DC Rapier marine-Whats it worth?

Advert

DC Rapier marine-Whats it worth?

Home Forums I/C Engines DC Rapier marine-Whats it worth?

Viewing 21 posts - 1 through 21 (of 21 total)
  • Author
    Posts
  • #103413
    rich lowe
    Participant
      @richlowe16386

      hello

      I have recently bought 2.5cc Dc Rapier marine, for christmas lol. It's definatley not for sale, as i have been searching and searching and searching for one of these. My dad has a rapier marine also, but is missing the r/c carb and the liner, which one day we might actually get round to making. Anyway, mine, it too is r/c, boxed, empty sales card, and the tool for taking the exhaust ring off. What would an engine like this be worth?

      Thanks

      Rich laugh

      dc rapier marine.jpg
      $t2ec16nhjhie9nyseg53bqe-q)vbww~~60_12.jpg

      Edited By David Clark 1 on 16/11/2012 20:29:05

      Advert
      #2354
      rich lowe
      Participant
        @richlowe16386
        #103416
        Jeff Dayman
        Participant
          @jeffdayman43397

          About 10 UK pounds as is, 30 UK pounds running, I would imagine, not that I would make an offer, I wouldn't, anyway.

          Old does not necessarily equal valuable.

          Just my opinion. Others may disagree. Your mileage may vary.

          JD

          #103421
          rich lowe
          Participant
            @richlowe16386

            Well its got to be worth way more than that as a non working aero rapier without rc carb fetched 40 pounds and an aero rapier with just the needle type venturi can fetch anythin from about 80 up. I saw on ebay a while back an NIB limited aero rapier came for about 200. I know the marine version of the rapier are pretty scarce since ive only ever seen one for sale…which is infact the one i own now.

            Thanks

            rich

            #103425
            Bill Pudney
            Participant
              @billpudney37759

              It would be a great mistake to confuse ebay cost with actual value. Unless of course you are a "collector", where people seem to be prepared to pay silly money for what used to be called grey porridge.

              cheers

              bp

              #103427
              Terryd
              Participant
                @terryd72465

                It's worth what someone will pay. If no one wants it it's worthless. Simple. If you don't want to sell and you want to keep it why worry about monetary value?

                Terry

                #103431
                JasonB
                Moderator
                  @jasonb

                  Some of these old engines do fetch a good price as they are now "collectors" items, hopefully Ramon will see this post and be able to shed some light on the price as hes into old diesel engines.

                  J

                  #103432
                  rich lowe
                  Participant
                    @richlowe16386
                    Posted by Bill Pudney on 12/11/2012 01:19:15:

                    It would be a great mistake to confuse ebay cost with actual value. Unless of course you are a "collector", where people seem to be prepared to pay silly money for what used to be called grey porridge.

                    cheers

                    bp

                    Hi

                    of course, items sell for way more than they're worth on ebay, im just stating the price at which a rapier sold on there for. its not just ebay either. but then again, i think its more what its worth to me that matters, not necessarily a figured value.

                    Thanks

                    Rich

                    #103433
                    rich lowe
                    Participant
                      @richlowe16386
                      Posted by Terryd on 12/11/2012 06:00:51:

                      It's worth what someone will pay. If no one wants it it's worthless. Simple. If you don't want to sell and you want to keep it why worry about monetary value?

                      Terry

                      Curiosity

                      rich

                      #103434
                      rich lowe
                      Participant
                        @richlowe16386
                        Posted by JasonB on 12/11/2012 07:38:55:

                        Some of these old engines do fetch a good price as they are now "collectors" items, hopefully Ramon will see this post and be able to shed some light on the price as hes into old diesel engines.

                        J

                        hi,

                        they can indeed, depending how much of ones lives is spent commited to these little engines. Ramon seems to be experienced in this sector, he helped me out with the other rapier, and gave me the measurements to produce a liner for one (ill get round to it one day). laugh

                        thanks

                        rich

                        #103445
                        Springbok
                        Participant
                          @springbok

                          This is definately a small marine engine takes me back may years please (about 50) do not sell it on, the 2 ports one for water comeing in and other for water going out just like the big ones. The flywheel you put a cord around it gave it a good yank should start still has the compression screw and needle in wraping so was to be run on a nitro mixture. the 2 pins they are for connecting to to the prop shaft.

                          At a good auction I would say 40-60 but they take 20% commision plus plus plus so could end up with as little as 15.00…. SO please keep this in the family.
                          Regards and enjoy your little find.

                          But if you are asking what it is worth in your header are you planning to sell it…
                          Bob

                          Edited By Springbok on 12/11/2012 09:19:54

                          #103455
                          Terryd
                          Participant
                            @terryd72465
                            Posted by rich lowe on 12/11/2012 07:47:52:

                            Posted by Terryd on 12/11/2012 06:00:51:

                            It's worth what someone will pay. If no one wants it it's worthless. Simple. If you don't want to sell and you want to keep it why worry about monetary value?

                            Terry

                            Curiosity

                            rich

                            i.e. "The price of everything and the value of nothing" – Oscar Wilde

                            Regards

                            Terry

                            #103512
                            rich lowe
                            Participant
                              @richlowe16386
                              Posted by Springbok on 12/11/2012 09:05:17:

                              This is definately a small marine engine takes me back may years please (about 50) do not sell it on, the 2 ports one for water comeing in and other for water going out just like the big ones. The flywheel you put a cord around it gave it a good yank should start still has the compression screw and needle in wraping so was to be run on a nitro mixture. the 2 pins they are for connecting to to the prop shaft.

                              At a good auction I would say 40-60 but they take 20% commision plus plus plus so could end up with as little as 15.00…. SO please keep this in the family.
                              Regards and enjoy your little find.

                              But if you are asking what it is worth in your header are you planning to sell it…
                              Bob

                              Edited By Springbok on 12/11/2012 09:19:54

                              Hi Bob,

                              It is indeed a marine engine, the brass water jacket obviously used for cooling. I love little engines like this. I have a DC Sabre marine also and is a right screamer. I can get quite frustrated with starting the marines though, there is certainly a 'nack' to it. it is essential to get as much momentum in the flywheel to hit the stroke, other it jams on the compression stroke making the lace slip. care must be taken too when starting these engines as it is so easy to take out the mixture needle. i do not wish to sell the engine as it has taken me a long time to find it. although only the recent purchase, it is worth to much to me to let it go. it is only curiosity that leads me to ask the question "How much is it worth?". i will hopefully get much enjoyment out of running it.

                              Thanks for the post

                              Rich yes

                              #103527
                              Ramon Wilson
                              Participant
                                @ramonwilson3

                                Hi Rich and others, Have just caught up with this as been off for quite awhile.

                                I see the dreaded adverts are spoiling yet another thread but that's another issue with this bloody format on here – sorry David but it is frustrating

                                DC Rapier value – ah now, how long is a piece of string. Firstly Rich I'm really pleased you have managed to get yourself a good example as obviously this particular engine means something to you. It's value is very much down to what ever someone wishes to pay as has already been said. That's not to hedge bets but simply the way it is.

                                For nostalgic reasons I too was looking for an aircooled DC Rapier for quite sometime. A friend contacted me to say there was one on Ebay and we both watched with incredulity as obviously two people fought each other and pushed the price to well over two hundred pounds. This was not even an original 'still in box' but one that had been rebuilt, and re-anodised. Why this should attract such a price is beyond all who I know with an interest in such engines. A dealer, selling one 'as new in box' would probably ask around a hundred or so but at a local swapmeet you'd probably pick one up for a lot less.

                                Some diesel engines however do have extremely good value on the resale market – of the commercially made engines Oliver Tigers and Eta 15's particularly, good examples fetching well over a hundred regularly but the average engine – ED Racer, Frog 2.49 (to keep to 2.5cc) will be considerably down on that though there are always exceptions.

                                You've answered your own question actually in that really, it's quite 'priceless' – to you – as it obviously means a lot. I have had over some fifty odd years so many many engines but only one ever really meant anything (Dooling 29) and in a weak moment I foolishly let that go to my eternal regret.

                                Starting diesels – once the normal compression is found it's fairly straight forward but when a silencer is attached it can get a bit fraught as you are not able to give the exhaust a direct prime having to rely on a carb prime or finger choking to get the fuel into the cylinder and doing this it is very easy to flood the engine. Flooding leads to having to back off the comp screw usually leading to losing settings.

                                It's much easier if you drill a small hole in the silencer just opposite the exhaust port to enable a small prime, open the needle no more than a turn from running setting and fundementaly leave the compression alone or at most back it off no more than half a turn. Once the engine fires let it 'burp' a bit until it warms up – it may stop and need to be restarted – don't be tempted to mess around with the compression if it does as within a couple of short burpy runs or so it will continue to run then, as it warms, close the needle gradually to lean it and then adjust the compression to give a smooth run. Hope that's not teaching granny.

                                Just one last thing – I'm sure you know this already but Springboks reference to 'Nitro' fuel is misleading as this is for glow motors only. Ether based model 'diesel' fuel is what is required.

                                Good luck with it – at least flywheels don't bite your fingerssmiley

                                regards – Ramon

                                Edited By Ramon Wilson on 12/11/2012 23:39:56

                                #103536
                                Springbok
                                Participant
                                  @springbok

                                  Ramon
                                  Thank you for correcting me as I said it has been many years since I used these in a model, well over 50.

                                  Have fun
                                  Bob

                                  #103776
                                  rich lowe
                                  Participant
                                    @richlowe16386

                                    thanks ramon for the explanation. and yes, flywheels dont bite your fingers! wink

                                    does anyone knowany sites where vintage model engines (like dc ltd) are sold on the net.

                                    thanks

                                    rich

                                    #103863
                                    Ramon Wilson
                                    Participant
                                      @ramonwilson3

                                      Rich, Many engines come up weekly on Ebay

                                      Click on Categories – then Toys and Games – then Radio Control then put 'engines' or 'vintage engines' in the search.

                                      If you want to diseminate Aircraft from Boats click the arrow to the right of Categories then Toys and games then RC – you then get a choice of aircraft or boats.

                                      Barton Model Products are sellers of vintage engines and if you take a look at 'Gildings' auctioneers you can surprise yourself at what some will pay – at an auction – for (at times) some pretty basic engines

                                      Regards – Ramon

                                      #117474
                                      Ian Simpkin 1
                                      Participant
                                        @iansimpkin1

                                        Hello, nice engine. Judging from the photos it looks in new or nearly new condition.

                                        On Ebay, if accurately described, with plenty of close-up photos, worldwide postage, listed in r/c boats and r/c aero engines, it should go for anything from £80 to £120. Ebay take 10% from the selling price.

                                        Davies Charlton engines were at one time (1950's?) based in Barnoldwick Lancashire. I live very close to 'Barlick' and have asked quite a few people over the years if the have any memories of the company and its products, but have always come up with nothing, even though the company regularly had full-page ad's in the aeromodelling press. They eventually moved their company to The Isle of Man.

                                        My brother had the air-cooled version. It was well made and very easy to start and adjust with KeilKraft nitrated diesel fuel.

                                        #117653
                                        thomas oliver 2
                                        Participant
                                          @thomasoliver2

                                          I follow the sales of diesels on Ebay fairly regularly. The high priced example quoted is highly unusual and not to be taken as a bench mark. The DC Rapier is more desirable and scarcer than the Sabres. This example is Marine with flywheel and silencer, and has the box, which is worth quite a lot. Sabres go in the range £20 to about £45. I reckon this example to be worth maybe £45 – £65.

                                          Diesels can be choked in 3 ways – finger choked, prime through intake, and prime through exhaust and each one has its own particular requirement. Radial port diesels like a prime through the exhaust, but with a silencer fitted resort must be made to the intake prime. Some people are good diesel starters, and others struggle. The difference is in the speed of the flick and the setting of the propellor. I favout the prop set at 20 past 10. The flick should carry the arc well past TDC, and be very fast. Initially after the prime the compression can be slowly increased until it suddenly becomes a little hard. Then it is backed off slightly, which should result in firing. The needle setting is critical and taper on the needle and the threads vary. Before starting,some idea of the setting can be obatined by connecting a length of fuel tube to the spraybar nipple and blowing through. There should not be too much back pressure, but it should not be too easy to blow through. Some needles do not actually open the jet at all until maybe 2 turns.

                                          #117656
                                          Chris Trice
                                          Participant
                                            @christrice43267

                                            I’d like to see you flick start the prop on this one.

                                            #139089
                                            David Tweddle 2
                                            Participant
                                              @davidtweddle2

                                              Hi Rich' Re value. I have a ball of string just say the length Mate.

                                              Carb well you have the pattern.

                                              History etc. go here .

                                              Happy New Year all, David

                                            Viewing 21 posts - 1 through 21 (of 21 total)
                                            • Please log in to reply to this topic. Registering is free and easy using the links on the menu at the top of this page.

                                            Advert

                                            Latest Replies

                                            Home Forums I/C Engines Topics

                                            Viewing 25 topics - 1 through 25 (of 25 total)
                                            Viewing 25 topics - 1 through 25 (of 25 total)

                                            View full reply list.

                                            Advert

                                            Newsletter Sign-up