O.S. Max
Encyclopedia
O.S. Engines is a Japan
ese model engine
manufacturer.
The company was founded in 1936 by machinist Shigeo Ogawa ("Ogawa Shigeo" in the Japanese surname-first tradition) for the production of model steam engine
s. The name of the firm could have either originated from the traditional Japanese family-name-first tradition being the source of the "OS" name, or from the firm's actual Japanese name, "Ogawa Seisakusho". At the suggestion of American buyer Paul Houghton, Ogawa tooled up for his first gasoline
-powered engine, the 1.6 cc O.S. Type-1 of which 200 units were produced and exported under the brand name, "Pixie." After World War II
, Ogawa Seiki expanded to produce the MAX line of engines, which won acclaim for their performance and durability.
In 1976, OS pioneered the field of modern four stroke glow plug
ignition model engines with the "FS-60" 10 cm3 displacement exposed valve gear engine, and has been one of the top producers of four-stroke glow plug ignition model engines worldwide ever since.
Today, O.S. Engines produces a much larger line of engines that includes the only Wankel
rotary aircraft engine, which was first introduced in 1970, in cooperation with Graupner of Germany.
The 1980s brought increasing competition, which increased across the 1990s and into the 21st century. O.S. is now a leading manufacturer of single and multi-cylinder model aircraft
engines ranging from the small .10 LA two-stroke
to the FF-320 four-stroke
"giant-scale" flat four-cylinder and the FR5-300 five-cylinder "giant-scale" radial
.
O.S. engines in current production include the .21 TM, the .18 TZ, the .46 AX and many others. O.S. also makes required accessories for their engines including glow plugs, exhaust
s and air filter
s.
O.S. has also extended their expertise to model cars, offering many reliable and powerful engines for these vehicles. Typical engines include OS 18 CV-R and OS 30VG. Four strokes include FS26-C-S (0.26ci displacement, meant to replace 0.12-0.15 two-strokes) and FS40-C-S (0.40ci displacement, meant to replace 0.21 and up two-strokes), with an updated FS26-C-S II currently in production.
It is very easy to decode some facts from the engine name. In the above-mentioned four stroke models, the C means car. This is to avoid confusing them with the aircraft engines they are based on. Additionally, an X in the name denotes a recoil start.
O.S. Engines' main competitor for both two and four stroke model engines is Yamada Engines (YS), also designed and produced in Japan, with the Saito Seisakusho firm being a stronger rival than the YS firm, in volume production of popular four-stroke model engines.
O.S. has also produced model steam locomotives.O.S. Live Steam locomotive
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese model engine
Model engine
In radio-controlled modeling, a model engine is an internal combustion engine used to power a radio-controlled aircraft, radio-controlled car, radio-controlled boat, free flight and control line aircraft, and tether car models also use these engines....
manufacturer.
The company was founded in 1936 by machinist Shigeo Ogawa ("Ogawa Shigeo" in the Japanese surname-first tradition) for the production of model steam engine
Steam engine
A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid.Steam engines are external combustion engines, where the working fluid is separate from the combustion products. Non-combustion heat sources such as solar power, nuclear power or geothermal energy may be...
s. The name of the firm could have either originated from the traditional Japanese family-name-first tradition being the source of the "OS" name, or from the firm's actual Japanese name, "Ogawa Seisakusho". At the suggestion of American buyer Paul Houghton, Ogawa tooled up for his first gasoline
Gasoline
Gasoline , or petrol , is a toxic, translucent, petroleum-derived liquid that is primarily used as a fuel in internal combustion engines. It consists mostly of organic compounds obtained by the fractional distillation of petroleum, enhanced with a variety of additives. Some gasolines also contain...
-powered engine, the 1.6 cc O.S. Type-1 of which 200 units were produced and exported under the brand name, "Pixie." After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Ogawa Seiki expanded to produce the MAX line of engines, which won acclaim for their performance and durability.
In 1976, OS pioneered the field of modern four stroke glow plug
Model engine
In radio-controlled modeling, a model engine is an internal combustion engine used to power a radio-controlled aircraft, radio-controlled car, radio-controlled boat, free flight and control line aircraft, and tether car models also use these engines....
ignition model engines with the "FS-60" 10 cm3 displacement exposed valve gear engine, and has been one of the top producers of four-stroke glow plug ignition model engines worldwide ever since.
Today, O.S. Engines produces a much larger line of engines that includes the only Wankel
Wankel engine
The Wankel engine is a type of internal combustion engine using an eccentric rotary design to convert pressure into a rotating motion instead of using reciprocating pistons. Its four-stroke cycle takes place in a space between the inside of an oval-like epitrochoid-shaped housing and a rotor that...
rotary aircraft engine, which was first introduced in 1970, in cooperation with Graupner of Germany.
The 1980s brought increasing competition, which increased across the 1990s and into the 21st century. O.S. is now a leading manufacturer of single and multi-cylinder model aircraft
Radio-controlled aircraft
A radio-controlled aircraft is controlled remotely by a hand-held transmitter and a receiver within the craft...
engines ranging from the small .10 LA two-stroke
Two-stroke cycle
A two-stroke engine is an internal combustion engine that completes the process cycle in one revolution of the crankshaft...
to the FF-320 four-stroke
Four-stroke cycle
A four-stroke engine, also known as four-cycle, is an internal combustion engine in which the piston completes four separate strokes—intake, compression, power, and exhaust—during two separate revolutions of the engine's crankshaft, and one single thermodynamic cycle.There are two...
"giant-scale" flat four-cylinder and the FR5-300 five-cylinder "giant-scale" radial
Radial engine
The radial engine is a reciprocating type internal combustion engine configuration in which the cylinders point outward from a central crankshaft like the spokes on a wheel...
.
O.S. engines in current production include the .21 TM, the .18 TZ, the .46 AX and many others. O.S. also makes required accessories for their engines including glow plugs, exhaust
Exhaust system
An exhaust system is usually tubing used to guide reaction exhaust gases away from a controlled combustion inside an engine or stove. The entire system conveys burnt gases from the engine and includes one or more exhaust pipes...
s and air filter
Air filter
A particulate air filter is a device composed of fibrous materials which removes solid particulates such as dust, pollen, mold, and bacteria from the air. A chemical air filter consists of an absorbent or catalyst for the removal of airborne molecular contaminants such as volatile organic compounds...
s.
O.S. has also extended their expertise to model cars, offering many reliable and powerful engines for these vehicles. Typical engines include OS 18 CV-R and OS 30VG. Four strokes include FS26-C-S (0.26ci displacement, meant to replace 0.12-0.15 two-strokes) and FS40-C-S (0.40ci displacement, meant to replace 0.21 and up two-strokes), with an updated FS26-C-S II currently in production.
It is very easy to decode some facts from the engine name. In the above-mentioned four stroke models, the C means car. This is to avoid confusing them with the aircraft engines they are based on. Additionally, an X in the name denotes a recoil start.
O.S. Engines' main competitor for both two and four stroke model engines is Yamada Engines (YS), also designed and produced in Japan, with the Saito Seisakusho firm being a stronger rival than the YS firm, in volume production of popular four-stroke model engines.
O.S. has also produced model steam locomotives.O.S. Live Steam locomotive
External links
- O.S. Engines Mfg. Co. Ltd. (in English)
- Satio Engines
- Technopower Engines Radial Engines
- Yamada Engines
- Further information.