The Lionheart 2.48 cc "dummy twin" engine was unique in a number of respects. It was produced from late 1948 to mid 1949 for Premier Aeromodel Supplies of North London, England, who had previously been associated with the far more conventional M.E.C. 1.2 cc diesel. The identity of the actual manufacturer is unknown and likely to remain so.
Although it appeared to be a conventional opposed twin cylinder unit, the Lionheart was actually a single cylinder design - the opposing cylinder served as the fuel tank. This arrangement was based upon a Patent issued on March 22nd, 1946 to none other than the well-known British model diesel pioneer Lawrence H. Sparey, the Patent number being 576,207.
The unusual features didn't stop there. The Lionheart was very cleverly designed to be operated either on compression or glow-plug ignition. Conversion took only a minute. In either mode, the compression ratio remained variable. The compression setting was controlled by a rotating screw-on cooling jacket - the same system that had been used on the 2 cc E.D. Mk. II offering.
This very unusual engine was specifically intended as a suitable powerplant for scale models. However, it attracted relatively few buyers, hence being withdrawn after a fairly brief production life. Only a small handful of examples survive today.
A detailed review and test of this highly individualistic powerplant appears elsewhere on this website.
