Control Line: Speed
Gene Hempel
BREATHING SPELL. With the contest season almost finished, I finally have some time to gather all my notes together and write this month's column.
The first noteworthy item is a graphite material from Twinn-K, Inc.
Graphite material was developed by aerospace scientists who needed a lightweight material that would supply tremendous strength, withstand intense heat, and hold its shape and dimension. Graphite can be easily bonded to any modeling material, including honeycomb, foam, wood, etc. Unbelievable strength is obtained from common modeling materials when bonded to graphite. Any CA (cyanoacrylate) adhesive can be used.
Graphite Ultra-Ply is now available from Twinn-K, ranging in thickness from .007 in. to .120 in. This material is ideal for building tuned pipes, where weight is an important factor.
Several new .15-size engines for FAI Speed are now on the market.
The latest edition of the Cox Conquest .15 now appears as the K&B Cox .15 engine. It has been redesigned, incorporating a machined rod and piston. The old Conquest piston was formed using powder metallurgy, and the rod was cast aluminum.
Another new engine is the OPS .15. In Europe, this engine is coming on strong. Our test shows it is approximately 500–1,000 rpm lower than the best factory Rossis. However, the OPS has a little more torque than the Rossi. This will allow more prop pitch to be used.
While on the subject of .15-size engines, I received photos of several new .15 diesel engines. One is the new Master 2.5cc diesel by Cipolla of Italy, and the other is a prototype by Walt Perkins. The new Cipolla is an excellent contender for the Nelson diesel. Walt Perkins is still working on his prototype and did not indicate when the engine would be available for sale.
Half-A engine parts. Many modelers have written to find out where one can locate blank Cox .049 cylinders. To make these cylinders available to modelers, I have ordered several dozen of the blank cylinders, plus many other Cox .049 engine parts. I also have the new case with chrome shaft setup. For more information, send a SASE to P&G Metal Shop, c/o Gene Hempel, 301 North Yale Drive, Garland, TX 75042.
Another hot 1/2A item is the piston reset tool from Davis Diesel. This tool is a must to keep that .049/.051 in top running condition. For more information contact Bob Davis at Davis Diesel Development.
The next two Speed columns will cover how to rework a Supertigre X-29 by Nick Sher. This will also cover the metal tank system. (Be sure to renew your membership to AMA or your subscription to Model Aviation!)
Here's wishing all you Speed fliers a Happy Turkey Day and a Merry Christmas!
Products mentioned / Suppliers
- Master 2.5cc Cipolla .15 diesel — Bayou Products, P.O. Box 8628, New Orleans, LA 70182. Phone: 1-800-535-2568
- Graphite Ultra-Ply — Twinn-K Inc., P.O. Box 31228, Indianapolis, IN 46231
- K&B Cox .15 — K&B Manufacturing, 12152 Woodruff Ave., Downey, CA 90241
- Piston Reset Tool — Davis Diesel Development, P.O. Box 141, Milford, CT 06460
- OPS .15 — P&G Metal Products, 301 N. Yale Dr., Garland, TX 75042
Gene Hempel 301 N. Yale Dr., Garland, TX 75042
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
