"Buskellised" ED Racer 2.49 diesel

roddie wrote:Nice! That muffler looks good enough to have been original-equipment. Was it a production part made to fit, or completely homemade?

It is an Oliver Tiger muffler and not modified.

ian1954 wrote:

roddie wrote:Nice! That muffler looks good enough to have been original-equipment. Was it a production part made to fit, or completely homemade?

It is an Oliver Tiger muffler and not modified.

Yes.. sorry I missed that. So... knowing that you're living a "bachelor" life-style currently... I'd be surprised if you haven't run the engine since posting.. You could attach a hose to that header... and direct the diesel-exhaust goo and noise down into a prepared pail.. while wearing polarized designer eye-protection...

Ian, why the need for a muffler? Is this due to radial porting? Generally most of the diesels were running are very quiet aside from a few which generally are old school diesels. While I have seen a loss of performance, it seems to make up for it in reliability of starting due to heat retention.

Ian,

A USA collector was selling his NIB collection of model engines and when I saw these I thought of you.

"British and Best."





The ED Super sold for $160.50 USD, the Snipe not so dear at $71.00.  

I opted for a couple of his Enya's with a price of admission considerably less.

Bob

Ken Cook wrote:            Ian, why the need for a muffler? Is this due to radial porting? Generally most of the diesels were running are very quiet aside from a few which generally are old school diesels. While I have seen a loss of performance, it seems to make up for it in reliability of starting due to heat retention.

Generally, with a diesel there is no need for a muffler but try explaining that to local government officials in the late 60s who enforced noise regulations. Diesels are not quiet but the sound doesn't carry as far and as best as I can describe is a growl or a bark rather than a higher pitched whine.

Nevertheless, local government rules meant fitting a silencer whether it was needed or not. All the local flying fields I frequented as a young lad have been lost - the fields are there but IC engines are banned. Most clubs insist on silencers for fear of losing their license.

There was also another reason for fitting a muffler like this one and that was to divert the exhaust away from the engine area and over the wing.

Also - this applies to Oliver Tigers - the Combat Specials were also fitted with the muffler modified as below. There could not be much noise reduction but it had an effect on the engines efficiency flying combat.



Some and this one is a Copeman tuned version has the outlets angled to increase the area



I don't have any of these examples and, following the demise of Tom Ridley (he took over Oliver Tiger engine production and passed away last year), I am not likely to. Oliver Tiger engines have since sky rocketed in price.

The Copeman tuned engine above, well used, went for £192 in July last year and Tom Ridley produced Combat Specials for around
£220 (BNIB) - long waiting list though - the last one auctioned on Fleabay went for £320.

This is now typical for an Olly



The Schneurle Cub was £195 BNIB early last year.

The ED Super Racer with the twin exhaust that Bob posted went for a very reasonable price - it would have been £150 - £170 in the UK but having that one shipped from the USA and the customs duty would have elevated it to $220.

If you note - I say price and not value. As you all know, I collect, build and restore engines. I love the feel, look and enjoy running them - soon I will be in a position to fly with some. I am prepared and have planned for it.

If the "buskellised" ED Racer is a runner then it is a prime candidate for the "Blue Pants" as an example.

But I am now horrified. The hobby we have turned into a sport that relied on having pots of money to compete. Competitive engines for stunt and combat are horrendously expensive. Carbon fibre this and that, ready built models costing thousands ........... maybe it was just me but I no longer saw that as a "hobby".

Then came "Vintage" and a retreat into "Old School". Not cheap (nothing is these days!) but affordable and a level playing filed not based on how much money you can throw at it. Don't misunderstand me - I think the top level flyers are extremely skilled but you need a lot of resources to get up there.

Vintage stunt - Vintage combat - bring it on!

Now there is a dilemma - when the price of what was a common vintage engine sky rockets - the "level playing field" disappears and the chances of new entrants is limited. Then there are collectors like me - I have over twenty Ollies plus several Olly clones that I picked up when no one really wanted them. Well, not sought after. My enjoyment is in looking at the progression and changes in an engine build over the years and being able to handle it close up and personal but they are not out there in the field. Yet!

It is strange what drives the engine market! MVVS 2.5cc engines - glow and diesel, Enya 2.5cc diesels are also commanding ridiculous prices and yet a couple of years ago they were available new! ETA engines have always been through the roof.

I find it odd that engines like the "buskellised" Racer slip though for peanuts. The muffler new was £18.50 and could be transferred to an Olly. The engine is historically rare and represents an era of change in the hobby.

I am rambling agian!