Engine Configurations

Various configurations of engine have been developed over the years for power, low noise and vibration, economy or weight.

Single Cylinder - Horizontal

The first internal combustion engines were single cylinder designs and mostly stationary engines.

Inline Twin

This is a model two-stroke engine with a displacement of 0.5 cu. in. (built by N. Taylor)

Opposed Twin

A model opposed twin four-stroke (built by Bob and Ron Lane).

If you′re looking for model engines of any sort then a good place to start is our other site glue-it.co.uk - models, kits and plans. If you know of a kit or model or plan that we do not list then why not drop us a line ed.

V Twin

Two-cylinder engine with the cylinders arranged in the shaped of a V when looking along the line of the crankshaft.

I3

W3

Anzani 3 cylinder.

I4

A model Cirrus engine.

Flat 4

A model flat 4 four-stroke engine with a displacement of 32cc (built by Bob and Ron Lane).

V4

Four-cylinder engine with the cylinders arranged in two banks of 2 and the shape of a V when looking along the line of the crankshaft.

I5

V5

5 Cylinder Radial

I6

V6

Six-cylinder engine with the cylinders arranged in two banks of 3 and the shape of a V when looking along the line of the crankshaft.

Flat 6

7 Cylinder Radial

I8

V8

Eight-cylinder engine with the cylinders arranged in two banks of 4 and the shape of a V when looking along the line of the crankshaft.

Flat 8

W8

9 Cylinder Rotary

Rotary engines were used extensively in early aircraft. Note that with a rotary engine the crankshaft is fixed and does not rotate, the propeller is fixed to the crankcase and the whole crankcase rotates with the propeller.

9 Cylinder Radial

V10

Ten-cylinder engine with the cylinders arranged in two banks of 5 and the shape of a V when looking along the line of the crankshaft.

V12

Twelve-cylinder engine with the cylinders arranged in two banks of 6 and the shape of a V when looking along the line of the crankshaft.

Flat 12

W12

14 Cylinder Radial

1850hp Wright R-2600-29 Cyclone 14-cylinder radial. Note that this is effectively two 7 cylinder radials back to back with the rear bank of cylinders being rotated half the cylinder to cylinder spacing.

V16

Sixteen-cylinder engine with the cylinders arranged in two banks of 8 and the shape of a V when looking along the line of the crankshaft.

H16

18 Cylinder Radial

H24

The Napier Sabre III, twenty four-cylinder liquid cooled horizontally opposed, H-shaped sleeve valve engine, 2250hp at 4000rpm, bore 127mm stroke 121mm, weight 1066kg. The basic design is that of two flat horizontally opposed 12 cylinder engines geared onto a common shaft.

Looking for inspiration to build a new engine? Try our photographic reference site - glue-it.co.uk.