History

The rotary engine was an early type of internal-combustion engine, usually designed with an odd number of cylinders per row in a radial configuration, in which the crankshaft remained stationary and the entire cylinder block with cylinders rotated around it. By nature it was an air-cooled type and perfect for early aviation subject that were designed to operate at altitudes below 12,000 ft.

In 1913 the French aviation engine company "LeRône" manufactured a 9cyl rotary engine that was initially rated at 110hp. A license to build these was sold to the German Co. Motorfabrik Oberursel, a recent new comer to aviation (1908) from rail road locomotive manufacturing. Oberursel had several licenses for building motors of French origin.

As a copy of the Le Rhône 9J, The Oberursel Ur.II is a nine-cylinder rotary aircraft engine produced in Germany. Also known as the Ur.II 120hp in a reference to its nominal power rating, the engine was fitted to a number of military aircraft types of the First World War. The horsepower output was usually quoted as 120hp and in later designs 130-145hp and in ther Ur.III 160hp maximum.

The Oberursel Ur.II featured highly visible metal induction pipes and used a single push-pull rod to operate its two overhead valves per cylinder. The air induction tubing's lower ends on the Ur.II 120hp attached to the crankcase along its rearward edge.

The Kit

The basic engine kit #4801 has

74 resin pieces
03 lengths and guages of wire
12 PE pieces

The advanced kit #4803 has additionally 8 resin parts for "assemby & repair trestle". This item was used in the shops to:

1. Assembly of new motor.
2. Effect repairs for damaged motors at the factory.

Note: When a motor needed major work it was shipped to one of several repair facilities. For the French this was often either at an aviation instruction center or the original parent factory.

It should be noted that the "operational test blocks" for these motors was very substantial wood block and metal tie down strapping with bolts. The framing supplied in the kit represents maintenance supports to work on the motor during overhauls. The motor would never be run up with it in these types of cradles / frames.

I applaud Taurus Models for their attempt at providing an alternate issue with a diorama assessory.

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