Ubergeekian

Well, that all went rather more thrillingly than I expected. True to Sod's Law, another two have turned up, so if anyone fancies an ED Mk II Type 2 or a Rivers Silver Arrow 3.5cc Type 2, feel free to get bidding. The Sea Otter is still going (I pulled and relisted it to make clear that it's a marine engine), there's a beautiful OS FS-60 open tappet four stroke which I found last week and I have just relisted a poor, forlorn ED Bee Mk1 which nobody wanted - starting cheaper this time. Oh dear, what a lot of advertising. Forgive me. The trouble with this sort of work is that just as I clear the shelves I'm starting to get really interested in this stuff. I know who Adrian is now! Ian

Posted by WolstonFlyer on 26/05/2016 23:44:46: Here is the link to them on Ebay: **LINK** Many thanks. I have cancelled and relisted three of the lots as a helpful eBayer - perhaps someone here - was able to identify the engines. Just in case it's of any interest to anyone here, they are 1946 5cc MP Lyon Caledonia Clansman 5cc (can anyone confirm this - the fins and ports look different from the picture I have found online) Fox Rocket DC Wildcat (remains) Frog Viper or Venom Clan 1cc ED Hunter The last five are selling as one lot because I didn't know what they were. Some are very scruffy, but the Clan looks OK. Ian

Posted by Robin Colbourne on 19/02/2016 21:05:48: Given the extra information regarding kits and magazines, it does sound like one heck of a lot of work to find new homes for this lot. This is something that heirs often overlook when inviting someone with a bit more knowledge than them to help. You might consider putting together a list with as much detail as possible about the whole lot, and circulating it to the various engine collectors and buyers and see who comes up with the highest offer. A look through ebay reveals the following 'completed item' prices. There appears to be a fair bit of shill bidding going on, as several engines sold but were relisted. Usually the same sellers too! (A bit of a rodent-ish whiff!) Some of the rare engines were not available Brand New in Box, so I've just used the highest price shown. Tallying up the ones listed , you're looking at upwards of £2500 if they really are Brand New in Box. A.M. “10” 1 £40 to £50 Cokol 2.5 £20 Its a Sokol and they weren't great! Cox Pee Wee 0.327 £40 DC Bambi 0.15 £175 DC Merlin 0.76 £40 to £75 ED Bee Mk1 S2 1 £70 to £100 ED Cadet 1 £80 ED Cadet 1 £80 ED Cadet 1 £80 ED Diesel Mk2 2 £35 ED Hornet 1.46 £35 ED Racer R/c Super 2.46 £100 ED Sea Otter MkII 3.46 £60 ED Viking MkII 4.9 £250 Embee 0.75 £50 Frog 1.75 £195 Frog 349 0.347 £100 Frog 50 0.5 £125 Irvine 0.75 £105 Jena 1 £30 Kiel Kraft 6 £150 Kingcat 1.49 £50+ (£100+ if deluxe) ME Heron 0.97 £50+ (some are £100 maybe a red tank makes it worth more?) ME Snipe 1.49 £80 to £90 Mills 0.75 £130 Quickstart Dart 0.036 £50 to £80 Webra 2.46 £100 ED MkIII 2.49 £60+ (probably considerably more if BNIB) Elfin BB 1.49 £100+ Elfin 2.49 £110+ Ultimately anything is only worth what someone is prepared to pay. Robin Hello again, Robin and people I have finally got around to listing everything on eBay, with starting prices set at about half of those figures. I can't give the engines away, yet, as they are not mine. Ian

Posted by Percy Verance on 25/03/2016 07:44:54: And don't be tempted to open the packets Ian............ Have no fear - I'm keeping them just as they are. Ian

I'm sorry (again) that it has taken so long (again). Here's on of my Veron Tomtits - quite definitely a simple glider. I still can't find anything about them on Google - can I really have the only two in existence? Today added three more engines to the list: OS FS-60 10cc four-stroke, Hirtenberger HP61 RRC 10cc (both new and boxed) and a Gannet 15cc four-stroke (no box, looks pretty good). Ian

Posted by ted hughes on 12/03/2016 06:23:18: Try to make sure you get the descriptions right. The Veron Tomtit is a powered biplane (worth about 150-200),tnot a glider. It is a bit of a chore, but advanced search on eBay will tell you what previous items have sold for to give you a guide. Thanks. The kits I have (two identical) are small gliders called Tomtits, made by Veron. I haven't opened the packets, but, from the look of them I think they are simply chuck gliders (is that still the term?) like the ones I used to buy with pocket money in toy shops.  However, Google finds no trace of their existence, and eBay "Sold Items" on finds the biplanes. Perhaps I have made an exciting discovery! Next time I am where they are I'll take a picture and post it here. Edited By Ubergeekian on 12/03/2016 15:57:47 Edited By Ubergeekian on 12/03/2016 15:58:18

Posted by Engine Doctor on 11/03/2016 11:41:12: Hi don' Pair the engines with the kits . The cheeky so and so's will expect a discount. Sell separately for best results. You will be amazed at what the kits fetch . Thanks. In general I see your point, but it seems fair to give someone who would like to build the Frog Tarquin to have an original Frog 50 to go with it, so I might sell the kit with the engine as an optional extra. It's a superbly funky looking aircraft design, by the way, and probably the one I hanker after keeping most. Not my skill set, though, so someone else should have the chance.

OK, folks, here's what I have found so far by way of kits: Gliders Keil Kraft Kirby Prefect (Flying Scale Series) Veron Tomtit (x2) Rubber powered Comet Aeronca K Comet Piper Cub Comet Taylorcraft Frog 730FK DH Moth Minor Frog Witch MkII Hi-Flier Aeronca C-3 Keil Kraft Fairey Junior (Flying Scale Series) Keil Kraft Luscombe Silvaire (Flying Scale Series) Keil Kraft Piper Family Cruiser (Flying Scale Series) Keil Kraft Stinson Flying Station Wagon Performance Kits Hornet Moth Veron Tri-Flite Comper Swift Diesel powered Flyline GAC Aristocrat Frog Tarquin (for Frog 50) Veron Velox Guillow Cessna Skyhawk 172 (can also be rubber powered) Jetex powered Contest Kits Squib (Jetex) I haven't found a Jetex anywhere ... yet. A packet of fuses suggests that there is one lurking. I have found an "Engines Unlimited" replica of a Letmo MD-0,6 diesel. All the kits are unused and boxed, except for the Tomtits which are in their original plastic wallets. Ebay for this lot, too? Worth pairing the diesel models, particularly the Frog Tarquin, with appropriate vintage engines? Ian     Edited By Ubergeekian on 11/03/2016 11:20:53

My apologies, everyone, for the long silence. I've been very busy and had to put this to one side. I should be able to get at it properly in a week or two, and will start with some pictures of anonymous engines in the help that they can be identified. Ebay looks likely, but I'm also talking to Flitehook. Manny Wiliamson at BMFA, with whom I worked a few years ago, has suggested Gildings too, but as it's a long time till their next auction they are probably third choice. Today I started investigating the kits ... a treasure trove of Keil Kraft and Frog stuff from the 50s and 60s, all mint and boxed. Does anyone like those?

Posted by Peter Android on 22/02/2016 15:08:01: Unfortunately this is how I got ripped off , As a genuine bona - fide Ebay seller , though I don't use it often , with 100% Pos feedback , a " gentleman " falsely claimed that the goods were " not as described" then filed a Paypal claim which they upheld , despite me clearly listing that viewing was welcomed prior to purchase . To add insult to injury , the claimant then neglected to return the supposed " not as described " item . and lied to Ebay stating they had returned said item . Paypal had already made a final decision. End result , I lost both the item and monies . My only bad eBay experience (my feedback rating is about 1300) was with someone to whom I sold a pair of old Bakelite telephones. He got in touch when they had arrived to say that one had a large star crack in it and that he therefore wanted half his money back. Since I had very carefully polished both telephones (Top Tip: Brasso!) I was a little surprised and wondered if it had been damaged in the post. I asked for a photo. He flatly refused. I asked again. He flatly refused. I offered to refund his money and pay for all postage if he returned them to me. He flatly refused. Either I return half his money, he said, or he would leave negative feedback. I flatly refused and reported him to eBay. They did nothing. I got the negative feedback. Meh.

Thank you very much indeed for going to so much trouble. It's obviously going to be worth taking some care with the rehoming. Ian Posted by Robin Colbourne on 19/02/2016 21:05:48: Given the extra information regarding kits and magazines, it does sound like one heck of a lot of work to find new homes for this lot. This is something that heirs often overlook when inviting someone with a bit more knowledge than them to help. You might consider putting together a list with as much detail as possible about the whole lot, and circulating it to the various engine collectors and buyers and see who comes up with the highest offer. A look through ebay reveals the following 'completed item' prices.

Posted by Simon Chaddock on 19/02/2016 18:11:03: If they are BNIB (brand new in box) do not ever consider running the engines. Their value to a collector will drop by 50%. Selling each engine/kit individually would probably give the best return but it would require quite a bit of research and take some time to achieve so you might find using a professional auction house in a specialist sale the best way to go. It would require little input from you (you can even ask them to establish sensible 'reserve' prices) but they do charge a significant commission. I wish I had your problem! Many thanks for that. I wish I had time to get to know this world more, but I have a whole house to deal with and the engines are a very small part of my problems. Anyone want half a ton (I'm not joking) of assorted model engineering and model flight magazines?

Posted by kc on 19/02/2016 17:59:25: Robins advice seems very sound. I would add that a photo of the box too would be a good idea & add value to collectors. Also find out if the Mills is an original British one rather than Indian 'copy' DC is same as Albon isn't it? I will remember to photograph the boxes. The Mills is definitely an original British. It was actually supplied as the power unit for a plastic hydroplane, which I also have, new and boxed, though alas the propeller has gone walkabout at some point over the past fifty (?) years. I am not, as you'll have gathered, an expert in the history of model engines (though as an engineer I have to say that they are fascinating, especially the tiny ones) but I have consulted Dr Google and it seems that Allbon merged with Davies-Charlton progressively in the years up to 1952 (http://modelenginenews.org/people/dc_ltd.html) It's interesting that at least two of the companies involved in this collection, DC and ME, were Isle of Man based. I'm rambling. Many thanks.

Many thank for those replies - please do keep 'em coming if anyone has any more bright ideas. It sounds to me as if it will be worth my spending some time on eBay. I definitely won't have time to get them running, though, so however they are sold it will have to be on that basis. At some point I am going to have to open the five boxes of flying model kits I've just found. And I don't mean "five boxed kits" ... Ian Edited By Ubergeekian on 19/02/2016 17:48:43

I'm new here - please forgive me if it shows. I am tidying up the affairs of an deceased elderly man who left behind him a collection of vintage model aircraft engines. Many of them are easy to identify, because they are boxed and unused: A.M. “10” 1 Cokol 2.5 Cox Pee Wee 0.327 DC Bambi 0.15 DC Merlin 0.76 ED Bee Mk1 S2 1 ED Cadet 1 ED Cadet 1 ED Cadet 1 ED Diesel Mk2 2 ED Hornet 1.46 ED Racer R/c Super 2.46 ED Sea Otter MkII 3.46 ED Viking MkII 4.9 Embee 0.75 Frog 1.75 Frog 349 0.347 Frog 50 0.5 Irvine 0.75 Jena 1 Kiel Kraft 6 Kingcat 1.49 ME Heron 0.97 ME Snipe 1.49 Mills 0.75 Quickstart Dart 0.036 Webra 2.46 ED MkIII 2.49 Elfin BB 1.49 Elfin 2.49 There are another fifteen unboxed: knowing the owner I imagine that they are all British engines of similar age to the above. I'd welcome suggestions about the best way to find new homes for these while realising a fair amount of cash (fair is fine) for the heirs. Ebay? Dealers? Exhibitions? Ian