I am an aircraft engine lover, and have built a couple of the big engines that have been repopped by the new owners of Williams Bros. I have built the Wasp, and have been looking forward, ever since the new owners got things going, to the repop of the Wright radial. I have written to them asking for the release of that kit, but I am sure it will take more than just me. So I am encouraging others who like to build engine models to contact them too (if such others exist!).
What scale were the previous engine kit. I am currently doing a 1/18th DB 605, and the company that does that does 2 others, but I would like to see more engine kits.
I’d love to see a 1/18th, or so, P2800 kit.
I am interested. The problem I’ve always had is getting anything close to an accurate drawing.
My dream- 18 cylinder Isotta Fraschini Asso 750 W engine. I need two for my MAS boat.
The full engine kits are 1/8 scale. My Wasp Jr. measures 6 inches in diameter. I made a wall mount and it is hanging on my den wall. Maybe I’ll get a pic of it tomorrow.
I like engines, too. I have the Williams R-1340 and two of the 1/12 Revell R-1820’s, the Allison 501, and a Williams Le Rhone. All unbuilt.
I’ve always thought engine kits are interesting. There seems to be more pre World War II subjects. Engines and Things has a lot of WW II engines in 1:48 that are intended to be AM for aircraft kits but I suppose one could scratch build an engine stand. I’d also be interested in turbines. Other than the rare aircraft kit that has them (the Hobbyboss F-105 has a J75) I’m not aware of any source of turbine engines.
My brother-in-law was a Phantom Phixer so he would love nothing more than to find a kit of a GE J79. I’ve always been on the lookout for one but I don’t think they make such a thing like that in kit form. Like Mij said, I don’t know if anyone makes any turbine engines.
Eric
True. Of course all of the engines actually used in the war were under development at the start. The hyper program, initiated at start of war never resulted in a production engine- people could see turbines were the way to go by end of war. Even things like the Wright Turbo-compound were extensions of engines already begun by beginning of war.
In that catagory, but the one I most would like to see is a 1/8 scale R-2800!
Grabbed a shot of the Williams Bros. Wasp Jr. this morning.
Used autofocus- should have known better. Sorry for bad focus, but if you look at only bottom cylinders you can see the detail on this kit. Diameter across the cylinders is about five inches. The kit does not include the prop- only the prop hub. I bought a big wooden propeller, meant for an RC model. I cut it in halve, carved the hub areas to fit in kit hub, and painted it silver.
Good news- I had sent an email to WB agitating for a repop of their Wright radial. Got a reply today. He said the cylinder mold is in bad shape and needs to be redone. He is considering subcontracting it out, maybe to a 3-D printing company. It is nice to know they are working the issue!
Seems like some of the breakthrough engines that were difference makers in WWII would be a good starting point for some kits.
Allies: Merlin, R-2800, R-3350, Welland
Axis: DB601, BMW 801, Nakajima Sakae, Jumo 004
I like the list. Wouldn’t it be great if mfgs offered all these in 1:8 or 1:12?
Where can you find something like this Don?? =]
I love them too! I spend way too much time detailing those in kits, and mid-year last year did the 1:32 scale Roden Mercedes D.III engine. It was a lot of fun, but a typical Roden kit. I’m currently working on the Airfix Maudslay paddle steamer engine (I know, not an aircraft engine, but an engine, just the same). I have the Williams Bros. Wasp engine in my stash.
Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas
I’d love to do something like that Don! Do you have any contact info?
Williams Bros email is wmbros@sbcglobal.net
They also have a web site- didn’t save URL but do a google search on Williams Bros model kits.
Thanks for that contact info. , Don.
And I’m happy to read your surgery recovery is going well ! [:D][Y]
Don there are miniature nuts and bolts made for the railroad modelers and they look great when used to replace all of the visible (plastic) nuts and bolts on the WBs P&W Wasp engine. I did this for one of my engines (so far) for a1/8th Lockheed Electra Model 10E (Amelia Earhart). I bought 1/32nd scale plans from Cleveland Models and had then scaled up to 1/8th. What did you do for propeller blades on your wall display?
I use RC props, though for the Le Rhone I made my own from laminations of spruce and mahogany. For the RC props for big radials I cut them in half at the hub then round off the hub area till they fit in the supplied hub.
For nuts & bolts I keep styrene hex stock, small diameter on hand. Just slice a slice and glue it on- makes great bolt heads or nuts.