Aaaahhhh……but do they all taste the same?

(ie Dog…t on a roll?)

Wombat:eek:

What was the original quality control like?

Given the pressures of war, I have often wondered if Merlins and Griffons were built to the famous Rolls-Royce standards. Were they simply brilliant engine designs, or did their performance arise from a combination of brilliant design and outstanding engineering and manufacturing quality?

Even if the manufacturing standards were the very best possible at the time, the quality of metals used would be far less than is available today, and the stresses to which they were exposed could have caused serious wear which must be detected and rectified prior to flying again. Is it feasible to replace original parts with identical modern components, using more modern materials?

Wombat

Originally posted by JDK
Hey Wombat,
Have to disagree with you there. The Buchon as a type has more years service wearing German crosses than any ‘genuine’ 109.:p

A ‘Warbird’ to me is a military a/c in civillian hands or used for display – usually W.W.II or thereabouts. There’s no generally accepted definition, but being in a war isn’t one for me. (And yes, the Buchon was used against rebels in North Africa if you wish);)

The Buchon gets my vote because a) it’s been avaliable as a baddy when there weren’t any 109s. b) it was in the Battle of Britain film c) it’s got a great look that I like, with a big grin (my choice!)

And most of all, because a Buchon in Luftwaffe fig (just like the 108, Nord or Pilatus P-2) pis$es off the uptight Luftwaffe rivet-counters!

Oh, yes, the first 109 flew with a RR Kestrel too. (see earlier debate…)

Real Messers have Merlins! Yo!

PS I quite like ‘Real’ 109s, but the Buchon is for me…

JDK

Obviously, we share different views about the “legitimacy” of the Buchon. Your point about the Buchon wearing the German crosses for longer than the original is really only a reflection on history ie the duration of the Third Reich, rather than proving that a Buchon is a genuine 109.

I also made the point that the Buchon lacks the aggessive integrated appearance of the Daimler Benz engined 109. The original Messerchmitt design is far more purposeful to me than the Buchon, which is downright ugly from the leading edge forward. The radiator intake on the Buchon is ugly, ugly, ugly – in fact, I think only the Halifax Mk. I had as ugly a Merlin installation. The aircraft looks awkward. The 109’s, even in the early 109B and C versions, with their radiators beneath the cowling, looked better. The later (Emil’s onwards) look the part.

Yes, the prototype did use a Kestrel and we all know why. But it was not the 109 we all know and respect, and it doesn’t go flying around in substantial numbers trying to look like something it wasn’t. How many Buchons are flying today in their correct Spanish colours, instead of pseudo Luftwaffe colours?

Phantom

Yep, I’ve seen the Russian engined P-40. You’re right, they don’t look identical to an Allison or Merlin engined P-40, but they are much closer to the original than the Buchon is to the 109. The P-40Q doesn’t look like a P-40 at all, but it was, because it was designed by the original manufacturer and intended to be a P-40.

I’m going to stick to my guns here. Real 109’s had Daimler Benz engines. (Now some bugger will tell me they had BMW’s)

Regards

The rivet counting Wombat. 😉

Ant

When I get down there, I’ll certainly be taking a few shots of her. I’ll put them on the forum to illustrate how she’s been displayed, if someone doesn’t beat me to it.

Wombat

You blokes are bloody lucky

You get to see a wide range of aviation based programs, from what I see on this forum, and I’d certainly love to see them out here.

All we get are crap like Neighbours, which goes on for years. Maybe Germaine was right, we are backward.

Lucky sods!

Wombat

Just look out

Watch out you Poms

She left here 40 years ago and thinks that entitles her to consider herself an expert on her homeland.

Imagine what she could say about the UK after living there for forty years?

She’s bound to whinge about your beer, she’s already moaned about aircraft noise, God knows what else she’ll find wrong with you, but at least she’ll leave your cricket team alone – after all, she hates sport (and good sports, by the sound of things)

Filthy old hag.

Don’t come back. Perhaps Iraq or Iran is more to your liking.

Wombat (you remember us, the little furry, cuddly, dumb things that p**s all over your lap when you try to cuddle us!):D

Steve Irwin wannabe???

Crikey!!!!

Why would anybody want to be a Steve Irwin?? Only a nutcase plays with crocs like he does, has pet snakes crawling all over him (and his wife – she’s nice but I think she’s bonkers, too!) and thinks that spiders are cute and worth conserving…

He has to be either a chronic tree hugger or an Aussie!!!

(or both)

PS Hope we’re talking about the same Steve Irwin?

Regards

Wombat
(definitely not a tree hugger, but definitely an Aussie)