Relic of Curtiss NC-4 Flying Boat on eBay?

Here is a bit of a project I’m working on, 3-d modeling the NC-4 for my next art piece. When finished, it will depict the NC-4 buzzing the last USN destroyer in the whole line of ships across the Atlantic, Next stop-Lisbon. First hop across the pond by aircraft. They were followed a couple months later by a couple blokes a Vimy, though they crashed in Ireland upon arrival, but they made it non-stop, another record to fall.

Have to finish rigging the beast, texturing all the canvas and then build a scene to drop it into and do ART STUFF.

Had the pleasure of seeing the NC-4 this summer at the Naval Aviation museum…..WOW! That is one BIG aircraft! They had a cut-away Liberty and that is what it looked like. Provinance of the artifact would be the thing!

They have the NC-4 hanging from the main gallery ceiling and it is a wonder. If you ever go near Pensacola it is a must see. And it is Free! (well, paid for by taxes donations and partially run by volunteers)

I think my Whole piston sold on that auction, a few years ago, for around $85 and I was pleased – as I was only hoping for $50.

Damn!

I’d have happily paid $85 for a complete Liberty piston!

I couldn’t find out (from the web) what engines the NC-4 was even fitted with. At least you’ve posted a good photo of a Liberty piston so I know exactly what to look for…..if I keep my eyes open one’s bound to turn up sooner or later.

Low price!

$500? Well did you notice that this seller offered the same item in the auction that closed June 15, for $5000?!
If it had some family photos, documents, a letter, a postmarked envelope etc. to “help” support the attached story, It “might” fetch a decent price. But it seems to just have the typewritten tag, so…
I think my Whole piston sold on that auction, a few years ago, for around $85 and I was pleased -as I was only hoping for $50.. Not NC-4, but a good WWI aero artifact. It is a pretty large and impressive size. (the whole one). A LOT of the old odd pistons got cut up, through the piston pin opening, and were used as ashtrays. Since this one did not have a top-just a cross section-it could not even appeal to those old pilots who still smoke. pity. $500 seems a little high,without better provenance (proof of where it came from), to me..But I am more often amazed at the high prices some of these items can fetch.

Well, no one was convinced it was original or worth the asking price of $500, auction finished, no bids.:(

Liberty Piston

Looks okay to me. We have had a number of Liberty engines. In fact, we supplied the extra Liberty engine to go with the DH9a display. It only had 30 hours on it, since new, when we sent it to the RAF Museum. Here is one of the pistons from an engine we dismantled.