Tricks that old racers get up to after retirement

[jackiewilson]

Jackie - i was only kidding about the R2800. Radial engines are a whole different world. Can be very temperamental. I've always said, starting a turbine is a procedure, starting a radial is an art. Kinda like a woman.

Yeah , I know, I looked at that P&W lump and thought ----"That's Impossible" and that little voice in my head said "SO DO IT. YOU ONLY DO CONCEPTS ANYWAY"
That's another fine mess you got me into STAVROS.!

Wow Stavros, what a way to start the new year---------that's a very profound statement ----"STARTING A RADIAL IS AN ART------KINDA LIKE A WOMAN. ? Maybe you should try a " kick start"
or even a "push start"---------- I tell you now, I haven't got big enough CAJONES to try either. I would like to live a little longer and enjoy the new year.

Question for you Stevo------is there a pot every 36 or 40 degrees-----this little conundrum is bothering me------it has nine in two banks------R/J is bound to know-----was a time I wouldn't have to ask! Maybe I'll just set it up on the bench-----in my usual hit or miss manner, it's stood me in good stead over the years.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND IRIS.

[jackiewilson]

As with all good tales told by boaters, they always start with "You ain't never gonna believe this". As opposed to the usual "Once upon a time"--------I just had to tackle the P&W R2800 head on, like a bull in a china shop-------like most things I attempt I started Arse backwards by doing the prop shaft and front nacelle type "thingy" -------after nearly four hours I thought I had better just do it when I feel like it--------maybe twice a week for a couple of hours---------that way I should get it done in time for Tavares.

[jackiewilson]

Cracked it------don't need anyone's help-------40 degrees between cylinders--- X2 = an 18 cylinder P&W R23800 . Should be ready November 2016!!

[GENE LANHAM]

Cracked it------don't need anyone's help-------40 degrees between cylinders--- X2 = an 18 cylinder P&W R23800 . Should be ready November 2016!!

Jackie--why not practice on something more simple?? Pratt and Whitney built many round motors (as well as Wright, Lycoming Jacobs, etc).

PW built the R-985, single row, 9 cylinders??

Then you could move right up to the PW R-4360---4 rows, 28 cylinders

[jackiewilson]

Jackie--why not practice on something more simple?? Pratt and Whitney built many round motors (as well as Wright, Lycoming Jacobs, etc).

PW built the R-985, single row, 9 cylinders??

Then you could move right up to the PW R-4360---4 rows, 28 cylinders

Oh Jesus wept Gene please don't even implant the idea of a 4X7 pot lump-------I shall be up to my fetlocks on a 2X9, for a day or two,j just let me get my breath back before chucking any more ideas into the ring, all it needs is for someone to buy it provided it's ready before next Wednesday, then I'm in deep Ca-Ca.
Was lost in geometries for a while-----forgot the basics------but common sense prevailed in the end and I have a cylinder perfectly divided into nine equal parts-------simple if you think nine into three sixty ?
18 barrels is a large lump of lathe time----then there's the heads to cobble--------? Not to worry, any things possible---------where there's a will------?

I think I've managed to convince myself-------why make things easy, when you can make things so bloody difficult without really trying!?

Went to afternoon tea at Allison and Chris's ( he's the guy with the Norton and T5 Triumph ) so that was the end of play for today-------scrapyard and car boot sale tomorrow crack-o-sparrow, so it's going to be a late start------R23800 will have to wait in line.

Rambling modes back-----time I was gone-----MYGGWY .J.

[powerabout]

Jackie--why not practice on something more simple?? Pratt and Whitney built many round motors (as well as Wright, Lycoming Jacobs, etc).

PW built the R-985, single row, 9 cylinders??



Then you could move right up to the PW R-4360---4 rows, 28 cylinders

and 56 spark plugs
Happy New year to all

[jackiewilson]

and 56 spark plugs
Happy New year to all

Back off there Pilgrim, I'm just a bean-------a human being-----56 spark plugs-------wonder how many valves? -----My brain does not have the capacity to comprehend the enormity of the beast or the desire to participate in such a scatterbrained scheme! Arthur would have a field day in in the fingers from fiddling and farting about fixing fuel ways! SAME TO YOU FELLA.

[jackiewilson]

Why did I do it------just spent three hours drilling and tapping the block to take sixteen barrels!
Realised I was quite enjoying the experience --------the harder the concept the more I enjoy it.
Fabricated the first barrel and it wasn't half bad--------could see which way to go. ZZZZZZZ Time.

[jackiewilson]

Had a nice quiet easy time in the shop------got tired of the 18 banger Pratt and Whitney, so I finished the cockpit and cowls for ET79------ then made up the mounts for the MALIBUSTANG .
END OF THE DAY I HAD ONE BANK OF NINE BARRELS ACTUALLY FITTED.,!!!
Sunday tomorrow so I got a free day in the shop--------will try and put the finishing touch to a couple of earlier projects---------still running with my head up my Arse!!!

Dont know if you got this story over in the colonies, but the British government in its wisdom has decided to put British soldiers on trial for actually shooting Iraq soldiers------ER-----didn't anyone explain to these idiots who run our country, that when you train a soldier to fight the enemy with a gun, with live ammunition and actually point said weapon at armed insurgents ------it's for real!
Its what soldiers do-------they should not ever be put on trial for doing their sworn duty ------somewhere along the line------the tree huggers and polititians have lost the plot completely.
You do not go to war and play pat a cake?

I have opinions but I don't usually let the polititians piss me off--------but this time, they have.

May post a piccie or three tomorrow, depends on progress made, that's your lots for today MYGGWY J.

[jackiewilson]

Was round at my next door neighbours house last night having dinner with a group of friends, one step closer to normality. I'm fortunate to have such great friends and neighbours !
Dreadful morning, rain and high winds-----may have to put one of the bars on this morning-----I have a wall mounted three bar electric heater for emergency use only-----surgical gloves usually keep the joints warm.
Got a head full of ideas and brass work , copper pipes and oil ways , so I will spend all day on the Pratt and Whitney project.
Broke two 4mm taps doing some of the 150 holes already drilled, next up are over fifty 3mm holes ready to tap for the oil ways.--------there will be close to a thousand tapped, threaded holes before this concept is concluded,-------thanks Stavros, you me a large one.
If the day runs smoothly and I get done what I intend, I may post a progress piccie-----if not -----tough titty, --------sorry 'bout your bad luck!
Have a nice day.j.

[jackiewilson]

Happy new year Stavros------got a couple of piccies for you to peruse------been eating bear ALL day, Got all 18 barrels fitted to the crankcase ------must have been one mother of a motor in its day.
Believe it's still in use today in the south of France in Convairs for dumping water on forest fires!

Will get around to downloading the pics later in the day, it's Sunday and drinky-pooh time and I'm not in any hurry-----you just have to wait 'till I'm good and ready!

[GENE LANHAM]

------must have been one mother of a motor in its day.
Believe it's still in use today in the south of France in Convairs for dumping water on forest fires!

Happy New Year Jackie--

Steve and I----and any other OLD aviator would have to agree--

The CB-16's and CB-17's were the last iteration of the great R-2800-

This is an excerpt from John Lear--can you believe 62 inches!!!

[jackiewilson]

Looks like we might have inadvertently stirred the history pot here Gene------will have to be a tad careful how I tread, this is unknown and sacred territory.
Just thought I'd give you a glimpse of how the P&W R23800 is coming along--------I'm hiding behind the " Concept" door on this one!
Got a great idea for a stand---------may not be all that authentic but buggered if it won't look the biz on the mantle piece .
Nailed the centre section to the Lembke rig-----still got to do the gearcase-------I screwed up on the first one and had to bin it-------was a bit too ambitious with the grinder, ground it down to the prop shaft . Still have the butterfly mind, though I must confess to having all of seven hours on the double radial today. Broken it's back, just the fiddly bits, oil ways, electrics etc.

Duckworth famously once said, when one car turned up at a race meeting with three plugs per cylinder--------"One plug per cylinder is enough to create a bang"

Goodnight my friends, I enjoyed my day------hope you did too! MYGGWY .J.

[powerabout]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadair_CL-215
always in Corsica as for some reasons the locals are always setting fires in Summer

[jackiewilson]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canadair_CL-215
always in Corsica as for some reasons the locals are always setting fires in Summer

Same thing in the Languedoc ------there were six Canadairs based just outside Montpellier ----used to pick up water from the Etang de Thau right outside my front door. Was quite a spectacle to see them scoop up the water------Even more impressive to watch them dump it on a fire!