Author Topic: 1946 Popular Mechanics magazine engine (Read 12457 times)

mnay · « **on:** October 02, 2013, 08:38:40 PM »

I am interested in building the engine detailed in Popular Mechanics Magazine 0ct and Nov 1946.
Has anyone out there built one and heard of anyone building one?

You input would be appreciated.

Thanks
Mike

Brian Rupnow · « **Reply #1 on:** October 02, 2013, 09:39:44 PM »

Mnay--That's the year I was born!!! I'm not certain, but many of that type of magazine has been scanned and stored on the internet, and can be found with a little Googling. Do you have the plans already?--Brian

gmac · « **Reply #2 on:** October 02, 2013, 09:45:36 PM »

Mike;
This guy did - knew I recognized the engine from YouTube;

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoxMITaJlDs" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoxMITaJlDs</a>

I couldn't find anything (part 2 of the article) in the November issue - have I missed it somehow?

Cheers Garry

Alan Haisley · « **Reply #3 on:** October 03, 2013, 07:40:02 PM »

Garry,
You did miss it. Starting in Google Books, I was able to find the whole November issue on page two of the search.
Alan

mnay · « **Reply #4 on:** October 03, 2013, 08:16:59 PM »

Garry,
I believe that engine on you tube in your reply is a Coles Power Models
water witch. After doing some research it seems that they are very similar.

Mike

gmac · « **Reply #5 on:** October 03, 2013, 09:56:22 PM »

Yikes - old age!!! I had found the Nov 1946 issue on Google Books, but didn't find part II of the article in it. Second search in the document and I went straight to it. Makes me wonder if I was in the right issue in the first place! Thanks Alan.

Mike - you're right; it seems like in the day people were making variations of engine plans they found in print. The same guy has posted a video of another similar engine, the "Midget", from 1936 Popular Mechanics plans;

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyJVts6CK_s" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyJVts6CK_s</a>

Sorry about the confusion! Good luck with the build.

Cheers Garry

b.lindsey · « **Reply #6 on:** October 04, 2013, 01:36:49 AM »

Nice looking engine(s) in any case. That flywheel/fan looks lethal though and it sure looked like the guy in the video got hisarm close to it!

Bill

Tjark · « **Reply #7 on:** October 04, 2013, 10:23:28 AM »

Mike, is this the early KIWI design?
I must have a copy off the plans for the KIWI engine somewhere.

Tjark.

Brian Rupnow · « **Reply #8 on:** October 05, 2013, 12:25:52 AM »

Bill, I have to agree with you---That fan looks lethal!!! I still have scars on my right hand from when I was a kid. I had an old iron horse washing machine engine that I was going to put on a home made go kart. These little engines had a kick starter on them like a motorcycle, I had the flywheel shroud off, tinkering with the governor. The motor wasn't bolted down to anything yet, and being a fool kid, I wanted to see if it would run better after my adjusting of the governor.---So---I kicked the kick starter, the engine started, and promptly fell over onto the flywheel. The vanes on the flywheel stuck in the sand, and the engine proceeded to spin around like a whirling dervish, right at my feet. Being a fool I promptly reached down to try and pull off the spark plug wire. Now, fifty some odd years later, my grandchildren all ask what made the funny marks all over Grandpa's hand!!!----Brian

b.lindsey · « **Reply #9 on:** October 05, 2013, 03:05:10 PM »

Ouch Brian....age and maturity does have a few benefits, especially safety consciousness!

Bill

mnay · « **Reply #10 on:** October 07, 2013, 08:15:32 PM »

Tjark,
I haven't see the KIWI plans, are they available somewhere?
You said it may be similar to this engine?

Mike

wlb · « **Reply #11 on:** October 07, 2013, 10:03:32 PM »

Brian that is interesting as I am just doing up an Iron Horse dated 1946 and have had to make a cover for the fan as I could not find one in the UK.
Mine is bolted down on the bench and no not use the kick start just use the string when it is on the bench.

Tjark · « **Reply #12 on:** October 07, 2013, 10:15:17 PM »

Mike I will make a surge tomorrow to get the kiwi plans above water so as they say over here.
When I have found them I will let you know about them.
A member off this forum (VCUTAJAR, Vince) has built one last year I think, marvelous work.

gmac · « **Reply #13 on:** October 08, 2013, 12:25:28 AM »

Mike;

The Kiwi plans are here;

http://www.model-engineer.co.uk/sites/7/documents/etw-kiwi-mk2-pt1.pdf

This Kiwi Mk3 version build may interest you;

http://fabrication-moteur.over-blog.com/pages/Kiwi_MKIII_OHV_monocylindre-5963549.html

Cheers Garry

gmac · « **Reply #14 on:** October 08, 2013, 12:33:21 AM »

Oooops .... and part 2 of the plans:

http://www.model-engineer.co.uk/sites/7/documents/etw-kiwi-mk2-pt2.pdf

Garry

Tjark · « **Reply #15 on:** October 08, 2013, 08:18:14 PM »

Garry, those are the plans I mentioned.

Tjark.

mnay · « **Reply #16 on:** October 09, 2013, 08:30:50 PM »

Tjark and Garry,
Thank you for the information and help. These engines are all very similar. I mentioned my interest to a co-worker and he had a casting set and plans for the Coles Water witch which is also very similar.
I was able to purchase the original Popular Mechanics magazines from ebay for about $20 and the plans were more legible than the google books scan.

Mike

mnay · « **Reply #17 on:** October 18, 2013, 08:51:51 PM »

gmac,
Thank you for the link on the KIWI II plans, they were great. That is the next one on my list to build. In the article he mentioned the earlier engine, the original KIWI.
Are those plans available somewhere for the public, or were they just in Model Engineer Magazine? I am just curious to see the original design. Mr Westbury was a brilliant designer
Thanks for your help
Mike

gmac · « **Reply #18 on:** October 18, 2013, 10:12:41 PM »

Mike;
I never went looking for the Kiwi MkI plans so not sure if they exist. However; here is some info and some photo's of one;

http://users.tpg.com.au/pgc123/Home/kiwi.html

http://modelengineeringwebsite.com/ET_WEstbury_engines_sold.html

Quite a number of Westbury's engines are out there as build articles that include drawings. I've found the build details very useful as reference material - even if I'm not particularly interested in that particular design. Google Whippet, Kestrel, Kinglet, Centaur etc - info worth having on hand.

Cheers Garry

Don1966 · « **Reply #19 on:** October 19, 2013, 12:57:20 AM »

Mike, Hemingway has the MK2 drawing and casting separate, and that is the engine Vince built. You will see his engine here http://www.hemingwaykits.com/acatalog/The_Kiwi_Mk2.html

Don

Bearcar1 · « **Reply #20 on:** October 19, 2013, 03:27:15 AM »

Thanks Don, for posting up that link.

Something else to peruse and *wish* about. Sort of like the old Sears and Roebuck catalogs around Xmas time, ya know.

BC1
Jim

ths · « **Reply #21 on:** October 19, 2013, 06:12:00 AM »

Try this link for some info regarding the Kiwi types

http://modelenginenews.org/etw/kiwi/index.html

Cheers, Hugh.

mnay · « **Reply #22 on:** October 23, 2013, 08:18:36 PM »

thanks Hugh
Great photos to reference when I attempt the patterns.

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Author Topic: 1946 Popular Mechanics magazine engine (Read 12457 times)