Gerard S.

Hello everyone,

A few years ago I bought an (heavy, 3 kg) old rc nitro boat for only €50, -. I was mainly interested in it because a OPS .60 redhead engine that sat in it. I heard that these are good engines.

I would love to build a fast boat specifically for this engine. But to reduce the risk of failure, I need some solid advice for a good design. Can anyone help me with a proven build plan for a nice hydroplane, cat or outrigger? Or are there basic principles to make one's own design for this type of boats?

Some boats I've seen on YouTube make more noise than speed, while other boats are literally flying! Are speeds up to 50 or 60 mph realistically to achieve?

Thanks in advance,

Gerard

p.s. Who can tell me something about this OPS? For instance: approximate production year, power output, rpm, nitro mixture etc.

advanced builder

They been selling off many .60-.67-.81-.90 nitro engines on E-bay over here. Everyone's been switching over to gas. The cost of Nitro and price of plugs have driven big nitro into extinction. like a dinosaur. Sorry but it's true.
PS That little hull looks like fun.

HendricX

You can forget higher speeds as 50M/80K with a OPS 60/11cc

Buy a wood-kit to your likings at Joe Petro from http://zippkits.com

Make yourself a member on the Dutch http://www.xtremercboats.com

As OPS is a delicate engine .. a complet check-up/overhaul is advised.

Due to the fuelcosts in NL 10% nitro 15% Synth/3% Castor oil and type 6 glowplug will do the trick.

Blackout

Is that engine air cooled?

advanced builder

That metal flywheel looks like a Picco . Good eye Craig. no water to the head. not good usually a water jacket head. The front bearing is the one that goes first.the one under the flywheel. If you have needle bearings in the con rod NOT GOOD . you can't find-em anymore. Finding parts may be a challenge. STILL A GOOD FIND.
Low nitro content is advised like Hendricx said As a rule the smaller the cc the bigger the nitro. A .12 will run 50=65% nitro.

Gerard S.

Thanks for your responses. You tell me this specific info that is not so easy to find on the Internet.

-That nitro is getting expensive and that OPS-part are hard to get by is good to know, I will be carefull. Unfortunately there is nothing to do about this. But thanks for mentioning anyway.

- The engine indeed hasn't got a integrated water-cooled head. There is a cooling coil tube which should be around the head. Does this give sufficient cooling, or is there any additional air cooling needed?

- Although I tried the engine at the time, I understand that it is important to first give an overhaul before it can be taken into full action. This I will certainly do. Does anyone have some more information about production years, rpm and Hp?

- I am also still curious what a beautiful and fast design for this engine. Who has a good idea, outrigger?!

HendricX

I can get you OPS parts by truck loads .. you just have to be able to communicate in German :-)

And I'm sure Alex will have a watercoolinghead for this engine too , or I'll make you one.

An outrigger is NOT a rookie thing .... I think you're better-off with the Zipp-kit Easy-V.

OPS-Germany > [link=http://ops-power.1a-shops.eu]L I N K[/link]

Blackout

I'm going to make the assumption that your ops .60 has the same hp as today's .45's. With that in mind, you could put your engine in a JAE .45.

The cooling coil should be fine. I did it on a .40 airplane engine converted to marine.

I think the Easy Vee would be too big. It's designed for high-torque gas engines.

While riggers are tricky, the JAE is a beginner friendly design, with very few adjustments to be made. Just make sure to build to specs.

Blackout

JAE 45 Rigger Plans...

http://ne-stuff.blogspot.com/2011/01...1-edition.html

advanced builder

Gerard S. Looks like HendricX is steering you in the right direction. We do have this one in England
https://www.mantuamodel.co.uk/Engine...arine_engines/

Raddaddy123

OPS engines are still made today (2022) by Mantua models Italy. Parts for 60 size marine OPS is also available from same source The boat in your picture is the European endurance (1 hour) FSR-60 boat. The head -air cool ribs, was with cooling ring. Trivia info: OPS was a collaboratin of "Officina Picco-Sauter" that ended when Picco made his own engine comany.

Hydro Junkie

Raddaddy123, don't know if you noticed or not but the last post, prior to yours, was almost 11 years ago. Some of the people that posted in this thread haven't posted in some time in any thread on this site.

Raddaddy123

It`s ok. when all big nitro engines disappear ( PICCO-Novarossi-Ugo Rossi, many of the russian: Kalistratov etc.) it is good to know that there is still a choice for CMB, which in true Italian style, changes models almost every year..