WIX Archives
Too salty Sir?
Posted by Cees Broere on Fri Mar 05, 2004 07:49:48 AM
In reply top Re: But it is a sole survivor? posted by Elliott on Fri Mar 05, 2004 05:51:21 AM
Elliott,
I guess you hit the nail on the head with the remark that anything recovered from salt water needs to be preserved as soon as possible to stop the salt from doing too much damage.
The Napier Sabre you were referring to was acquired a long time after it had been trawled up from the North Sea, and it had been in storage for a long time as well before we got it. It never had any preservation work done so the salt had plenty of time to attack the metal (and it still does despite a coat of black preservative as used on the undersides of cars). If the engine had been properly pressurewashed and coated with preservative after recovery, then it would have been in much better condition then it is now. Referring to the recent thread about exhaust pipes, the exhaust pipes were in perfect condition.
It also helps if an object has been covered under sand instead of sticking out of the bottom. Another engine we have on display (A Merlin XX from a Halifax) shows the side which was under the sand as reasonably clean while the other side that had stuck out from the sand was eaten away by corrosion.
Personally I'm not a fan of salt water recoveries, only if the airframe is so unique as to warrant a recovery or the conditions are favourable (depht, silty bottom, cold water etc.)
Cees