Building a Warbird Engine

[Guptar]

A while back I found a link to a company in NZ that build a fully working Liberty V12 engine for a museum in the UK, infact it performed better than the original due to its better construction, and materials. they build from drawings, blocks, crankshafts, heads, pistons, conrods and anything else needed themselves.

Would it be safe to say that going the whole hog and building a Merlin V12 be technically feasable, ignorring the $$.

It seems they would have a ready made market.

[kiwiblue]

Originally Posted by guptar

...they build from drawings, blocks, crankshafts, heads, pistons, conrods and anything else needed themselves...

Warbirds over Wanaka having been doing this for years and not only engine components; airframe too.

[Launchpad McQuack]

Wanaka doesn't get too carried away with engines, they send Merlins for overhauls etc to an outfit in California (or somewhere in the US) rather than manufacturing major componants, although Ray's boys do some amazing stuff down there.

The said outfit in California/US apparently has a whole warehouse of Merlins, like going supermarket shopping

Regarding buildng new merlins, I've often wondered that myself. I don't doubt it's technically possible but perhaps uneconomic at this stage, or maybe there are copyright issues etc? Anyone else care to comment?

LP

[AerocatS2A]

The Alpine Fighter Collection in Wanaka have never been in the business of complete rebuilds of airframe or engine. Most of the aircraft they've had there were either purchased in flying condition or the restoration work has been contracted out.

[chad sexington]

I've seen a few references to retooling in order to build engines over the years and the figures quoted for a faithful merlin reproduction run into millions.

I suppose the market is not yet (if ever) large enough to support it as a commercial venture.

[kiwiblue]

quite right boys, I should have been more precise... what happens when I'm in a hurry!

What I should have said is that these guys have in the past rebuilt engines with the creation of their own tools, machines etc as part of the process, and have done some amazing airframe reconstruction -from wreckage! Truly inspiring work. But having said that, it is not their primary mission at all as I erroneously implied.

[AerocatS2A]

I think you're right. I didn't think they'd rebuilt anything themselves but I'm now thinking they may have done the Kittyhawk. What others were there? I know the P51 was bought flying, the Polikarpovs were rebuilt by the Russians, Hurricane was done by Air NZ I believe. What about the sptifires?

I spent a few years based at WF as well. We probably know each other .

[kiwiblue]

Yep, you're pretty much on the money there. The Kittyhawk 1st time I saw it was a rough cube of wreckage no bigger than a Mini -complete aircraft! From those ashes...
Ray once showed me the tools and bit-and-pieces they had created from scratch to rebuild just the radiator core tubes!!! Phenomenal stuff.

Every chance