1/2 A fuel

[Dave Nyce]

Does anyone still sell and ship custom fuel?  Looking for 2 quarts of 25% nitro, 22% oil (half castor, half synthetic) ?

After moving, I am again working with kids to build & fly CL planes. (Used to work with kids at a foster care center, now working with local kids, schools, organizations).  We use Cox Bee engines.

[Jim Svitko]

The way things are going, you might have no choice but to mix your own, if you can get the necessary components.  So far, I have been lucky.  I can get methanol from an auto performance store, nitro from a local race track supplier, and oil from Summit.

With the ridiculous prices for glow fuel in hobby shops that still have it, I will continue to mix my own and save a bunch.

I have not seen 1/2A fuel in quite some time.  Not much demand for it anymore.  You might find some at Ritch's Brew.

[Dan McEntee]

  Check some of the sources in this thread.   https://stunthanger.com/smf/open-forum/finding-fuel-in-se-michigan/    Brodak sells fuel in quarts also. It's out there, you just have to look a little bit. I would not get too carried away with the nitro content. The original Cox fuel was 15% nitro and 18% total oil, mostly castor. You can find the work orders for making it out on the net. Anything that is 15% nitro and between 18% and 20% total oil with some castor will work well. I've run bees on as little as 5% when I had to.
  Type at you later,
   Dan McEntee

[Dave Rigotti]

Here ya go....Exactly what you ask for....

https://brodak.com/fuel/fuel-qt-15-nitro-11-5-castor-11-5-synthetic-1.html

Does anyone still sell and ship custom fuel?  Looking for 2 quarts of 25% nitro, 22% oil (half castor, half synthetic) ?

After moving, I am again working with kids to build & fly CL planes. (Used to work with kids at a foster care center, now working with local kids, schools, organizations).  We use Cox Bee engines.

[john e. holliday]

As is not for competition and just flying I use same fuel I use in my other engines.

[Colin McRae]

Brodak sells 5/10/15/25 nitro (50/50 oil fuels, but like $16/qt plus shipping.

FHS Supply (RedMax fuel) will blend any fuel mix you want. They have some common fuel mixes on their website, but just call them for a custom mix. I have purchased both 12 & 20 qt cases at around $10/qt delivered to my door. I have not purchased just 2 qts from FHS, probably just more expensive, but still probably cheaper than Brodak.

[Dave Nyce]

Thanks everyone.

I used to mix my fuel, but gave away all my supplies before moving. I will probably start again, but wanted to buy some before then.  Yes, I've been trying to buy it from Brodak, but the sale has not been going through.  Brodak has exactly the same mix that I developed on my own, and it works well.  35% nitro sometimes runs a little faster, but the engine run doesn't last as long. 20% oil is usually ok, but 22% seems better when the engine has good compression.

I don't want to just use any old fuel.  When teaching kids, I like to have good-performing planes that can do loops and have good power.  It's like trying to teach a child to fish while using a fishing rod/reel made for kids.  They don't work well and are not the best way to get them interested.

[Dave Nyce]

Thanks Colin. Do you have contact info for Red Max?  I only saw a chatbot on their website.

[Steve Lotz]

Ritch's Brew will mix what you want.

[Colin McRae]

Thanks Colin. Do you have contact info for Red Max?  I only saw a chatbot on their website.

website: fhsoils.com

email:    fhsoil@aol.com

Phone:   (803) 222-7488  or  (800) 742-8484

I have had the best luck just phoning them. Credit card purchase over the phone. Fuel was at my doorstep in California in about a week or so.

[Colin McRae]

Ritch's Brew will mix what you want.

I have had zero luck w/ Ritche's. I emailed and phoned them multiple times with no response. I guess they don't want my $$. That is fine with me. I just switched to FHS Supply and got great and fast service.

[Trostle]

I recently had satisfactory results for my 1/2A engines from

www.fitzfuels.com

I do not know about custom blends.  What I got was what I think is their standard fuel for 1/2A engines - 24% nitro, 18% Klotz Benol racing castor and 2% Klotz Techniplate Synthetic.  Worth checking out.

Given the price of fuel now, I thought the price was reasonable.  Shipped quickly.

This fuel was successfully used on my twin Cox TD 0.020 twin and my "tri-motor" Norvel powered model.

Keith

[Colin McRae]

I recently had satisfactory results for my 1/2A engines from

www.fitzfuels.com

I do not know about custom blends.  What I got was what I think is their standard fuel for 1/2A engines - 24% nitro, 18% Klotz Benol racing castor and 2% Klotz Techniplate Synthetic.  Worth checking out.

Given the price of fuel now, I thought the price was reasonable.  Shipped quickly.

Keith

I just went to the Fitz website cuz I was curious.

Every fuel they sell is 'Out of Stock'

Not sure what is going on w/ Fitz

[kenneth cook]

         I've noticed Fitz has been out of stock as well. This has happened in the past so I hope this is not permanent. The fuel is excellent to use. I was a die hard Sig Champion user for years until I ordered and waited for a year. I switched to Fitz and was overly impressed.

[Motorman]

my "tri-motor" Norvel powered model.
Keith

Pics please.

[Colin McRae]

         I've noticed Fitz has been out of stock as well. This has happened in the past so I hope this is not permanent. The fuel is excellent to use. I was a die hard Sig Champion user for years until I ordered and waited for a year. I switched to Fitz and was overly impressed.

I ordered some SIG fuel a year ago, it was never delivered, and they have my $$. Never again.

[Trostle]

Pics please.

The so-called trimotor is the German Mistel that is a Ju-88 with a Bf-109 mounted on the top.  This was built for the Tucson 1/2-A multi-engine profile scale contests held some time ago.  Powered by two Norvel .061 engines on the Ju-88 and one Norvel .049 on the Bf 109.  Throttles on all three engines. 
Keith

[Motorman]

That's awesome!

[944_Jim]

"This fuel was successfully used on my twin Cox TD 0.020 twin..."

Keith

Mr. Keith, and this one two!
Your Mistel is awesome. It appears that you built profile fuselages with cheek cowls from wings forward. I like that.
I'm intrigued by a tiny twin. Here is my Brown Novotnik Mosquito is 23" with two Pee-Wees.

[Trostle]

Here is my Hughes XF-11.  Has two TD .020 engines.  Meets the Tucson 1/2A Multi-engine profile scale rules.  Nose is 1" wide.  Engine nacelles are scale 1 1/2" at the engine compartment that meets the profile limit of 1 1/2"wide and then taper in width in scale and also meet the profile requirement of the Tucson rules.  31" span.

Keith

[Dan Berry]

You're in North Carolina. You could make the drive to RedMax in South Carolina.