WIX Archives

Re: Engines old or new

Posted by Jim on Thu Jul 10, 2003 01:50:34 AM

In reply top Engines old or new posted by John Parker on Thu Jul 10, 2003 12:33:18 AM


I think we're at a point where current technology could make recreating these powerplants fairly easy. The new units would be better, safer and more reliable and could possibly incorporate some modernization that wouldn't interfere with the original appearance or authentic sound.

I think one issue would be who owns the rights and patents on the original drawings and design. I'm sure RR would have issues with "new Merlins" made out of license. The same would probably hold true for Mercedes/Diamler-Chrysler with the DB engines. And P&W are still around as well. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Another issue is that there are competent shops that can easily make replacment/new assemblies (such as rings and bearings) today, but hardly anybody wants the liability for the parts. This was mentioned by builder Mike Nixon in a article on the V-12 engine builders in Air & Space magazine. Mr. Nixon also mentioned how he felt the costs to reproduce the engines would be too high. He gave an example of a reduction gear cover for a DB601, which after the engineering, casting and machining came to $20,000. Shops do make one-off replacement parts now, but they are expensive. (Someone mentioned in a previous post about new Merlin heads being made?) Also, since we've seen how new-build fuselages are becoming fairly common (P-51 especially), I'm hoping that it's only a matter of time before engine sub-assemblies are produced in quantity as well. The costs for the parts should decrease if more than one are made at a time.

My $.02, since it's way past my betime. (Yawn)



: We used to chat a lot on this and the previous site about
: engines.
:
: The eventual limiting factor on what I call "Big Iron" war
: birds remains. What happens when the supply of whole engin
: es and parts dries up - it already has for some types such
: as MIGS with Allisons and FW 190 with Russian radials etc
: . Surely most machines of the WWII ear can be structurally
: built virtually from scratch if need be but what about th
: e engines - the sight and sound are unique to each type so
: it is not really the same if a modern aircraft just looks
: the part, it needs to sound the part. In any case the sup
: ply of the alternatives will soon dry up anyway so it is r
: eally forstalling the inevitable.
:
: The point is where do WIX members see the future in terms
: of the potential to reproduce actual components up to full
: powerplants - what are the problems and what is the poten
: tial. I have no clear understanding of the issues but I wo
: uld like to learn more. I am aware of a lot of new technol
: ogy for building up patterns from computer plans etc - per
: haps this can be used.
:
: What do we all think about this.
:
:
: Kindest regards
: John P

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