The UK KEP's T2-21 trio is complete

Finally the final two (of 3) of the new UK built KEP's T2-21's by the dynamic racing trio that is called LM Racing UK has hit the testing drink! ;)

LM Racing Web.

Leon Morgan - OS powered KEP's T2-21.

Phill Fields - A/A .21 powered KEP's T2-21.

Martin Fields - NR powered KEP's T2-21.

TOP KEEP 21-M DD (By Novarossi)

The new TOP KEEP .21-M DD in-line marine direct drive engine (from Novarossi) is here! At this point the first batch of production engines are arriving to the dealers. Novarossi have used the same technology solution as they did on the TO-BE .46DD engine. As in, basically using an outboard power head with a new secondary "slave" crankshaft and flywheel assembly where it earlier would have been bolted to the outboard lower unit.

• Capacity: 3.50ccm 
• Bore: 15.88 mm
• Stroke: 17.60 mm
• Sleeve: 9 ports 
• Crankshaft: 14.5 mm
• Front ball bearing: Steel
• Rear ball bearing: Ceramic
• Glow Plug: Turbo C8TGH

NOVAROSSI Link.

The conrod is made from superlight & superstrong alluminium to make the lightest and strongest possible conrod to withstand the abuse of a racing engine.

The sleeve has 9 transfer ports and an exhaust with booster ports. The special shape and positioning of the ports, covered by a patent, improve the internal fluid-dynamics to obtain the maximum possible performance.

This is a special Crankshaft. Made to meet even the highest standards of our most demanding drivers. Slightly reduced rotational mass and greatly improved fuel flow provide great performance.

TecnoPower Glowplugs

Rody Roem have decided to start manufacture the Glowplugs previously made by TecnoPower again. The TP glowplugs are stainless steel bodied and they are very high quality. I've been using them in all of my KEP's T2 .21 riggers the last 3 years (mostly the C6)!

Link to World Champion Products Webshop TP Glowplugs. 

And as a reminder - this is one of the best (if not THE best) remote RC needles for nitro boats that he also manufactures. It flows better then most needle bases!

Link to World Champion Products Webshop Remote OS needle assembly.

FW-K45 Marine Racing Hydro Engine

Since Gennadiy Kalistratov sadly passed away in 2009 the "K" engines have been missed on the marine market. Until now. It's a couple of German RC boat enthusiasts that has brought the K45 back (now marked as FW-K45) with the majority of parts re-made in Germany and some in Russia (like piston/liner/con-rod).

Note, the FW-K45 engines are not produced in "big" volumes - it's a small scale production for EXPERTS ONLY. The engine might need some final touches with your Dremel etc. If you are a "sport" boater - look elsewhere - this is NOT the engine for you!

My own reflections:
The characteristics of the short-stroke K45 is that it wants to rev higher then most long-stroke engines. That means that the pure torque is in most applications less then other similar longer stroked engines. In reality that means that the heavier, and more "wet", your boat is - the smaller propeller you need to use. If you think that you can tune the K45 in the same way using the same prop as another race engine you will most likely be disappointed.

The lighter-weight, and lighter running, modern 3-point outrigger hydroplanes are the ones that are the easiest to get running really good with the K45 if you ask me. If you have an "old-school" (wet-running) and heavier 4/5-point hydro like an Eagle, RoadRunner or FireFighter etc - then the performance difference might be smaller and you need to use a smaller prop. On my prototype KEP's T2-44 rigger I can use the same prop as with the engine I have been racing with in 2013 though but it's about 10% faster - mostly due to the fact that I can lean it in so it revs more.

• Direct Drive Hydro Version: With separate front box. Flywheel included. Price: 380€

• Geared Version (no picture of this motor): With solid casted crankcase (no separate front box). To be used with a gear box and the crankshaft pointing forward in the boat (FSR-V & FSR-O boats). Price: 350€

 FW-K45 Specs:

• 7.45 ccm
• 3-port ABC liner with single exhaust
• Stroke: 19.6 mm
• Bore: 22.0 mm
• Flat-top billet machined piston
• Glowplug thread: conical/turbo
• H-beam steel con-rod with free-floating needle bearing lower end (no roller bearing cage holder)
• Central induction drum intake system with CNC:ed aluminum intake case with bronze bushing for the drum
• Carb with 9.8 mm venturi and built in metering system (can be modified for those who wants no "midrange" metering). Note, the carb barrel is "directional" as it has a metering system built in!
• Crankshaft threads: M8
• NR46 manifolds and exhaust seals have been used in testing

Recommended Fuel (by me):

• Outrigger hydro: 40-60% Nitro with 8% recin & 8% synthetic oil = 16% total oil content (preferably Klotz Benol & Klotz Original Techniplate oils)

More engine pics can be found HERE.

Stealth Testing

Did some after-season "stealth" testing today in perfect weather

Click HERE for more info!

Swedish Nats #4-2013

Saturday August the 31 we raced the last Swedish nats of the 2013 season at the Oxelösund MSK pond but the organizing club was Norrköpings Modellbåt Klubb. The weather forecast was not looking good at all but it turned out perfect. Almost no wind at all and perfect 18-20 deg.

My pics from the race

More Pics from Bengt Loryd

OTA 3.5:
1. Niklas Edlund - OMSK - 1600p - Aquacraft TS3 - TP21 - Futaba 4PLS
2. Mattias Bengtsson - ERCK - 1400p - HTB290 - TP21 - Futaba
3. André Holster Westerberg - KRCBK - 994p - Aquacraft TS3 - OS - Futaba
4. Viktor Nordström-Käll - KRCK - 775p - HTB290 - OS - JR
5. Anders Enblom - OMSK - 250p - Aquacraft TS3 - OS - Futaba
6. Torbjörn Carlson - NMBK - 50p

H3.5:
1. Niklas Edlund - OMSK - 1500p - KEP's T2-21 - FX21 - Futaba 4PLS
2. Torbjörn Carlson - NMBK - 1269p - "RoadRunner" - GO21 - Futaba 4PL
3. Mattias Bengtsson - ERCK - 1225p - KEP's '06-21 - NR - Futaba
4. Fredrik Lundahl - NMBK - 1025p - JAE .21 - NR21 - Futaba 4PL
5. Owe Holmstedt - KRCK - 750p - KEP's '09-21 - CMB - JR
6. Mikael Sundgren - OMSK - 500p - KEP's T2-21 - FX21 - Futaba 3PM
7. Mikael Ankerstedt - SMBC - 169p

H7.5:
1. Niklas Edlund - OMSK - 1600p - KEP's T2-44 - NR46DD - Futaba 4PLS
2. Mikael Sundgren - OMSK - 1025p - KEP's T2-44 - NR46DD - Futaba 3PM
3. Fredrik Lundahl - NMBK - 950p - JAE .45 - AA45 - Futaba 4PL
4. Mikael Gartne - DMBK - 850p
5. Anders Martinelle - OMSK - 300p - Eagle - CMB - Futaba
6. André Holster Westerberg - KRCBK - 25p - Eagle - CMB - Futaba

H15:
1. Anders Martinelle - OMSK - 1600p - Eagle - CMB - Futaba
2. Tobbe Carlson - NMBK - 1025p - Homemade - K90 - Futaba
3. Mickael Perttula - OMSK - 850p - Eagle - K90 - Futaba 4PL
4. Mikael Gartne - DMBK - 746p
5. Niklas Sparr - GMM - 563p