thierry laurent Posted January 21, 2020 Share Posted January 21, 2020 Hi, I have a problem to position correctly the early tubular exhausts on a Spitfire MkI. Pictures and plans of the engine front view clearly indicate a noticeable angle. Have a look here for one example: http://jn.passieux.free.fr/html/Merlin.php However, scale plans of the plane including the following one show a nearly horizontal stance in comparison with the datum line: Does anyone have more precise info? To me it looks they were clearly angled! Weird! Thierry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuck540z3 Posted January 21, 2020 Share Posted January 21, 2020 These pics might help. They look mostly horizontal to me. Cheers, Chuck nmayhew and Out2gtcha 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thierry laurent Posted January 21, 2020 Author Share Posted January 21, 2020 Thanks but from such angles it is not possible to assess for sure. I had the same problems with the pictures I looked at. Only a front view in front of the spinner could give a final reply. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thierry laurent Posted January 21, 2020 Author Share Posted January 21, 2020 That one is a rare picture with the nose at ground level and in a more horizontal position. To me the end of the last pipe indicates some angle: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/36/08/4a/36084ab5137586b218ceda460a2f22e5.png Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BiggTim Posted January 21, 2020 Share Posted January 21, 2020 I would vote a slightly downward angle of 2-3 degrees to my eye. thierry laurent 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_K2 Posted January 21, 2020 Share Posted January 21, 2020 Given that the cylinder head banks were canted outward, and assuming the exhaust pipes were perpendicular to those, yes, a downward angle makes perfect sense. BiggTim and thierry laurent 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thierry laurent Posted January 21, 2020 Author Share Posted January 21, 2020 55 minutes ago, LSP_K2 said: Given that the cylinder head banks were canted outward, and assuming the exhaust pipes were perpendicular to those, yes, a downward angle makes perfect sense. That is what I concluded as well. However, I was puzzled when I looked at the planes plans from different sources as well as many models (but the latters are possibly based on the formers). BiggTim 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_Ron Posted January 21, 2020 Share Posted January 21, 2020 I'd say flat? I think the seam at the back is throwing the eye to think a downward angle Out2gtcha 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LSP_K2 Posted January 21, 2020 Share Posted January 21, 2020 Those all look downward pointing to me, Ron, but that's just me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thierry laurent Posted January 22, 2020 Author Share Posted January 22, 2020 Funny to see that things we are seeing for years and taking for granted can be so confusing as soon as we try to look closer...! Alain Gadbois 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuck540z3 Posted January 23, 2020 Share Posted January 23, 2020 (edited) These close-ups might help a bit. Note that the center-line of the exhaust appears to be angled down slightly. From this rear angle, however, they look pretty flat. Cheers, Chuck Edited January 23, 2020 by chuck540z3 joker, LSP_K2 and Anthony in NZ 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thierry laurent Posted January 24, 2020 Author Share Posted January 24, 2020 This is the typical problem of the bottom views! The only way to be fully sure would be a picture taken from the propeller front level. I'm also wondering if the exhausts are not slightly twisted if you compare the relative position of all exhaust holes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trak-Tor Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 I'd say going just slightly downwards. Definitely not straight out of the holes in the engine block like in that Merlin drawing above. Pictures from David Whitworth's Flickr: 1011:G-AIST / P7308 by David Whitworth, on Flickr 0180:G-AIST / P7308 by David Whitworth, on Flickr 0181:G-AIST / P7308 by David Whitworth, on Flickr I hope that helps a little. Juraj Alain Gadbois and thierry laurent 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RLWP Posted January 24, 2020 Share Posted January 24, 2020 They're a lot bigger than you might think! I've got one of those air compressors somewhere Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thierry laurent Posted January 24, 2020 Author Share Posted January 24, 2020 I know Jennings but this is typically what I do not see in pictures. If you have a look at the drawing, you see an horizontal section going out of the fuselage sides, then a downards bend and finally the exhaust ends that are going down. I do not see that on the full scaled parts. There is just a rounded slope going from the start of the exhaust up to the tip as the last picture posted by Chuk clearly shows it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now