Airplanes and Rockets' history & copyright Google search American Modeler Air Trails American Aircraft Modeler Young Men Hobbies Aviation Flying Aces Saturday Evening Post Boys' Life Hobby Distributors Amateur Astronomy Engines & Motors Balsa Densities Silkspan Covering Comics Electronics My Models Model Aircraft Articles Plans Model Boat Articles Plans Model Car Articles Plans Model Train Articles Plans 1941 Crosley 03CB Radio Model helicopter articles & plans Crosswords Model Rocket Articles Plans Restoration Projects Photos Peanuts Collection Model Aircraft Articles Plans Sitemap Homepage Hints and Kinks Amateur Radio Archives of the homepage R/C Modeler Electronics About Airpleans and Rockest, Disclaimer, Terms of Use Model Topics Please Donate to Airplanes and Rockets Parole Plaza, Annapolis, Maryland Hobby Items for Sale Airplanes and Rockets Hero Graphic


Model Aircraft Museum, AMA - Airplanes and Rockets

Academy of Model Aeronautics Government Advocacy Coalition - Airplanes and Rockets

Motor of the Month: Wasp .049 Engine
October 1950 Air Trails Hobbies for Young Men

October 1950 Air Trails
October 1950 Air Trails Cover - Airplanes and Rockets Table of Contents

These pages from vintage modeling magazines like Flying Aces, Air Trails, American Modeler, American Aircraft Modeler, Young Men, Flying Models, Model Airplane News, R/C Modeler, captured the era. All copyrights acknowledged.

sink-me

Motor of the Month: Wasp .049 Engine

Atwood enters the Half-A engine picture with snappy contender; battles for top honors in mini-motor field

A number of radical features have been incorporated in the design of the new Class AA (or "Half-A") Atwood Wasp .049, resulting in good appearance and outstanding performance. Some improvements such as short stroke, long crank-shaft, and cap type cylinder head carrying most of the cooling fins bear a close resemblance to modern European diesel engines.

Engine "whittlers" from the speed circle set will take great delight in sawing off the gas tank and filing away excess glow plug metal to produce the shortest and smallest frontal area currently possible in the mini-motor field. Crankcase diameter and engine height have been reduced by using a short stroke and short connecting rod. High rpm is achieved with a low stroke bore ratio and new 3600 intake and exhaust porting. A circular recess bored in the cylinder acts as an intake port.

Fuel flows from the base through two bypass ducts to an intake distribution manifold. Three large mill-cuts connect this manifold with the intake recess. The cylinder with its many ports, passages, threads and only two cooling fins looks like the firing chamber from a Buck Rogers ray gun. Speed flyers will also like high speed wear resistance added by the steel crankshaft bushing.

Half-A stunt got a small start last year and should soon come to the front when the Wasp gets into capable hands. Here is a new high in steady running. The fuel level test of seven and one-half inches is more than double that of former designs. Atwood undoubtedly will regain its stunt fame set with the old model JH.

Free flight and sport fans should be well satisfied with the Wasp's pulling power. The performance chart shows 11,600 rpm on a wide blade 6/3 propeller. A built-in fuel tank provides a very simple radial type power plant installation. Use a solid firewall for even pressure against the back of the tank to avoid leaks. A thin aluminum plate closes the back of the tank and is sealed with a gasket. Engine run was timed at 1 minute, 50 seconds (11,600 rpm; 6/3 prop). The Wasp has good strength considering its light weight. Inverted landings on the cylinder head should be avoided.

Five minutes of running was sufficient to limber up the test engine. At the end of two hours there was no change, so the performance tests were made. Most Half-A engines run with a sputtering noise but the Wasp had a steady clear explosion at all operating speeds. At 15,000 rpm running was very consistent and the engine was not sensitive to fuel adjustment.

Improved scavenging due to the 360 ° intake port probably accounts for the steady running. Engine output increased 1,000 rpm when miniature fuel blends were used rather than standard varieties. Starting was best with a small prime in the exhaust and little or no prime in intake. Choking flooded the engine and usually caused hard starting. Needle valve should be opened approximately one turn so fuel will pick up after a burst.

Engine Data

Performance. Bare weight with tank: 1".33 oz. Propeller - 6/3 wide blade wood 116000 rpm; 5 1/2/3 wood 12900 rpm; 5 1/2/3 plastic 1400 rpm; 5/3 wood 15000 rpm; 5/6 wood 11600 rpm. Fuel: more speed from miniature blends. Fuel level test: 7 1/2" at 14000 rpm.

Design Data. Displacement: .049 cu. in. Class; Half-A (A/2) free flight; A for control line. Stroke: .358 in. Bore: .421 in. Stroke-bore ratio: .846. Compression ratio head; 6.4. Compression ratio base; 1.66. Port area. intake: .0123 sq. in.; bypass: .0126 sq. in.; exhaust: .0453 sq. in. Ignition: short glow plug.

Construction Features, Bearings: crankshaft, steel bushing; crankpin, aluminum connecting rod ball, aluminum and brass. Inlet and exhaust ports, 360°. Head covers most of cylinder.

A rounded crankcase adds a streamlined appearance to the Wasp. This is accomplished by using a cone-shaped crank disk. Base compression and weight are also improved by this feature.

The only criticism after careful testing concerns the short needle valve control knob. Exhaust gas shoots out in all directions and is very uncomfortable on the fingers. Adjustments can be made by holding a propeller blade against the cylinder to deflect heat away from the fingers, A needle valve extension would be helpful for cowled-in ships and is recommended for general use.

Wasp .049 Parts Illustrated

IMAGE HERE

 

Posted

About Airplanes & Rockets 

Kirt Blattenberger, Webmaster - Airplanes and RocketsKirt Blattenberger

Carpe Diem! (Seize the Day!)

Even during the busiest times of my life I have endeavored to maintain some form of model building activity. This site has been created to help me chronicle my journey through a lifelong involvement in model aviation, which all began in Mayo, MD ...

Copyright  1996 - 2026
All trademarks, copyrights, patents, and other rights of ownership to images and text used on the Airplanes and Rockets website are hereby acknowledged.

Homepage Archives  |  Modeling News Archives

Webmaster:

Kirt Blattenberger

BSEE - KB3UON

Family Websites:

RF Cafe

Equine Kingdom





Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) - Airplanes and Rockets

Academy of Model Aeronautics

Tower Hobbies logo - Airplanes and Rockets

Tower Hobbies

Horizon Hobby logo - Airplanes and Rockets

Horizon Hobby

Sig Manufacturing - Airplanes and Rockets

Sig Mfg

Brodak Manufacturing - Airplanes and Rockets

Brodak Mfg