Halifax JD150 Merlin XX engine to run again!! and appeal for help please.

Hi Brad,

Hold fire as the engine isn’t at the museum just yet, the other 3 unrestored Merlins from JD150 are on display but you have probably seen them before, we also have the FN4 on display now although I am yet to label it which I will do very soon. We also have a Bomber Command Veteran Sigining on the 6th May this year.

Ive got that date already in my diary, for anyone else who hasnt yet been to one of the signing events, its certainly a very well organised event and a great way to meet the veterans, and a look around the museum is a must with dispalys changing all the time, i can highly recommend a visit.

Sorry to go of topic slightly.

Hi Brad,

Hold fire as the engine isn’t at the museum just yet, the other 3 unrestored Merlins from JD150 are on display but you have probably seen them before, we also have the FN4 on display now although I am yet to label it which I will do very soon. We also have a Bomber Command Veteran Sigining on the 6th May this year.

Not that i need an excuse but looks like my second visit comng up this year, as last time there i hadnt witnesed this great piece of workmanship, cant wait to see the Merlin it in motion.

I would think it will be tonned down a little, will be interesting to do a night time run to see how effective those exhausts were.

Wow – that’s superb.

I’m guessing it will sound relatively quiet once its running.

Bruce

Hi Anon, I think I have seen it running a few times before, fantastic sound.

Peter is in my view a wizard at what he does, with the engine from JD150, he has spent a lot of time saving the original parts as he knows it is to be run as a sort of living memorial, he said it was most likely the most original running Merlin XX to one identity in existance.

I remember seeing a complete one of those “saxophone” type exhaust systems, brand new and unused, at one of the Tangmere aerojumbles years ago. I wonder what became of that?

Great work and a fine tribute to the fallen. There’s nothing like the sound of a Merlin.

There’s another Merlin in Stockport which is now on the circuit. Graham Hope from Reddish has finally, with help from the maestro Pete Greive, got it going last year after a long and thorough restoration by Graham. It’s an ex-Lincoln Mk.68A.

On the subject of crashed engines; many here will probably have seen Peter Grieve’s running Merlin XX at some time in the last 15 years. Are you aware that that engine is a crash site unit? It came from a Beaufighter site – more information on Peter Grieve’s fb page. Or just Google: Flight Engineering Leeds.

Anon.

Beautiful craftsmanship. Well done.

Thanks Cees, I will pass it on to Andy, he will be pleased!

Not that i need an excuse but looks like my second visit comng up this year, as last time there i hadnt witnesed this great piece of workmanship, cant wait to see the Merlin it in motion.

Peter brought it to Elvington last year, and we hung a set of Tony Agar’s Mosquito NF exhausts on it. Looked and sounded fantastic!

I remember seeing a complete one of those “saxophone” type exhaust systems, brand new and unused, at one of the Tangmere aerojumbles years ago. I wonder what became of that?

Great work and a fine tribute to the fallen. There’s nothing like the sound of a Merlin.

There’s another Merlin in Stockport which is now on the circuit. Graham Hope from Reddish has finally, with help from the maestro Pete Greive, got it going last year after a long and thorough restoration by Graham. It’s an ex-Lincoln Mk.68A.

On the subject of crashed engines; many here will probably have seen Peter Grieve’s running Merlin XX at some time in the last 15 years. Are you aware that that engine is a crash site unit? It came from a Beaufighter site – more information on Peter Grieve’s fb page. Or just Google: Flight Engineering Leeds.

Anon.

Wow – that’s superb.

I’m guessing it will sound relatively quiet once its running.

Bruce

Beautiful craftsmanship. Well done.

Sorry so excited I forgot the attachments!

A little update but a very important one for the Halifax fans. The exhausts are now very much one their way to being completed and this will give us the true sound of a Halifax MkII. Andy has done a fanstastic job but he did say he wouldn’t be doing any more!! I attach some before and after photos, I am sure you will agree we have been very lucky finding a man with such skill and dedication.

While you are at it you might keep on going and build the rest. There is a spare Halifax wing flat pack available in Canada.:D
Cees

With thanks to the kind people at the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre at East Kirkby our Merlin XX project has taken a major leap forward. Yesterday we collected a replacement lower sump case as a replacement of the original from Halifax JD150 which was very badly damaged. This casing has one small hole which can be easily repaired. Many thanks in particular to Andrew Panton for all his help and assistance. We could very soon hear the sweet sound of a Halifax Merlin running once again after more than 70 years!! :eagerness:

May be able to help you with a lower crank case as we have one that’s had a hammer through it. Do you have a photo of yours so I can see if ours is in better condition?

Completely understood.

With respect I feel I must answer any negative criticism given to me regarding posting the picture of the crash site of JD150. I did so as I felt it relevant to the thread, illustrating the condition of the airframe after impact. I took it from a Geneology site. (http://www.wikitree.com/photo/jpg/Hitchcock-957-5) the child in the photograph being someone called Jack Hitchcock. The photo being uploaded by Craig Hitchcock. I credited the owner of the photo which was the correct thing to do!

[QUOTE=Pathfinder;2289933
But please, if you use here photos from my website (http://spurensuchesh.de/hoebek/) please put the source to my website under this photos.
I has researched the crash site of Halifax JD150, recovered the four engines and gave the Merlins as present the Wings Museum in the U.K..
Kind regards
Nils[/QUOTE]

With respect I feel I must answer any negative criticism given to me regarding posting the picture of the crash site of JD150. I did so as I felt it relevant to the thread, illustrating the condition of the airframe after impact. I took it from a Geneology site. (http://www.wikitree.com/photo/jpg/Hitchcock-957-5) the child in the photograph being someone called Jack Hitchcock. The photo being uploaded by Craig Hitchcock. I credited the owner of the photo which was the correct thing to do!

Hi All,
redhillwings,
Many thanks for posting the very interesting information and photos of the subsequent restoration process that will be lovingly bestowed on the Merlin III. Please pass on my regards to all the team involved in the recovery and restoration…..:eagerness:

Geoff.

Hi,

Nils – we remain very grateful to you and hopefully thanks to your efforts the air will once again be filled with the sweet sound of a true Halifax Merllin. Re photo credit, I think Paul considered he had given credit to the website where he picked the image up from but it seems that website may have taken the image without giving proper credit to you?

Andy, please PM me, every message I send you seems to dissapear into a cyber black hole.

I am pleased to report that progress continues with the rebuild and both cylinder banks are now complete and fitted onto the crank case, beginning to look like a merlin again.

Here is the photo link (new photos tagged on at the end).

https://www.flickr.com/photos/89759996@N04/sets/72157658125468292

Be grateful if you could get in touch about this project, Redhillwings!