Westbury’s Wombat

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Westbury’s Wombat

This topic has 12 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 9 February 2016 at 15:19 by Neil Wyatt.

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8 February 2016 at 17:28 #2445
JasonB
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8 February 2016 at 17:28 #224453
JasonB
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@jasonb
Has anyone built this engine? Reason for asking is that looking through the old issues of ME (3351-55) that the design was covered in there are differences on the positions of the ports as the crankcase has them dimensioned differently to the liner drawing when they should be the same?

I've looked through following issues and can't see any erata mentioned

Thanks, J
9 February 2016 at 10:32 #224552
Neil Wyatt
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ETW didn't make errors. I'm sure that was just a way of increasing turbulence to improve fuel mixing

Neil
9 February 2016 at 11:32 #224562
Circlip
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@circlip
An American builder has suggested that he gave up trying to make a Wombat due to a series of errors in the drawings.

Regards Ian.
9 February 2016 at 11:38 #224563
Roderick Jenkins
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@roderickjenkins93242
Posted by Circlip on 09/02/2016 11:32:49:

An American builder has suggested that he gave up trying to make a Wombat due to a series of errors in the drawings.

Or possibly Canadian? – the circle is complete

Rod
9 February 2016 at 11:51 #224568
JasonB
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@jasonb
Yes Brian has given up his attempt to make a simplified version which is who I was asking on behalf of.

Neil, I now have it on good authority from one of the "Motor Boys" that Westbury did not get to make this engine as it was his last design he was in ill health at the time it was drawn up. The resulting errors could in Westbury's own words cause the crankcase to expload which would be quite turbulent!
9 February 2016 at 12:12 #224571
JA
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@ja
Posted by Neil Wyatt on 09/02/2016 10:32:59:

ETW didn't make errors. I'm sure that was just a way of increasing turbulence to improve fuel mixing

Neil

Although he did get the conrod length on his Whippet wrong. And it did not increase the turbulence.

JA
9 February 2016 at 13:21 #224576
Neil Wyatt
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@neilwyatt
I jest of course.

Although I have a basket case Seal awaiting attention one day. The crankcase is all from the solid, and all the con rods have been carefully bushed in bronze at their big ends.

Unfortunately this means that the crank won't rotate in the crankcase with the rods fitted, no wonder the original builder gave up in disgust – but his fault not ETW's!

Neil
9 February 2016 at 13:32 #224578
duncan webster 1
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@duncanwebster1
Neil says "ETW didn't make errors." Are we to assume he didn't make anything then? His Jubilee Clock by all accounts wasn't a stunning success.

Edited By duncan webster on 09/02/2016 13:32:43
9 February 2016 at 14:22 #224592
John Stevenson 1
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@johnstevenson1
That was only because it wasn't a Jubilee year .
9 February 2016 at 14:49 #224595
JA
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@ja
I was told by an eminent present day model designer that ETW probably employed a model maker to make his models. I guess that communications were only one way.

Neil – do you or any of your staff check drawings that are submitted with articles? Or is it a case of user beware? I imagine it has to be the latter.

JA
9 February 2016 at 15:16 #224598
Neil Wyatt
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Posted by JA on 09/02/2016 14:49:02:

Neil – do you or any of your staff check drawings that are submitted with articles? Or is it a case of user beware? I imagine it has to be the latter.

Well we look at them and try and spot obvious errors, but unless you are an expert draughtsman you can only check all but the simplest drawings by building the thing (unless it's in a 3D package). Obviously not practical to do this.

There's a plan in the next MEW that has been done in a 3D package so everything SHOULD fit but I bet some SA will find an error.

Neil
9 February 2016 at 15:19 #224600
Neil Wyatt
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@neilwyatt
Posted by JA on 09/02/2016 14:49:02:

I was told by an eminent present day model designer that ETW probably employed a model maker to make his models. I guess that communications were only one way.

Some of ETW's writings (e.g. as Ned and Artificer) make it clear he had abundant practical experience, though its possible had used the services of others from time to time. Even LBSC didn't actually build all his designs though I doubt he would have accepted anyone else's work!

Neil
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