Oliver Tiger Diesels?

I thought that the Olivers were not made any more but thought I'd check the board here for any leads and likelihood of being able to find one or two in operating condition.

Thanks in advance

Please check the links below for diesel info and PAW in particular. PAW makes a wide range of diesel engines from 0.5cc to .60 cu.in. in plain, single ball and twin ball bearing models, R/C and C/L variants. They have several high performance 2.5cc models that should do the work of an Oliver Tiger. The Oliver Tiger replicas (CS in particular) are renowned for uneven quality, so be cautious of those. PAW backs their engines and gives excellent service (2 week turnaround from the U.S. is my experience). Also Eric Clutton services PAW in the U.S.

Fred Krueger

http://www.progress.charitydays.co.uk/
http://www.cafes.net/doctordiesel/default.htm
http://www.carlsonengineimports.com/

The CS's are highly variable in quality, so its a bit of a lottery - but the good ones are good, the bad ones are for fishing! With some rework the best CS's are slightly faster than an olly.

As mentioned Steve Rothwell is making what will be the best replica by far, I've ordered 2 for vintage T/R. they will be set up for T/R with a cox type carb etc, but I think he is optioning a standard venturi that will be suitable for stunt & sport flying. They will come with chrome bore and a guaranteed performance& each engine will be run on Steves dyno.

PAW make a large variety of diesels - I have a dozen or so in various sizes. Have used the 15 TBR in goodyear, rat and vintage combat. the smaller ones are for FF.

They are also a little variable in quality in some areas, but are generally fine unless you want the last little bit of performance. I have to say that I do not run a PAW straight out of the box (or even turn it over) - I send it to an engine expert (Robin Hiern) before it is run for a check over and "adjustment"! Some are good, but I have one that isnt worth putting back together. On the other hand my son and I have a lot of trophies thanks to PAW power. The twin BR pAW's are rather more powerful than a stock olly.

A worn olly is reasonably easy to refurbish with a hone, new piston & rod & fresh bearings - there are plenty of people who can do this commercially. if you just want a runner, this might better than buying a NIB for megabux.

Hope this helps - email me If I can assist in any way.
Cheers, Dave Simons

When glows caught on (with the advent of Wilkens and the Superstar), it was almost total. In the space of 2 or 3 years practically everyone converted.

Was it that early? I'd put it around 1976 or so. By 1978 (the first World Champs), the switch was total. Up to that point, whenever you'd come across contest reports in Aeromodeller, it was always Evans or Tiernan or someone else flying a Titan or Warlord using a diesel who won. One report I remember distinctly from around 1974 mentioned that Evans used a Rossi diesel, but the plane was too heavy (kept hitting the ground from not turning tight enough). There was also mention of Charlie Johnson showing up with American planes with glows (in 1974), and how it reflected a totally different philosophy than what the British were doing.

The Cannock Outlaws were using glows early on, but I forget when that particular article was published. They talked about the different designs they used (Titan II and Ironmonger) and the engines (their first efforts used the Cox Special, which broke rods with some frequency). What really made the glows catch on was Wilken's Blasta and Superstar designs, which had the necessary size to use the glows' power. Note that these were in fact bigger than the contemporary American Fast Combat plane.

Of course, I wasn't actually there. Just had a lot of old magazines to read.

The former are available from http://home.earthlink.net/~whizzz/welcome.htm in the USA be warned though, the transactions with the proprietor can be convoluted and protracted. The engines sell for $75

In the UK Ian Russel sells the Russian replicas.

I have a three CS replicas and a Russian replica. In most instances the replicas will match or exceed the performance of the real thing unless it has been breathed upon by the likes of Copeman.

Oliver tigers do turn up on Ebay and can fetch really silly prices - the engines are nice and really easy to start and run. Mine will start first or second flick after a 4 month lay off with no need to make any adjustments to compression or needle valve. I don't think the high prices fetched by the original are worth paying and I'm very happy with replicas.

If you want a real scare regaring prices have a look at the Mark V Oliver Tiger (yes mark V's do exist!) currently on offer on Ebay. I had to have a lie down when I saw the opening price. Read the sales pitch to see what the chap really wants to get.....

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3110361922

Like someone else posted in this thread, PAW TBR .15 diesels are a good alternative:

http://www.paw.ac
Good luck with your hunt

Amazing. What did an Oliver Tiger sell for back in the days when they were in production and in common use?

I got my Mk-III in about 1958 for (I believe) $29.95 from my local hobby shop via World Engines. At that time there was a three month waiting list to get them. The tuned version went for about $5.00 more. I still have my Mk-III.

As a reflection, there was a team racing club in England (Hi Wycombe?) that used ONLY Oliver Tigers at the time.

BTW, I have one CS replica. My CS had needle valve problems (which I fixed) and leaks at the crankshaft bearing, but runs well.

Jim Carpenter

There is a slight difference, but not much.
Last I heard as of about two years ago, John Oliver is still very much around and still doing service and rebore work on his motors. I know a gent in the UK who saw him at a contest then and said he must be in his 70s or later, yet looks like he is in his 50s- good genes I guess.

Gene Hempel 512-282-8422 after 4:00 PM Texas time

I currently have three Mk-3 Ollies, one of which belonged to the late George Aldrich. I wouldn't part with any of them for love or money. In 1976, I paid $125 (shipping included) for a pair of Copeman tuned Mk 4 Combat Tigers (brand new from John Oliver, it took nearly a year wait on order) I only wish now I had been smart enough to hang onto them...