PROJECT PICS

[Cruiser]

Nearly completed with a project that was started near 20 yrs ago. It didn't do so well first time around but I didn't have the IH machine to make parts either. Between mill and lathe, I made
cases, 4 PCs
drive hub
timing hub in rear
carb adapters out of micarda
welded and modified cranks
crank union
case bolts
drive bolt
and there are a few small parts to be made to mount the hall sensors into place when they come in next week. Then we will need a prop and mount for a test run ! Johnny, the owner (after I give it to him ! (no charge)) will mount it in a 1/4 semi scale P-51 racer (reno style race) and wants to run a 24x24 prop hoping for close to 200 mph or even more. We are guessing it will put out 16 hp or more. Before when we run it (another life and death) it loaded on take off but quickly unloaded and began to scream to wards the sky, It was radar'd 180 mph but the motor came apart and the plane was damaged on landing. The new plane and this motor will be flying soon, my part is nearly done. If your wondering, I promised him yrs and yrs ago that I would find a way to build this damned motor for him, AND SO I DID ! I'll be glad when it is done tho, I came real close to driving to the river and throwing it in too many times !

[pete from TN]

That is some nice work there, Have you had it running on the bench yet? I would imagine with two chainsaw cylinders it will pretty much scream.... Did you design the cases or did your friend do it? I have seen chevy motors built onto each other but never a chainsaw engine.... I would imagine the carb sync would be a little challenging, I used to have a motorcycle carb sync setup with mercury levels that might work for that but it was trashed accidentally in a move and I sold the last bike I had when my daughter was born. Is this an acrobatic plane or simply a real fast P51 replica because I was wondering how changes in angle would affect the carbeuration of those motors.... Anyways, nice work and nice mill man....peace

[Cruiser]

Pete, This motor is not ready to run yet, anyway not this life ! It should be ready to run in a week or two. The carb setting is really easy, a little unerving, but easy. It is NOT an acrobatic plane at all. The P-51 had a few bad characteristics when going fast and put into an attitude. It is just for hauling balls and turning left ! It will perform more like a pattern plane at speed. The plane is going to be some months away before it is ready to fly, but the motor will be ready ! This thing has been a major head ache to me since I started it, I threw away 6 cases, these cases are not perfect as far as outer cosmetics, but the internals turned out beautyful ! The motor turns over very smoothly and will fire @ 180 deg for a smooth power pulse. I still need to make a couple of small mounts, and a couple of slots in the rear of the case for the hall sensors, but that will be next week after the new sensors come in from CH ignitions. We have the ignition modules, but also ordered some timing advance modules to add in that will eliminate the need for mechanical advancing linked to the throttles. Before the throttles were at a weird angle and it made for a god awful arangement to work both throttles and the advance in unison, This time it will be a piece of cake.
I designed the cases and all the work to the cranks, hubs etc. and did the work here in my shop. I had promised this motor to my very good long time buddy and finally feel that I have made good my promise. I payed for the materials, tooling, etc. and got the eng to this point, and He has been building the plane. It is a joint effort but it is his plane and eng as far as I'm concerned. I didn't keep track of the hours, matr'l, tools, etc. but I would imagine that this motor is worth more than a complete loco fool would pay ! OH NO ! that means I'm a complete loco fool !

[pete from TN]

I used to dream of building my own Air Rifle Field Target Competition rifle from scratch. I have been thru several different milling machines from a toy to a decent machine and it has taken me literally years to get to the point that I felt comfortable building the high pressure internals. The rifle I build is on my build thread and runs off of 3,000 psi and is internally regulated. I built everything but the barrel on it and I am quite proud of it. It took me three different actions to experiment with until I got good enough at it to even attempt to build any sort of serious rifle for competition. If I had any inkling of the amount of hours I have in this rifle I would have to have been a fool to try to build it but the reality is it is mine, I can make another if I so choose and there is not another one like it in the world. I am quite sure that you must feel the same about that motor that you built as I do about this airgun. Somtimes it does not matter how long something takes to do, part of the fun is the journey and what you learn along the way. Just cannot try to make a living with it is all....

The P51 is a beautiful plane and one of my favorites, it just looks aggressive and fast. I also liked the corsairs... The chainsaw motor pair should make that thing go real quick, any idea of the total weight of the aircraft with the engine installed? Again nice work and peace

[Cruiser]

I enjoy shooting my Sheridan 5mm too but it don't work so good any more. It needs new seal. The previous plane was near 40 lbs or so. this one will be close. Comp air rifle ! maybe new project be new action, pump ? I'll believe in this motor when it runs and pulls that plane to its limits ! Other wise I'd have to say I cam real close to throwing it over the bridge many times ! Maybe we could chat some on phone

[pete from TN]

Again I feel your pain on the throwing it over the bridge scenario.... When I built this rifle I had never machined a regulator before and it actually would not work for some time. I was wondering if I had done something wrong and kept checking my measurements and trying different bellville washer configurations until I gave up on it for nearly a year choosing to go in a different direction and try to make the action self regulate. Then I got a 4500 psi tank and hose setup and suddenly pumping the gun up was not an issue anymore so I decided to have at the regulator once more and after about two different bellville washer setups it started to kinda work!! Then I just did one more subtle change and played with the built in adjustments and voila a working regulator. It has since had thousands of shots thru it without failure so I guess I did something right.

If you can get some pics of that plane on here I think most here would be interested. I certainly am,, nothing cooler than building your own plane.... And as I said before I would certainly enjoy talking to someone such as yourself who has done the belt drive modification that no one else has done and made it work. That and of course you are a fellow home shop machinist so I am sure we would have much to talk about.... peace....

[EvanVH]

Thanks for showing the project cruiser. Very nice. I have been to the Reno Air Races a number of times. All I can say is awesome. Good for you staying with it. A promise is a promise . I would love to see this engine test ran and watch that bird fly.

Speaking of flying. The airplane that my brother built for a guy flew yesterday. It is a sonex with a v-tail and a 120 hp flat six. This little guy hauls ass. It only weighs 750 lbs and will cruise at 180 mph. He is very glad to see it go. He is much more into hot rodds than airplanes.


Thanks again Cruiser!

Evan

[Randall]

Looks good biggest motor i have is a g-62 but the 3w 50 is what I have in my 1/5 mustange and its a great combo. Great job going with CH ignitions thiey are a great outfit. I bet this will run great.
Randy

[rangergt]

Nice work Cruiser. I can only imagine the effort that went into that project. It's nice to see some projects guys make with thier machines. Kind of justifies why some of us silly buggers have the need to have an industrial machine in our home shops lol. Please post some pics of the p51 mustang when its complete. That is one mean airplane.