Giant-scale model cars (and airplanes) powered by small gasoline engines happen to be well-liked with adult racers for fairly a couple of years now. The biggest scale models available through standard RC hobby outlets are one-fifth or one-sixth scale, however the serious racers go quarter-scale. Now the smallest (quarter-scale) blown V8 gasoline engine in commercial production is being turned out by Conley Precision Engines to energy.
A quarter-scale gasoline-powered car is about 1.2 m (four feet) in length, weighs around 50 kg (110 lbs), and can top out at over 160 kph (100 mph). The engines for such big models are usually two-cycle engines not dissimilar in the engines that energy weedwackers and leaf blowers, typically starting at about 33 cc (2.0 cu. in.) displacement, supplying three to four hp at 6-8000 rpm.
Even the bigger engines for quarter scale models are easy and relatively inexpensive. For instance, a 160 cc (10 cu. in.) displacement gasoline motor that offers 17 hp at 9000 rpm while weighing only 4 kg (eight.8 lbs) is accessible for about US$1000. (I did say relatively inexpensive). This really is plenty of power for any quarter-scale wheeled car one may want to race.
Why then is the racing neighborhood reacting with crackling excitement over the Conley Stinger 609, a brand new quarter-scale V8 with supercharging, 100 cc (six.09 cu. in.) displacement, along with a power output of 9.5 horsepower at 10,000 rpm - especially with a list cost more than US$7000? Simply sufficient, other engines do not appear or sound correct.
In the event you are going to spend a substantial portion of a year's salary on a scale model car, expecting to personal a accurate scale model is not unreasonable. For example, the 1969 Dodge Charger Daytona, certainly one of the quintessential Detroit muscle vehicles, was five.75 m (18.9 ft.) long, weighed about 1690 kg (3730 lbs), and had a 7.0 l (426 cu in) hemi V8 that put out 425 hp. Scaling to one-quarter the size would give a model 1.44 m (four.7 ft) in length and weighing about 26 kg (57 lb). The scaled engine would possess a displacement of 109 cc (6.6 cu in) with an output of 6.six horsepower.
To some extent, the changes required to make a scale model appear and carry out inside a properly scaled manner may be accomplished by altering the supplies of which the model is constructed. For example, using strict scaling the loading around the tires around the pavement is considerably smaller sized for the scale model than for the original car. This makes for poorer handling and performance, as the power from the engine will cause the tires to break totally free, wasting power and losing traction in curves. It may be feasible to save the performance and the look of the model, for example, by substituting a rubber for the tires that either has proportionally bigger contact areas (a more compliant material) or perhaps a stickier rubber, or each. Such substitutions might permit a scale model to carry out properly while maintaining its scale look.
But a powered scale model of a car is not just 1 with the correct appearance, or perhaps if properly scale overall performance is created. An excellent deal of the enjoyment of racing will be the sound from the car, and especially of the engine. Nothing else within the globe fairly sounds like a big block V8 turning over, then running up through the power curve. The rumble at low speeds is hypnotic, whilst the unique screaming wail at high rpms adds greatly towards the excitement of the race. In short, serious quarter-scale racers want their models to sound correct, and this largely drives the demand for the Conley 609. It sounds like the genuine thing - only two octaves higher in pitch.
Obviously, a scale-model engine also encounters difficulties associated with simple scaling. A particular issue comes from lubrication - it's extremely difficult to adequately lubricate the cylinder and piston walls to survive running at 10,000 rpm. This problem was eventually solved with the assist of manufacturing engineers from Sunnen Products Co., a leader in precision honing who worked with Conley to create the engine's cylinder liners. It proved essential to deeply hone a cross-hatched pattern within the cylinder liners, and after that to plateau hone the liners to remove any lips and edges protruding in the initial set of patterns. The cylinder liners then had adequate excess oil capacity to adjust towards the movements of the piston, and were smooth enough to considerably reduce the effects of those movements by maintaining closer tolerances between the pistons and the cylinder liners. The production models can be run for long periods at higher rpm with out excessive heating or wear.
The Conley Stinger 609 V-8 has an electric starter along with a centrifugal clutch as standard equipment, and is available with or with out the supercharger. The list cost from the Stinger 609 in its naturally aspirated type is US$5695, even though reduce prices are accessible from some suppliers. The supercharger enables the engine to create about 60 percent more power for an additional cost of US$1700.
Giant-scale model car racing is a high-tech sport which may be approached without having to place a new mortgage around the house. Additionally, it doesn't require "hold harmless" clauses in life insurance policies against accidents during races. The practitioners are an enthusiastic, outgoing lot who truly enjoy their hobby. Much more energy to them.
