Home Shop Anodizing Results

These engines are part of Bert Striegler's extensive collection. From left to right, they are:

DC "Bambi" (0.15cc)
An old Taipan 2.5cc
Zeiss 1.5cc "Jena" side-port.
Webra 2.5 BB

The prop nut on the "Zeiss" (isn't that a beautiful engine?) is original, but I've re-done the head. Talk about luck of the Irish - which I'm not - a perfect match and I never even saw the nut before Bert emailed me the "after" shot. As explained in the anodizing article, the alloy has a major effect on the anodizing, as does the degree of surface polishing before it goes in the bath. The Webra could have benifited from a bit more effort in this direction. And I'd thought all Taipan two-and-a-half's had blue heads, but this one was definitely red.

Now have a look at the knurl on the Webra's drive washer. I've recently learnt this is done with a straight knurl set below centre. Setting it above reverses the effect. Imagine the point at which a single knurl is horizontal and you get the idea. Given normal rotation (ccw viewed from the front), I would think an opposite slant should give better bite into the prop.

Now just a little word about Bert. Apart from being a grand 'ol Texan and a great guy, Bert is world renown for a little all sheet free-flight biplane called the "Ebenezer" that appeared in Aeromodeller in 1958 (and the Roaring 20, and the Pumpkin Seed, and... but you get the picture) To commerate the fortieth anniversary of this model, Aeromodeller re-printed the design and some of the many variations on it (some by Bert, some not) that have appeared over the years. As well as being a noted modeller and engine collector, Bert also builds engines and is part of the original Motor Boys International, but that's another story.