I hope someone can help me with a small problem of sorts.  My hobby is small IC engines and I especially like the diesels (.049-.060 CI).  I hope to build a small one for my collection of my own design as soon as I can get all the information collected, and here is part of the puzzle.  The problem is that the fuel used in these models is a mixture of approximately 33% kerosene, 33% castor oil, 33% ether with about 1% amyl.  Now, I am not sure of the term used when this mixture starts to burn when compressed to the propper pressure for ignition but would like to know.  Also, the ether is the primary igniter I would think because of its lower flash point?

Anyway here are the questions I have and hope someone can help me out. 

1.  What would be a good off the shelf/over the counter replacement for ether? Ether is becoming more and more difficult to obtain by the average consumer.

2.  Would it be possible to build a small diesel (.049-.060 CI) that could run reliably on auto/truck diesel or just kerosene with a small percent of castor for lubrication and cooling?

I hope someone can help me out here as the information would be greatly appreciated.  I tried to keep this as simple as I could since one question can spawn quite a few more.  Also this a great site.

Thanks again,

Ace