Sugdens and Vipers

Since 2012 I have been chipping away at building two Sugden Specials and two Nalon Vipers. All four motors are virtually complete. In fact the Sugdens are ready to run, the Viper just need needle valve assemblies

They are all 2.5c.c. compression ignition model aeroplane engines. The Sugden was presented in Aeromodeller magazine as a build series in the mid 50s. The Nalon Viper was designed and built by Norman Long, also in the 50s, it/they (there was a Mk1 and Mk2 version) were reviewed by both Aeromodeller and Model Aircraft magazines.

Thanks to David for the EN36a material, heat treatment and grinding of the crankshafts for the Sugdens.

I have built both a Mk1 and Mk2 Viper, sadly the bosses camera developed an issue when photographing the Mk2. Maybe later....

cheers

Bill

ps The phots are also in an album, they have been inserted apparently at random in and around the text!!

Edited By Bill Pudney on 25/03/2016 02:12:24

Edited By JasonB on 25/03/2016 07:36:51

Very nice Bill have you had a chance to run any yet? I have also moved the photos about for you.

Nice work on those engines, may I ask where you got the castings for the Sogden special from I have always wanted to build one from when I was at school and that's a while ago.

Oliver

Lovely set of engines, Bill.

Neil

Bill, very nice engines.

Is it the Nalon the engine with an unusual needle valve - a diagonal slit instead of a drilled hole and a flat ended needle which covers up more of the slit as it is screwed in - or is my memory playing tricks with me?

Steve

Thanks for the nice words chaps.

Old School....I got the Sugden castings from a fellow traveller in the UK, I don't know if he still has any or is planning to do any more. I'll try and get in touch with him and if we get the go ahead I'll post his details here.

steve de24.....Yes the Vipers have a "funny" needle valve as you describe. I may make them as shown on the drawing, or make them with an O ring as I did for the second Sugden.

cheers

Bill