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April 2013
Welcome to any new visitors to our site. Be sure to check out the prior edition of our swap sheet and the Collectos Tab to see news of up-coming swap meets.
It looks like I will be the MECA Bulletin Editor. If you have comments, ideas, or especially material to publish, contact me at ( gwmfox35@comcast.net ).
MECA now has its own bulletin board up and running at forum.modelenginecollectors.org. Log on to it and have a look around. Only MECA members will be able to sell, but anyone can register and post in the different forums, and anyone can view posts.
A new Internet Membership is open to anyone in any country. The member will have all the rights and privileges of a regular member, but will receive NO PAPER SWAP SHEET OR BULLETIN. The Internet membership costs only $20 per year. This is a very good deal for those who use online services. The Bulletin is posted on our web page concurrent with delivery of the mailed version. You can print out the web version if you like to keep a paper copy.
Holger Menrad sent these comments on last month’s long stroke diesel article:
Hi Bill,
I have read with interest your comments to the Diesel engines. May I give to that some remarks:
The long stroke of the Diesel engines, mainly of the first designs, has two more reasons in addition to those which you have already mentioned.
The small bore results in a more compact combustion chamber. The lower surface / volume ratio of the combustion chamber results in lower losses of the compression heat. A comparatively lower surface will absorb less heat. So the higher compression temperature will favour the starting performance.
It is easier to achieve a tight piston/cylinder assembly with a comparatively small bore. Less blow-by of the cylinder charge can be expected. During the production technology in the early times of model diesel engines some producers had problems to achieve a good piston cylinder fitting. A long stroke in combination with a long piston will reduce this tightness problem.
I hope, this really technical explanation will be understandable. If you should have questions, please let me know it. I will try to help.
Greetings from Germany,
Holger Menrad, MECA 2971
Thanks Holger!
In the MECA Bulletin, I ran this article describing Bill Atwood’s “Champion” engines. Several people thought it would be a good story for the web page so here it is!
Bill Atwood’s Champions
Last Bulletin’s cover had a picture of the Atwood Super Champion and I briefly explained it had two entrances for the fuel/air charge. Now I may bore you Old Timers who know exactly how this worked, but indulge me a few paragraphs to show newer MECA friends its secrets.
Engine genius Bill Atwood designed the Champions. The entire story of them was told by Charlie Bruce (Atwood aficionado and owner of the engine he graciously lent to me for these pictures) in ECJ #143 and in MECA Bulletin 101.
You’ll see a long rectangular housing running along the bottom of the engine. This is actually a fuel/air tunnel. Shown below, a hole on the right end is drilled clear through the tunnel and through the crankshaft bearing journal. This hole feeds the front rotary valve port in the crankshaft, just as on a modern engine. A second hole is drilled through the tunnel and through the rear drum valve bearing housing in the rear cover. Two aluminum plugs (.344” dia) close these holes. Finally, clear at the left end is the venturi (“Smokestack”), pressed into a hole onto top of the tunnel casting. You can also see how the tunnel splits at the rear cover.
These pictures show the operation of a rear drum valve. At the right the valve is in position in the crankcase with its drivehole positioned over an extension on the crankpin at the right (the 2nd hole at the left is a balancing hole). The valve actually rotates in the rear cover, driven by the crankpin. At the right you can see the venturi feeding fuel/air into the tunnel, the hole feeding the charge up into the drum valve, and the intake port in the drum valve.
So we have a quite unique and clever arrangement for getting the fuel air charge into the engine. To get the same effect with only the front rotary valve would require a much large crankshaft to allow for a larger bore; quite common now days, but not so in 1940!
There have been many unusual engine configurations, but most haven’t been as successful.
Bill Mohrbacher, MECA President
gwmfox35@comcast.net
Jet Speed Ships
D Speed Ships
George Bryant - K&G
Darrel Peugh - Miss Mandy
Tom Pearson - K&G, MMM Indy, & Railton
Jim Crabb - Kuebler-Ellis
Dave Ferguson - ACDC
Bob Oge - RH-10
Bob Oge - Wanda
Bob Oge - Wanda Chassis
J Phil McDonald - Eagle powered M2
J Phil McDonald - Hot Rod
If you are interested in becoming a member of this exciting organization, download a Membership Application by clicking on the form below and saving the PDF version to your computer. Print it, fill it out, and return it with your dues to John Lorenz at the address on the form. You may also use PayPal for this remittance. Use the Back Button on your browser to return to the Home Page after downloading the form.
A new form with two applications that may be cut apart is now available here.
Post WANT ads, not just For Sale ads
Fifteen (15) day no questions asked return policy on mail deals
Six issues of the Swap Sheet and Bulletin
One free ad per issue
Honest member to member deals guaranteed
Authoritative source of engine history & information
No Ebay and Paypal fees
No government tracking of transactions
Two thirds of our members are not on the web. The access to them is only through MECA membership and they have the Good Stuff!
Assistance to heirs in disposing of MECA members’ collections
Source of missing parts for your engine
Locate repair or restoration services
Full 12 month membership from date of application
This is a listing of providers and the services they offer to the membership. I will update this list as new material comes in. Please notify me of any changes, errors, or omissions so that I can keep this list up to date. Send all adds to: Bill Bickel, 3121 W Cavedale Dr. Phoenix, AZ 85083-8637. DO NOT SEND ADS TO ANY OTHER PERSON. DEADLINE is ONE WEEK PRIOR to SWAP SHEET DEADLINE.
ANTIQUE REPRODUCTION MODEL AIRPLANE ENGINES: Woody's Model Engines 3706 N. 33rd St. Galesburg, MI 49053-9715 Tel/FAX: (269) 665-9693 Website: www.woodysengines.com/ Catalog: $15.00 anywhere is USA. Canada and Mexico $16.00 International $22.00.
REPRODUCTION ANTIQUE IGNITION MODEL ENGINE PARTS: Aero Electric 3706 N. 33rd St. Galesburg, MI 49053-9715 Tel/FAX: (269) 665-9693 E-mail: aeroelectric@charter.net Catalog: $15.00 anywhere is USA. Canada and Mexico $16.00 International $22.00.
ENGINE COLLECTOR'S JOURNAL INDEX: Bill Bickel 3121 W. Cavedale Dr. Phoenix, AZ 85082-8637 Tel: (623) 582-0211 E-mail: wbickel@msn.com
HELICOIL REPAIR of STRIPPED SPARK PLUG HOLES (¼-32 only), REPAIR 0F 4-40 & 6-32 HEAD and BACK COVER HOLES, GENERAL MACHINE WORK: C.F. Lee Mfg. Co. 10112 Woodward Ave. Sunland, CA 91040 Tel: (818) 526-9074
DIE-CUT GASKETS for ATWOOD, WASP, & WEN-MAC .049'S $5.00 / set ppd: Bill Schmidt 4647 Krueger Bel Aire, KS 67220 Tel: (316) 744-0378
EXPERT WELDING of ALUMINUM, MAGNESIUM and IRON, CRANKCASES, SPEED PANS, TIMER ARMS, Etc: ALLWELD/Scott Dinger 1367 Patricia Ave. Simi Valley, CA 93065 Tel: (805) 526-9074 E-mail: hyflo@dslextreme.com
ENGINE RESTORATION, REPAIR and CLEANING SERVICES, NICKEL PLATING, TUMBLE POLISHING: Walter Craig 3664 Smoketown Rd. Glenville, PA 17329 Tel: (717) 229-2840 E-mail: makenewagain@yahoo.com
MECOA's Model Engine Enthusiast Resource Site: Randy Linsalato P.O. Box 98 Sierra Madre, CA 91025 Tel: (800) 359-6972 Website: www.modelengine.org
ANDERSON'S BLUE BOOK: 1500 engine listings 1911-2005 The Collector's Bible with Pricing. Frank Anderson 817 9th Line, Innisfil, Ontario, Canada, L9S 3Y2 Website: www.andersonbluebook.com Tel/FAX: (705) 436-1970
MODEL ENGINE REFERENCE MATERIAL: American Model Engine Encyclopedia - Engine Collectors' Journal Tim Dannels P.O. Box 243, Buena Vista, CA 81211 Website: www.modelenginecollecting.com
DENNYMITES DRONES & MORE: Info on Sky Charger, Dennymite, Walter Righter, Reginald Denny, Dooling Brothers & much more. $60.00 + $6.00 P&H. Jim Dunkin P.O. Box 695, Grain Valley, MO 64029 E-mail: dunkin@discoverynet.com
Society of Antique Modelers (SAM)
National Free Flight Society (NFFS)
Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA)
American Miniature Racing Car Association (AMRCA)
Woody's Model Engines (Woody Bartelt)
Aero Electric (Woody Bartelt)
Doctor Diesel (Eric Clutton)
MECOA (RJL Engines) (Randy Linsalato)
Miniature Engineering Museum
Toute sur le Modelisme - French Controline Club
Moyer Made Chevy V8
The Model Museum and Engine Collectors Journal
These links open sites that may be of interest to MECA Members. They cover a wide range of interests and activities.
Bill Bickel, MECA's Historian, has written a fascinating history of the organization. It features a photo of Bruce Underwood, the driving force behind the founding of MECA, and one of early MECA jewelry. It is a good read and give a feel for what things were like in the early days.
The Miniature Engineering Museum is an intriguing display of miniature and model engines of all types. The article has information about current and projected activities. It also contains links to the Museum and to the Internet Craftsmanship Museum.
All transactions occurring between MECA members are controlled by the By-laws of the organization. This ensures that any exchange is controlled and members may trust that the item they are purchasing or trading for is exactly as advertised. Buyers have 15 days in which to inspect their purchase. If not satisfied, the item may be returned for a full refund. If you would like more information on MECA and how it is governed, you may read the Constitution & By-laws in their entirety.
As a convenience, Appendix A of the Constitution & By-laws, covering engine condition classifications, is presented below. The use of these classifications helps to ensures honest exchanges.
Members may access the MECA Swap Sheet and Bulletin through the Members Only Area.
Your Username is just your last name, spelled exactly as on your membership card, including Sr, Jr, or III. Your membership number, with leading zeros and following letters, but no region, is your Password. For example, Username = smith jr and Password = 0170L. The Username is not case sensitive, so it is not necessary to capitalize the name.
