RR Merlin Scale Models

Hi all,

The original question was where is this '1/6 scale Merlin engine I viewed at Earls Court back in the early 80's?

Since then the question has been high jacked by none relevant posts. Please answer the question or close this post.

ps

Martyn, your original question said 1/2-1/3rd scale. I posted a link to where it was said a 1/5th scale engine was exhibited in 1982 by Barrington Hare . The link also mentions two of your three points about Magnetos and supercharger what was not relevant about that? Several others have also suggested this engine.

Now you are looking for info about a 1/6th scale engine?

Edited By JasonB on 20/02/2021 07:50:42

Well I wouldn't say hijacked exactly Martyn but it has suffered from the usual tangents and straying gently off topic. Something that affects most if not all threads at some stage.

You asked a basic question - those of us who read your post and had some knowlege of the engine at the time you describe had no idea of it's current whereabouts.

Because your question has not been answered positively is no justification for closing the thread - someone may come along who knows the answer - you just need to be a bit more understanding of the situation and perhaps just exercise a little patience and show consideration of fellow members.

Regards - Ramon

Back in the 80’s my wife and I used to breed cats and attend cat shows, we were at a show in the midlands and for the life of me I can’t remember where it was, however another cat breeder who I was friendly with was also an engineer. On this particular day he said was I interested in model engines to which I replied definitely, so he said let’s go to my friends house and you will be amazed at his engines. We went to his friends house and in the back garden was a superb workshop excellently equipped but his latest project was the star attraction, there sat a fully working scale model of a Merlin Engine. I was in wonder of the degree of detail and the skill necessary to achieve the end result. He showed us the drawings that he had obtained and then scaled down to build the project. I understand that at that time he had demonstrated the engine running on local television. I am afraid I do not know the name of the builder but this took place in the mid 80’s so very possibly the one mentioned in this posting. Dave W

Wow. That would have made the old cat show seem dull. I wonder where it is now? (The engine, not the cat show.) Hopefully sitting on some surviving family member's bookshelf on proud display and not binned as happens to so many when non-comprehending families clear the shed. I know some of my Dad's models ended up sold for scrap metal value to buy cigarettes for a helpful family member "tidying up the shed" after his passing. I'll bet the same happens to some of the models we see posted on here from time to time as having been stolen from owner's workshop. Seems like sacrilege to us but to some miscreants its just a bit of copper and brass enough to buy some fags or a hit of meth or whatever. But hey, that's the state of the world today isn't it.

PS, what kind of cats did you show? I used to have Manx cats -- as a result of Nortons in the shed -- and sure do miss the furry little criminals. They do get under your skin and into your heart though. Prefer them over dogs any day.

Edited By Hopper on 20/02/2021 10:14:38

Hi Hopper

We used to breed and show Birmans, in our first year of breeding bred the best male kitten in the breed club, so quite chuffed with that. We haven’t been without cats since and currently have a Siamese, an Abyssinian and two Turkish Angoras, the Turkish are brother and sister and deaf, consequence of white cats with blue eyes. We gave up breeding years ago but couldn’t be without any cats, I get along much better with cats than people. In respect of what happened to the Model Merlin Engine it was quite a large model, as far as I can remember about three feet in length with the prop, and my assessment was easily of museum quality so who knows where it is now. Dave W

Wow that was quite a size then. Bigger than I was thinking. Yes hopefully is preserved somewhere.

And I never knew that about white cats with blue eyes. Interesting. We had a few challenges with Manxes having trouble with the rear part of the body, including kidneys etc. as a result of their breeding etc. Cost a fortune in vet bills for one of them. But as you say, you tend to get along with them better than people!

Now it's been hijacked, unless it was Manx 12v cat powered engine running at Olympia

Fantastic model. I remember seeing it (or maybe another) some 30 odd years ago. From what I remember, it was at a model engineering show at the Wembly Conference centre. I was amazed how authentic it was when I think of the Merlin engine we had at the Ford trade school in the seventies.

How dull this forum would be if every post demanded an answer with no tolerance of flowing conversation.

I think I saw one of these engines run at Bristol. Another thing that cannot easily be scaled is sound. Although it sounded glorious you were under no impression that it was 47 litre or whatever!

You are right about the sound Jon. I have seen a full size Avro Lancaster with 4 Merlins start taxi and take off from very close distances at a local air museum in Hamilton Ontario Canada, and also at Kitchener Ontario air shows years ago. Nothing like that sound, smooth as silk but no mistaking massive HP. Quality in every rev. Seen several other 4 engine full size aircraft start/fly in my time (B-17, B-24, Lockheed Electra and Constellation, Hercules) but none come close to the sound of one with 4 Merlins.

Edited By Jeff Dayman on 23/02/2021 21:14:44

I saw a merlin engine model at a hall in Leicester that has burnt down I think.This would be around 40 years ago.It was run but I could not get near enough to see it,but boy could you hear it.At this show was an spectacular radial engine that I could never imagine having the skill to achieve anything like it and I haven't come anywhere close.

Frank

I got the city wrong,it was Bingley Hall Birmingham that I saw the merlin engine.

Frank

We had four in the blower tunnel when I was at Boscombe Down. You knew when they were running!

talk cats, watch these episodes, mainly no 6

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSQMnNn6RSM

Edited By Martyn Ball on 21/03/2021 11:45:46

I thought the Bingley Halls were in Leicester and the first Midlands Model Engineering was there for a few years, until it moved to the University of Birmingham?

Regards

Brian

Hi All,

Anybody got there own Bridgeport?

Sorry, 'their'

.

Bingley Hall [no ‘s’] was in Birmingham when I lived there: **LINK**

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bingley_Hall

MichaelG.

.

Edit: __ Good page here:

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/incoming/gallery/pictures-brindleyplace-neighbours-being-built-8572096

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 17/04/2021 10:28:24

Try asking the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust. They may know its whereabouts..

Howard,