brokenenglish
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Can anyone identify this Vintage Model?
brokenenglish replied to Stevo's topic in Vintage Kits, Semi-Kits and Plan Projects
We're off topic! -
Posted by PatMc on 15/01/2014 16:12:53: "Confining" to "general" , isn't that a bit of a contradiction ? No. I could have written "only valid for general applications", if you find that easier to understand. I thought we were discussing battery technology. The fact is that there are quite a few "non-typical" Nicad applications that don't work with NiMH, and I gave a couple of examples. If you don't agree, then say so, and why... Personally, I don't find nit-picking on teminology to be a very convincing answer...
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Posted by PatMc on 15/01/2014 15:38:54: Posted by brokenenglish on 15/01/2014 15:06:06: If the question is: "are NiMH batteries as good as Nicad in terms of power and remaining charged?" Then the answer has to be "No, they're not" No it doesn't ! That's merely your opinion. OK. Try them in a spark ignition circuit and see what you get. Nicads will work OK and NiMH are very iffy indeed (they sometimes work, a little, but mostly not). They just don't have the power of Nicads. I think you're confining your opinion to "general" RC applications, which as I mentioned, are OK.
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Gentlemen, Respectfully, we're not all discussing the same question... If the question is: "are NiMH batteries OK for "general" RC applications, providing you charge just before use?" Then the answer is obviously "Yes, they're usable". If the question is: "are NiMH batteries as good as Nicad in terms of power and remaining charged?" Then the answer has to be "No, they're not" (but we have no choice!). I'm using batteries for two "non-standard" applications, and NiMH are not satisfactory. They don't give enough power for a spark ignition circuit, whereas Nicads did, and I haven't found any small sizes for lightweight airborne pack power (looking for suggestions here!). Small, diesel powered planes used to fly great with 120 or 240 mAh Nicads weighing only a few grams. Now, the trade imposes that all small planes are supposed to be electric powered, so my only reasonable solution is Lipo with a voltage regulator... I was amazed to see the post above in which 41 g was considered light for an airborne battery... I'm looking for half that weight, at the most.
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I'm using Eneloops. I think they're just the best brand of NiMH and noticeably better than the others in performance, but they are still way below Nicad power and charge life. Shame, but there it is. We just have to live with it... Edited By brokenenglish on 14/01/2014 18:51:41
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Unfortunately, I suppose both the above posts are right. There's no doubt that NiMH doesn't give anything like Nicad power or charge life. The proof is that Nicads are still used where a lot of power is required (eg power tools), but our applications are only a hobby and not considered important enough to warrant an "exception". I think it's still possible to obtain Nicads if you purchase from some remote source. I obtained some from Tower Hobbies long after they were banned in Europe (try Googling). The options now are, for RC systems, NiMH but make sure you charge just before going flying or, where more power is required (which is my case for old engine ignition systems), we just have to learn LiPo technology.
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fuel by the case ie 4 x gallon where delivers
brokenenglish replied to crispin church's topic in IC Engines
Yeah, I live in the country, in the middle of France, so you can imagine the problem obtaining diesel fuel (there's no commercial availability in France, and no ether to mix your own). I decided that the only certain solution is this "one occasional fuel run" for a large quantity. In 2008, I visited the UK, dropped by Southern Modelcraft (not far from Dover) and brought back enough fuel for 5 years. Finally, last summer, a friend visiting me from the UK, picked up 60 litres of diesel fuel and ether for me, which should last the rest of my life... Sounds a bit extreme perhaps, but it's good not to have that nagging worry of what am I going to do when I run out of fuel. Before the safety maniacs comment... it's no more dangerous than any car with a full fuel tank... -
Perhaps some may be interested in this... I've just been running a 1938 French REA 10cc spark ignition engine. Surprisingly powerful. It's a contemporary of the Brown Junior and Ohlsson Gold Seal, and it's a lot more powerful than either of those. I'm not a spark ignition expert, and it shows a bit in the video, but I shall do some more soon... at least the English "Astral Mechanair" and the Ohlsson Custom, two super engines. Here's the link: **LINK**
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Posted by David Davis on 29/11/2013 07:20:02: Posted by brokenenglish on 29/11/2013 06:11:53: I've never owned an HP glow. So an HP VT isn't a glow engine Brian? You're going to have to film that one now! Oh dear David! I seem to have had (another) senior moment. My apologies!!! Thanks to DD, I do own a superb HP glow!
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Nice find Jeff. I can't see anything seriously wrong with the HP, and it'll be a lot lighter without the dirt. Show us some more when you've cleaned it up a bit. I've never owned an HP glow but, in their day (early seventies, I think), they were THE best. It's also true that the silencer looks "interesting". I don't think it started life as a model engine silencer. Anyway, it's potentially a very nice engine, and you have the "insurance" of knowing that, if you do find a "problem"... well, it didn't cost very much! Brian
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Ben Buckle Fire Brand
brokenenglish replied to Bernie's topic in Vintage Kits, Semi-Kits and Plan Projects
Very nice project Bernie. Just to fill in a few gaps. The Firebrand was published in Aeromodeller in May 1941. I have a lot of early Aeromodeller magazines, but that one is missing! Dear old Ben (Buckle) might have mentioned diesel power, but obviously the original can't have been diesel powered in 1941. It must have been spark ignition, and quite possibly with a home made engine. There weren't many commercial engines around at the time, and power model flying was theoretically banned in England during the war. -
Following Jeff's kind comments and remarking that he'd like to see a Micron or a Drone, I had a look around my hard disk. Unfortunately, I've discarded my Micron video, but I do have some of the English Owat, which is very similar of course, and the beautiful sound is the same! The engine running is this one: However, all is not perfect. This is just a raw video direct from my wife's telephone. The engine isn't quite running perfectly, it was a very hot day (34°C), so my "normal" fuel contained too much ether. Smoother running would be obtained with less ether in the fuel (or cooler conditions). The engine is turning a Topflite 14x6 which, even at 5000 rpm, is throwing back a lot of wind. These three "similar" fixed comp. diesels (Micron, Drone, Owat) all fly a 2-channel Junior 60 very well indeed. The worst is that, while the video is perfectly OK on my PC, the Youtube version has "blurred" periods. Perhaps Youtube is allergic to the sound of a fixed compression diesel. Anyway, just for this thread, I decided to upload the video to Youtube "hidden", so it cannot be found unless I provide the link below: Enjoy the beautiful sound, even slightly off-tune, for the reason mentioned... **LINK** Edited By brokenenglish on 04/10/2013 15:40:08
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Thanks very much for your kind remarks. I'm really pleased. There will be more, very soon.
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Recently, I've tried to make videos of running a few interesting old engines. These are my first two efforts, a 1947 Airstar diesel and a Taplin Twin Mk I. The video technique needs working on, but the engines are great. Hope someone finds them of interest (in fact, I'm "years behind" because we've only recently got a reasonable Internet connection). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3p__kUa1SKE **LINK** Edited By brokenenglish on 02/10/2013 16:55:44 Edited By brokenenglish on 02/10/2013 16:56:31
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I'm pleased to read what looks like a happy end! I didn't chime in earlier, but I've been using Lasers since 1987. I possess four, all "older" models, and I've never experienced anything other than pure perfection. Every quality you could possibly want... they have... and I don't consider myself an "expert", they're just dead easy to set up and operate.
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I shall be 74 this year. I still feel young (and act immature!). One thing I've noticed is that it's only younger people who consider that the older ones are old. I certainly don't feel old. Remember what I always tell my kids: an older person isn't really an older person, it's you, with 50 years more knowledge and experience...
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Balsa and spruce and other questions!
brokenenglish replied to Former Member's topic in General Vintage R/C Chatter
Posted by kc on 20/03/2013 11:20:44: In addition to major shows there is a man with a van load of balsa at most Old Warden model days ( I dont know the traders name) Next one is May. Edited By kc on 20/03/2013 11:31:38 The gentleman with the van and the excellent balsa and various other goodies is John Hook. Google "Flitehook" and you'll find him. He does mail order within the UK and has an excellent reputation. -
Jeff, your post again raises memories. You mention D.J.L.D... When I was young (in the fifties) I used to live near Dickie, and I actually went to school with his daughter. Concerning fuel mixtures, I think the "standard" mix is well-known. The original Micron mix was just 75% ether, 25% good quality automotive engine oil (castor wasn't generally used in model engines until the late forties). This Micron mix was also used (copied) for the Drone and the English Owat. A lot of nonsense exists on the Web concerning fixed compression diesels and their fuels. This isn't the place to go into great detail so, to keep it simple, the standard 75/25 mix is perfect for running a Micron, Drone or Owat in ambient temperatures of between say 20°C and 30°C (i.e. most of the time, in summer). Below 20°C you may not get satisfactory starting/running (better to wait for warmer weather), and above about 30°C you'll need a bit less ether, say a 60/40 mixture, or even 50/30 with 20% kerosene. Using 75% ether, in very hot weather, gives pre-ignition, i.e. combustion occurs before the top of the stroke, and you can't reduce the compression!!! This gives awful rough running with a lot of vibration, and could probably damage the engine (they usually don't run like this for more than a few seconds). BTW, your Drone photos show a very late ball-race engine (superb), but the box is that of an early plain bearing version! (Don't say anything, no-one will know!).
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Simon, In the early days of diesel development, a number of "fixed compression" diesels were made. They work extremely well, providing certain "limitations" are accepted. The first one produced in large numbers was the French Micron 5 (5 cc). The Micron was produced from 1943 until the early sixties, with a later short production run in the seventies. The one in the photo, in the nose of my Simplex, is early fifties production. The Micron "inspired" a few other manufacturers. The most prolific being the American "Drone", by Leon Shulman who, I think, is still with us... You can see the Micron running, in one of the other photos, and here is a Drone, roaring away like a champion, still on fixed compression. PS: Looking up through the posts, I'm particularly pleased to see Peter with us. We both flew and played with engines in the infamous Model Aircraft Club in Aden, in my case, 50 years ago this year, and Peter a couple of years earlier...
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I've been collecting engines for a bit more than 50 years. Unlike most collectors, I do actually run most of my engines, play with them on the bench, and fly as many as I can. It's true that some of the very ancient stuff isn't very practical to run, but most engines, from the late forties onwards, are superb, particularly English diesels. Here are a few examples...
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