AAUTOFAB1
Bronze Member
SOME PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE MACHINISTS ...
AND SOME REALLY ARE!
V-8 and V-12 Engines in Miniature!
For all you out there who like big, honking V-8's and screaming V-12 engines, check out these
tiny versions that you could run on your workbench or kitchen table. These models were built
by craftsmen the same way the big ones are made by machining billet stock and castings,
but in miniature.
These are not just models that look like engines, they are real running engines. Some of these photos
were taken from the Joe Martin Foundation Craftsmanship Museum but many more images can be
found elsewhere on the web, and engines like these can be seen in person at model engineering shows
around the country.
Here are some really nice examples:
The late Lee Root built this ¼ scale Corvette engine The major components were machined
entirely from solid billet aluminum that has been bead blasted to look like castings, and it will
turn 18,000 RPM! The coin you see in some of the photos for size reference is a US Quarter.
The valve covers are just 4-1/2" long, and the miniature spark plugs are commercially available.
This 1/3 scale billet machined, supercharged Chrysler 300 Hemi racing engine from the 1960s
was built by James Weber. It has a 1.0" bore and 0.90" stroke displacing 5..65 cubic inches.
The engine burns gasoline or methanol (methyl alcohol) on dual electronic spark ignition and
incorporates a two-stage pressurized dry-sump lubrication system. It will turn around 12 grand
and uses a couple of computer cooling fans on the radiator to keep things cool. Note the
professional looking throttle and gauges on the stand.
Here's a V-8 and a half ; a ¼ scale Ferrari V-12 by Jeron Classic Motors. It has double overhead
camshafts, burns methanol on glow ignition and is equipped with two oil pumps for dry sump
lubrication. All six carburetors function and are linked together for smooth operation. The heads
and block are about 7-1/4" long. Only a few of these were made before the company went out of
business, so it's pretty rare. Like many of the engines you see here, it is on loan to the Craftsmanship
Museum courtesy of Paul and Paula Knapp and their Miniature Engineering Museum
Here's another twelve. The late Al Ingersol built this Curtiss D-12D 1/6 scale V-12 airplane
engine completely from billet stock and also built a model Curtiss Wright P 6E biplane to put
it in. The engine is only 9" long and weighs 6 pounds. It has a 0.80" bore and 1.062" stroke,
displacing 6.46 cubic inches.
One of the more popular model V-8 engines over the years has been the Challenger.
This one was built by Ron Colonna. Casting kits are still available for this 1/3 scale
engine through Coles Power Models, although it is definitely not a beginner project.
Several V-8 engines by Ken Hurst are displayed at a model engineering shows like the
recent Western Engine Model Exhibition (WEME) in Vallejo , CA . How about that
supercharger! Behind the first engine is his blue Challenger V-8. The 103 cc engine
sounds great running on a mixture of white gas and high octane racing fuel.
Eugene Corl built this 1/3 scale Chevy V-8 using engine castings he produced himself.
The engine is seen here at the Gas Engine Antique Reproduction Show (GEARS)
in Portland, Oregon.
Seen above are some of the wooden patterns, molds, cores and raw castings that had to be made
to build Gene's 1/3 scale Chevy V-8. Once cast, the parts must be precisely machined just like
real engine components. When you look at one of these finished little engines, keep in mind all
the planning, preparation, fixturing and behind-the-scenes work that goes into making one.
The three photos above show the world's smallest known running Chevrolet V-8. Jim Moyer
built this 1/6 scale version of a 1964 365 HP Chevrolet Corvette 327. Note the tiny firing order
cast into the intake manifold just like on the real thing. The heads and block are machined from
billet aluminum. Jim even made stamping dies to make the oil pan, rockers and front cover.
The valve covers are investment cast.
The finished 1/6 scale 5-bearing crankshaft fits in Jim's hand. It utilizes real Babbitt bearings.
Here you can see the cylinder heads of the Moyer 327 plus the stamped oil pan and front cover.
Some parts inside the engines are made to scale like the 30-30 Duntov camshaft, but some things
have to be modified to make a small engine run. Electricity and fuel molecules don't scale, so some
parts have to be slightly heavier or larger than exact scale would dictate. Getting a small engine
to run requires skill and careful work; getting one to run well is an art.
Here's a shot of Jim's tiny Corvette V-8 being test run.
He is now working on a 1/6 scale Chevy 409.
Gary Conley came up with the ¼ scale Conley V-8 in the 1980's. This version has twin carbs.
You could buy it as a kit or as a completed engine. Gary is now building what he calls the
"Stinger 609" V-8 that will soon be available as a complete running engine. A supercharged
Stinger 609 running in a 1/4 scale dragster. Impressive!
Paul Knapp built this great looking version of the Conley V-8. It runs twin carbs on
a fully functional Roots style 671 blower and will turn 12,000 RPM on methanol.
Note the nicely painted and highly polished finishes on this beautiful engine.
(Did you notice that the ignition switch even has its own set of keys like a real engine?)
A Cirrus V-8 by Profi M.E. of the Ukraine is based on the Merritt Zimmerman design.
The exposed rocker arms need to be manually lubricated before running the engine.
Again, note the really nice finishes on every part.
This is one of only six air-cooled Micro Cirrus 1/12 scale V-8s produced by Profi M.E.
using the components from a run of 4-cylinder Micro Cirrus engines. Six water-cooled
versions were also built. The cylinder heads on this rare V-8 are only about 2" long.
Note the size of the quarter at the bottom of the photo. This thing is TINY!
This 87 cc V-12 by Martin Ohrendorf of Germany has a 21 mm bore and stroke, 24 exposed
rocker arms and three carbs. It will spin a 24/10 propeller at 4500 RPM. One just like it can
be seen running on YouTube.
This scale 426 Hemi V-8 by Roger Butzen was made by using parts of a plastic model kit
for reference. This one, however, is all metal and it RUNS! Only the air cleaner decal from
the plastic kit made it to the final running version.
Here is another Challenger V-8 at the WEME show in Vallejo . This one was built by
Dick Pretel and sports triple carbs. Starter, batteries and other peripherals are hidden in
the wooden base. It even has carrying handles! Big fins on the valve covers help with cooling.
The Joe Martin Foundation for Exceptional Craftsmanship has a machine shop in their
museum in Vista , CA , where they are currently building a miniature Howell V-4 engine.
They have documented the build step-by-step so you can see what it takes to put together
a running miniature engine.
AND SOME REALLY ARE!
V-8 and V-12 Engines in Miniature!
For all you out there who like big, honking V-8's and screaming V-12 engines, check out these
tiny versions that you could run on your workbench or kitchen table. These models were built
by craftsmen the same way the big ones are made by machining billet stock and castings,
but in miniature.
These are not just models that look like engines, they are real running engines. Some of these photos
were taken from the Joe Martin Foundation Craftsmanship Museum but many more images can be
found elsewhere on the web, and engines like these can be seen in person at model engineering shows
around the country.
Here are some really nice examples:
The late Lee Root built this ¼ scale Corvette engine The major components were machined
entirely from solid billet aluminum that has been bead blasted to look like castings, and it will
turn 18,000 RPM! The coin you see in some of the photos for size reference is a US Quarter.
The valve covers are just 4-1/2" long, and the miniature spark plugs are commercially available.
This 1/3 scale billet machined, supercharged Chrysler 300 Hemi racing engine from the 1960s
was built by James Weber. It has a 1.0" bore and 0.90" stroke displacing 5..65 cubic inches.
The engine burns gasoline or methanol (methyl alcohol) on dual electronic spark ignition and
incorporates a two-stage pressurized dry-sump lubrication system. It will turn around 12 grand
and uses a couple of computer cooling fans on the radiator to keep things cool. Note the
professional looking throttle and gauges on the stand.
Here's a V-8 and a half ; a ¼ scale Ferrari V-12 by Jeron Classic Motors. It has double overhead
camshafts, burns methanol on glow ignition and is equipped with two oil pumps for dry sump
lubrication. All six carburetors function and are linked together for smooth operation. The heads
and block are about 7-1/4" long. Only a few of these were made before the company went out of
business, so it's pretty rare. Like many of the engines you see here, it is on loan to the Craftsmanship
Museum courtesy of Paul and Paula Knapp and their Miniature Engineering Museum
Here's another twelve. The late Al Ingersol built this Curtiss D-12D 1/6 scale V-12 airplane
engine completely from billet stock and also built a model Curtiss Wright P 6E biplane to put
it in. The engine is only 9" long and weighs 6 pounds. It has a 0.80" bore and 1.062" stroke,
displacing 6.46 cubic inches.
One of the more popular model V-8 engines over the years has been the Challenger.
This one was built by Ron Colonna. Casting kits are still available for this 1/3 scale
engine through Coles Power Models, although it is definitely not a beginner project.
Several V-8 engines by Ken Hurst are displayed at a model engineering shows like the
recent Western Engine Model Exhibition (WEME) in Vallejo , CA . How about that
supercharger! Behind the first engine is his blue Challenger V-8. The 103 cc engine
sounds great running on a mixture of white gas and high octane racing fuel.
Eugene Corl built this 1/3 scale Chevy V-8 using engine castings he produced himself.
The engine is seen here at the Gas Engine Antique Reproduction Show (GEARS)
in Portland, Oregon.
Seen above are some of the wooden patterns, molds, cores and raw castings that had to be made
to build Gene's 1/3 scale Chevy V-8. Once cast, the parts must be precisely machined just like
real engine components. When you look at one of these finished little engines, keep in mind all
the planning, preparation, fixturing and behind-the-scenes work that goes into making one.
The three photos above show the world's smallest known running Chevrolet V-8. Jim Moyer
built this 1/6 scale version of a 1964 365 HP Chevrolet Corvette 327. Note the tiny firing order
cast into the intake manifold just like on the real thing. The heads and block are machined from
billet aluminum. Jim even made stamping dies to make the oil pan, rockers and front cover.
The valve covers are investment cast.
The finished 1/6 scale 5-bearing crankshaft fits in Jim's hand. It utilizes real Babbitt bearings.
Here you can see the cylinder heads of the Moyer 327 plus the stamped oil pan and front cover.
Some parts inside the engines are made to scale like the 30-30 Duntov camshaft, but some things
have to be modified to make a small engine run. Electricity and fuel molecules don't scale, so some
parts have to be slightly heavier or larger than exact scale would dictate. Getting a small engine
to run requires skill and careful work; getting one to run well is an art.
Here's a shot of Jim's tiny Corvette V-8 being test run.
He is now working on a 1/6 scale Chevy 409.
Gary Conley came up with the ¼ scale Conley V-8 in the 1980's. This version has twin carbs.
You could buy it as a kit or as a completed engine. Gary is now building what he calls the
"Stinger 609" V-8 that will soon be available as a complete running engine. A supercharged
Stinger 609 running in a 1/4 scale dragster. Impressive!
Paul Knapp built this great looking version of the Conley V-8. It runs twin carbs on
a fully functional Roots style 671 blower and will turn 12,000 RPM on methanol.
Note the nicely painted and highly polished finishes on this beautiful engine.
(Did you notice that the ignition switch even has its own set of keys like a real engine?)
A Cirrus V-8 by Profi M.E. of the Ukraine is based on the Merritt Zimmerman design.
The exposed rocker arms need to be manually lubricated before running the engine.
Again, note the really nice finishes on every part.
This is one of only six air-cooled Micro Cirrus 1/12 scale V-8s produced by Profi M.E.
using the components from a run of 4-cylinder Micro Cirrus engines. Six water-cooled
versions were also built. The cylinder heads on this rare V-8 are only about 2" long.
Note the size of the quarter at the bottom of the photo. This thing is TINY!
This 87 cc V-12 by Martin Ohrendorf of Germany has a 21 mm bore and stroke, 24 exposed
rocker arms and three carbs. It will spin a 24/10 propeller at 4500 RPM. One just like it can
be seen running on YouTube.
This scale 426 Hemi V-8 by Roger Butzen was made by using parts of a plastic model kit
for reference. This one, however, is all metal and it RUNS! Only the air cleaner decal from
the plastic kit made it to the final running version.
Here is another Challenger V-8 at the WEME show in Vallejo . This one was built by
Dick Pretel and sports triple carbs. Starter, batteries and other peripherals are hidden in
the wooden base. It even has carrying handles! Big fins on the valve covers help with cooling.
The Joe Martin Foundation for Exceptional Craftsmanship has a machine shop in their
museum in Vista , CA , where they are currently building a miniature Howell V-4 engine.
They have documented the build step-by-step so you can see what it takes to put together
a running miniature engine.
,mine was never intended to run,some day i hope to finish my diorama,you are very correct Muleman, it takes a lot of patience and time,(at least for me a lot of scraped prototypes)hope you all enjoy the detail.
My jaw didn't hit the floor until I scrolled down to the third pic. 
i took the aluminum head off and slid a couple of valves in the guides and put out the socket set and other tools that you would find in a shop,the vice swivels and is completely functional,the work bench has a small pistol primer on it to give an idea of scale.the engine block is tool steel and is modeled after a SB Chevy,the engine stand is just like the one in my shop(except 1/8 scale) hope you enjoy the pics
