Vivell 09 (oz13725)

About this Plan

Vivell 09. Model aero diesel engine.

CAD drawings by Ron Chernich. Article by Tim Dannels.

Quote: "Vivell Precision .09 Diesel by Tim Dannels.

One of the more prominent names in modeling, especially on the West Coast, was Vivell. From 1944 through around 1952, Vivell engines and products were very popular. Strangely, Vivell was not a manufacturer. Earl Vivell was a hobby shop owner, avid modeler and business promoter.

As early as 1943, as WWII was winding down, Earl was looking for a product line he could call his own. Of course he knew most of the manufacturers and engine people in the area. He discovered that the Comet Company in Chicago was going to drop the 35 engine that Jack Keener was making for them. After discussing the situation, Earl got Jack to make some changes to the design and he advertised 'A Few Small Class C Engines Left'. They weren't really left over, but with a few changes to the left over Comet engines, the Vivell line of engines was born.

The Vivell 35 went through numerous design changes and in late 1946 was joined by the Vivell 'Forty Niner', this time a continuation of the Thermite and Little Dynamite designs of Jim Brown, another of the well known West Coast engine men.

Earl Vivell was on a roll. His engine line was expanding and his hobby business was doing very well. He was right in the middle of the post-war modeling boom. A Twin was added and was produced in several models. By 1948 he added a line of small engines under the 'Precision' heading.

This was a series of .09 Diesels, fixed and variable compression, along with .09 glow engines, some with front rotary valve. A small run of .035 glow and diesel engines was added and there was even a little .020 glow engine.

The Twins and the little .09, .035 or .020 engines were also designed and built by Jack Keener. We know that the twin was styled after the Fergusson Condor Twin which was one of Earl's favorite engines. This engine he used in his radio control models because it would carry the weight of the radios of that time period.

The Motor Boys version of the Vivell Precision .09 diesel follows the original very closely. Sand cast case, front housing and tank top, bar stock head with internal contra piston, rear disc rotary and machined tank. An interesting feature is the screwed in front plate which uses left hand threads to keep from coming out as the engine is running. Original engines used an allen head set screw type of compression adjustment, but the plans show either the allen head or a 'tommy bar' adjuster."

For more details, and more photos of built Vivell engines, see http://www.modelenginenews.org/vivell/

Direct submission to Outerzone.

Note this plan (and article) is an extract from the MBI (Motor Boys International) Model Engine Plan Book, 2nd Edition. This was originally published through the MEN site run by Ron Chernich, see http://www.modelenginenews.org/. Also see Mary's page on RCLibrary https://rclibrary.co.uk/title_details.asp?ID=2122 which hosts a copy of the book as submitted from MBI by Ken Croft, in accordance with Ron Chernich's wish that from 2013 onwards the book should be available, freely, to everyone as a PDF download.

Supplementary file notes

Article.

Corrections?

Did we get something wrong with these details about this plan (especially the datafile)? That happens sometimes. You can help us fix it.
Add a correction