Makes me wonder where the rest of it is and is it in the same condition?

Is he perhaps thinking that the rod bearings did not need to be sized individually for each journal? All RR engines are/were test run before fitment and one of each batch were stripped and inspected for wear/damage to check for production problems. The Rolls-Royce heritage trust have a few books available on Merlin production that make for a very interesting read, especially the development ones which look at all the problems and solutions throughout the life and service of this great engine.

The trust is a great place to have a subscription the news letters and archive magazine make for interesting reading I have been a life member since the early 80’s and never regretted it!

Aahh I see said the blind man! I thought the reference was about a special fin on the P47…………where’s me glasses ma………….

Um, what’s a Hermes fin when it’s at home?

Is there no equivalent of the BATF (Bureau of alcohol, tobacco and firearms) in the UK? Here the relevant illegal part is the receiver with the serial number on it, all other parts are just, well parts! with fully auto weapons you are not allowed the sear to be with the parts if it can be converted from semi auto to full auto. this apply’s to California anyway. My son once used a British L1A1 as his science project at junior high and we had to get a letter from BATF explaining the lack of a receiver made it a Non-gun!

Great photo’s! I couldn’t help but notice the amount of aircraft sitting on there belly’s? was this due to the awful looking runways and taxi ways or perhaps dog tired pilots after 8 hours in the air?

Heating of the air/fuel mixture is done to prevent Icing most systems now heat the incoming air with engine heat before entering the Carb. as opposed to heating the manifold under the Carb. On some engines an engine oil feed provides the heat