Author Topic: Mercedes DIIIa  (Read 14436 times)

Offline Jamo

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Mercedes DIIIa
« on: May 06, 2012, 10:52:28 AM »
These photos are of the restored Mercedes DIIIa engine fitted to The Vintage Aviator Ltd's first Albatros reproduction, ZK-DVA, which is painted as Josef Mai's 5284/17.

If you are modelling the Wingnut Wings Albatros there are some additional details that can be added, if you want to go further than 'out of the box'.



The oil tank has a breather tube (?) and a feed tube:


The air pump as a drain cock coming of at a diagonal angle:


Asbestos cloth wrapped around the inlet manifold:


Note the overhead cam is not black. The kit does not include sparkplugs, which are reasonably prominent:


Here is a link to album (19 photos):
http://s1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Mercedes%20DIIIa%20engine%20restored/
« Last Edit: May 06, 2012, 10:55:21 AM by Jamo »
Happy Modelling
James Fahey

Check out my massive photo collection here: https://jamesfahey.smugmug.com/

Offline Jamo

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Re: Mercedes DIIIa
« Reply #1 on: May 06, 2012, 11:06:45 AM »
Another TVAL Albatros reproduction 7343/17 also has an original Mercedes DIIIa engine but it varies from the one above by having a hot water jacket/double-wall in the intake manifold, which did away with the need for the Asbestos wrapping.





Notice the priming cups fitted alongside the sparkplugs:


Check out the fuel leads to the twin carbs:




I don't fully understand what function some of these items have:


The kit fuel tank caps have no detail. This photo shows what could be added:






Here is a link to the full album with 50 photos:
http://s1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Mercedes%20DIIIa%20engine%20with%20jacketed%20inlet%20manifold/?start=all
Happy Modelling
James Fahey

Check out my massive photo collection here: https://jamesfahey.smugmug.com/

Offline Tony Haycock

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Re: Mercedes DIIIa
« Reply #2 on: May 06, 2012, 04:14:54 PM »
Hi James

The mechanism you aren't sure about looks like the advance/retard mechanism on the magneto to alter the ignition timing.

Regards

Tony

Offline Whiteknuckles

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Re: Mercedes DIIIa
« Reply #3 on: May 06, 2012, 04:18:18 PM »
Thanks for more great photo's and more resources James.

Andrew
Eternal Apprentice

Offline Jamo

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Re: Mercedes DIIIa
« Reply #4 on: May 06, 2012, 04:56:16 PM »
Hi James

The mechanism you aren't sure about looks like the advance/retard mechanism on the magneto to alter the ignition timing.

Regards

Tony

Sounds good to me, thanks Tony!
Happy Modelling
James Fahey

Check out my massive photo collection here: https://jamesfahey.smugmug.com/

Offline Des

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Re: Mercedes DIIIa
« Reply #5 on: May 06, 2012, 07:36:00 PM »
Excellent photos Jamo, these are a wealth of information for the modeler, thank you for posting them.

Des.
Late Founder of ww1aircraftmodels.com and forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com

Offline Jose Chaica

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Re: Mercedes DIIIa
« Reply #6 on: May 06, 2012, 08:34:21 PM »
Excellent photos! Many thanks, James.  :)
Jose Chaica, from Portugal.

Offline pepperman42

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Re: Mercedes DIIIa
« Reply #7 on: May 06, 2012, 11:20:44 PM »
All the reference you need. Thanx!!!!

Steve

Offline GAJouette

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Re: Mercedes DIIIa
« Reply #8 on: May 07, 2012, 12:20:08 PM »
  James,
Thanks my old friend for suppling even more outstanding photo references to us.
Highest Regards,
Gregory Jouette
" What Me Worry"

Offline kornbeef

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Re: Mercedes DIIIa
« Reply #9 on: May 08, 2012, 01:02:51 AM »
AMS FRENZIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE  :D
wow

Never too old to learn sumfink noo

Offline Pete Nottingham

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Re: Mercedes DIIIa
« Reply #10 on: May 09, 2012, 05:25:30 PM »
Many thanks for sharing the photos James, a great source of information and reference.

Cheers

Pete.

Offline Bob Sands

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Re: Mercedes DIIIa
« Reply #11 on: September 12, 2012, 09:33:02 AM »
  I'm a new guy, so please be gentle,...
  1.  Is there an easy place to go for reference material about these engines?
  2.  With exposed valve springs, were they "evil" messy things?  I'm remembering the time I left the oil filler cap off the car.  Inattention has a way of teaching you things!
  Thanx  Bob

Offline uncletony

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Re: Mercedes DIIIa
« Reply #12 on: September 12, 2012, 10:02:54 AM »
Bob, to answer your second question somewhat obliquely, a few general observations:

-- Valve springs per se do not require lubrication.

-- Poppet valves are typically not lubricated in their guides with engine oil, rather by the inherent lubricity of the fuel (and exhaust) mixture.

-- The cam, cam followers and rockers are most definitely lubricated by engine oil, but in the case of the D.III the messy bits are enclosed by the rocker covers.

In short, my guess is the thing probably throws a bit more oil than a modern engine, but nothing like the total loss system of a contemporary rotary.

Offline Jamo

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Re: Mercedes DIIIa
« Reply #13 on: September 12, 2012, 10:55:49 AM »
Hi Bob
Another angle on your question is to look at the photos as a working engine not a museum piece, so what you see is what you get. The TVAL planes are flown reasonably frequently and exhibit a similar kind of usage you expect from WWI. Some of the engines and airframes are quite grungy with exhaust and oil, especially the rotaries and Beardmore.

Cheers
James
Happy Modelling
James Fahey

Check out my massive photo collection here: https://jamesfahey.smugmug.com/

Offline bobs_buckles

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Re: Mercedes DIIIa
« Reply #14 on: September 12, 2012, 07:15:45 PM »
Thanks for the superb reference, James.

Out the box has never been so much fun!

Cheers,
Bob  :D



https://www.bobsbuckles.co.uk/

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