Aah yes! James Clavell was the one. I quite enjoyed Tai Pan & Shogun. One has to wonder if people with a knowledge of the time/location around which the books were based had as much fun picking holes in them as I did with 'Whirlwind'?
sprocket: Unlikely the engine controls would be ripped out without affecting their position. Metal tubes throughout and the only friction is on the twistgrip end.
Literary licence methinks.
Never let the truth get in the way of a good story :-)
Taff