New Books and Magazines This Month
Apart from the latest issue of Model Engine Builder, new stuff this month was a bit ho-hum. Since MEB #3 contains an embarrassment of yours truly, with an awful blooper from the same source, I'll skip over it at this time except to say well done to Mike and Toni Rehmus. Next, the Model Engineer continues to give coverage to IC engines on alternate issues (ie, monthly as they publish on a 2 week cycle) and have done a good job reviewing Gordon Cornell's book. This was reviewed here a few months back in the July issue. Their sister magazine, Model Engineers Workshop also covered it and the ICE performance modelling program in issue #109 (October 2005), so Gordon is getting good exposure. The presenter of the IC column in the ME does not provide an email contact which is unfortunate, as I could provide answers to several questions he is asking of the readership. Anyone out there know if his is reachable electronically?
So with nothing great added to the library, we will look at an indispensable workshop aid that I term the "ready reckoner". There are lots of these, all taking the same general form: pocket sized (6" x 3-1/4" in this case) with plastic covered pages containing tabulated data on threads, drill sizes and other more (and less) useful things. As you can see, mine exhibits signs of frequent use in a harsh environment and is called "Kenwells Engineering Data Charts and Reference Tables". It is printed right here in my home town (Brisbane, Australia) by Gamecastle Pty Ltd, PO Box 26, Greenslopes 4120, and has no ISBN.
In its 28 pages, the reference lists nearly all of the thread types a Model Engineer is likely to encounter, namely ISO course and fine (metric); American UNF, UNC; the British Standards: Whitworth (BSW), Fine (BSF), Pipe (BSP), British Association (BA); and American National Taper Pipe (NPT) for good measure. The BA table seen here is a good example. Each thread is neatly tabulated, one per page, for all sizes with corresponding pitch, major/minor diameters, and drilling and tapping sizes quoted in metric. Now I still find thinking in metric difficult, but the metric value can be treated merely as a look-up index as the first two pages tables all the standard drill sizes, metric, number, fractional, and "letter", in ascending order. So finding the nearest you have to the metric tap or clearance size is quick and easy. The only thing omitted that I would have liked to have on hand is the "Model Engineer" series (32 and 40 TPI), but as these are 55 degree threads, the data from the BSW and BSF threads for thread depth can be used to calculate the important numbers.
There are lots of equivalent pocket references published like this, but this is the only one I've encountered that provides such a wide range of thread data (some tend to be a bit parochial and omit the threads to "standard" in their country of origin). As our engines come from all over, a very non-denominational reference like this is quite handy. The 28 pages also contain data on tapers, "speeds and feeds", and other things I find I seldom need. But it's nice to know they are at hand when they are needed—saving me having to wash the grime off my hands before consulting a "library" text. My copy came from COMAG Pty Ltd for A$9.95. And I had not noticed until looking at the scanned picture of the cover, but the display in the digital callipers, 25.4, is the metric/Imperial conversion factor. Cute 
.
Mia Culpa 2005
It's been a good year. I've not had to publish monthly True Confessions inserts as has been necessary in previous years (either I'm getting better at research, or cover-ups). But there were two from last month that must not go unpunished; let's do the worst first. In the latest issue of Model Engine Builder there is a little article on making D-Bit cutters by moi. On page 9, in the right hand corner, I say "Making the size across the 'D' slightly greater than the diameter achieves this...". Short of a hammer and anvil, it's hard to machine round stock to larger than its diameter. Obviously I meant to say smaller. Apart from that, MEB #3 is a great issue and all you subscribers should send Mike your renewals for 2006.
The second blooper was calling an Elfin 2.49cc updraft an Elfin 1.8cc updraft (mega-ouch). The real 1.8 has two horizontally disposed mounting ears and either no integral tank (the so-called "C/L" model pictured here), or a drop in clear tube arrangement for the F/F version. As penance, I'll review both early in the new year (and the Elfin 149BB article wherein the booboo appeared has been corrected).
Engine Of The Month: PMC-IMP
All right, I confess: I've been obsessing over this thing ever since Ken Croft awarded it most horrible status in the September Model Engine News. In an attempt to get over it, we've produced our standard CAD drawings and a full review of it's good and bad features (the good feature is that it actually runs). So clic the pic, use the Engine Finder, or even use this link to see what the inside of a certified MH engine looks like.
Tech Tip of the Month: Static Crankshaft Balancing
I've covered simple crankshaft balancing before, but recently re-discovered an ETW series on balancing that deserves preservation. So the series has been OCR'd, which is more work, but consumes less space and bandwidth than a straight scan. The result has been added to the Westbury Tribute page. The Crankshaft How-to page in the How-to section has been updated to include the cross reference.
Watzit Update
Editorial
