what does it take to be the owner of a u.s. engine manufacturer? like saito or os how did they become one of the best engines around? it intrigues me about making these awesome engines. I fantasy about owning a engine manufacturing shop. anyone on this rcuniverse own one to date? do you just make engines or other stuff at the same time in order to make money?

Most of the US companies also made other products also. Model engines were just a side line. Fox Manufacturing is a "job shop" for making various metal products. They are in Fort Smith AR. but used to be in the LA area.

Enjoy,

Jim

Ryan;

Maybe you're the man!? What we need is more guys with imagination like yours to set up operations and make some Radials that are lighter and hotter, as well as being strong/durable. Beat the euros and japs at their own game.

Consider making your dream come true for all the other dreamers out there who don't have the ability or ambition.

I suppose you could make a few single cyls as well to support the real engine building.

Ever been to the races in Reno to see the racers engines?

Bill Kohler

I'd love for all my hobby equipment to be made in America!!! Even though I'd could afford fewer products, I'd be willing to pay higher prices for them, because I know it provides greater economic benefits for America. Just like most Americans, I've enjoyed the apparent increase in my standard of living made possible by the influx of inexpensive foreign products. But, I purchase American rather than foreign products when provided a choice. When it's become less expensive to build a factory in a foreign country to manufacture products rather than produce them in your own country, something has gone terribly wrong. Even though we can't match the labor costs in China, surely technology would allow us to compete with at least the products manufactured in Japan. Given the expectation of enough sales to recover the costs of this technology, Fox, K&B or any American engine manufacturer could produce a product line equivalent to OS or Saito.

It takes a special kind of company to compete with the cheap foreign labor market. A company who's owners and investors seek more than simply maximum monetary return on their investment. One where a percentage of the return on investment, will have to be the sense of pride and accomplishment gained by not only by offering a quality product at a fair price, but also through providing employment opportunities that increase economic security for their local communities. It's admittedly an "old fashioned" business concept, but one I think prevails in the remaining small companies that manufacture in America. It's a concept that lies in stark contrast to most current business plans used by large companies. Business plans that place the extraction of every last nano-cent of dividends to investors first, over the long term growth and security of the company. Ahhhhhh----------hhhhhhggggg [sm=drowning.gif] (falls off soap box)

Perhaps, what we need are some folks who are R/C enthusiasts first and investors second, to take up this endeavor. I for one, would be thrilled to be involved.

DT56

This is as we all know a problem all phases of American manufactoring looking at overseas Cummins diesels made in India, Amana
refrigeration products,GE China, of course these companies are staying competitive but at the expense of American jobs and Now in the UK Irvine goes to OS in Japan and even Japan having components made in China. Leica cameras in Singapore.So Us and Europe\doing the same thing. The few remaining engine makers must rely on other products to stay alive and produce our engines
At least in electronics for our planes FMA is here. We develop and the stuff is ' stolen: and made in the Far EAST. Many of are new modlers were not even born when our engines were produced and now ARFs complete no glue needed///// Want to make a million
dollars in RC just invest 5 million//. Sorry guys the days of build it, fix it improve it, are slipping away as we are becoming fewer.
If our clubs would spend a little time*** with some but we needed more Just running that plane in the front yard with the neighborhood kids
helps One of the dads asked about a flight program and I loaned him the setup. beats the computer game crap, they learn something
martin. the "real modelers are in their 50s, 60s, 70s, who will replace us??


Some of the clubs have done a great job at youth demos and education we just need more***

In our realm, you don't have to look very hard to find US made engines. Just call Fox down in Fort Smith Arkansas and you can get 15s on up, control line or RC. The RC engines have very nice throttles now a days. You can still get Cox 1/2As and .01s (I think). You can get incredibly quick turnaround on parts and service from the Fox factory. I've been using Foxes since 1955 and will continue to do so. I hope enough other people do too, to keep their model engine business going.

I use Foxes, mostly converted to Diesel though, I grew up about 40 or so miles south of you in Hookstown. I buy American as much as is possible but it's getting more difficult.

I sure would like to get something started but i have no job and need to get some type of job to help for the new venture it will take lots and lots and lots of time +money will seem like eternity. I have no money to start anything like this yet unless i take a HUGE risk with the loan from a bank. I would need to write out a business plan or something. Im just pondering what to do now to ponder since i have no Job. I was terminated for apperantly no reason from a machine shop and man! the machines like the CNC cost up to 100,000 bucks.

---------------


Unless you own lots of paid for real estate, or possess other assets worth a considerable aount of money, forget about the bank lending you money for such a venture. They are very conservative and do not make unsecured loans, unless you don't really need it. <G>

Work your regular job, learn about engines, buy a used lathe and mill, get your knowledge up to speed. Then, when you have the skills, you can present your ideas to some investors. They are your only hope of quick financing.

When all of the good paying manufacturing jobs have finally left America, who will be able to buy all of the cheap goods that are being produced overseas? Minimum wage workers cannot afford to buy homes, new cars, air conditioners, etc.

Our government needs to begin addressing this issue, before the lower taxes from minimum wage jobs forces them to turn off the telephone service.

well actualy i was just a shop helper and wanted to learn on the machines apearantly i will not.[]

I think your best bet would be a niche market.

Dubb made it happen in the US and Neil Tidey, Laser Engines, in the UK. Both dominate their particular niche market.

Fast is good but faster is better.

Hey guys...I'm from Colombia...and here there is no production of own products like cars...assembled here..but not own products..
I'm only 21 and since I entered in the hobby (10 years ago), it become an obsession to do as much of the airplane as I can...if a bought a prop..I made a prop....sometimes the lack of money makes you learn many things..but with the engines....its a dream that I wish to someday become truth...just to build a engine that barely turns a propeller (I'll be happy if it just do that)...even though I think here is machinery available to do it...no one had tried to do so...But I just want to do it...Now guys that you have all the possibilities there, your right up to do engines as well......I'm going to start reading more about model engine manufacturing...and.........revving up!

There is a great spirit in thinking like this!

As a stand alone venture going into the shark infested waters of cheap, chinese "product" dumped into the market...such a venture would be risky. Any new product would need to define itself as the absolute best at something.

Investors? They need to see numbers and I'm not sure this is the sort of project that could promise "numbers". It's really about the smell of nitro and castor.

If I were going to do it? I would commission an existing manufacturer to build an engine to my spec. Promote the product in every circle I could wiggle into, and make sure it's being talked about. Take fit and finish to the extremes. So what if a .50 sized motor cost $500....there's people out there who will pay for the best. They're not the majority, but if you're not going to be Top of the line....what are you going to be???

Crazy....do some shopping around. Maybe it'll take 5 years, but you need to look coast to coast for the best shops who could do the work. Study the best engines and learn everything there is about them. Read what the masters of years ago learned.

This is America man. ANYTHING is possible here. I say follow through and make it happen!!!!

In the meantime....I wish everybody would go out and buy just ONE American made motor this year. Call Dubb....Call Charles at Fox and tell him you need a .40. You won't be disappointed in either case!!!!

Good God...STOP pumping money into China's economy and pay attention to your own for a change!

'Race

Well said Race, I have both an ABITAR 1.20 and a Conley 1.20, two Fitzpatricks, converted one to Diesel if you can believe that. All four of these engines exude quality but nobody would buy them, except me but I couldn't keep them in business. Fox' are high quality inside. I need to get a Jett. Imagine a Jett Diesel. He makes a couple of thumper engines that would do well as Diesel.

Hi Guys. I live this dream in a way. I own a business that I started in the Automotive industry. We sell fasteners for cars in prepackaged kits. I offer American made parts and fasteners, but have been forced to offer imports along side their American counterparts. Problem is, the American made stuff has the exact same specifications as the foreign fasteners and are 1/3 to 1/2 more in price.

I do get a few die-hards that pay more for the US made stuff stating that they want American Made, but the vast majority don't even care. Our biggest enemy here is apathy. Since 1960 or so, The US population has been trained to keep their heads down, keep status quo, and don't make waves. This is how our Government gets away with deceiving us, mis informing us, playing slight of hand games with our policy and our money! AND NOBODY CARES and nobody sees the harmful end to that thinking, and the largest majority of us have adopted the point of view that if I don't know about it, it cant hurt me.

This type of thinking has put us all to sleep, just as surely as if the government fed us a steady diet of sleeping pills. I have been saying this for years. I have been screaming this at the top of my lungs. WAKE UP AMERICA! But like an alarm clock that is winding down, it just does not jar you awake and if you ignore it long enough it will stop.

I would certainly be willing to invest in an operation like this. But the first think WE as a society has to do is WAKE UP OUR POPULATION TO THE HARM WE ARE DOING TO OURSELVES with apathy, with our high demands in wages benefits, our government policies, and our personal buying habits.

I'll say it again... W A K E U P A M E R I C A.

Sorry for getting on my soap box too, but I'm trying to be your Alarm Clock

Forget it unless you are willing to work for $0.50 and hour.

Maybe we should go to the bank and ask to borrow a million or two and start up an engine manufacturing facility. Yea, now your talking.

It is easy if you can find the right market. The large scale and racing market is still profitable enough to support local mfg. Someday there may be a Nelson clone selling for $99.00 or a DA150 clone for $299.00. I wish K&B produced many sport versions of their modern marine and ducted fan engines while they were still a major player. Well, I guess they did with the 100 just before the end.