Smoke Systems

[Warren Leadbeatter]

Hi All,

I'm currently building a Brodak 38 Special designed by Tom Dixon and was wondering does anyone use smoke makers these days?  I saw an article about how to do it, using a pressure feed to an oil tank which goes into the muffler and burns the oil but it didnt say what kind of oil to use??? 

I reckon it would be really good to have a nice smoke stream coming out the back of my 38 Special when I fly it, it should be a real crowd pleaser.

Also, I must say, every Brodak kit I have built (and this one is no exception), has had the best quality balsa wood and materials and all the parts and information to build a really decent aeroplane. I highly recommend their kits to anyone who is considering buying one or building a kit plane. For the record I have bult the following Brodak kits: Baby Clown ARF x 2, Baby Flite Streak x 2, Baby Clown kit x 3, 1/2A Pathfinder, Vector 40
and a Super Clown.

Cheers

[Ralph Wenzel (d)]

Hi Warren,

Google Rules!  Just Google:   +"smoke oil" +"Model airplane"     with all the "+" signs and  quote marks. You'll get enough hits to choke a horse.

[Keith Spriggs]

I think I will install a smoke system on my Flite Streak. Then when I crash I can say it wasn't my fault I took a hit.

Sorry just couldn't resist.

I have a 38 Special to build also and I think a smoke system would really look great on it. I have never had one but I would think that it could be rigged to turn on the smoke with full up or down. Maybe that is the way they are all rigged. I never saw one on a C/L model.

[Bob Reeves]

I looked into a smoke system couple years ago and the big problem was a smoke system uses more smoke oil than the engine uses fuel. Also, among other things you need some sort of pump to get the oil to the muffler, all this adds up to a bunch of weight and complexity. I ended up feeling the negatives outweighed the benefits and gave up on the idea. If someone comes up with something that would work I would be interested..

[john e. holliday]

Run Fox Superfuel which has  29% castor oil.  A little rich on the needle and you have all kinds of smoke.   DOC Holliday

[bill marvel]

Funny you should say that, Doc.  At the 2006 Nats, I was judging an Advanced competitor whose engine was generating lots of exhaust smoke.  You remember those dark rain clouds, off and on all week?  Against the dark clouds, the exhaust smoke sure made judging shape, size and intersections easier.  It happened a lot that week but that one flight was especially dramatic.

regards
bill marvel

[James Lee]

What about using muffler pressure or a high pressure tap off the case opposite the intake, sorta like the Enya from years ago....?
Jim   

[Paul Smith]

What about using muffler pressure or a high pressure tap off the case opposite the intake, sorta like the Enya from years ago....?
Jim   

Muffler pressure is questionable in that the "smoke oil" is being pumped back into the muffler at the same pressure.

Perhaps a bladder or pacifier would be the best tank/pump for the "smoke oil".  I read that RC guys who werer into this sort of thing used brake fluid. 

[Tom Perry]

Muffler pressure is questionable in that the "smoke oil" is being pumped back into the muffler at the same pressure.

Perhaps a bladder or pacifier would be the best tank/pump for the "smoke oil".  I read that RC guys who werer into this sort of thing used brake fluid. 

Be carful of the break fluid and a doped finish.  Better test before putting on a nicely finished model.