I believe there to be a few “experts” out there on this a/c, i would like to make contact with you as i require some specific info that i cant find elsewhere. Even sent a request to Hendon archives, but no reply.
As background, building a 1/3 scale flying model and need some more accurate info than the poor 3 views generally available. Mainly float to fus relationship, ie distance from float top to underside of fus, length protruding past spinner backplate etc.
Thanks in advance for any help.
By: Arabella-Cox - 15th April 2013 at 20:57
Interesting.
My information comes form the Air Ministry report on the operations of the High Speed Flight that includes a log of every flight which includes details of the engine fitted. The production run of new engines in 1931, six in all, finished at R31.
The label on the Filching Manor engine says it is R37, and I guess that is correct as it has the modified air intake and simple gear box as used in the Blue Bird boats.
By: R6915 - 15th April 2013 at 18:18
The source of my information was the original owner of the museum – it’s possible that he passed away a couple of years ago – but I am unsure about that.
However he told me categorically in conversation that R-R Heritage had inspected the engine the previous year and told him THEY were amazed to find he had indeed got the ex air speed record engine.
I took that to be the truth, if that is incorrect, then I have a very red face!
By: Arabella-Cox - 15th April 2013 at 12:29
Thunderbolt, doah! I’m getting my birds and bolts confused
By: Arabella-Cox - 15th April 2013 at 12:19
Hi,
From the material I have this seems to be the situation.
The 1931 S6 contest engine was R29. For the first speed record it was R25 and the second record, 407mph, was R27. both then went to Thunderbolt, R25 is now in the RAF Museum and R27 and is in the Science Museum.
The engine at Filching Manor is R37, a special build for Bluebird (car) and Bluebird boats K3 and K4. When it was displayed at Goodwood a couple of years ago it looked fine externally, no idea what the insides are like.
Cheers
By: R6915 - 15th April 2013 at 11:44
Sorry Schneiderman,
A lack of clarity by me here, I have slightly mislead you, the private museum in Eastbourne has the world air speed / Campbell land & sea winning R Type sprint engine NOT the Schneider Trophy winning engine.
The last I heard, it is correctly inhibited, theoretically capable of being run again and sits adjacent to three early series Merlins similarly supposed to be inhibited and capable of running after minimal work on them.
By: Arabella-Cox - 13th April 2013 at 19:27
……or, you could cross to the otherside of the floor in the Science Museum and the ‘R’ is sitting next to the window 😉
By: R6915 - 13th April 2013 at 15:57
Hi nick.henderson,
The original S6B Schneider Trophy winner (RAF Serial S1595 ) is on display in London (UK) at the Science Museum. Have a look at this link…
http://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects/aeronautics/1932-532.aspx
Accepting that a trip over from the Phillipines is not a Saturday morning quick jaunt maybe you can find some one who can contact the museum on your behalf, gain a special permission pass (as I did a few years ago at the RAF Museum ) and be accompanied by a museum staff member to take the measurements you need.
Note that it’s Rolls-Royce “R” Type engine is not installed. BUT, it does still discreetly exist at a private museum near Eastbourne. It is the actual engine that won the air speed record two weeks after the races. After the races finished the RAF High Speed Flight was disbanded. As much as possible of the kit was sold off by the Government in 1931.
The engine was purchased by 1930’s speed king Malcolm Campbell who then installed the same engine in a couple of his BlueBird land speed attempt cars and a couple of the BlueBird water speed attempt boats. He was successful and I believe this is the only engine – ever – to capture world speed records in all three elements.
By: Arabella-Cox - 12th April 2013 at 17:32
Hi Nick,
As Matty so kindly says my books should provide you with what you need. It was the lack of good published drawings of the S6b that got me started on the whole project.
PM me if you need any additional info.
Cheers
By: cotteswold - 12th April 2013 at 17:11
Whatever your success, I have to thank it for tempting me into a rewarding career in the RAF.
= Tim
By: nick.henderson - 12th April 2013 at 15:56
Thanks for the speedy replies! Unfortunately i am limited to internet only activities due to being located in the Philippines!!
There are some good photo sets on the web as well as various 3 views, but the same dimension on one particular 3 view measures two different dimensions according to my steel rule!! Quite useless!!
I know the track of the floats, but i’m after a distance from a reference point (wing LE and TE for example) to float upper surface.
Then some way to get the float in relation to the fus fore and aft, ie length the float projects past spinner backplate.
Sounds simple, quite hard in real life.
Thanks again for your efforts though!!.
By: Matty - 12th April 2013 at 14:56
Hendon have quite a number of original drawings that would certainly help you. You just need to arrange an appointment with their reading room to take copies.
This book by Ralph Pegram Schneider Trophy Seaplanes and Flying Boats has some very accurate 3 view drawings of the S6B including a page of drawings on the float designs taken directly from those at Hendon.
By: Snoopy7422 - 12th April 2013 at 14:46
S6B.
I don’t know much, but they have an original S6A here;-
http://www.solentskymuseum.org/page_2493568.html
JDM used to produce an r/c model S6B at about 1:5 which flew very well indeed. These still come-up on eBay unmade from time to time.
Mag article here…drngs…?
Profile Publications here…
It’s hard to imagine that there aren’t some decent drawings available….keep looking..! 🙂
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April 12, 2013 at 1:51 pm