Not impressed.

I see 3 that work, plus 2 that "work".

List fails without flagella

2 are engines. The other three are models. Very cool, models, evidence of amazing skills, but they aren't engines.

It's been done. (new window)

Article is fail for not including The worlds smallest combustion engine ^

Or the nano steam engine ^

/manual HTML on mobile site
//hope it pops

That V12 isn't an engine.

Watched that whole vid, but started getting bored when the pistons were installed without rings. WTF? Then it was shown "running" on compressed air, and I knew we'd been had.

whither_apophis: List fails without flagella

Or the ATP synthase enzyme (new window).

studebaker hoch: Then it was shown "running" on compressed air,

You can run engines on compressed air just fine. There's those air-hogs toy planes (single cylinder plastic engine where the fuselage is the pressure vessel) and there's even a French auto-maker that makes little euro-hatchbacks.

The way a piston engine works is you use "fuel" to push the piston down which turns stored energy into useable work. In a combustion engine the stored energy is extracted from the chemical reaction of exploding gas. In a compressed air engine the stored energy is released by allowing high pressure air (stored at a previous time) to enter the cylinder and push the piston down at the appropriate time.

whither_apophis: List fails without flagella

:)

List is useless and incomplete without the real looking, real sounding, real working scale flat-12 Ferrari Testarossa engine (^)

How is any of this helpful?

My penis is #6 on the list.

:(

three incredible miniature engines motors that actually work
two incredible miniature engines that actually work

I've never really been a car guy. But I've always thought that if I become mega rich some day, one of the things I'll do to pass the time is build small model engines like these.

Since I know relatively nothing about cars, I'd start out super simple and work my way up. Seems like a potentially fun (and expensive) hobby.

Nuclear Monk: My penis is #6 on the list.

:(

A #6 is 0.1380" in diameter (new window). Sorry dude :(

//machinist thread!

Ivo Shandor: whither_apophis: List fails without flagella

Or the ATP synthase enzyme (new window).

Complete with intelligent design comment too

You all fail....

THIS is the best mini engine in the world. Especially since it comes with a miniature, fully functional, down to the turn signals and gear box, Ferrari 312 PB.

Link (new window)

This blown V8 (new window) always makes me smile.

simusid: Nuclear Monk: My penis is #6 on the list.

:(

A #6 is 0.1380" in diameter (new window). Sorry dude :(

//machinist thread!

This could be a fine thread

If the engine doesn't run on it's own power, it doesn't "work."
Still they are all beautiful pieces of kinetic art.

I'll stick with my .15 cubic inch 2 stroke engine running nitromethane. Not sure of the exact HP but I have enough acceleration to wheelie my 4wd rc truck and manage a top speed near 80 kmh

Honest Bender: I've never really been a car guy. But I've always thought that if I become mega rich some day, one of the things I'll do to pass the time is build small model engines like these.

Since I know relatively nothing about cars, I'd start out super simple and work my way up. Seems like a potentially fun (and expensive) hobby.

the start up machining tools can be a bit pricy, but on the hobby scale it's not that bad really. All you really need to start out with a decent drill press really, then get a proper lathe/mill. After that you only really have to worry about the cost of the raw materials. Much of which can be acquired from scrap metal heaps and retooled.

It gets really expensive when you start actually purchasing the little engines that other people make. In my little world of fiddling with RC stuff, I play with live steam engine powered boats. and the cheapest engine that you can get that I know of comes as a ready to assemble kit at $125 and is a double action single cylinder engine. and that is with out all the rest of the gear that you need to make it run, such as a Boiler, those start at about $100, displacement lubricator, condensation separator, regulator valves.butane fuel tank and burner, and piping..
so all in all, you are looking at investing about $750 on the power plant alone..
It is all designed to fit in a 22-36in long boat that you either build from scratch, or a preformed hull that you build out.

the simplest, and cheapest steam plant that was out there was the Midwest Heritage plant which had a simple tea kettle type boiler, and a simple, single action, single cylinder. non self starting engine that runs off sterno. When they were still manufactured, they ran about $100, and I put one to work in this little boat:


which you can see in action here:
The little Hoffen, on the water (new window)

Epic fail. List is also missing Barry Hares' Rolls Merlin XX:

Link ( video at bottom of page )

Not the smallest, but made out of glass.

not impressed. 1.3 liters, 200+ HP. big as a milk crate.

simusid: Nuclear Monk: My penis is #6 on the list.

:(

A #6 is 0.1380" in diameter (new window). Sorry dude :(

//machinist thread!

WIN! Not for N.M. however.

How about a Miniature top fuel engine? (new window) Even has two distributors

fluffy2097: not impressed. 1.3 liters, 200+ HP. big as a milk crate.
[www.frankenmini.com image 400x300]

And built by monkeys compared to these miniatures. I used to work with a guy who's hobby was building these ultra miniature IC engines. They are like a fine watch. They represent excellent engineering talent and amazing machinist skill. Couldn't believe some of the threaded bolts they'd make.

moike: I want one of these...

[www.floridaame.org image 500x468]

...hooked to a blender.

You are Jeremy Clarkson and I claim my £5.

fluffy2097: not impressed. 1.3 liters, 200+ HP. big as a milk crate.
[www.frankenmini.com image 400x300]

Link (new window) not impressed, 850 lb-ft torque out of 150 pound engine

Massive yet tiny engine ftw.

tfm_copycat: List is useless and incomplete without the real looking, real sounding, real working scale flat-12 Ferrari Testarossa engine (^)

came here for this. the list is bullshiat paper V8 crap and bronze v12 puke running on compressed air. Interesting, perhaps, but they are freakin' legos (oh wait, there's one of those too) compared to the work that this guy has done. simply astounding.

Where's the 1 drop of water nuke powered micro steam engine from Threshold?