The Whippet - Edgar T Westbury

The Whippet is an elegant 10cc, single cylinder, side valve, 4-stroke petrol engine. Designed for use in scale model boats, the Whippet was released in 1963 and was one of Edgar Westbury's final IC engine designs. Westbury felt certain that the Whippet would "set new standards for stamina, sprightliness and startability".

The engine is innovative in several respects. The crankcase and cylinder jacket are integrated into a single casting allowing the engine to have a broad base flange for attachment either to a boat's floor or to a plinth for a stationary installation. Also, by using a short stroke (bore x stroke = Ø1" x ¾") and an additional idler gear in the valve timing train, Westbury has kept the height of the engine to a minimum. Aesthetically, this gives the engine a distinctively compact appearance.

Westbury has taken great pains to simplify the design for newcomers. The overhung crankshaft is housed in plain bushes within a separate housing, avoiding the need for a split big-end bearing. A simple barrel-throttle carburettor is employed without the need for a float chamber. This is a very pleasing project, requiring just your patience and concentration to produce a classic model engine with great charm.

A single but highly detailed A1-size sheet, together with Westbury's original buiild notes. Further details are given for a miniature recoil starter designed for the Whippet. (13 pages).

The kit includes material for all of the major items required to complete the Whippet as originally designed. The bill of materials includes:

· (10) Aluminium and Gun Metal Sand castings
· (2) Iron Piston Rings
· (3) Timing Gear Train
· (2) Valve Springs
· (18) Sawn lengths of bar material (free cutting, high tensile, stainless and silver steel, bronze, cast iron, brass and Tuffnol)
· BA fasteners

Electrical components (points, coil, spark plug...) can be found separately in the IC Engine Accessory section and plans and construction notes can be ordered above.

If you want to minimise shipping costs or if you are particularly well stocked with supporting materials, you may prefer to order just the essentials. This item buys the 10 castings avaialable for the Whippet:

Body, Cylinder Head & Cover, Main Bearing Housing, Camshaft Bushes, Timing Case, Timing Bracket, Piston, Carburettor Body, Flywheel