RR Merlin Scale Models

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

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

[SamsarandaParticipant @samsaranda]

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

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

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!

[Dave HalfordParticipant @davehalford22513]

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

[Bo’sunParticipant @bosun58570]

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.

[Jon LawesParticipant @jonlawes51698]

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!

[Jeff DaymanParticipant @jeffdayman43397]

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

[brickyParticipant @bricky]

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

[brickyParticipant @bricky]

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

Frank

[Jon LawesParticipant @jonlawes51698]

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

[Martyn BallParticipant @martynball23274]

talk cats, watch these episodes, mainly no 6

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

[Brian Baker 2Participant @brianbaker2]

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

[Martyn BallParticipant @martynball23274]

Hi All,

Anybody got there own Bridgeport?

[Martyn BallParticipant @martynball23274]

Sorry, 'their'

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Brian Baker 1 on 21/03/2021 12:22:41:

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?

 

.

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

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

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

Howard,

[JAParticipant @ja]

Posted by Howard Lewis on 17/04/2021 12:20:48:

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

Howard,

You can try but they are dormant at present.

I may have a report on the talk given to the Bristol branch almost 40 years ago. The talk would have would have been film and that would be available in normal times. The engine (which one I do not know) was run at the end of the talk.

JA

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

The R-R Heritage Trust suffers from exhibits being moved / stored within the factory, as well as the effects of Covid restrictions.but I will ask my contact , although we are both ex Oil Engine Division, to see what he can find out.

Howard

[DaggersParticipant @daggers]

I was lucky to see Barrys engine a couple of times and watched it run sometime in the 1980s.

At an much earlier exhibition i viewed his embryo merlin, just a large chunk of alloy with pockets milled out. What a craftsman.

He was always a very private man but still active in 2008 as he exhibited his Eagle 22 in the ME exhibition and came away with a cup.

A picture of him is in issue 4338.

The last time I heard of him was in about 2018 when a someone mentioned the they had spoken to him, but I really can’t confirm that.

I also seem to remember that at one exhibition I attended there were two merlin engines which sat side by side, one built by Barry and another by a different builder.

My father was a Merlin mechanic during the war and when i showed him Barrys engine on the front cover of the ME he was totally in awe of the mans skill.

[Martyn BallParticipant @martynball23274]

Hi all. i sent a message regarding ' do you own a bridgeport'? no answers so you don't.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Probably lost in a thread that some of our Bridgeport owners may not be following. There are quite a few who have them.

[Jon LawesParticipant @jonlawes51698]

Maybe they were put off by the previous comment and didn't want to deviate this thread off track, or decided not to engage as sometimes it just isn't worth it when the person asking has been disagreeable to converse with.

[Author]

Posts