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In article <74qPXB2w165w@gilligan.tsoft.net> bbs.byron@gilligan.tsoft.net (Byron Reynolds) writes:
>Back in my model airplane days, it seems to me that I mixed my own 
>nitromethane-based fuels.  If I remember correctly, I could purchase pure 
>nitromethane in a hobby store, and then Castor Oil was added as a 2 
>stroke lubricant for the engine.  

you most definitely can buy nitromethane fuel in hobby stores.
a friend of mind is an rc airplane hobbyist and buys gallons of
the stuff every summer (its relatively expensive, as i recall.
something like $15 a gallon?).  i think the stuff he bought
was premixed with 2-cycle oil, though, so i don't know about
castor oil part.

drew

ps i also thought LOX was for bagels! 
--
betz@gozer.idbsu.edu
*** brought into your terminal from the free state of idaho ***
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betz@gozer.idbsu.edu (Andrew Betz) writes:

>you most definitely can buy nitromethane fuel in hobby stores.
>a friend of mind is an rc airplane hobbyist and buys gallons of
>the stuff every summer (its relatively expensive, as i recall.
>something like $15 a gallon?).  i think the stuff he bought
>was premixed with 2-cycle oil, though, so i don't know about
>castor oil part.

Nitromethane costs about $1400 for a 55 gallon drum for drag racing.
That's about $25 a gallon in bulk.  One gallon cans are typically
around $40.  What you friend is buying is likely either 10% or 20%
nitromethane in methanol.  At least that's what my local hobby shop
stocks in that price range.  Because nitromethane can become 
unstable and thus explosive if stored improperly, I'd doubt 
a hobby store taking on the liability of 100% nitro.  Nitro racing
fuel is inhibited and contains a color indicator that changes color
when it begins to decompose.

John
-- 
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In article <ma-svl-@dixie.com> jgd@dixie.com (John De Armond) writes:
>That's about $25 a gallon in bulk.  One gallon cans are typically
>around $40.  What you friend is buying is likely either 10% or 20%
>nitromethane in methanol.  At least that's what my local hobby shop

this makes sense.  you're right john, of course.  apologies to
those hoping for a pure nitromethane supply (grin).

drew 
--
betz@gozer.idbsu.edu
*** brought into your terminal from the free state of idaho ***
"Now I am become death, destroyer of worlds." - Oppenheimer

I was into model airplanes for a while and in many of the magazines I read you 
could order 100%nitromethane along with regular model airplane fuel so you 
could mix your own fuel.
my 2 cents worth...

In article <ma-svl-@dixie.com>, jgd@dixie.com (John De Armond) writes:
|> >you most definitely can buy nitromethane fuel in hobby stores.
|> >a friend of mind is an rc airplane hobbyist and buys gallons of
|> >the stuff every summer (its relatively expensive, as i recall.
|> >something like $15 a gallon?).  i think the stuff he bought
|> >was premixed with 2-cycle oil, though, so i don't know about
|> >castor oil part.
|> 
|> Nitromethane costs about $1400 for a 55 gallon drum for drag racing.
|> That's about $25 a gallon in bulk.  One gallon cans are typically
|> around $40.  What you friend is buying is likely either 10% or 20%
|> nitromethane in methanol.  At least that's what my local hobby shop
|> stocks in that price range.  Because nitromethane can become 
|> unstable and thus explosive if stored improperly, I'd doubt 
|> a hobby store taking on the liability of 100% nitro.  Nitro racing
|> fuel is inhibited and contains a color indicator that changes color
|> when it begins to decompose.

Well 100% nitromethane is sold in specialist hobby shops here for 
the enthusiast who wants to mix his/her own fuel. It is not colour
indicated but does become slightly yellow with age. It is sold in
20l, 4l, 1l and 1/2l amounts for A$32 per litre. Nitromethane is 
always explosive and so must not be shipped in tank cars as explosions
have occurred. However if stored in drums of about 200l, it is very
stable. In this amount, it will not burn into detonation and it is
not detonated by a rifle bullet or a large drop. However, a sufficient
booster explosive will cause detonation. There are many chemicals that
will sensitise nitromethane, even to the extent of cap sensitivity.
NM happens to be the most widely studied liquid explosive and one of
the safest. It is somewhere near ammonium nitrate in its sensitivity
to initiation by shock. That is no doubt why it can be used safely as
a racing fuel and sold at hobby stores.

Mark.