From the Editor – September 2023

Greetings once more from all-too sunny Coquitlam! Well, September is now upon us, which means that we’re moving at last towards the end of summer. Can’t come too soon for me and my fellow British Columbians – the impact of this summer’s forest fire season has been truly devastating. The elevated temperatures and lower-than-normal rainfall that have accompanied the summer season due to the inexorable advance of climate change have combined to make this the worst summer in history in terms of destruction of property, ecosystems and natural resources. By contrast, folks in some other areas of North America have been getting way more water than they need! And then there’s our friends in Hawaii …………… the destruction on Maui is heartbreaking.

Wherever you live, getting through the summer season is becoming quite an ordeal. However, I suppose we’d better get used to it – the ongoing worldwide refusal of both voters and politicians to accept and address the issue of climate change can only make things worse. This has been the coolest summer of the rest of our lives …………..We can’t blame the politicians, as so many people tend to do – they simply follow policies that they think will get them votes (or not cost them votes) – their thinking is always behind that of the electorate. So as long as we voters collectively refuse to place climate change action at the top of the list of voting criteria, the politicians will continue to pay lip service to the issue. We've heard a great deal about the "unacceptable" cost to the economy of addressing climate change in a meaningful way - now we're seeing the cost to the economy of not addressing it.............

As I’ve said previously, I reckon that all we can do as individuals is carry on as best we can while exercising due caution and responsibility in those areas which remain within our control, which is what I’m doing. It really does help to know that there’s still a healthy worldwide community of individuals having an ongoing interest in model engines - that’s what keeps me going! My statistics reporting system has continued to report very encouraging visitation figures.

Confirmation that a significant number of folks remain engaged with our hobby comes from the fact that the mail box has remained quite active. Despite the many distractions now preying upon us, I heard from quite a few of you during July, including (in no particular order) Peter Valicek, Gordon Beeby, Dave Zwolak, Don Imrie, Alex Phin, Rich Kacmarsky, Luis Petersen, Maris Dislers, David Burke, Dean Clarke, Steve Webb, Peter Rathke, Ingemar Larsson, Tim Dannels, Ken Croft, Martin Dilly, David Morrissey, Franco Colla, Bill Bickel, Roger LaPrelle, Sheldon Jones, Bob Beaumont, Barry Mourant, Chris Ottewell, Kelley Crozier, Ron Hiltz, Wes Pettinger, Dave Kauffman, Larry Davidson and Neill McRae. Apologies to anyone whom I may have inadvertently missed in the crowd, and apologies also to anyone whose message(s) went unanswered - things do slip through the cracks, especially when I’m distracted! The blog site has continued to justify its existence by contributing a small but steady flow of relevant traffic - thanks for that.

Having said the above, I will confess to a slowly growing feeling that I may be catering to a readership which is somewhat less than fully engaged. I’ve had a few engine-related inquiries recently which, while confirming an ongoing interest in the subject, nonetheless imply very clearly that the writers have not read my relevant articles before asking – their questions were fully answered in those articles. Please check the articles before seeking further information – my time is very limited! I write those articles to be read and to inform!!

This has actually led me to wonder if I’m wasting my time by researching and publishing my typically detailed reviews of various model engine models and marques – is anyone actually reading my stuff, and are they seen as authoritative go-to sources of information? If not, I’m definitely wasting my time ……………. I’ve always seen it as highly desirable to preserve comprehensive and authoritative information on these little engines if interest in them is to be maintained, but am I right?  I do sometimes wonder ……………

Enough of my soul-searching – for now, I’ll carry on! I’ll begin this month’s news update with a comment on the previously-announced auction of part of Ukrainian resident Alexandr Matusha’s engine collection. This auction was intended to raise some extra funds to help Alexandr resume his Karkiv-based business making high-quality model engines following the disastrous impact of the ongoing Russian assault on Ukraine.

Alex Phin of Redfin Engines advises that although a number of bids have been received  both by mail and by email, the competition for the engines on offer (and hence the extent to which people are supporting this effort to assist Alexandr) remains somewhat below expectations. To encourage a few last-minute bids being added to the total, Alex has agreed to accept further bids up to September 8^th, after which the bidding will be declared over and the results will be determined.

I’d like to encourage a few more of you to get behind this very worthy initiative by placing your bids. We can’t let Putin derail Alexandr’s efforts to continue providing us with some wonderful products! The list of engines on offer is attached for reference. Email bids for these engines will be accepted at the Redfin Engines email address until September 8^th, 2023 after which the high bidders will be determined and notified. This is a very good cause, so bid high! My own bids are already in ………. I’ll provide a final report on the outcome next month.

While I’m on the subject of Alexandr Matusha, last month I announced the arrival of my example of the much-anticipated Blue Streak 0.6 cc mini-Rivers from Redfin Engines. It’s a truly superb piece of work that does great credit to Alexandr’s skill. I hear from Maris Dislers in Australia that he has already made good progress on testing his example for an upcoming “AeroModeller” review. The Blue Streak is proving itself to be a good ‘un with a considerably better-than-average performance for its displacement. Can’t wait to read the review! Get yours while they last!

Having read last month’s MEN transfer article on the TOP range from early post-WW2 Japan, my good mate Ken Croft of Somerset, England was kind enough to write in to advise that the late very talented model engine constructor John Maddaford actually prepared a set of construction drawings for the TOP 20 model way back in 1999. John apparently made at least one replica engine from these drawings. Ken was able to provide me with very clear scans of the four-sheet set. I’ve added these scans to my “Home Construction” pages, with my very sincere thanks to Ken.

Based upon reader feedback, the new feature which I announced last month, the “Readers’ Recollections” page, seems to have played rather well! Recalling a few very suitable anecdotes submitted previously, well prior to my coming up with this idea, I’ve taken the liberty of adding several such anecdotes received at various times from both Ken Croft and Allan Brown. Definitely entertaining reading which demands our appreciation! I also received an interesting anecdote from my Aussie colleague Gordon Beeby recounting the adventures of his well-travelled and “experienced” Taipan 1.5 cc Series 67 glow-plug engine. Now let’s hear from a few more of you!!  

Turning now to this month’s lead articles, the all-new lead article sees us return to Italy after a long absence to take a long hard look at the Super Tigre G.30 drum valve diesel of the late 1950’s. This engine represented a refreshingly different approach to the challenge of creating a 2.5 cc diesel to take on the all-conquering Oliver Tiger in team racing and free flight events. With its rear drum valve and its individualistic cylinder porting, it certainly maintained the reputation for design originality which had long been a feature of the work of Super Tigre designer Jaures Garofali. The article includes a full test of the engine.

The first of two MEN transfer articles for September deals with the AHC diesel from New York. I previously transferred the companion article about the Deezil, also from New York, so I feel that it’s only fair to give the rival AHC design equal time on this website. Even though the AHC never actually reached the series production stage, its story makes a fascinating read for anyone interested in the development of model engines during the early years. There’s a great deal to be learned from this story! The article includes a full range of tests, some of which may surprise you!

Staying with the topic of American diesels, the other MEN transfer article deals with one of the better diesels originating in America, the Air-O Diesel of 1947. This well-made 0.28 cuin. (4.59 cc) side-port diesel was manufactured by Ray Accord’s Air-O Model Supply Co. of Hawthorne, California. Its story is by no means without interest, besides which it was found to perform at an unexpectedly high level considering its design arrangement.  Definitely one to remember!

For next month, I plan to give myself a break from preparing an all-new article every month. Looking over the articles published over the past year or so, I find that I’ve been somewhat neglecting the little ‘uns! Time to put that right! I’ll do so by presenting an unusual triple-header of MEN transfer articles, all of which will focus on the smaller displacements.

I’ll begin with a review of the under-1 cc engines, both diesel and glow-plug, which were marketed over the years under the FROG banner. The original MEN article on this topic goes way back to December 2010, so it was definitely time for an update. I’ve added some better images and incorporated a few improvements to the text. Well worth another look!

The second article for the month stays with the ½A theme but switches countries. We’ll be heading over to Japan to look at one of the rarer ½A glow-plug engines – the ROC .049. This little unit was produced to a very good standard and performed very well, It was clearly influenced by contemporary American products, but nonetheless represents a very sincere effort by its makers to produce an engine of more than acceptable performance and quality.

Finally, we’ll return to England to take a look at one of the more obscure tiddlers from that country – the Comet 0.4 cc diesel from London. This cute little unit had a production life of only a few months, making it one of the less commonly-encountered small British diesels. Too bad, because it’s a nice little engine that had the potential to serve its owners well. It deserved a better fate …………….

I think that about does it for this edition. All being well, I'll be back to you with another edition on or about October 1^st, 2023. Meanwhile, please accept my best wishes for continuing the process of getting past the current waves of misinformation, delusional myopia and rhetoric to the reality of the unmistakeable challenges facing all of us. Keep yourself well informed from credible sources and trust your own informed opinions rather than the fantasies of others whose focus is entirely on themselves and their own agendas. Ignore them and the misinformation that they spread, make up your own mind based on authoritative current information and act accordingly! It’s your future and that of your kids and grand-kids.………. don’t let others having conflicting self-centred agendas or politically-motivated delusions decide it for you and for them!

Cheers,                                                           

Adrian Duncan 

British Columbia, Canada

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Adrian C. Duncan

British Columbia, Canada