Advice on first project

[Donald NairnParticipant @donaldnairn39082]

Looking for help in choosing first model engineering project

[Donald NairnParticipant @donaldnairn39082]

Hi All,

 

I’ve only just joined the forum so hi, and I hope that someone can offer me some advice about where to make a start in model engineering.

 

Some background:

– I consider myself fairly ‘handy’ and currently build and fly R/C model aircraft. I therefore own and run a number of 2-stroke glow motors.

– I have just signed up for an evening class, at a local college, in model engineering, that gives me access to lathes, vertical milling machines, etc.

– I would ideally like to build a glow motor of my own, and the teacher of the course seems to think that this is well within my capabilities.

– It has been many years, but I used a lathe, etc. at school, and in evening classes when I was a teenager.

 

Having read a little around the subject on the internet, I think my first project should be as simple as possible – but I would still like it to be practical i.e. something that I can build a ‘ plane around later.

I would like to avoid using castings (any beginners errors could prove very costly).

So, it boils down to choosing a barstock engine plan to download or buy.

I’ve come across the following link to the LME125 – “Puck”:

 

LME125 – Puck

 

Which looks ideal. I found info that it uses an off-the-shelf OS R/C carb – so saves me having to try to make that at this stage. Does anyone have any further info about this engine, or has made it. It uses some other parts from suppliers (e.g. bearings), does anyone know if there are viable alternatives available in the UK (it’s a US design)?

 

Alternatively, there are a few sets of plans available from MyHobbyStore. The

 

Zephyr – PE14, the Kiwi Mk2 – PE16, and the Atom Minor – PE13 all look interesting. Does anyone have any advice on whether I should choose one of these?

 

Any help or advice about these (or any alternative designs) will be very gratefully received.

 

Sorry about the length of this (my first post), and thanks if you’ve read this far!

 

Don.

 

 

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Hi Don

All look to be interesting projects. My only suggestion is to go along to the course first and see just what machinery and tooling is available before commiting to a specific project.

In the good old days when there were night school classes available at our local college  there were some very well equipped workshops. The” but ” was that  the machinery was pretty hefty and the tooling well used (abused?) and more suitable to the – let’s say – more “robust” project!  In consequence you would find guys making the larger bits ( including full sized traction engine parts!) and roughing out other parts at night school for completion at home. That isn’t to say that you could not make your engines on these machines just that you might find something a bit bigger easier. Of course maybe you will find a different range of equipment where you are.

I do envy your access to the facilities!

 

Regards

Norman

Edited By NJH on 01/10/2010 16:48:51

[Dougie SwanParticipant @dougieswan43463]

Hi Don

try reading Malcolm Strides book 

Miniature Internal Combustion Engines

This gives details of building an engine from bar stock and should give you a few ideas.

The engine was serialised in M E quite recently

Dougie

[Donald NairnParticipant @donaldnairn39082]

Thanks for the replies guys.

 

I was at the college on Wednesday evening NJH, and they are very well equipped, even to CNC machines. The lathes are all good quality too.

 

I’ll have to put that book on my Amazon wish list Dougie, thanks for the recommendation.

 

Don.

[WearyParticipant @weary]

There are currently nine copies of Malcolm Strides’ book listed on abebooks.

The cheapest is £15.50 postage included. 

[John OlsenParticipant @johnolsen79199]

Could be worth taking a look at Ron Chernichs model engine site, if you haven’t already. There is a lot of good info there about making small IC engines.

 

http://modelenginenews.org/ 

 

regards

john

[Donald NairnParticipant @donaldnairn39082]

Hi John,

 

Thanks for the reply. Yes, I came across that page when I was hunting around for an engine to make. Ultimately, I would like to build something like that Clerget rotary and build a scale Sopwith Camel or Triplane to carry it! That’s a number of years down the road from here probably I’m just taking baby steps at the moment!

 

The other engines on the page (the ones that are maybe within my capabilities to make with my current abilities) are slightly smaller than I would like (i.e. 1.8cc) . I thought that something in the 4cc – 10cc range would be better as a first project as it would be slightly less fiddly.

 

Weary, thanks for the heads-up regarding sources for the book by Malcolm Stride. I’m unemployed at the moment, so even at that price I’ll have to pass on buying it for now (money’s too tight) – that’s another good reason to avoid building an engine that needs castings.

 

Thanks,

 

Don.

 

 

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