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From the Editor – July 2024
As usual, I’ve heard from a number of readers in connection with my June edition. One such contact came from Chris Coote, who read last month’s article on the Greenhead Racer and was reminded of his own I also heard from Steve Betney, who also enjoyed reading last month’s E.D. articles. He sent along some fine images of a real rarity – an actual example of the vanishingly-rare spark ignition version of the E.D. Racer. This variant is elusive to the point that a number of people have doubted its existence in reality! However, it turns out that it did exist in the form of a conversion kit for the Racer – complete spark ignition versions While we're speaking of E.D. engines, I heard from my good friend Marcus Tidmarsh of England, a confirmed E.D. enthusiast, that he is currently looking more closely into the timeline of E.D. engine production using the serial numbers and associated variants as his guide. His starting point has been this website, but he has some 30 numbers from his own collection and is also in contact with Brian Cox, who is assisting in the compilation of additional numbers. Marcus is using the address ed@model-engine-world.co.uk for E.D. serial number collection. He would be most grateful if readers would send along serial numbers which they are able to share, along with the associated models and variants. This is a potentially very productive effort on Marcus’s part which could do much to sort out the often-confusing timelines for the various E.D. models. I hope that some of you will be able to contribute! My valued Aussie mate Gordon Beeby sent along yet another update on the Deezil story! I had thought that I was done with the Deezil, but not so as it appears! Gordon upset the apple cart by finding a couple of advertisements for a glow-plug version of the Deezil – something which I’d seen previously but assumed to be an owner conversion. It had never suggested itself to me as an actual commercial offering. Now I’m not so sure………a glow Deezil – now there’s a contradiction in terms! A Glozil?!? Anyway, I’ve added Gordon’s discoveries to the Deezil article – a never-ending story that just won’t lie down!! My very sincere thanks to Gordon!
These are examples of my favourite kind of contact – one which adds to the information published in my articles. I can’t do this alone – help like this is essential if I’m to maintain completeness and authority in my efforts. My good mate Maris Dislers did us all a favour by sending along a link to a fascinating Japanese website maintained by the Okazaki Model Flight Club. Their model engine history pages are presented in both English and Japanese. The major value of these pages is the remarkable range of illustrations of Japanese engines which they present. Anyone having the slightest interest in learning more about such engines will not be wasting their time browsing this site. Many thanks to Maris!
As matter stand, I’ve been able to complete not one but two all-new articles for this month’s edition. The first of these deals with a review of the mega-rare 1.78 cc Pepperell 10 diesel from 1950 New Zealand. This joins Maris Dislers’ previously-published article on the Pepperell “Half-inch” model in expanding my coverage of the Pepperell range. My acquisition of a near pristine example of the Pep 10 was an extremely fortuitous circumstance which enabled me to present an article which I had never expected to be able to write! I hope that you enjoy it!
But wait ……..there’s more! While trolling through my various articles, both published and pending, I happened upon a piece that was submitted
That’s about it for this month! I can’t make any firm promises to get anything out for August, but I will promise to give it a try. Given my medical situation, it seems quite likely that the site will become frozen at some point, at least for a while, but I’ll keep going as long as I can – doing so helps to divert attention away from less positive issues! I’ll keep you all posted on any significant developments. In the meantime, I really appreciate all the expressions of support that I continue to receive from so many of you! Take care, and I’ll see you again soon! Adrian Duncan British Columbia, Canada ___________________________________ Note regarding material to be found on this site - unless specifically otherwise noted, all images and text which appear on this site are my own work, and I hereby assert my right to be recognized as the originator of this material. For the record, this material is made freely available to all upon two firm conditions:
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Greetings to one and all! I’m still here, getting on with life while continuing to undergo treatment for my medical issues. So far, things are continuing to go very well, and I still have every hope of a complete recovery down the road. I’d like to extend my very sincere thanks to all of you who have written in over the past month to wish me well. Means a lot to me ………….
experiments with reed valve induction. Chris tried the concept on both his ETA Elite in FAI team racing and his MK-17 in mini-Goodyear, with considerably improved lappage. I’ve added his experiences to the 
One advantage of being largely house-bound due to my currently-collapsed immune system is that it gives me more time to spend finishing articles for this website. I’ve never worked on one article at a time – I always have at least half-a-dozen pieces on the go and just chip away as time and opportunity offer. The first one to get finished in a given month goes up on the site.
The second all-new article is one which I started over a year ago but which became stalled at the testing stage. It deals with the relatively elusive 
The MEN transfer article goes back to the very beginning of my career as a model engine historian. It deals with the | |