Westbury's Wyvern IC Engine Kit

[John Wood]

Hi all

Has anyone built the Edgar Westbury design Wyvern open-crank gas engine from the kit sold by Hemmingway? I am looking for a winter project and this looks just right., in truth I have just bought my first milling machine so am dying to try it out.

I do have the original design details published in ME during May 1963 but could really do with some more modern gen from those who have constructed it in recent times. The actual construction shouldn't, on the face of it, produce too many problems although there is always the unexpected so experienced tips would be useful. What is not often found though is advice on setting up and getting such an engine started in the first instance. Once it fires up you have something to work on in terms of tuning and adjusting. I speak from some experience!!

Any comments most welcome please

John

[deverett]

John

I haven't built Wyvern, but you may be interested to know that a part built Wyvern + various other useful bits to get the engine running recently sold on eBay for £190.

Dave

[John Wood]

Thanks Dave, I'l have a look - could save a few bob

John

[deverett]

Too late John, it's already gone.

If you are looking for scale Hit 'n'Miss casting sets, US eBay is usually more productive than the UK. A place to get names and contacts of model suppliers is

www.antiquengines.com/Davis_Model_Suppliers_List_.htm

Dave

[jasonb]

Yes, there is certainly a lot more to choose from on the other side of the pond, not sure what postage would run to on some of those engines though

I almost did the wyvern but MEB published plans for a freelance Hit & miss just before I ordered from Woking models and I wanted a hit & miss rather than a governed throttle.

There are probably not many people who have built from the Hemmingway castings as they have not been doing them for long. The patterns are likely to be the same that Woking used but they may use a different foundry.

I bookmarked this site with some good pics of a finished Wyvern

Jason

[John Wood]

Thanks very much for the suggestions. I realised the Wyvern on EBAY had gone but it's worth keeping an eye in case another or something else turns up.

Thanks for the site gen Jason, I will go and have a look now. I'll have an ask round whilst at the Bristol show at the weekend but I shall probably end up having a go anyway, the fun is in the building even if it doesn't work in the end.

Cheers, John

[dscott]

I have a set of plans for the R&B engine from Bruce Engineering if you are interested, I have scaled it down to fit on one of my SIMP frames for a bit of fun.
All castings are avalible and it looks quite q lump, there are photos somewhere in this forum of a completed one.

I am fabricating it all out of steel stock with a cast iron cylinder liner.

I will be in Bristol on the Saturday, Lovely Exhibition.

David.

[John Wood]

Thanks David, I will bear that in mind. I am still casting round to see what to build this winter and the Wyvern was one which which looked promising although I shall certainly look at alternatives.

I have a shop to run so Saturdays are out for me but I will be at Thornbury tomorrow (Sunday) - always a source of inspiration, at least until you clap eyes on one of the super IC engines on display! I marvel at the skill of some some folks and wonder just how on earth they produce such beautifull models - and to cap it all they bloomin well work! Ah well, plod on and dream.

All the best, John