Easy Aero Engine For First Timer

Our 14yr old grandson in Australia got a mini lathe for Christmas . One of his hobbies is R/C aircraft flying and in search of a lathe project, likes the idea of building an IC aero engine. His skill levels on the lathe etc are minimal. Are there plans available for a simply built aero engine that even a raw beginner could have a stab at with a reasonable chance of success.

Mick

Mick,

I'd advise against it for a first model as these little engines are quite demanding on tolerances and fit to even work.

Experienced builders even have trouble.

I'd hate to see him get disillusioned if he built it and it didn't work. Not knowing what else he got with the lathe would it be possible to talk him into making some tooling for it that will help in a later build and gain him some experience ?

Mick,

May I suggest a "variation on the theme" ?

Buy a clapped-out engine and refurbish it.

Rebore; make new Piston and Bearings.

This should involve only modest expenditure, and is a great way to learn.

MichaelG.

.

Edit: There are two useful videos linked from this page 

... enough to show him the basics.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 06/01/2014 10:06:35

I agree with Michael G. A seemingly simple engine built scratch from castings is quite a task.

Even refurbishing an existing engine can be trialling. I bought a Russian made Mills diesel, a copy of the famous 0.75cc produced in the UK many years ago. I was into RC Old Timers before my recent foray into 5" gauge Queensland railway engine. (AC Neilsen A-10)

It had never run for the previous owner due to the piston/liner fit at TDC and other reasons no doubt. Was extremely tight. Well, I bought some diamond lap compound and lapped the piston to bore with a nice "nip" at top dead centre, checked the timing, ports seemed to be exposed at the right time, fuel flow, jets and not even a kick out of the thing....ever. (Fresh fuel and all) Ebayed it as I was thoroughly sick of the sight of it! I'm sure someone smarter than I could have got it going.

If looking to refurbish, acquire an engine that has been a known runner, glow or diesel.

Cheers

Andrew

Fellow Aussie Ron Chernich has a lovely model aircraft engine (making and using) web site so point your grandson at that for some reading.

http://modelenginenews.org/

Ron is poorly at the moment so the site is not likely to be updated however there is over ten years worth of monthly writings and contains many gems.

Derry

Can go far wrong with this but as JS says fit and finish is everything.

Thank you for those comments gents. As you have indicated, overambitious is probably an understatement given where he is at. Perhaps a simple oscillator would be more appropriate. He is already having a bash at making simple tooling. He has signed up for metalworking at school next term so he will be getting some guidance.

Mick

oscillators are usually proposed to the beginner, but I guess it is a poor way to learn engineering, oscillator even poorly fitted will run, simply increase pressure, fun to to watch but useless as regards learning machining skill. As suggested above, refurbishing an engine, making new piston to close tolerance and getting good compression is IMO far more instructive and not that difficult for a teenager already RC flight fan.
Zephyrin

Hi Mick,

One thing I have observed is that with sufficient enthusiasm and determination don't ever write off a model engineer's ambitions.

Richard Gordon (who uses this forum and makes some fine models) had a design for a tiny CI engine published in Model Engineer when he was a teenager - 'Nano'. Very small and simple, but maybe a bit fiddly for a first model, but if a youngster can design and build such an engine (and I think a series of variations on the theme followed)...

Hi Andrew,

Welcome to the forum. I too bought a new glow engine that had the 'tight at TDC' symptoms. I also eased the fit carefully and never had any success with it.

I later discovered that the new 'ABC' engines are designed this way as the top of the cylinder gets hotter and expands more, and there is something of an art to running them in.

We live and learn.

Neil

Jason.....I have had a look through your Firefly build which is an amazing bit of work but I think the degree of skill and kit required will preclude him from building this for the time being. I am sending him the reference so that he can have a look at it and have something to aspire to.

Neil.....thanks for those words of encouragement. He is a very bright kid.....top overall student in his year ("Dux "award in Oz) and a good sportsman so I do not underestimate him. As I mentioned earlier, he is now signed up for engineering/metalwork which will take him out of the pure academic streams. The Oz schools modules seem to be pretty good at accommodating totally different areas of study. I look forward to his progress....just wish I was there with him.

Mick

Mick, have a look at **LINK**

These will whet the whistle. Some great reading.

Not much machining in a wobbler, how about a Stirling engine, good work required to make a good cylinder, and piston, and there is a crankshaft to make, get something like James G. Rizzo's "Stirling Engine Manual", vol 1 is best for a start, they are expensive, try the library. Ian S C

If he is into RC he will know of the RCME magazine. Alex Whittaker designed and severl people have successfully make his " Firefly " 2 stroke glow.

Do a search on their site and you will find out more. I think there was also a thread on here.

Plans are available as are metal kits although as you are in OZ you would probably be better off sourcing the stock material locally.

The design is all from bar stock etc there are NO castings. Its a nice looking thing and as the component count is about 30 there will be some easy bits to start with first.

I bought 2 stock kits and just need the time to no build them, after I strip fettle and re tram the milling machine

Regards Clive

Firefly was covered by ME, if I recall correctly.

Neil

Covered in RCM&E before it was reprinted in ME. drawings are on Alex's web site and error free. Can also be built as a diesel compression engine.

Alex built his with far less facilities than I show in my link above, he could borrow the school mill if you only have a lathe or could be done with a vertical slide on the mill.

J

Edited By JasonB on 07/01/2014 21:44:41

I'd subscribe to the wobbler route, there's no better incentive to get something going the first time. This is a good design that Erik Stroetinga designed as a student project.

**LINK**

I made it on a mini lathe. After failing metalwork at school 45 years before, it was my first attempt at model engineering, only 4 years ago, The rest is history as they say.

An alternative source is the John Tom site. He also has the Elmer plans posted there

**LINK**

Plenty to choose from

I've never made a Stirlling engine but it seems there are plenty of failed attempts adorning shelves around the world.

Pete

I agree Pete.

The John Tom site is has a large number of plans, mostly free, of everything from steam, IC engines and gas turbines/jet engines. Plenty in there to choose from. Also some great tech articles.

Andrew