A glow plug engine, or glow engine, is a type of small internal combustion engine typically used in model aircraft, model cars and similar applications. I don’t really fly these engines as petrol engines are more reliable but I do refurbish and collect them.
The number stamped on the engine is the size or displacement measured in cubic inches (ci). I only understand cubic centimeters (cc) as this is what my car is measured in (1400 cc). To put this into perspective a 61ci glow engine is a 10cc
These are the engines I had in my collection in South Africa: ASP 108 A, ASP 91 A, ASP 61-AII, ASP 52-AII, ASP 46a, IRVINE 46, ASP 36-AII, ASP 25-AII, AP 15, OS 15 LA, ASP 12A and ASP 09
ASP 108 A
This is a 17cc engine, for is power to weight it is rubbish but I do like the shiny head! The ‘A’ means the carbs high speed needle is located on the carb and not remotely – Im told this is more reliable in terms of fuel/air mixture but its not safe as your fingers get very close to the prop.
ASP 91 A
Power to weight this is a very good engine, I have 2 the one has a broken crank shaft and both are missing the high speed needle valves. Perhaps one day I will rebuild and run them both. These are 15cc engines.
Irvine 61
Nice and clean but missing the exhaust nut and bolts. These are no longer made so will have to try match from and ASP if possible.
ASP 61-AII
This is a a 10cc engine with a remote carb.
ASP 52-AII
This engines remote carb mount is broken but its in very good shape otherwise. This engine is 8.5cc
ASP 46a
These are very common engines, mine has an OS 46 exhaust and the one head fin is damaged but it runs 100%. This is a 7.5cc engine.
Irvine 46
This engine’s carb mount is broken and its missing its exhaust, the block can be fixed but I will try source another block and rebuild it.
ASP 36-AII
This is a fantastic size engine for a shotgun with a displacement of 5.8cc. This one needs some cleaning but Im reluctant to as I may actually want to fly it.
ASP 25-AII
This would probably work pretty well in a shotgun, it has a 4cc displacement. The remote part of the carb has been removed and the high speed needle attached to the carb – I think the previous owner did this for reliability.
AP 15
I’m not sure about the history but this ‘AP’ was manufactured by ASP and its a 2.4cc
OS 15 LA
I think the LA/AX ect lettering on these OS engines is got something to do with the ports (in/out) in the combustion process. Apparently the AX range are racing engines but I really don’t know. My little 15 LA is pretty dirty and needs a cleanup.
ASP 12A
I prefer this ‘classic’ exhaust porting on these tiny engines, this is a 1.9cc
ASP 09
This is the smallest I own, the block is exactly the same as the ASP 15. This 09 is a 1.4cc which means my old KIA Rio’s displacement was 1000 times more – really puts things into perspective!
