20210228
Started working on this WW I rotary engine a week ago and have been slowly making progress. A lot of fine filing to remove flashing followed by a lot of patience gluing metal parts together. Most challenging part so far has been truing up the insides of the cylinders so they fit over the pistons and the cylinder heads fit properly. To make it a bit easier to work on I built (cobbled together is a better description) a stand out of popsicle sticks. The engine parts were first mounted on a left-over piece of dowel from another kit; the dowel fit the parts just a bit more snugly than the brass tube that will eventually be cut and glued in.
The forward engine, the portion that rotates and that the prop is attached to, is now assembled except for the lifters; still have to cut & fit those. Once they are completed work on the rear stationary portion of the engine (the gear box, carburetor, magnetos and other accessories) will start. Once I have both parts of the engine assembled I'll start what will be the most challenging part - creating a finished prop out of the laminated wood blank that currently is sitting on the work bench. I expect it will take most of the next 2 weeks to get things finished. Looking forward to what is yet to come.
Started working on this WW I rotary engine a week ago and have been slowly making progress. A lot of fine filing to remove flashing followed by a lot of patience gluing metal parts together. Most challenging part so far has been truing up the insides of the cylinders so they fit over the pistons and the cylinder heads fit properly. To make it a bit easier to work on I built (cobbled together is a better description) a stand out of popsicle sticks. The engine parts were first mounted on a left-over piece of dowel from another kit; the dowel fit the parts just a bit more snugly than the brass tube that will eventually be cut and glued in.
The forward engine, the portion that rotates and that the prop is attached to, is now assembled except for the lifters; still have to cut & fit those. Once they are completed work on the rear stationary portion of the engine (the gear box, carburetor, magnetos and other accessories) will start. Once I have both parts of the engine assembled I'll start what will be the most challenging part - creating a finished prop out of the laminated wood blank that currently is sitting on the work bench. I expect it will take most of the next 2 weeks to get things finished. Looking forward to what is yet to come.