[madmike46]

Looking good Andrew. I machine all my own little fittings and fixtures. All part of the hobby.

[AJCoholic]

The crankcases are finished - venturi’s machined and pressed into case. Side clearance for the con rod taken. Holes drilled and tapped for the cylinder/head hold down screws.

I had some NV assemblies for the OS Pet 099, that were the perfect size for this engine so I’m using them. I have an whole box full of new and used NV’s I’ve picked up over the years.

Next step will be machining the steel cylinder, and aluminum head. Then the connecting rod. Then the crankshaft, and front end (drive washer, prop spinner nut). I leave the piston and contra piston until last - then the lapping and fitting of the cylinder and pistons.

Can you smell the diesel fumes yet? I can, at least in my head, lol.

[AJCoholic]

Originally Posted by madmike46

Looking good Andrew. I machine all my own little fittings and fixtures. All part of the hobby.

Yup, I started making little bits and pieces for my Concept 30 helicopter. Then I would make things like engine stand offs, spinners nuts etc. But my dream was to build engines. And I was lucky to buy the lathe I have in the mid 90’s, which had screw cutting. The Taig I started with was tiny but I made some cool stuff with it. I wish I still had it, and I’d love to get some smaller lathe and mill to go with my regular size stuff. Some day..

[NEW222]

These will look different from the looks of it by having a squared crankcase. I can't wait to see the finished product already! On another note.... Is it possible to have made these engines glow powered instead of diesel? Is it harder to produce one over the other, or is it more labor intensive to produce one over the other? Thanks and keep up the good work!

[aspeed]

Funny, I was just out machining some needle valve parts on the lathe. It's been so cold lately that my furnace won't keep up, in the garage. Used the Hardinge, then faced to length downstairs in the heat with the little Taig. Glow engines are easier IMHO as there is no contrapiston to fit. Just the 1/4-32 tap at the correct depth. Even a turbo plug or Nelson plug would be easier than a contrapiston. I would guess this motor would work just as well on glow.

[AJCoholic]

Originally Posted by NEW222

These will look different from the looks of it by having a squared crankcase. I can't wait to see the finished product already! On another note.... Is it possible to have made these engines glow powered instead of diesel? Is it harder to produce one over the other, or is it more labor intensive to produce one over the other? Thanks and keep up the good work!

Glow is easier in the sense you have one less piston to make and lap, and instead of an adjustment screw you just have the bore threaded for the glow plug. However, I think (with my experience having made both types, and having had several hundreds of glow engines apart, and many diesels as well - that the design of the combustion chamber, and the compression ratio, etc is much more critical with glow engines to run well, vs diesels which seem to run no matter how the chamber is shaped. But yes it could have been (and has) been made as a glow. There is a uniqueness to diesels to me though and I really like them, especially making them and running them.

[NEW222]

Cool. Thanks for the answers. Some things in your response now make things more clear.

[AJCoholic]

A bit more done on the diesels.

Heads were turned from some 6061 aluminum, drilled and counter bored for the hokdcfown screws, fins cut with a parting tool. Drilled and tapped for the compression adjustment screw.

Cylinders were machined from leaded steel. Bypass ports drilled on the mill at a 45 degree angle, finished machined on the lathe. The exhaust ports need to be cut yet.

[NEW222]

Wow. These are coming along quickly. I am still in awe of the craftsmanship and quality of work. I do not honestly know what else to say. They look simply amazing. And in the end, having a custom built one-off engine is simply amazing.

[NEW222]

And, not to rush you or anything, but I am always watching for updates.... I do really enjoy them.