Print Scale 1/72 & 1/48 Le Rhone Engines
By Matt Bittner
Overview
The Le Rohne engines of World War I were one of the largest set of engines produced during that time. They powered quite a lot of aircraft and the 110 hp 9J was licensed-copied by the German manufacturer Oberursel as their Ur.II engine, also outfitting a number of German WWI designs. Visit the Wikipedia page on the Le Rhone 9C 80 hp engine for a list of types that used that variant, as well as the Wikipedia page on the Le Rhone 9J 110 hp engine for a list of types that used that engine, along with the aircraft that used the Oberursel Ur.II.
The Parts
These are the nicest aftermarket Le Rhone engines I have seen so far, Print Scale providing both the 9C 80 hp version and the 9J 110 hp version. There are two aspects of these 3D prints no other aftermarket Le Rhone has yet produced: the carburetor attached to the back of the engine, and hollowed-out carburetor intake pipes.
I separated one of the 80 hp 9Cs from its supports and you can see in the accompanying photographs how the engine looks prior to painting. Be careful when you remove the supports, though, so you don't inadvertantly remove some of the wonderfully printed detail.
Conclusion
As I already mentioned, these are the best aftermarket Le Rhone engines on the market. With the inclusion of the carburetor and their intake pipes on the print, Print Scale has accomplished something other manufacturers have not. Now I need to figure out a way to make a model showing this detail. Right now I'm leaning towards a Nieuport 10...
Huge thanks sent to Print Scale for sending the 3D printed parts to review.
