Steven Webb (Steve Webb Models)

That's a good idea, kind of you. I'm in bad books today. Our living room smells lovely... sorry I mean horrible - I was cleaning up a DC Merlin. Not great cosmetically but I've been reading up and buying supplies to try anodizing. So, if its a nice runner a candidate to try a make over. Usually for me - That's cleaning, servicing, fitting a tank, even making a tank or look a like tank. Bottle tops are fantastic. Sometimes Fred and I would 'make over' an engine. Not quite the stuff for the purists. I think many engines with a new coat of anodizing can look good again. DC and Frog seem to have mauled heads all the time. I think because the head vibrated loose and on the field the Pliers were used. I can understand that to a point. I'm sure I did it as a kid, until i found it knackered the anodizing. I dont think of it as a big engine crime , like drilling out mounting holes. People who do that should be shot. I know its extreme. Back to bottle top tanks - We ( my son and I , not SWM - SWM dont renovate engines!) gave an ED Comp Special a make over. The lugs were broken and I built little balsa moulds stuck to the engine and then we used a 'metal' epoxy that was £14 off eBay. Its very thin superglue with incredibly hard plastic ? acrylic? filings, so crushed down its like sand. Poor the powder in the moulds and then a really strong thin cyano that comes with the powder. It dries and is consistent with the metal its repairing. I must have used one set of the stuff before I got the hang off it. I tried play doh and plasticine as moulds that placed the gumption on an engine. The balsa 'shuttering' worked well as it sanded off leaving the rough lug shape which was then filed and drilled. All by hand. But it looked like it had been repaired. I didn't mind telling a buyer it had been repaired and we actually did sell the engine on eBay. Well the lad did. Insurance money for his car a while back. We used a engine coating. Red from Halfords. I think engine block paint. I have it somewhere. It was very thick. Like a surface plastic. The tank was one of the first Bottle Top tanks. But it worked. Now we'd have something much nicer. Like a Repro Tank as I have a couple. LOL. The Comp special was off eBay £29 plus post. Broken lugs. A runner, I think Fred got over £60 reselling it. Probably cost £30 for the repairs. But its about useful engines again when they are like this. Someone is getting pleasure from it.

Force? Its J Perkins - available from all good model stores

OOops the post above. The other engine is a Saxby Nipper. Its a lightly used one. I finally got my hands on one of these. Apart from some mishandling of the spinner nut it's in good order. I do plan to run it. Scary. I've waited 15 years or more for one of these and one came along and I need to hide the credit card bill. No ones looking on here that will tell Mrs Steve. Oops. Steve

Thanks Nige. I confirm it feels good to be alive ? today is my official finish Shielding Day, but I should have had my second shot of the vaccine and I haven't yet and so its wise and I've been advised to get that done and emerge 14 days after that. So I should be out toward the end of April. There's long story regard the second shot and being late for it, but TBH the NHS are doing a sterling Job with the vaccine roll out. Its gone perfect for so many, I've been a little unlucky. The first one was perfect. I suffer terribly from the Law of Sod and so when I had the first I knew the second would not pan out the same! The store is probably more alive than me. It has a life of its own SWM. I was amazed on 14th Feb 1987 when I opened and took £50.35 or £50.85 something like that. I have generally been amazed by the support from all over the World. 34 years Open. That's something as far as RC business's go. I do wish there were as many around as there we in 1987. I'd say there's 80 to 90 specialist stores that carry stocks of RC and RC, FF modelling in any real depth. When I started there were over 1000. I said years ago that Model Shops were the windows to the hobby. I think that's proving correct as it seems less beginners are starting than ever. Lets not go to 'young people' . I can't think we've seen any for a while. Starting off that is. Yep I model shop in every town would be great. All those new people starting would find their way to us at some point and to other deep specialists. Take Care and stay safe. The tunnel light was on, went off, started blinking and is now shining brighter than it was! For everyone I hope. What strange times these have been. Still are. There's 3 years of effect to come if not more. It'll be Covid Vaccinations with the Flue ones every year. and to stay on Topic (ish) My very different ED 046 Baby. An eBay broken engine purpose that still cost over £40 with no lugs. Just stubs where they had been and a bit of metal showing the tell tale signs of squishing in a vice. Please... people don't put engines in a vice. They can be ruined. This one broke its lugs and halved its value. I think it should have quartered its value but hey ho... Its now a rear radial mount version. 1950's engine brought back to life and destined for a small RC assist model. The ED was a 'broken spares repairs one' Took a gamble and bid on it and won it for around £45 I think. It would not turn over. The contra piston had been wound the full depth of the screw and the cylinder slackened to turn it over. It was stuck solid. Lots of cleaning, soaking didnt shift the contra piston. So it was a dowel and a wooden mallet. Thwack and now it worked. Contra piston loose again. Although to be fair it has stuck a couple more times. Its loosened when it fires now. It could be a little corrosion making that finite tolerance , not as finite. Enjoy and hope loads of you got flying. I know some of the clubs local to us were flying yesterday. Yes... normal life!! Steve

Hi Nigel, I have a pal that I have asked to convert a huge Super Tigre to Diesel. Just to see if we can. He warned me that bigger glow to diesel conversions can tend to run hot on converted large glows. He was not sure it would work, but we said if I get one cheap enough. Sure enough they were on eBay and I was pipped at the Post in the £50's - they sold under £60 that is for sure. Yes you are right the larger glows seem to be wallowing at the bottom. They may have risen slightly though because before I wanted one I got one at a Club Sale Night for £15 - Unreal. Huge Super Tigre 2500 it was. £15 - I bet the box cost more. The other problem going diesel with one is that if its a ringed engine they don't tend to convert well. I have a Super Tigre RC 61 Diesel. I haven't run it, but it has run and is described as being raspy. Here are some of my N RAT Diesels - I prefer to call them Tarn Diesels. Peter is a good mate and he's had the diesels featured in Aeromodeller. Hes a talented model engineer that has a successful formula for the Glow to Diesel Conversion. Technically maybe these should not be in the thread as they are not 'off the shelf' but they are of interest I'm sure and not what people normally see! At SWM there was a Nova Ross-21 buggy engine and it was a 2007 World Champs Edition. A £450 engine now a days if it was a 2019 World Champs but being a 2007 it had missed its moment. The team tried to sell it and even failed on eBay. I said when they tried it at £75 and it didnt sell and they were going to drop it to £50 - I'll have it. So I bought it and gave it to Pete and I have one of the most powerful rear exhaust diesels. LOl.. It snarrrls. I have 2 Nova Rossi Diesels now. Both from Buggy Motors. You can see the original glow head in one pic. Enjoy the feast of conversions. The La 46 handles nice as a diesel and the SS 40 - ring engines are not as good as they are not easy start with the ring and the SS45Ring I have converted to diesel will not hand start. It will start with a starter, but diesels and starters are a NO NO as if they over compress its a bent rod certainty. I'd say for its lack of easy starting the SS45 ring is the least successful. Pete's engines ? I have bought mine off him on eBay except for one or two specials like the Rossi's . He is N.Rat on eBay . Not there all the time, but when he is , its worth a look at what he'd selling. I'm probably making the auctions more popular, I should keep them to myself. But in reality I cant keep getting more Tarn diesels. I have a few now! Steve

Only just pipped you. I am not usually around. But was searching on google for something and ended up here. Hence a couple of posts. I think I was looking at Force Engines to see what feedback they were getting. I'm pleased to say it all looks positive to me. It Does no harm to let the world no I'm still alive. I have been unable to visit my store for over a year. I had to shield due to health issues. I take immune suppressant drugs as well. So on the extremely vulnerable list. I have just got the date for the second shot of the Vaccine, so the small LED solar powered light at the end of the tunnel is a little brighter. I should be able to come out of shielding if progress with the Covid epidemic continues and SWM will be opening later in April ( I mean to callers - its still open Mail Order). Fingers crossed that we don't see a 3rd Wave. It would be terrible for everyone. The Store has continued to trade Mail Order thanks to the best team I've known, SWM is like a family. They've opened when possible , but continued as best as they could like many other model stores. Some other areas of retail will not be around when the country re opens. I think it says a lot about the Hobby Community. We have had some terrific support. Sorry off topic... Back to Force.. and engines.. Companies like JP - with the Force Engines. We are so lucky that they are a company that could be bothered to get some 40 size two strokes. I don't think there's any others currently. Hence some prices on eBay! I picked up a OS 40 FSR in a Job Lot and its been Ultrasonically Cleaned up and YESssss probably one of OS engines best ever 40 engines. I sold mine in the early days of SWM ( I sold lots of my own stuff starting out!) . I have one again. I'm not sure if I should pass it on or keep it. Its something I wouldn't use now. IC I tend to like four strokes and you may have heard.... Diesels. I wonder what effect the WW Pandemic will have on remaining Hobby Companies? I'm still quite shocked with closures of Solarfilm ( in the UK) and SC Factory - who produced many more makes than any off us realize. That lights back on!! Steve

I love my TBR 049 I just picked up a couple more 030 TBR Kompish FI's off Alex. He said he had 6 left. We had been discussing what engines were coming and what he still had some of them. I'd got one of his new Millish MK II 030Ci TBR RD Diesel ( Sorry I don't have a picture ready to upload . I had two on order but Alex is waiting for the remaining stock and so I only have one of the 030 Ci TBR RD Diesel's . I'd like one to run and one to 'collect'. The Front Induction Kompish 030 TBR FI is one of the best looking of the 'cartoon' engines. Alex was selling them at £100 and TBH it's an incredible price for such an engine. I think he had them made a couple of years back and I'd guess if he had them manufactured now they would be £140 or £150 at best guess. I picked up a couple to either use or invest in as they tend to go up in value. Strangely I think that 4 or 5 years ago two stroke glows with the help of eBay hit an all time low in value. I remember i picked up some two strokes under a tenner on eBay. working engines. Unreal. Now the ASP factory has gone. Model engine production is at a low it seems the standard two stroke on the second hand market is rising in value. eBay 5 years ago - SS40 Enya engines - £25 to £45 on eBay. Nice ones with little use or no use have been going for far more. I'd seen a few used ones in the £70 to £80 s bracket and a new in box one easily makes a price over £100. Of course Enya have not manufactured SS 40's since the early nauties. So a bit like when diesels ceased in the late 70's and 80's they started to gain in price and now a days some sell for small fortunes. In the 80's you could pick up Oliver Tigres quite cheap. Now £200? £300? £400 ? £500 or more.. wow.. Just thoughts. I'm starting to wish I had bought lots of two strokes , I didn't see a shortage of engines! or the Sc Factory going. Steve

From what I have seen it is similar to ASP and SC. It's a good job J Perkins jumped in with the Force engines , there was little available around the 40/50 two stroke size. For years I have seen I C running down. Like it or not Electric Flight has had a marked effect on engine production. When the SC Factory / Asp Factory closed like many I realized that was the end of various engines, but I didn't realize how many engine 'makes' were manufactured at that Factory. I was informed that Horizon's Evolution engines were made there which surprised me. I think Evolution is a brand that covers a few different manufacturers. The Radials are made/were made in India I thought. But two stroke Evolution engines do appear to have come out of the SC factory. Force - first look , they look good. Well made. BUT - while they might be a new name to aero-modelers they have been making some I.C Car engines for quite a number of years. Manufacturing model car engines will have given them a lesson in making engines robust. Every so please JP jumped in with Force Paul - have you run yours much? Steve

They were and They were sold by MFA - I think. Steve

I found some pics of the pre revamped Bambi. On the model I got on eBay. It was a good buy because often people look at it wrong, they think I don't want that model. So get it and take the engine out and bin the model. As it was the model was not that bad and it resold for £20 or something on eBay. Another £20 off the Bambi. I love the DC Bambi or Allbon Bambi Find more about the Rise and Fall of DC here http://modelenginenews.org/people/dc_ltd.html Steve

I read the DC Article in the most recent RCME - I've been a life long fan of Davies Charlton Diesel Engines. I cut some serious modelling hours on a DC Spitfire 1cc. The engine was in my KK Phantom and also my Picador , such a sexy looking control line model to a 10 year old. Later in life I started building a Sir Jasper but strayed from the design and made a two channel RC model coloured in HW Model Span Yellow tissue and flew it for hours and hours on the same 1cc Spifire. I should have worn the engine out many times and in the end it did start to suffer. I had gone to D3000 in order to ring a little more power out of it and the engine had a habbit of going lean and no throttle it stayed lean. I think that's what killed the engine in the end. But it went far past what it was intended to do. Many hours. I had a Merlin, but bent the rod on that. A Sabre in a Mercury Models Cobra , that was a good engine. The DC Dart in the Phantom Mite. Terrible aircraft, more power might have cured it. The Dart was not enough. The Dart also spent a few hours in a Cardinal. Free Flight. Burbling away slightly under compressed flying around and around the field while I sat in the grass watching it go around and around. I can almost smell the day. DC were my introduction to diesel engines and my first ever model engines. I've been smitten ever since. My introduction to glows were the Baby Bee engines I would pick up from discarded Plastic Cox Models. The first proper RC glow was an Enya 09 and many years later became the UK dealer... LOL. I was 15 when I purchased my 09. A pal broke it with an electric starter and my first ever contact with the wonderful John D Haytree was to get that fixed. Back to DC , I've said it many times and I still believe it. If it were not for DC Aeromodelling might have not been as popular in the 60's and 70's leading to the RC Boom of the 80's and very much the RC hobby / Aeromodelling Hobbies we all enjoy today. The Dc engine range was affordable and it worked. I know the range had its moments. Later engines production suffered and quality control and was hit and miss. The same could be said about later Dav Cal engines. But perhaps those problems have been made bigger than they really were? Dav Cal Darts suffered brittle shafts. They were not hardened and a few broke I'm sure of it, but I have some Dav Cal Darts that run just fine. The 50's Allbon /Dc engines were magnificent. But there was issues with the Bambi. It came out as a .11, then became a .12 and then a .14 and I'm told one I have is a .15 . I was told that Bambi's were impossible to start. First one I ever got was off eBay and it started 3rd or 4th flick. I have another that needs to be sworn at more, but that also goes 'eventually'. The Bambi was of a different time. A small prop was not available and so they gave you a metal blank to sand and shape and twist into a prop for the Bambi. Yes a Metal prop.? I'd love to see the DC range immortalized with a 1/2 size reproduction of the range. The Dart would be a .25 like Rustler did with the 1/2cc Frog. The .25 (1/4cc) Tadpole made in the Ukraine is a fantastic little engine. If anyone has a nice one, I'd be interested. The Spitfire would be a .5 1/2cc and the Sabre a .75. I'm sure that a super little set could be made. There's probably not enough people to buy it , for it to work commercially , but I can dream! I think someone like Alex at Red Fin could pull such a thing off. I have his ED 246 Mini's - The 040 and 060 . The O60 I have is in John Player Special Black and Gold Livery. It looks awesome. I think the original Red cylinder Mini ED 246 040 version would be just the thing for a 30 inch span Junior 60. The Original was marketed with the ED 2.46 cc Original. We are so lucky to have someone like Alex putting the effort in an creating new Diesel Engines for us. DC Engines Today Up until the Lock down I was saying they were possibly the most undervalued treasure on eBay. I picked up a DC Sabre that was cosmetically challenged , some one had reworked the anodized head with pliers and drilled out the mounting holes. I honestly can not understand why people drill out mounting holes. If its an 8ba.. get some 8 ba bolts. So sad to drill out the lugs as in a crash the enlarged holes break off easier. Anyway £12 I picked up a Super Sabre enlarged holes, badly mangled head. It still needed running in! The abuser owner while trying hard to kill it had probably failed to get it going. It ran amazingly well. Imagine that a Diesel Engine swinging a 8 x 4 prop around without missing a beat for £12! I've paid £15 for second hand NVA before now. I got to buying cheap DC's to get hold of a tank or a NVA and some of the very badly mangled ones ran great. Proof they were off the people and for the people. They were and are robust. My store ( SWM ) has never sold DC. It was all before the time of SWM. We did sell PAW ( Super British Engines) at one time, but the classics like DC and ME and ED / Mills were all before my time in the trade. Oh... we had the Irvine Mills and AE Mill's in the 90's. I think they sparked off my interest in diesels again. I had sold off all my old engines when first starting out and so I've had great fun buying a few back. eBay, private sales. There's plenty of places DC hand out and others. Having said that. You may have missed the rock bottom prices. Currently some eBay prices are very OTT. An indication of people locked in, bidding I guess. My own theory is that Gildings Auction was cancelled for a second time this last couple of weeks and that money is bidding on eBay. Still there are bargains. If you have never tried a Diesel, you have to try one. I can guarantee one thing, if its a runner and it starts up, you will smile from ear to ear and carry on smiling and probably buy a lot more of them. One Spitfire I won on eBay came with a modified tank. I think it would have run for over an hour... LOL... See Pic. I picked up a Black Sabre and it came in a White Box - Dav Cal on it. But on a typed label. No image. Anyway I used the box to make a Nice Dart Box with a printed label. It was sort of a reproduction box label on an original box. Then I won a PK Sabre and to my surprise it came in the same box. I realized the one I re labelled just spoiled a very rare Dav Cal box. Damn. Even rarer now thanks to me. I picked up a Bambi in a model on eBay. Because it was a model for sale there were not many bids. I did Ok. I sold the model off and kept the engine and a Pal of mine has tidied it up for me as the head had a scratch on it. The Bambi runs fine. Tricky to start this one, but I think because its run a lot. The other I have starts in a few flicks. That's it for now. A few pics. During the lock down, build a radio assist diesel powered plane... go on Steve

Just had a quick speed read. From what I was told Turbine Blades in China have took enormous amounts of balsa wood. A lot of Chinese Cities suffer smog and poor air quality. In the last 50 years they've 'suffered' or 'enjoyed' a modern industrial revolution and pollution to go along with it. I think this has been 'noticed' and there's a scramble to power solutions that offer better air quality. Wind Turbine manufacture has really stepped up around the globe. It can't just be blamed on Chinese requirements. As far as I am aware most wind turbine blades feature composite structures and balsa features highly in this. I'm sure that the 'Turbine' blades are not helping the supply of balsa. It's also used in the manufacture of oil tankers and I believe the new natural gas tankers use it as a composite structure. It's also used in full size aviation composite wings etc. The amount used in the model trade is probably very small by comparison. But there's also the Pandemic and the problems that's caused. Its a global thing and imagine everything that is happening here is happening elsewhere. Our supplier seems to have that really nice white balsa which comes from New Guinea I think It was always more expensive from PNG, but I think its leveled up a little now with other producers. I found the video on Youtube re balsa from Papua New Guinea. Does anyone remember the amazing 'white' balsa of the 90's . I think Premier brought it in from New Zealand? or Australia? When David Boddington was still alive, when ever we spoke he always asked about Balsa supply. He had it that it was going to get short and industry would be taking it off our table. There was always Rumours, but up until this most recent crisis I think they were always speculative Rumours. This current situation is more than that. I have a few contacts in China and last year the model trade is China suffered 20% price rises in Balsa Prices and shortages. I'm told that the shortages seem to be not as bad as they were but the price is still higher than it was. So its global and even the Chinese Model Industry is affected. I expect that will filter through on Kit and ARTF prices eventually. Like most things , I'll bet there's a wealth of balsa in sheds,lofts , under the bed. My own balsa stocks at home have never been lower. I haven't been large models for a long time and small models don't use as much balsa. It seems we didn't realize how good we all had it. At its best time we had Balsa, Depron,Vector Board,Solarfilm and Solartex and now we have Balsa left, but in short supply and more expensive. Losing Solarfilm was unexpected. We really miss Solartex. In the last few years we've gone from having some amazing materials back 50 years. Depron another huge loss to the model industry. We were just getting to grips with the wonderful Vector Board Graupner manufactured and they went. I thought the way forward was composite Balsa, Depron and Vector Board air frames. Keep Safe and Keep Balsa Bashing ( where supplies allow) Steve

Hi ED Thanks for the message. It's all interesting stuff. Good when you come across people that use or have used certain methods. Anodising - various people who seem good at doing it all say Sulphuric acid is required and difficult to get. I expect its to prevent people throwing it over each other. Always a problem now a days when something 'harmful' is required. Still there is probably a way forward if I research it. I had a pal who did Ok with battery acid and distilled water. Is that correct distilled? water I have uploaded a couple of videos, showing a Mills that had Magnesium Rot, painted in the black disc brake paint, sealed with hot oil and then ran and the finish aged and went Matt, making the engine look very original and not like it had been re painted https://youtu.be/glf7wUs9Rr4 Cheers Steve

I just read through this thread and I’ve been messing with heat proof paint that is made for painting automotive brakes. I’ve managed to get Signal Red , Green and Matt Black and Satin Black. Another modeller pal put me onto them as he had used them to re paint the black on Mills magnesium cases and ED Racers . Some Marine Diesels also, I have used the paint on a few engines but I’ve not run any I’ve painted ( yet). I have in the last 18 months invested in an ‘industrial ultrasonic cleaning bath’. The first time I painted Diesel engine the coating of the Red painting , the paint lifted easily . I found that cleaning the engine with an additive that’s designed for cleaning car and motor bike carbs worked a treat at degreasing the engines ready for the brake paint . I’m fairly confident the paint will stand diesel fuel . Not sure about glow fuel. The ultrasonic cleaner with the carb cleaning additive makes a great cleaner / degreaser . It would work well for pre anodising treatment . It’s something else ( anodising ) I have been reading up on . I found an interesting video about anodising . I’ll try and find it and post back interesting thread Steve

Just logging on checking the trading post. do any traders have updates they want to share ? Are they open ? Normal hours ? Short hours? SWM - re opened but with shorter hours for personal callers . Our normal hours still show on google because the store is open for mail order / phone & web and eBay items . But callers in person are 10 until 2 pm The short hours are to keep up the constant sanitising , mail order etc. The mail order supports the store being open for the locals , so we’ve used up resources keeping on top of same day mail order when we can . To state that again. - if calling at the store in person , it’s between 10 and 2 pm , it’s very safe as it’s masks on , sanitiser , only two in the store at any one time. the only issue we’ve had with 2 in at anytime is when a customer has returned with a problem and we are sorting it on the counter , it can cause a back log as it holds up the flow of customers . We are asking people that do return with an item they need us to set up or look at that they call and we can give them an appointment . That way they don’t hold up the customer flow into store. i would also add that looking at ESCs and set ups and stuff we are only looking after stuff we have sold / sell . Even before lock down more and more customers were turning up with items purchased at Hobby King or via eBay China . Our friendly , helpful free of charge ways do not stretch to items from other business’s. We could employ a person on Saturdays purely to look at items purchased elsewhere . Our legendary service comes with our own sales. While we are always able to issue free advice , working on items purchased elsewhere is unfair on the customers that support us. If items are purchased direct from China cheaply . People should factor in the lack of service that goes that. The Future was looking quite positive we have a weekly meeting to discuss opening more hours , attending with the current issues and it did seem there was light at the end of the tunnel - But it seemed a step back was in place yesterday with stricter Covid 19 contact rules being put in place . So for the moment we are pressing as we were . I’m not sure of how Clubs are affected by the 6 person rule . SWM Open Mail Order as normal 24/7 website 9.30 till 5.30 pm phones mail order callers in person 10 am till 2pm temporary As at 10.9 .2020 masks mandatory unless medical reasons prevent wearing one . Customers that turn up without masks can purchase one with a donation to charity in our Box on the counter. if you have a problem with items purchased from us ( mode change , esc set up or similar please call us first and we may give you an appointment outside our normal temporary times ) hope that’s of some interest and help to members on the forum . My very best wishes to all and keep safe! Steve    ps I apologise for typos , writing this on my phone, but I have some problems with my eyes and can’t read it back . Hopefully my eyes will get better . It’s a nasty side effect of my conditions          Edited By Steven Webb (Steve Webb Models) on 10/09/2020 15:25:13

I mentioned the Red Fin Twins. These are also from Alex Phin. As far as I am aware he has no 060 Twins available and that's now finished regard new manufacture. He does have some 99 Twins left currently. Very low numbers.   They look so sexy! The Silencers tend to starve the engines power. The Twin should only be run by someone experienced in the running of model diesel engines. They must not be ran over rich. if the cylinders flood and one over compresses while the other is still max on power the loads put on the individual conrods can cause failure. NEVER let the rear cylinder over take the from cylinder in revs. It will all go very wrong, very quickly. This is not an unusual trait in Diesel Twins. The Boddo Twin suffered the same issues. The rear cylinder revving harder than the front causing conrod failure and instant engine stop. The OTT 5cc Twin also suffered Conrod Fails if the rear cylinder revved more than the front. The forces on the conrods when the cylinders are compressed or revving differently can lead to catastrophic failure.    I've always had a thing for Twins, Diesel Twins - Its heaven. Diesel Heaven.   Steve Edited By Steven Webb (Steve Webb Models) on 30/06/2020 17:23:41

Another Rare Diesel currently available from Red Fin Engines is an 05 Mini Racer Based on the famous and classic 2.49 racer by ED its a jewel of an engine. great for 30 to 40 inch RC assist vintage. The Junior 60 flew with the Original 2.46 Diesel. It was often seen paired with one. Now you can build the half size Junior 30 and have a shrunken down 1/2 cc Replica in it. Just perfect for a 1/2 size Junior 60 or similar. Red Fin engines are by Alex Phin. Hence the name. The Mini Racer is available in Original as pictured or a classic cool blue version or a green version. They all look awesome, but its hard to beat the original Red and Black look. You wont get Red Fin at a store or anywhere else. Its available from Alex Phin Direct. He has stock at June 2020 - He has a new Millish 061 TBR engine due soon. A modern running engine with a vintage style of looks. He has fixed stunt venturi, but he does offer diesel Carbs for some of his engines. So some can be RC throttle engines. He was a website Red Fin Engines, although its never totally up to date. His contact details are there. I think Alex is doing aeromodelling a great service designing and manufacturing ( in the Ukraine) diesel engines when i'm sure making such engines is a risky business. Because of modern manufacturing methods, Alex has been able to run limited quantity runs on all manner of small diesel engines including 2 Twins 060 and 99 and a Tether Car Diesel. Once manufactured in The Ukraine they end up with Alex who test runs every engine before dispatch. Once 100,200 or 400 engines of a type have been sold they are usually not made again. It keeps the engine types 'wanted' and scarce and it also keeps the value of the engines at least the buying price if not more. The Twin diesels which have cost £200 to £245 from Alex have been seen selling on eBay for £300 to £450. Instant gain in value on the purchase price. Alex has no 060's leftm, but he does have some 99 size. I think around £240 to £250 or more with RC carb. Yet they are selling for over £400 on eBay sometimes. Once thing is for sure the return on Alex 's engines it better than the Nationwide Building Society high interest account. Buy to run and sniff, buy to invest and collect or even use them in model planes. Apparently that's what they were for originally. My millish 020 from Alex Phin. Number 10 Even though the Crank Case says 030 , its really the 020 - the 030 was made and then the 020 and to keep costs down they share the crank case right down to them all being marked 030. Alex Originally started with manufacture in China by CS and after CS closed he went to the Ukraine. It has to be said the Ukraine engines are way ahead regard construction and build quality, but as can be seen by this Navo 1.3 ( Mills 1.3 ) engine the Chinese turned out a nice looking engine most of the time. I will try and post some more Red Fin as I think they are one of the UK 's best kept secrets. Steve

More Diesels. The Blue Tops are Glows that have been converted to Diesel. The West Engine is a currently available RC Diesel Engine 38 size. The West 38 - Only from Weston UK. Alan at Weston UK also has some ED Diesels available again. Peter Tarn Diesels There is a Model Engineer I have come to know called Peter Tarn. A grand chap and super model engineer. He set about converting Glows to Diesels. Why? Because he could. He's come up with a system and converted all manner of glow to Diesel. Like all engines that are custom, his engines are Rare. he sometimes lists conversions for sale on eBay. Last week he had a 15 LA Diesel in auction on eBay. A new condition engine only ran by Peter to check the conversion.. A strong runner as a Diesel and super quiet. The 15 LA engine made it to £188 in auction. His engines are well thought off. I'd put them in the custom , rare and hard to find range of engines. That is not readily available , although Peter has done commision Diesel Builds.Keep an eye on his store on eBay, he lists conversions all the time. Currently 30.06.2020 he has a K&B diesel for sale. It looks awesome. Below We have some SS 50 Enya Diesels and Nova Rossi Rear Exhaust 3.5 cc WC 2008 engine, pictured along side West 38 Diesel Engine. The West 38 is currently available Direct only from, Weston UK. Its a cracker! Lovely looking engines. Weston's route offers an off the shelf way into RC Diesel engines. Enjoy Steve