Model Engine Builders—Other Companies

Donated by Bob Stein, Lakeside, CA

Atwood & Adams Super Champion .62 cu in

Listed as a Model J, Class C engine, this 2-cycle, 2-port engine featured rotary valves. It has a bore of .94" and stroke of .900 to displace .6245 cubic inches. It is rated at .6 horsepower at 12,500 RPM. It has a compression ratio of 8:1 and weighs 12 oz without coil, condensor or fuel tank. It runs a Champion VR-2 spark plug, 2 of which were included with the donation as were two props. In 1946, the Atwood & Adams Mfg. Co. was located at 732 N. Lake Street in Burbank, CA.

CLICK HERE to read the 4-page instruction sheet for the Atwood Super Champion in PDF format. (1.8 MB)

William E. Atwood (1910-1978) was one of the most prolific and successful engine designers in the 1930's to the 60's. He designed his first engine, a water cooled 30 cc design in 1932. The next year he designed the successful "Baby Cyclone" of which over 20,000 were sold. His Torpedo engine design was sold to and built by John Brodbeck of K&B engines. The Champion and Super Champion were made from 1946 to 1948. In 1948 he designed the Triumph engine line and the next year with Bob Holland produced the Wasp .49 which later became the Atwood .49. In 1960, he joined Cox Manufacturing where he designed the successful Tee Dee and Conquest engines and worked as a consultant up until his retirement in 1975. He was also a noted model flying competitor and is a member of the AMA Hall of Fame.

Photo one shows the Teflon coated version of this engine.

The last photo shows one of the wax bodies used in the lost wax molding process as well as the finished engine.

Built and donated by Ralph Cooney

2012.7.2 and 2012.7.1

Cooney .61 (Rear Port, Cast-in Carburetor)

Ralph Cooney designed a number of experimental engines using the investment casting method. Being able to make molds using EDM, he cast the components using the lost wax method. This particular design was cast in aluminum and featured a rear exhaust port and a built-in carburetor. His intention was to make a production cast aluminum engine that needed no steel cylinder sleeve by using what was a relatively new process in the 1980's to chrome plate aluminum. If the cylinder bore were chromed after boring to size a steel sleeve wouldn't be needed. Unfortunately, the only companies at the time successfully able to chrome plate aluminum were the large aerospace companies, so Ralph tried a Teflon coating to protect the aluminum. The dark grey engine on the left is Teflon coated, which resulted in the darker color. He ended up having to include a sleeve in the case anyway, and only 5 or 6 of these were ever produced. It was powerful and competitive with other engines at the time but never saw mass production.

2012.7.3

2012.7.5

The first photo shows the two mold halves with the cores in place. In the second photo the cores are removed.

Built and donated by Ralph Cooney

Cooney .61 (Rear Port)

Another rear exhaust port design, this one did not include a cast-in carburetor body. The rear exhaust port was angled upward and had a rotary restrictor plate.

Shown also is a set of molds produced to make a wax copy of the engine crankcase from which a ceramic mold would be made. When the molten metal is poured into the ceramic mold surrounding the wax, it melts and flows out and is replaced by the metal. The mold is then broken open to remove the metal part. This is called the "lost wax" process of molding. For each metal piece, a wax piece is made from the aluminum mold and that wax iis then consumed in the final metal casting process. It is slow but yields high quality results for testing a design. It is not intended to make production quantities of parts, and this is the only existing version of this particular engine.

2012.7.4

Built and donated by Ralph Cooney

Cooney .61 (Side Port)

This engine design of Ralph Cooney's incorporates a side exhaust port with a T-shaped bypass and a two-piece crankcase. It was made using the method described above and it is also the only one to be produced.

2012.7.6 2012.7.7

The last photo shows several wax masters. Part of the fins are broken off in the first one. The wax feels like plastic and is hard and easily broken.

Engines and molds donated by Ralph Cooney.

Cooney .61 Mold and Wax Masters

The molds are shown here for the above side port engine. The first photo shows the mold halves with the cores in place in the right half. The second photo shows the molds with the cores removed. The cores must be made in pieces so they can be extracted at various angles from the wax master once it cools. They are what leave the hollow cavities inside the engine. Fits must be near perfect, meaning a whole lot of expert machining work is done before the first part can ever be cast.

Ralph Cooney also produced molds for an engine that was sold by Kraft Systems.

Built and donated by Ralph Cooney.

Cooney .049 Diesel Model Airplane Engine

This engine displaces just over .049 cubic inches or .81 cc. the bore is .335" and the stroke is 0.50".

Ralph is an old friend of Joe Martin's and an exceptional craftsman. The quality of his work has always been an inspiration to Joe throughout his career.

Built and donated by Ralph Cooney

Cooney Bourke Model Airplane Engine

The Bourke engine was developed as a super-efficient, high power per weight engine for automobiles. Although it looks like a conventional opposed twin, the pistons actually move in the same direction left and right rather than in the usual "boxer" fashion of opposed movement. A Scotch Yoke movement in the middle transfers their horizontal movement into circular movement to turn the crankshaft. Despite his skill in making model airplane engines, Ralph Cooney was not successful in getting this engine to actually run at this small size, although prototypes at full size have been run.

Donated by Joe Martin

DEW .51

This glow plug engine was built by the DEW Corporation in Kimball, NE, in the early 1960's. DEW stood for the initials of the owner, Dale E. Wood. According to Tim Dannels at the Model Engine Collector's Journal, the DEW engine was "not a totally successful venture although they were decent engines. By 1965 the engine was bought out by a Ray Kesteloot in California and re-marketed under the Kustom name. On these the word "DEW" was ground off of the bypass and replaced with a sticker. There was also a .61 R/C version as well as a .51 Stunt."

This example came in the original box with instruction sheet and a receipt from 1962 showing the engine going to "D.C. Spring" in N. Hollywood, CA at no charge. The price on the box says "25.95." The engine is frozen up from lack of use, but it is complete.

Donated by Daniel Gomez

2016.43.1

DH Motores .40 RC-UC

This glow plug engine was manufactured by Metalurgica Miguel Devoto e Hijos S.A.I.C. in Buenos Aires, Argentina. It is new in the original wooden box, as the owner, Daniel Gomez states that he purchased it new but never ran it. The "RC-UC" designation means it was designed to be used in both U-control and Radio Control applications. The throttle lever can be operated by a servo. That would probably date it from the late 1960's or early 1970's. The serial number, L-119-4N is hand scribed on the right side of the crankcase motor mount. The letters DH and number 40 are cast into the left side of the cylinder case. It is packaged in the original finger-jointed wooden box with a red label that says "DHmotores .40". Two copies of the original Spanish language instructions were included.

The fact sheet on the engine claims 1.1 HP at an 11:1 compression ratio running on a 75/25 or 80/20 gas/oil mixture. For competition 5-10% Nitro Methane was added. the RPM range was 2800 to 12,500 RPM.

Donated by William R. Metzger

(From the collection of Richard J. Hall)

Dooling .61 (1948, S/N 2280)

Possibly the most famous and successful of all model race car manufacturers, the Dooling brothers not only mass-produced seven different race cars of their own design, but also developed and marketed one of the finest high-performance miniature racing engines: the Dooling .61.The Dooling Brothers (Russell, Harris and Tom) produced a line of tether cars and engines in the 1940's. The die cast racing engine was a rear disk rotary valve. The 1948 version of the engine had seven cylinder fins and one fin on the head as shown in this example, while the 1947 version had ten cylinder fins. This engine is missing the ignition points. Shown is an aircraft version but they were more widely used in tether cars. Also shown are five tiny vintage spark plugs made by Champion Spark Plugs for model engines. Champion no longer makes plugs this small, but a company called Rimfire Spark Plugs does make small plugs for this type of engine.

Contributed by Joshua Vest, Vista, CA

Fitzpatrick 61 ABC

This 2-stroke, glow ignition, Schnuerle scavenged, ball bear engine was designed by the Fitzpatrick Brothers, Charlie and Mike of Chula Vista, CA. This engine was always noted as being one of the finest looking around. The first 100 or so castings for the original .60 were made in North Hollywood, but the bad business climate in California eventually drove production of the .61 to a company in Canada in the 1990's. The engine features high quality investment castings, CNC machined parts and real chrome (not nickel) plated finishes and fasteners. It was designed with twin ball bearings with a larger front bearing to prevent started damage. The specially grooved head was said to operate cooler than most engines. Other features included the serviceability of the carburetor and the way the very attractive muffler was attached to the engine. The bar stock connecting rods were bushed at each end and the crankshaft dynamically balanced. It turned up to 20,000 RPM.

Specifications

Bore: .941", Stroke: .876"

Displacement: .609 cu. in. (9.987 cc)

Compression ratio: 9.85:1

Weight: 25.2 oz. (with muffler)

CLICK HERE to read an article by Clarence Lee on the engine.

Donated by Mel Scott, Vista, CA

Gilbert Thunderhead .07

This .074 cubic inch engine was distributed by Polk's Model Craft Hobbies, Jersey City, NJ. This is one of two differently sized engines built by Gilbert and sold in kit form. The other size was a .11 cubic inch version. Gilbert, of American Flyer® trains, Erector® Set and Chemistry Set fame apparently tried their hand at nearly every aspect of popular youth hobbies in the 1950's and 1960's, and flying was no exception. The instructions show an exploded view and cover the assembly and running of the engine. The glow plug engine turned a 4" (diameter) by 3" (pitch) prop while the .11 version turned a 7" x 4" prop. At the conclusion of the instructions they read, "With each successive run the engine should sound much smoother, and a smooth hum will replace the sharp bark which you heard on the first starting."

CLICK HERE to see pages 1 and 4 of the instructions.

CLICK HERE to see pages 2 and 3 of the instructions.

Donated by Jerry Nelson

G-Mark .30 Five-Cylinder Radial

Made in Japan

Donated by Tony Cina

Hi Johnson .35

Made by Dynamic Models, Inc., Anaheim, CA. A glow ignition single cylinder engine that first appeared in ads in 1955. This version with no paint on case and no black oxide finish on the cylinder fins appears to be from June, 1956. It has a needle body that threads into the venturi, die cast connecting rod and square port in the shaft. 6-bolt head.

Bore: .770, Stroke: .750, Displacement is .349 cu. in.

Donated by Tony Cina

Hornet .60 "R"

Single Cylinder engine made by Victory Tool & Die in Fresno, CA in 1945. Serial No. V6460. This is the 60-A version with the extra long shaft for an aircraft propeller. There was also a B version with flywheel for boats and a C version with a race car type flywheel.

Bore: .940, Stroke: .875, Displacement: .607 cu. in.

1/4-32 spark plug thread

HP Silver Star .40 Cutaway (Black head, front intake)

Gold Cup HP .40 Cutaway (Gold head, front intake, black thermex coating)

HP.40F SPECIFICATIONS
Engine Weight: 9.4 oz
Muffler Weight: 3.6 oz
Power: 1.2hp @15,000rpm
Practical RPM's:2200-14,000
Prop Size: 10x6 --11x5

HP .61 Silver Star Cutaway

Older HP .61 Cutaway

Donated by Jerry Nelson

HP (Hirtenberger Patronen) Gold Cup and Silver Star .40 and .61 Cutaway engines

Located in the town of Hirtenberg south of Vienna, Austria, HP's primary business as an ammunition factory dates back to 1860. The word Patrone in their name means cartridge. Initially, HP produced hand made hunting cartridges but steadily expanded to manufacture a full range of ammunition. At its peak, during the Austro-Hungarian monarchy, the factory employed over 4000 workers. By 1937, one million cartridges per day were being manufactured to supply the axis powers. However, following World War II and the postwar occupation period, the factory was left an empty ruin until 1955. Production recommenced during 1957 under the guidance of the former president, Fritz Mandl.

With his interest, the model engine department was started in the early 1960's to develop a twin cylinder military drone engine. Then development of a .15 and .61 engine for the consumer market followed. Only the .61 went into full production. The first model of the .61 had a bell type rear rotary valve and Schnuerle porting design, both were unheard features of in the 1960's. Soon the .61 evolved into a front intake version which proved to be more suitable for conventional model airplanes. With the success of the .61, the HP .40 soon followed and gained a wide following which its descendant today still carries.

In the early 1980's the Austrian government took ownership of the munitions factory. During this time development began on a series of 4 stroke engines with a unique rotary valve design. These proved to be the quietest and most fuel efficient engines ever produced.

During the late 1980's the engine production was neglected as it was such a small portion of HP's business.

In 1990, after years of negotiation, RJL was able to purchase the model engine department from Hirtenberger and move the engine production to Southern California.

These cutaway models show the engine's internals. They are among some of last engines to be made in Austria before production was moved to the USA in 1990.

FEATURES OF HP 40 Engines: Forged and bushed con rod • Ringed ABC • Schnuerle ported • Double ball bearings • Weights only 9.5 oz. • Extremely high power to weight ratio • Same external size as most .25's

(History and stats from Model Engine Company of America™ web site at www.mecoa.com, who now supply HP engines.)

Donated by Robert Meltzer, Irvine, CA

MVVS .15 (2.5 cc) Diesel

This small Diesel was made in Czechoslovakia probably in the 1960's and the brand has remained popular for those flying RC models in the "vintage" categories. Though not technically a "vintage" engine, it has the look of an earlier era.

Donated by Richard T. Mack, Fallbrook, CA

Novoexport .027 cc CO₂ Engine

This engine is new in the package with all Russian writing. It was donated by Richard Mack, who purchased it during what he called "The Cold War Era." The crankcase is black plastic with a brass cylinder head. The engine package includes a black plastic charging cylinder to transfer CO₂ from a larger cartridge to the smaller aluminum one that gives the .027 cc engine about 15 seconds of running time. An English translation of the instruction booklet was provided by a friend.

If you read Russian, more on this engine can be found at http://modelism.net/cox_motor.php.

Donated by Richard T. Mack, Fallbrook, CA

Novoexport 2.5KP 2-cycle Engine

This 2-cycle, 1-cylinder engine was also donated by Mr. Mack, who purchased it new during "The Cold War Era." Like the CO₂ engine above it is still new in the molded styrofoam box and complete with instructions (in Russian) and spare parts. A very long aluminum tuned exhaust pipe is also included. It was distributed by Novoexport in Moscow, USSR. We presume by the name that it displaces 2.5 cc. Also included is a handsome pointed aluminum spinner for a 2-bladed propeller. A translation of the instructions is underway.

Donated by Jerry Nelson

Technopower II Seven-Cylinder Radial

Made in USA

From the Technopower web site:

The TechnoPower radial engine, originally based on the Armstrong-Siddeley Genet engine of the 1930's era, took over 5 years of design and development work, with continuing detail refinement. The result is a unique, aesthetic, practical, scale, flying engine of considerable engineering interest. These engines are fully functional, multicylinder, 4 stroke, O.H.V., glow ignition engines, each containing over 300 hand assembled parts. Each engine is assembled, checked and test run before leaving the factory in Santa Ana, CA.

STANDARD ENGINE SPECIFICATIONS

	Overhead valve, 4 cycle, glow ignition engines of 7 or 9 cylinders.
	1.35 to 4.0 cu. in. displacement
	Normal RPM range of 1200 - 8000
	Heavy Duty Crankshaft supported by dual Ball Bearings
	Billet Aluminum Master and Articulated Rods
	Billet Aluminum Pistons with Ductile Iron Rings
	Hardened Steel Cams and Cam Followers
	Hard Chromed and Ground Cylinder Bores
	Stainless Steel Valves, Heat Treated, Ground and Lap Seated
	Bronze Valve Guides and Cam Follower Bushings

Donated by Joe Martin

Webra Speed .91RC engine

This glow plug engine has had very limited use, if any. It came to us in the original box with the instruction sheets and tools. It was made in Germany by Webra Modellbau GMBH. The P5 version of this engine is still in production.

Donated by Joe Martin

Mystery Engine

The crankcase of this engine appears to be custom machined from billet stock. The head may be from an existing engine. The exhaust manifold provided with it would require an adapter for it to fit to the exhaust port, but none was present. We have no history on it at all. If anyone recognizes the engine, please contact us.

Donated by Tony Cina

Tatone "Chicken Stick"

Anyone who ever tried to prop start a model airplane engine using your fingers eventually had one kick back or start unexpectedly before you could get your finger out of the way. The Tatone Chicken Stick was produced in San Francisco to save hobbyists' fingers. Its use is intuitive, but the fact that the product exists shows the need for it was pretty well recognized.

The Joe Bridi Engine Collection

Donated by Joe Bridi, July, 2012

Joe Bridi is a long-time champion R/C aircraft flyer. At one time he had a collection of over 600 model engines. Many have since been sold, but he has donated some unusual and prototype engines that he flew in competition over the years.

The museum also now displays some of Joe's R/C aircraft, featuring examples of some of his most popular kits. Most were his trade show display models. Our thanks to Joe Bridi for his contribution.

"Circus Circus" Plane

Joe created this R/C aircraft that features an airbrushed painting of the Circus Circus Hotel/Casino on the wing. For years it hung in the lobby of the Circus Circus in Las Vegas and is autographed by some of the best R/C flyers in the world. Bill Bennett, the owner of the Circus Circus was a promoter of R/C competition as well as a flyer himself and held several contests in Las Vegas at a field that he had built. This pattern flyer model was one of Joe Bridi's designs called the "Dirty Birdy." It features the autographs of all the participants in the 1976 world championships for R/C flying held in Las Vegas.

(Note: This model is now back on permanent display in the Carlsbad museum.)

2015.41.1

2012.19.12

77 Products/Merco .61

This engine was made in the U.S. by 77 Products using a British Merco 61 crankcase and innards. The polished head is the main difference from the standard engine, plus the lovely blue paintwork and spark ignition conversion, which looks to be the same as the Otto Bernhardt conversions. It has a Perry Carburetor and NGK spark plug.

(Description provided by Peter Scott)

2012.19.3

Twin Webra .61, gear driven

Two counter-rotating Webra .61 engines drive a common propeller shaft through a geartrain. It has glow plug ignition.

2012.19.4

Three K&B .60 Prototypes

These three engines are prototype variants of the K&B .60 engine that were tested and used by Joe Bridi in Competition Pattern flying.

2012.19.5

Quadra .50 Single-Cylinder with 3:1 Belt Drive

This engine built by Indycar machinist known as "Cally" has a custom made 3:1 belt gearing system. It is marked "Gilardoni " in the cylinder casting.

2012.19.6

K&B "Twist Head" .60

A glow ignition engine from about 10 years ago that features a "Combo" pipe.

2012.19.7

RCV .60

Made in England, glow ignition. This 4-stroke engine put out 0.9 HP on 10% nitro and offered a 2:1 gear reduction so it could run a more scale size prop in 2, 3 or 4-blade configuration.

2012.19.8

K&B .48

Glow ignition with remote needle valve, square head. This one is #138 of 4800 built.

2012.19.9

Deezil .049

Small Diesel engine on cast metal base. Made in Eastern Europe.

2012.19.10

Ohlsson & Rice .60

Spark ignition with "Slow/Fast" ignition lever. Built about 1939-1940.

2012.19.11

YS .90 4-cycle Engine

Probably made for a model boat with long drive shaft. Made in Japan.

2012.23.1

Four K&B 7.5 Prototypes

These engines were used on a 4-engine model bomber. Two turn clockwise and the other two turn counter-clockwise.

2012.23.2

Cox Tee Dee .09

This is the smallest of the cox "Tee Dee" engine series. It turns up to 30,000 RPM with a 3 x 1.25 prop. The TD engine line is based on the design ideas of Bill Atwood and appeared in 1961.

The engine was produced starting in 1960 until 1978 with gold anodized crankcase and propeller driver and red plastic parts. Production was sporadic, depending on sales.

Andy Moore Engine Collection

2012.29.1

"Sea Fury" Outboard Motor—This tiny outboard has about an .049 size cylinder. Like the real engines of this vintage, it was pull started with a cord around the exposed flywheel on top of the motor. It drives a brass two-bladed propeller.

All four of these engines are in original condition. The dust has been cleaned off, but they have not been polished. Compression is good on all four.

2012.29.2

Thimble Drome Tether Car Engine and Drive—This unit includes a gear-driven axle and a fuel tank attached to the engine. It would have been used to power a non-steering tether car. Even the rubber tires are in pretty good shape considering the age.

2012.29.3

Cox .049 Engine with Pull Start and Clutch—A retractible starte cord makes starting this engine easier (and safer) than turning the prop on an airplane engine. The centrifugal clutch indicates it was designed to be used on a model car or boat.

2012.29.4

Thimble Drome .049—An early Cox design, the "Space Bug" (control line) or "Thermal Hopper" (free flight) versions were good performers. This reed valve engine features a rear carburetor fed from a remote fuel tank rather than one attached to the engine. It is displayed with a cut-down 4-bladed propeller.

Daniel "Buzz" Brunkow Engine Collection

Daniel "Buzz" Brunkow has a large engine collection and is also a builder of engines and fine wooden models. The following unusual pieces from his collection are currently on display at the Craftsmanship Museum in Carlsbad, CA. See also Daniel's model wooden Cushman scooter and Chris-Craft Cobra on the DISPLAYS page.

2013.48.1

Fuji .061 Model Outboard Boat Engine

This single-cylinder engine is considered to be among the rarest of the outboard gas engines made by Fuji.