.21 ci (3.5cc) Nitro Engines for RC Models

   Also referred to as "glow engines", nitro engines come in a wide range of types and sizes and their specifications differ, dependant on the type of RC model it is intended to be used for and the physical size of the model.


   Fuelled by a mixture of nitromethane and methanol, nitro engines require a "glow plug" with a platinum-iridium coil, to ignite the mixture. Initially, the coil has to be heated using an electric current from a "Starter", after which the heat from combustion will keep the engine running until the flow of fuel is cut off or runs out.

Hints, Tips and Information

Choosing the Correct Engine for your form of RC.

   When it comes to choosing an Engine for a used RC model you found on eBay or at a local garage sale, you may need some guidance, not only on the engine, but the type of tail pipe and carburettor it may need.

   In this article I give some basic detail on what you need to look for, depending on the form of your model (Car, Truck, Airplane, Boat etc), explaining the different requirements each form has to have.

Why you should Break-in your New Nitro Engine before your first run

   If you were to examine a new nitro engine cylinder and the surface of the piston through a microscope, you would see thousands of grooves, peaks and troughs left by the reaming and honing process during production.

   As the piston slides up and down inside the cylinder, the peaks of the piston collide with those of the cylinder and break off to produce smaller and smaller peaks and troughs and after a short time produce almost perfectly smooth surfaces.

   This process must be done carefully, because if the engine is revved too high, the danger is that those peaks and troughs, instead of getting smaller, could rip chunks out of the surfaces reducing the efficiency of the engine.

   In this article, I describe how "run in" should be carried out, and how to tell if the fuel mixture needs adjustment.

The Importance of Maintaining your Fuel System

   In order to run efficiently, model engines require a constant flow of fuel. If the flow is restricted or the fuel is contaminated in any way, not only could your engine loose power, it could cause irreparable damage.

   This informative article not only explains how to maintain and clean your fuel system, but how to troubleshoot any problems, what to look for and crucially, how to fix them.

Glow Plugs for Nitro Engines

   If you have a clapped out, old nitro engine, don't have a manual, can find very little detail about your engine and are struggling to decide what kind of new glow-plug your engine needs, this article has been written to give you some insight into what you should be looking for.

How to avoid Radio Interference

   Radio Interference is common across all forms of RC. In this article I have listed a number of hints and tips, gained over my many years of experience in RC, explaining how by making a few simple changes to the positioning of your receiver, or using some electronic components, you can easily avoid and protect your model from Interference..

More Hints and Tips

   For more Radio Controlled Model Hints, Tips and Information, check out the list on the RCScrapyard Homepage. ▶ ▶