Pagoda SL Group

Off Topic => Other cars => Topic started by: jpsenft on December 10, 2011, 13:57:42

Title: Amazing engineering feat
Post by: jpsenft on December 10, 2011, 13:57:42

Wonder if I could get one of these installed in my 230SL!

http://www.wimp.com/tiniestengine/

Jim in Maryland
1965 230SL

Title: Re: Amazing engineering feat
Post by: TR on December 10, 2011, 17:34:32

That is excellent.  Thank you for posting Jim.

Title: Re: Amazing engineering feat
Post by: Jonny B on December 10, 2011, 18:39:40

Wow, what a feat of miniature engineering!
A agree, thanks for posting.

Title: Re: Amazing engineering feat
Post by: lurtch on December 11, 2011, 02:05:19

This took 1220 hours of labor EH?   I am sure many of us have spent an equivalent amount of time on our Pagodas!

Title: Re: Amazing engineering feat
Post by: Cees Klumper on December 11, 2011, 08:31:33

When it is shown running, this must be on air pressure rather than fuel. Still an amazing piece of work.

Title: Re: Amazing engineering feat
Post by: IXLR8 on December 11, 2011, 17:07:10

Thanks, Cees--

I watched it three times to see when and how he installed the spark plugs, thinking that maybe it was diesel.

In any case, WOW



the other Joe

Title: Re: Amazing engineering feat
Post by: mdsalemi on December 11, 2011, 18:26:55

Quote from: Cees Klumper on December 11, 2011, 08:31:33

When it is shown running, this must be on air pressure rather than fuel. Still an amazing piece of work.

I agree, it was on air pressure.  Probably an issue with sourcing spark plugs in that size, and associated ignition, oil pump and other things which are hard to scale down, including fuel injection and or carburetors.

Many small engines of this physical size (think r/c model airplanes and the like) are actually powered by 2-stroke engines using a catalyst ignition system.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glow_plug_(model_engine) You heat a platinum glow plug up with a battery, prime the system, and get it running.  Remove the battery, and the engine continues to run.  The fuel is a mix of methanol and nitromethane, and the red-hot platinum is a catalyst for the reaction that turns the ethanol in the fuel to formaldehyde.  Castor oil is mixed in with the fuel, so it is a two stroke w/o any mechanical oiling system.  More: http://www.rc-airplane-world.com/model-airplane-engines.html

Nonetheless, that V12 was an amazing feat of miniature model making and machining!  That small cam shaft is pretty amazing.