Retrol A16 Scandinavian-Style Stationary Engine Model, 16cc Petrol A-Frame with Flyball Governor

Early January 2027, in the order orders were placed. The A16’s flywheel, A-frame, base and cylinder all come from brand-new molds made for this engine, and getting new molds right takes time. Your engine ships by DHL Express with tracking, free of charge.

Large cast parts are only affordable when they’re made in a batch. A run of 100 is what keeps the Retrol A16 at this price. A smaller batch would cost each owner a lot more. Once the first 100 are sold, the next batch will take at least 3 more months to make, so first-run orders ship first, in early January 2027.

Yes. Every engine in the first run of 100 carries its own number, from No. 001 to No. 100. Numbers are given in the order orders are placed, and engines ship in that same order, so the earlier you order, the lower your number.

15% off with code A16 until we ship in early January 2027, free DHL Express shipping, and two gifts for the first 100 backers: an upright fuel tank and a commemorative A16 medallion.

The A16 engine (about 90% pre-assembled, with the spark plug fitted), a hardwood base, a water tank, 2 copper tubes, a CDI igniter, a basic tool set and an instruction manual. First-run backers also receive two gifts: an upright fuel tank and a commemorative A16 medallion. Everything is packed in fitted foam inside a double-reinforced carton. If anything arrives damaged or a part is missing, Stirlingkit will send a replacement free of charge.

Yes, for every pre-order. The upright fuel tank is our gift to the first supporters who order during the pre-order period. The A16 sample in our photos and videos doesn’t have it fitted yet, but your engine will ship with it.

No. The A16 arrives about 90% pre-assembled and is very easy to get running. Just mount the engine on its hardwood base, tighten the base screws, add water and fuel, and it’s ready to start. A basic tool set and an instruction manual are included.

Turn the flywheel by hand, or spin it up with an ordinary electric drill (not included). A CDI ignition provides the spark.

Unleaded gasoline (92 RON) mixed with 2-stroke oil at 50:1. In the US, regular unleaded (87 AKI) is roughly equivalent. The fuel mix also lubricates the engine, so there’s no separate engine oil to add.

Yes, it starts very easily. A few flicks of the flywheel by hand is usually all it takes (once you get the feel for it, one or two is often enough), and it doesn’t need to be spun up to high speed to keep running. Once started, it settles into a slow, steady idle as low as about 200 rpm and can run up to 3,000 rpm. The flyball governor is fully working: linked to the intake cam, it holds the engine’s speed steady. At the low end you can follow every movement of the valve gear and governor.

Two finishes, each painted all over, flywheel included. Red is the bold choice: a bright, classic engine red with the big red flywheel as the centerpiece. It stands out on any shelf and makes the moving brass parts pop. Green is the classic machinery look: the deep green you’ll find on many restored vintage engines. It’s understated and sits naturally in a workshop or study, letting the brass fittings do the talking. If you want an engine that catches the eye, go red. If you want one that looks like it’s been in the shed for a century, go green.

Not for now. A true diesel stationary engine model at this size is one of the hardest things to build in model engines. With no spark plug, it relies on compression alone to ignite the fuel, so it needs a compression ratio of around 20:1, roughly three times that of a small gasoline engine, and every ring, valve and gasket has to seal almost perfectly. It also needs a tiny injection pump and injector made to tolerances of hundredths of a millimeter, with timing that has to be right within a few degrees. And on a piston this size, peak combustion forces can run to several hundred kilograms, so the crankshaft, bearings and rod all have to be much stronger. Builders who hand-make one engine at a time spend years getting that right. Doing it reliably across a whole production run, at a price collectors can afford, isn’t possible yet, so we’re putting everything into making the gasoline Retrol A16 as good as it can be.

It’s a running display piece for your desk, shelf or workshop, a power source for your models, and a hands-on way to show how a four-stroke engine works. It’s intended for adult engine enthusiasts and collectors (16+).