dummy R-2800 Pratt & Whitney
 

This is a build thread for the dummy radial we built for our Meister P-47. It started life as a 1/5 scale FTE resin dummy. The cylinders are not bad, but we wanted to add more detail and ad a better looking crank case and reduction housing. We cut the cylinders off and discarded the rest.

Here is the start. We used layers of 1/4" ply for the crank case. The housing was cut from the center of the stock Meister cowl. The backing for the engine is a cowl ring fit to the cowl so it is at the correct depth.

RE: dummy R-2800 Pratt & Whitney
 

We planed to leave the bottom cylinder out for cooling.

RE: dummy R-2800 Pratt & Whitney
 

Here I have painted the cylinders with aluminum. I then added the clamps (the top was aluminum, but the bottom was steel). I then painted them with flat clear to age the color. I also added the spark plugs and vent tubes.

RE: dummy R-2800 Pratt & Whitney
 

Here they are arranged on the mount, with the silhouette of the bottom cylinder cut out.

RE: dummy R-2800 Pratt & Whitney
 

After the crank case was glued to the mount, I coated the whole thing with Liquid Sheet from Wow Planes. Then the housing was glued in place and it was painted with engine Grey.

RE: dummy R-2800 Pratt & Whitney
 

Now various structures were added. The governors, mags, and other structure. Materials used were balsa, foam, aluminum tube. The small white circle will become the Pratt & Whitney emblem later. After this was all in place, I coated it all again with LS to produce fillets and connect all the structure so it looks cast.

RE: dummy R-2800 Pratt & Whitney
 

After adding some bolts and blisters, I painted these parts with Grey. Coated with LS, even foam can be safely painted with enamel. Then the cylinders were fitted.

RE: dummy R-2800 Pratt & Whitney
 

The cylinders could be glued in place now and the push rods were installed as I went.

Then I added the housing bolts. They are actually 4-40 studs with actual nuts.

Now I made up the wiring shield from aluminum.

RE: dummy R-2800 Pratt & Whitney
 

you got the skills to pay the bills... lookin' good.

RE: dummy R-2800 Pratt & Whitney
 

Thanks pal. I was told this would be a good subject for a build thread, so I am taking a little time to do this. Hope you all enjoy it.

RE: dummy R-2800 Pratt & Whitney
 

Now I airbrushed the back bank of cylinders in, installed the aluminum ring I made, and installed the plug wires which I made from brass rod (later painted copper color).

RE: dummy R-2800 Pratt & Whitney
 

Thanks for the thread Gary. Your work like always is top notch!

Curt

RE: dummy R-2800 Pratt & Whitney
 

Your very welcome. Glad you are enjoying it.

RE: dummy R-2800 Pratt & Whitney
 

A few more details added.

RE: dummy R-2800 Pratt & Whitney
 

Now for the fun part, the Pratt & Whitney emblem. After doing some research, I finally found some good pictures of it. I used a tooth pick and an exacto knife to 'paint' it on.

RE: dummy R-2800 Pratt & Whitney
 

Installed and then weathered.

RE: dummy R-2800 Pratt & Whitney
 

exelent work [sm=thumbs_up.gif]

RE: dummy R-2800 Pratt & Whitney
 

Hi

Very , very nice , good craftmanship and imagination , two thumbs up on this one [sm=thumbs_up.gif][sm=thumbs_up.gif]

RCU and RCC , need more of this to inspire other younger builders . A craft that is losing ground

Michel

RE: dummy R-2800 Pratt & Whitney
 

You are right. Just like arf's are doing to the builders world. Nice job on the engine mock up!

RE: dummy R-2800 Pratt & Whitney
 

Welldone ram3500-RCU

An excellent technique in giving shape and life to a bunch of plastics!!!!;)

RE: dummy R-2800 Pratt & Whitney
 

OK guys, Here's Ram's big secret....He went out and met with Rick Moranis, found the secret location of the "Honey, I Shrunk The Kids" shrink raygun, stole it, went over to Dayton to the air museum....Now there's a curator scratching his head wondering where their PW R-2800 static display went!

Nice job, Gary!!


edit for sp

RE: dummy R-2800 Pratt & Whitney
 

You guys are encouraging, AND humorous. Great combination.:D

If we do ever build Rick's shrinker, we are going to have a great time with it in this hob:Dby. Imagine shrinking ourselves to fly these things!!!!

RE: dummy R-2800 Pratt & Whitney
 

http://www.rcuniverse.com/forum/js/f...eeth_smile.gifHey Gary,
Absolutely fantastic, wow it look great all work you do is fantastic. i have ordered an engine for my Dauntless should be here tomorrow now I'm going to have to try and do what you have done it looks so good, great job Gary.
Limey.

RE: dummy R-2800 Pratt & Whitney
 

Dang Gary, Beautiful workmanship. :D

No wonder the P-38 turned out so well.

RE: dummy R-2800 Pratt & Whitney
 

Thank you for the nice compliment. It sure is nice to be appreciated by other skilled builders.

Are you getting one of Franks castings (I think this is the one Meister has)? If so, it is a good place to start. I used a thin cutting wheel in my Dremel to clean up in between some of the fins, but overall, it is good. The valve covers lack a lot of detail, but as you can see from the picture of it mounted, you don't see 80% of that anyway. As you know, the top and bottom halves of the cylinders were separate, hence the clamp, and Franks casting gives you the place for this. I considered making small claps from brass, but then opted to just paint them on, and spend time on other parts like the emblem (the part I am most proud of).

I wish I had taken more pictures of the aluminum wire housing under construction. I poured sand in the tube, bent it around a form, drilled holes around it for the spurs, cut one size smaller diameter pieces for them, glued each one in with thick CA, then painted it.