The Engineers Emporium – Red Wing hit and miss engine

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The Engineers Emporium – Red Wing hit and miss engine

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  • #444359
    TiddlerTad
    Participant
      @tiddlertad

      Ooops – posted in error.

      Edited By Andrew Whale 1 on 02/01/2020 19:11:36

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      #444403
      John Olsen
      Participant
        @johnolsen79199

        I got my Red Wing castings direct from PM Research in Wellsville, a little country town in upstate New York. I'm planning to install the minimag magneto as described on RCDons site. Anyone thinking of doing this should contact the minmag people, they were out of stock when I ordered mine and had been thinking of dropping the kit due to lack of demand.

        John

        #445603
        John Vietti
        Participant
          @johnvietti39406

          John,

          Congrats on choosing the Red Wing. I built one after seeing many at shows here in the US. Most ran very well. If you are considering a magneto might I suggest using the low tension magneto designed for the Red Wing by Don Grimm and serialized in Model Engine Builder magazine. I sit next to him at most shows and his Red Wing runs great for the duration of the show.

          i built one highly modified with increased bore and stroke and heavy brass flywheels. I like magnetos so in the interest of something different I equipped mine with a low tension, oscillating magneto modeled after the Webster magneto. It works well but the output is marginal and occasionally needs a battery to get it going. I will attempt to post a picture at some point.

           

          John in USA

           

          It occurs to me if anyone is interested in high tension magnetos I believe there are now better designs from what Minimag presents.  I was a good friend of Bill Linfield from Carterton who’s magnetos are shown in the brochure from Minimag.  I bought many coils from them and they are fine if a bit big.  A coil from an old Stihl chainsaw works great.  Must be a points model.  I and Don Grimm both wrote articles on magnetos in MEB magazine.  One big change was using rare earth magnets resulting in a stronger and smaller magneto.  JSV

          Edited By John Vietti on 10/01/2020 01:51:39

          #445611
          JasonB
          Moderator
            @jasonb

            John's mag article complete with drawings was in issue 4 of MEB and Don's version in issue 10. both are a lot smaller than the minimag so don't look so out of place on a scale model. Digital back issues are quite reasonably priced

            #445615
            TiddlerTad
            Participant
              @tiddlertad

              Thanks John SV – very interesting info. I've not ordered the Red Wing yet as Forest Classics in the UK are still awaiting delivery. Expected in very soon I believe.smiley

              I know absolutely nothing about magnetos – apart from taking one off my old motorbike 50 years ago, running 20 yards of cable from it and ignighting a small container full of petrol – boom! I was a little crazy in those days.

              Thanks for the pointer to the MEB articles – and thanks to Jason for the link to back issues. I'll try to get hold of issues 4 and 10. If I like the mag I might even subscribe assuming they will ship to the UK.

              All the best.

              Andrew

              #445629
              JasonB
              Moderator
                @jasonb

                They have switched to digital only and have done the last 8 or so that way so no problem with shipping and the pdf file it comes as is a lot better than certain viewerssecret.

                However I am not sure of the future of the mag, it has always been published quite irratically and there has not been a new one for quite some time, the Editor is not in the best of health so not able to give it the time it deserves which is a shame as it's a good mag especially for those that are not into trains, I've had it since issue 1.

                There is (was? ) a guy here in the UK named Alan Thatcher who made some very nice small mags for his hit and miss engines but I've not been able to find them this morning on you-tube.

                #445676
                TiddlerTad
                Participant
                  @tiddlertad

                  Thanks Jason – I've ordered issues 4 & 10. I'm just waiting for the download link to arrive via email. The magazine does look extremely interesting so I will have to explore other issues too.

                  Cheers

                  Andrew

                  #445722
                  Henry Brown
                  Participant
                    @henrybrown95529
                    Posted by JasonB on 10/01/2020 08:26:58:

                    John's mag article complete with drawings was in issue 4 of MEB and Don's version in issue 10. both are a lot smaller than the minimag so don't look so out of place on a scale model. Digital back issues are quite reasonably priced

                    Thanks for that Jason, I've just ordered them as I am hoping to order a set of components from Forrest when they have them.

                    #445726
                    John Vietti
                    Participant
                      @johnvietti39406

                      Hello again John V here.
                      I went on sort of a crusade years ago to get more magnetos on our engines. I was upset to see virtually all the engines sitting on a largish box that had a big 12 volt battery and a motorcycle coil. I wondered then, and now, how builders can make such beautiful faithfully detailed models and then when it came time for an ignition system they happily added something more appropriate for a car. Now days of course CDI ignition is even easier and much smaller. Still twenty first century technology on a twentieth century engine.

                      In spite of my efforts writing a how to article and haranguing people at shows, plus showing my engines at shows, I believe very few were ever built, fewer than 5?. I’ve since mellowed and just enjoy the ride.

                      I think many builders are intimidated by electronics. I am too as a retired geologist, but magnetos are an amazingly simple device. I guarantee that if you can build an engine you will have no problem with making a working magneto. That said when the size gets really small the difficulty goes up. On high tension mags the coil is a challenge though commercial ones are available. Low tension mags are really easy and the coil can be wound by hand using relatively large wire.

                      For the Red Wing I cannot stress how great Don Grimm’s magneto is. It’s relatively easy to do and works great. Get the article, you will be glad you did! The Red Wings push rod is very well supported and makes an excellent candidate for the magneto.

                      Im prepared to answer questions but hard questions I will refer to Don Grimm who is an EE.

                      John

                      #445752
                      TiddlerTad
                      Participant
                        @tiddlertad

                        Hi John V again. I'm always up for a challenge. I've ordered the digital versions and looking forward to getting the download link. I really appreciate the offer to answer any questions. Though I hope I will be able to work it out without having to bother you. I just hope that Forest Classics have ordered more than one set of Red Wing castings from the USA, otherwise I'll be fighting Henry for them!

                        My original post seems to have created a spark! Ha ha.

                        All good fun. Take care.

                        Andrew

                        #445753
                        TiddlerTad
                        Participant
                          @tiddlertad
                          Posted by Henry Brown on 10/01/2020 16:41:42:

                          Posted by JasonB on 10/01/2020 08:26:58:

                          John's mag article complete with drawings was in issue 4 of MEB and Don's version in issue 10. both are a lot smaller than the minimag so don't look so out of place on a scale model. Digital back issues are quite reasonably priced

                          Thanks for that Jason, I've just ordered them as I am hoping to order a set of components from Forrest when they have them.

                          Eh up Henry – it looks like we might be fighting for the Forest Classic Red Wing when it arrives! Ha Ha.

                          #445772
                          Henry Brown
                          Participant
                            @henrybrown95529

                            Yes, indeed Andrew! I did email them my interest but didn't get a response. No prob's though as I've just sold my lathe and need to do some insulating and fit a new window into the workshop before I can confirm the reservation on my new lathe so that will be a week or two.

                            Incidentally Forest are less than an hour away from me so I'll probably pop down and collect the bits, I'm really looking forward to seeing how you get on.

                            #445839
                            John Vietti
                            Participant
                              @johnvietti39406

                              Don Grimm’s article on a magneto for the Red Wing was in issues 23,24,25 of MEB.

                              His previous article was on high tension mags but could be useful in any magneto building venture.

                              #445905
                              TiddlerTad
                              Participant
                                @tiddlertad
                                Posted by Henry Brown on 10/01/2020 19:43:21:

                                Yes, indeed Andrew! I did email them my interest but didn't get a response. No prob's though as I've just sold my lathe and need to do some insulating and fit a new window into the workshop before I can confirm the reservation on my new lathe so that will be a week or two.

                                Incidentally Forest are less than an hour away from me so I'll probably pop down and collect the bits, I'm really looking forward to seeing how you get on.

                                No worries Henry. Have fun with that new lathe!

                                Cheers

                                Andrew

                                #445906
                                TiddlerTad
                                Participant
                                  @tiddlertad
                                  Posted by John Vietti on 11/01/2020 01:31:06:

                                  Don Grimm’s article on a magneto for the Red Wing was in issues 23,24,25 of MEB.

                                  His previous article was on high tension mags but could be useful in any magneto building venture.

                                  Hi John – many thanks for the info. I've downloaded issues 4 and 10 and will have a read. I will most likely purchase the other issues you mention.

                                  Much appreciated.

                                  Andrew

                                  #445909
                                  JasonB
                                  Moderator
                                    @jasonb

                                    Worth pointing out that the later article in 23,24 and 25 about the low tension mag is for use with an ignitor rather than a spark plug. The articles and drawings do cover both a suitable ignitor and the magneto. For a first hit & miss engine an ignitor can be a bit challenging.

                                    #445913
                                    TiddlerTad
                                    Participant
                                      @tiddlertad
                                      Posted by JasonB on 11/01/2020 13:44:33:

                                      Worth pointing out that the later article in 23,24 and 25 about the low tension mag is for use with an ignitor rather than a spark plug. The articles and drawings do cover both a suitable ignitor and the magneto. For a first hit & miss engine an ignitor can be a bit challenging.

                                      Thanks Jason – I think I will give that a miss at the moment (pardon the pun).

                                      Cheers

                                      Andrew

                                      #456340
                                      Henry Brown
                                      Participant
                                        @henrybrown95529

                                        Andrew, I was wondering how you are getting on with the Redwing? I'm hoping to fet down to Forest Classics to pick one up in the next couple of weeks.

                                        #456348
                                        TiddlerTad
                                        Participant
                                          @tiddlertad

                                          Hi Henry

                                          I contacted them a while back and was informed that they would get some in by the first two weeks in Jan. I kept on checking stock but no luck. I therefore decided (in Feb) to have a go at making one from bar stock, and purchased plans for the Jerry Howell Farm Boy. Not started on the Farm Boy yet (other priorities) but in hindsight I think I would have hit the buffers trying to mill the Redwing on my small SX2P. I really fancy a bigger mill, but no spare funds at the moment.

                                          I've just checked the Forest Classics website and it looks like they now have a Redwing w/c in stock. If you plan on travelling down it might be worth your while giving them a call and making sure they still have one. I hope you manage to get one and it would be great to hear about how you get on.

                                          All the best – and good luck!

                                          Andrew

                                          #456354
                                          Henry Brown
                                          Participant
                                            @henrybrown95529

                                            Thanks Andrew,

                                            Yes, I saw they were in stock and planned to give them a ring before going down. It's odd how plans change, It's taken me far longer to get my workshop ready than I thought!

                                            That's a nice looking engine, I look forward to seeing its progress as and when!

                                            Cheers, Henry.

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