I think my post over on SSW has about run its course; I got some fine input, but would like more on some of the questions I posed, particularly #5 and #6. I had already done searches on both forums, finding pretty much what I already knew or suspected at that point. If there is anyone here who doesn't frequent Leonard's Forum and can comment, I'd like to hear from you too and have reprinted my original post below. I gather that this little engine is a screamer, likes to reverse itself, may not like normally vented tanks, and may be a bit ornery, although P.G.F. Chinn liked it a lot on 30% nitromethane. I'd like to use my Olympic .15 sometime, but would need some back-up parts, like glow heads and reeds, before building anything for it. Here's my post, with questions for you guys who have used the engine. Thanks for whatever you can add to my understanding.
Next to the Dooling .29, the Olympic .15 was the engine that most attracted me in advertisements during my youth. Twenty or so years ago I finally bought one in good condition at a FF show's swap area, and it has languished in a plastic bag ever since. Last night I got to thinking about my back-burner, unconventional, "sort-of" stunt design that I may build (too many of these flit through the aging mind!), and the Olympic also came to mind. Today I got it out and looked it over...3.85 oz, great compression, no play...search yielded pretty much what I already knew. Can any of you help with these questions?
1) What available fuels or mixture proportions are appropriate for this engine?
2) Can these engines adapt to a low-pitch, 2-cycle stunt run?
3) If so, what props would be appropriate?
4) A friend gave me a couple glow heads from Dynamic Models, inc. They don't look like matches for the Olympic, although they are labeled "Cox .15 Head". Were after-market heads made specifically for the Olympic .15, with appropriate combustion chamber shape, compression, etc? I should find something for it - reeds too.
5) Besides starting backward, were/are there any other problems in running these - like plumbing/tanks, etc?
6) With what modern engine sizes would this engine equate in power or torque, or alternatively, what size plane would suit it for flying stunt maneuvers at a reasonable speed?
Thanks for whatever you all remember and can contribute!
SK