Minature Valentines

It is often difficult to judge the size of these engines from a photo.
 
Here they are with the smallest Cox - the Cox .010 ci (0.163 cc)
 

The tiny detail on these engines is amazing. To produce engines as small as this is not only time consuming but beyond most model engineers.
 
The NVA is a an example of the care and precision required.
 
Here are the needles from the engines picture with one taken from the tiny Cox.
 

Are you running any of these engines or are they for display only?

Surfer_kris wrote:Are you running any of these engines or are they for display only?

 
I have not run any of the engines pictured above. They are my "jewels".
 
I have however run one of my "098s" and run and flown a Blitz 0.05. I flew this indoors in the living room before I had a video camera.
 
Why don't I run them you may ask?
 
I love diesel engines and I know my capabilities. I don't run engines for the sake of it but sometimes out of curiosity.
 
All the engines pictured above are "rare" and some "rarer than rare". They will all run on standard model diesel fuel and are easy to start but -----THEY ARE TINY AND DELICATE! -------.
 
It is difficult to appreciate how small one of the is until you have handled one. Mounting them alone is a work of art - mounting screws are tiny. Positioning the engine for access needs care. The NVAs are delicated - you cannot afford to be "ham fisted".
 
To adjust for starting and running - I had to use modified "straws" to keep me away from the propeller. Suitable propellers aren't available "off the shelf" - an "098" will run on a 3x1 but smaller props are difficult to find. I have also used modified "toy" propellers.
 
An electric starter of any description is a big "NO". Flick starting by finger with my fingers and feel is more than difficult. It is easy to flood or overcompress (as with any diesel) these and care has to be taken. They are delicate examples of miniature craftsmanship..
 
To see and here one running defies belief but there is much to to afterwards.
 
Thorough cleaning is the order of the day. You cannot afford to allow castor oil to gum one of these up so that they seize in storage. Dismantling one needs patience, care and for me a magnifying glass!

Here is one compared to my fingers!
 


As you can see - making adjustments with fingers is difficult.

All of them, I turn over regularly to make sure that they are not sticking but I have had no incidents of this

These are all superb example of miniature precision craftsmanship at the very finest level. At this level, nothing else comes close!

Yes, I can understand why you don't run them and I think the last picture says it all...

Those are amazing Ian! I'm sure that with the amount of engines you possess (rare or semi-rare)... that an insurance-rider for them is a no-brainer. But then again; no amount of money can replace something that's irreplaceable.

Ian1954 , Sir if you were not so far away I would come over and let me touch one of those engine  Friend that is one heck of a nice collection   Thank you for sharing!!  Getback

roddie wrote:Those are amazing Ian! I'm sure that with the amount of engines you possess (rare or semi-rare)... that an insurance-rider for them is a no-brainer. But then again; no amount of money can replace something that's irreplaceable.

Hi Roddie,

Here you have raised a topic in itself that relates to many collections.

I used to arrange displays of engines at home but no insurance compay will now take that on! It is also difficult to arrive at a value with them. I am invited by fellow engine collectors to see their engines - I am envious of the chaps with the wall to wall display cases but the majority of us cannot insure displayed collections and so we "tell and show" from boxes and photographs.

I can now only keep £5,000 ($7,500) value in engines at home - these can be diisplayed but at 50% risk - and to be fully insured, they have to be stored securly and out of sight.

All other engines are securely boxed and kept at specialised secure storage facilities. I pack them in small boxes and cycle them as necessary.

I have individual photographs of everything but they were "one off shots". I now "recover" them and take "all round shots". Setting up group shots takes quite a bit of planning but how often can you see comparisons and progressions? It also gives me a chance to check them over.

That said - I have hundreds of engines that I consider of "no value" - waiting to be cleaned and restored - used for spare parts ............but I keep them locked away just in case. Some of them aren't mine but I tend to do repairs in batches depending on what is needed.

That said - my storage isn't perfect! I have spent several weeks now looking for a "Holland Hornet" -it wasn't where it was supposed to be!!!!!

getback wrote:Ian1954 , Sir if you were not so far away I would come over and let me touch one of those engine Friend that is one heck of a nice collection Thank you for sharing!! Getback

Handling any engine is an experience that I would share.

Keep watching - there's more!

ian,thats absolutely incredible,to make those wouldn't the machines have to be hand crafted as well...

Always entertaining.
As collectors go, you're one of my very favorites. Thanks for posting.
Rusty

EDIT: Re-reading my post, that sounds like a back door compliment... not intended as so.

rat9000 wrote:ian,thats absolutely incredible,to make those wouldn't the machines have to be hand crafted as well...

Ronald performs the majority of his crafting skills on a Colchester Triumph 2000 lathe! It is a beast and not what you would expect for producing miniature engines.