Running some 1.5cc diesels.
 

Blowing a gale today at the club, but there was quite a bit of activity down the bush near the toilet, on the engine running stand. The control line group is rather unusual in that of the dozen or so regulars, we all run diesels, mostly every week. Member Bob F brought along his newly refurbished ED Hawk 1.5cc plain bearing diesel. Apparently these were made by Webra in Western Germany in about 1963 after the original ED factory burnt down. Very nice little engine. Bob has fitted a modified piston from another engine he had in his scrap tin, and made a new rod.

Next Bob's Taipan (red head) "bubble pack" PB diesel made in 1958. This was bought NIB last week. A similar engine was my first, bought after intensive saving, in early 1959. This example started right up with a few flicks for it's first run in 60 years. https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcu...aa619aaae0.jpg

ED Hawk circa 1963 made in Germany by Webra
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcu...0d6b2e907d.jpg

Fabulous little engine
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcu...e71b41b8be.jpg

"Bubblepack" Taipan 1.5cc PB diesel. First run, ever. Circa 1958.
https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.rcu...2935e785e5.jpg

Second run :-)

Some reading:

The ED Story

And some more:

Taipan "Bubble Pack" 1.5 Restoration

A local club has been given a gift of about 100 NIB engines from the classic era. They're selling them off with the money going into their club coffers to fund a new shed. I got a Doonside Mills

The Hawk was a very potent engine for its time-with a performance comparable to the (much more expensive) ED Super Fury and at a price of 65/- undercut the PAW 149 (with which it was comparable power-wise) price-wise by a good 20/- -the PGF Chinn engine test in the Dec 1963 'Model Aircraft' was very complimentary....and somewhat surprisingly-outperforms Webra's own 1.5 diesel Record of the same era by a handsome margin. Who exactly should take credit for the design-Webra or ED-has never been made clear-at least in the English language modelling media. Personally I am inclined towards Webra-as the design has a lot of Webra styling-and nothing of ED styling in it...

ChrisM
'ffkiwi'

Yes, it's a bit of a strange one. It does share some resemblance with some small German diesels from the other side of the "Iron Curtain". Although 1963 was the height of the cold war maybe there was some contact after all?

On the topic of 1.49 engines, has anyone received an Elfin repro that was fitted like an ABC engine? I have one that took lots of patience to get running. I think the rod has paid dearly for it.

Yes this is typical of the Russian made Elfin 149 replicas-too much cylinder taper. Several of the more reputable vendors that sold them had the liners honed to reduce this problem; most suppliers did not. The two Australian made 149 replicas-the Burford and Doonside ones-did not suffer from this problem.

ChrisM
'ffkiwi'

Hello Chris, Do you know of a source for Con rods for the Elfin?
Jim West

In short- no...I've never ever seen spares of any kind offered for the Russian Elfins-the only way would be cannabilisation...which is rather counterproductive. but someone could make you a rod...

ChrisM
'ffkiwi'

It's not too difficult to make a conrod for a sports diesel at home yourself. Grade 2024 or 7075 T3 or T6 Aluminium alloy scrap of sufficient thickness isn't too difficult to find. It's easily cut with a hacksaw, shaped with small files, and the holes can be drilled on a drill press.

I will make one out of 7075 T6 rod stock.

A 1958 E.D. Fury 1.49 c.c. One you don't see that often. Most slumber in collections.