Yes. Even in 2025, the Model Jet Engines by Thomas Kamps remains one of the clearest, most authoritative texts on miniature gas turbine fabrication. The fact that people are still searching for the PDF 20+ years after its publication proves its legacy.
However, do not let the pursuit of a free file delay your project. If you cannot find the PDF legally, buy a used copy. If you cannot buy a copy, study the modern equivalents. The laws of thermodynamics haven't changed since Kamps wrote the book—only the tools have.
Final Safety Note: Building a model jet engine is an advanced machining and engineering project. It involves high-speed rotating parts, volatile fuels, and extreme heat. Always consult local laws regarding home-built turbines and never run a homemade engine near people or property.
It is difficult to overstate the influence of Kamps’ designs on the commercial market. Many of the early commercial model jet engines produced by companies like JetCat, Wren, and AMT trace their lineage back to design principles popularized by Kamps.
The "Kamps Turbine" became a benchmark. In the era before cheap Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines, builders followed his plans using manual lathes and milling machines. Today, his designs are often the starting point for engineering students looking to use modern CAD/CAM software to redesign vintage model engines for 3D printing or CNC manufacturing. model jet engines thomas kamps pdf
Visit Mortons Books (successor to Traplet) – they occasionally reprint classic titles. Request a reprint via their contact form.
The core of Kamps’ technical contribution lies in his advocacy and refinement of the centrifugal flow gas turbine.
While early experimental model engines attempted to mimic axial-flow designs (similar to large passenger jets), Kamps recognized that for small-scale models, the centrifugal compressor was superior. His work details the engineering rationale for this choice:
If you have acquired the PDF (legally), here is your project roadmap: It is difficult to overstate the influence of
Step 1: Read, Don't Skim Do not go straight to the machining blueprints. Read the safety chapter three times.
Step 2: Source the Compressor Wheel The most difficult part to machine is the compressor wheel. The PDF suggests buying a "ready-to-run" wheel from a supplier like GP-Compressors or using an automotive turbocharger wheel (trimming it down).
Step 3: Lathe Work You will need a metal lathe with at least 8" swing. You will turn the diffuser housing, the shaft, and the bearing housing to tolerances of 0.01mm.
Step 4: The Combustion Chamber Rolling the flame tube from Inconel sheet and drilling the intricate pattern of primary, secondary, and dilution holes is tedious. The PDF provides a drilling template; tape it to the metal. The core of Kamps’ technical contribution lies in
Step 5: The First Spool-Up Do not stand in front of it. Use a test stand, remote start, and a blast shield. The PDF details the "propane start" procedure—starting on gas and switching to liquid fuel.
The core of the book contains exact, measured engineering drawings. You will find dimensions for:
One of the reasons enthusiasts search for the "Thomas Kamps model jet engines PDF" is because the book contains actual design data. It isn't theoretical fluff; it is practical engineering data derived from real-world testing.
Kamps covers the evolution of the model jet engine, from early experiments to the reliable micro-turbines we see today. For the modern pilot, understanding this history helps diagnose issues. If your EDF isn't producing thrust, or your turbine is running hot, the principles outlined in Kamps' chapters on airflow and heat management provide the answers.