One thing I don’t see many folks writing for or about are more engine kits. There must be more folks who love engines and want to see larger scale kits for them. Yeah, the new Williams Bros has reissued two of their big round radials, but unfortunately I have already built both of the two they released. Used to be a number of kits. I don’t care for the big transparent kits with moving parts, just something like those big radials from WB or some of the 1/8 scale car engine kits. Anyone else interested in these, or am I the only engine nut?
Don, I have 2 of the Pocher 1/8 scale Ferrari Testarossa engines. The parts are soft plastic with flash on almost all of them. There isn’t any parts that fit together the way that they are supposed to. I’ve had to do a lot of filling and sanding. The “rubber” parts were all sticky and merged with the plastic parts they were resting against in the box. When I found this, I washed them in soapy water, dried them, and placed them in a folded piece of wax paper. I started rebuilding a Monogram 1/8 '32 Ford that I built many, many years ago. I decided to remove the V-8 that was in the car and replace it with the V-12 to turn it into a street rod. To keep a long story short, check out my WIP in the auto section to see all the trouble I had and am having with that engine. The kit itself is (can’t think of a word to put here safely) so-so. With all the research I did on it, I only found about 5 or 6 pics out of hundreds that were of any real help. But, the build is very challenging to say the least, and I am enjoying it. Don’t know what I’ll do with all the extra parts left over that are not engine parts. I have lots and lots of work to do yet on the engine but I have paused to get the frame and basic parts of the car in good enough shape to see how the engine and all it’s accessories are going to fit.
I’m going to need some critiques, both good and bad, to finish this build as I’m not a mechanic and there are lots and lots of parts and wiring that I am going to have to scratchbuild. Looking at the pics, most of the wiring can’t be followed from beginning to end and not knowing what they are makes it tough.
I’ve seen the Williams engines and was tossing around the idea of getting them. Maybe after I get this project finished I’ll give them a try.
Jim [cptn]
The Williams Bros engines are definitely a step up from Pocher. They aren’t perfect but can be built into a pretty good looking result.
DON , HI :
I have acquired the engines you speak of .I also have about twelve of the H.O. diesel engines CORNERSTONE makes ( Model train stuff in H.O. ) .Then I have built up a 1/24 MERLIN engine for show as well as a 1/25 ALLISON engine . I would like to see , in a familiar scale , some old style marine steam engines and even some of the older inline aircraft engines .The other engines I would like to see are the early STINSON , PIPER , and CESSNA engines as well .
The other thing is the old compound , LOW -PRESSURE steam engines for riverboats . I think you are on to something here . I also have many of the clear engines including a very well done V-8 from LINDBERG from many years and model cars ago . I think it is 1/16 if I remember . It does liook nice though . Although it’s clear and will need some adjustments , I picked up a very large scale V-8 at a flea market .I think it’s the old SCIENTIFIC / PYRO offering . It’s in surprisingly good condition , with some issues that can be corrected . I will build it and paint it with some critical windows to show the workings like an X-RAY version .
It seems to me that WILLIAMS BROS. Did do other engines and I am still looking for them .They were radials , but , more modern . Catchya Later - - -Tanker-builder
Roden released some 1/32 WWI aircraft engine detail kits :
http://www.hobbylinc.com/roden_plastic_model_engine_kits
I have the
AMT 1/25 1969 Allison Powered Thunderland Thunderbird Big Al Dragster (Ltd Production) Kit
Unfortunately missed out on the AMT 1.25 Allison Engine and garage accessory re-release.
I’d like to see larger scale kits.
and…
Tank engines would be nice…
maybe of some modern turbojets[:P]
Gonna hafta look up what an Abrams tank turbine engine looks like[^o)]
Tank engines are rather boring affairs.
Abrams engine, called a “FUP” for Full Up Powerpack (engine+transmission). A good crew and maintenance team can change it in the field in under an hour.
M2A2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle engine, a Detroit Diesel (white smoke reduced) engine similar to those found in buses and trucks.
I took these photos while commanding an Army maintenance school.
Did you scratchbuild the Merlin and Allison, or were they kits, or did you build them from 1:24 kits? I do remember that AMT did offer a 1:25 or 24 Allison in a car customizing accessory kit (a few dragsters used the Allison).
Airfix now offers a paddlewheeler engine, though from the ads it does not look like a compound.
The only modern radials that I remember from the old WB kits were a Wasp Jr. and a Wright Cyclone. I have built the Wasp jr. already and am waiting for the new owners to reissue the Cyclone and it has been a bit of a wait. Sure wish someone would kit the R-2800. That was an awesome engine and used in many aircraft. Those old air-cooled radials are bears to scratchbuild with so many cooling fins on each cylinder and then so many cylinders.
Not to me.
Always interesting viewing technology of any sort.[Y][H]
Thanks for posting those photos.[:D]
I remember AMT did a kit that was nothing but engines. There were 6 in the kit and they were all souped up versions that you were supposed to use in your own car kits. One of them was the Allison Aircraft engine.
Would love it if a kit manufacturer would do a 1/12 or 1/8 scale V-8 that came with all sorts of custome “goodies”! Build it stock, custom, or drag. I have done a 1/87 Shay locomotive engine… when its running its like watching a clocks gears. But man is it small!
I’m with Don on the R-2800. would like to have one of those in 1/8 or even 1/4!
There ARE a few kits of automotive V8s, some with hopup/racing accessories. I think there were Ford, Chev and Mopar in the series. I think those were 1/8, I think there is a larger scale Mopar Hemi.
i scored a 1/6 AMT PROSHOP ‘57 corvette fuel injected 283 small block. looks like a fyun build. i would like to see a big nmodel of a jet engine. all the ones in the museum have all sorts of color wiring and lots of fiddely parts. i think it would look nice say a 2’ finished model.