or used a Saito motor will recognise the marque. Unlike the other ‘big’ Japanese model…

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Even apparently simple things, like starting an engine, often assume a good bit of inter-related background knowledge. Of course, the problem for the newcomer is acquiring that know-how quickly. So, I want to look at the underlying fundamentals one by one and then go though a typical and practical start-up procedure step-by-step. Buckle up tight…

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Last month we left the workshop having completed the cylinder head, barrel, liner, crankcase, bearing, and backplate of this feisty home-brew .46. We’ve established that nothing so far has been that taxing in terms of manufacture, and I’m pleased to tell you that the same ease applies to what’s left. So, let’s crack on and…

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Having been a modeller for well over 30 years (and an engineer for a lot longer than that) I’ve built a fair number of models but have never made an engine for one. Despite the fact that there are a number of plans available, I never seemed to get around to it. However this changed…

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Until now, plans for DIY engines have tended to be of smaller diesels and maybe the odd 2 or 3cc non R/C glow. However, the Firefly .46 is the first forty class, two-stroke, R/C self-build engine to be published in a generation. In the UK, I can only remember the Jones, some decades ago, and…

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The first Saito FA-30 from 1979. Over the last 50 years the first noticeable factor is the modeller himself. No gender bending here as the point to which I will allude is purely man’s domain… Women may be allowed to coexist but man is the leading light here (at least). I’m talking about ‘THE SHED’…

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A Cox control-line P-51. Cox were making live fuel powered RTFs generations before the current boom in ARTFs. Spring has sprung, the grass is riz. The blonde person has been having great fun with her brand new, shrieking-yellow strimmer. She’s become a dab hand at starting its 22cc petrol engine without endangering her manicure. Long…

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This article was first published in 2006. I take no responsibility for the initial idea to build a pulsejet powered model – my good friend Bryan Passey is to blame for the inspiration. Always reminiscing about flying pulsejet powered control line speed models, he tried to get me to build and fly one. Frankly, though,…

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The Graupner Monsun pulled by a happy engine, a few simple steps should ensure you maximise your flying time.The great thing about modern glow engines is their reliability. Some engines of thirty years ago were as reliable as their modern counterparts, but production techniques were less advanced, tolerances varied, and the chances of getting a…

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