18 Cylinder Radial

1/5 scaled down version of the full size Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp 18 cylinder radial engine. Although every detail is not exactly to scale it is close enough to impress most. Prints & plans are sold by Lee Hodgson at www.agelessengines.com. The radial engine in this video was machined and built by my father (Heller Davis). using all raw materials with exception of one aluminum domed shape casting on the back of the engine.
Raw materials used: Cylinders: L12 leaded steel, Pistons: 2024 aluminum, Rods: 6061-T6 aluminum, Rings: Cast iron, Valves: stainless, Most internal parts stainless, Bearings: ball & bronze. Engine specs: 1. inch bore, 1.125 inch stroke, 6.7 to 1 compression ratio, 15.90 cubic inch displacement, 260. cc's, Horse power unknown, weight: 18.750 lbs, Engine measures 11.250 inches in Diameter, 11.750 inches in length, Five main bearings. Pressurized oil System with two pumps, delivery & scavenger. Prop size: 32x10.
1,100 hours of machining and building, Completed in just a little over five months. Started at the end of April finished the first of October, 2011. The full size R-2800 was used to power several types of fighters and medium bombers during the war, notably the US Navy's F4U Corsair, with the first prototype Corsair becoming the first-ever US fighter plane to exceed 400 mph in level flight during October 1940, the Corsair's naval rival, the Grumman F6F Hellcat, the US Army Air Forces P-47 Thunderbolt, and the twin-engined B-26 Marauder & A-26 Invader. Over 30 different planes used the R-2800 engine.

[@johndoyle4723]

I cannot even begin to imagine the skill and ingenuity that went into building this treasure. Keep it in the family as an heirloom in honour of the constructor.

[@dormantsuperhero]

And no cop outs on the ignition system either, twin distributors, sir, i envy your talent, just beutifull and thankyou for uploading.

[@iflick7235]

It belongs in a 1/4 scale RC. A Corsair or maybe a Thunderbolt.

[@3960xRocks]

Just finished replacing the valves in my 2.5 litre engine after a timing belt snapped. Imagine having to do one of these! Building this was brilliant but to me the geniuses are the people who design these from concept in the first place - the more I learn the more I realise how little I know.

[@rbagel55]

WOW! I can only imagine the many parts to this engine that had to be made and carefully machined by hand. Must have took some time. what a fantastic work of art! I'd like to see somebody make a 1/4 scale Pratt & Whitney R4360 , wouldn't that be a challenge!

[@stanhathcoat920]

One of the smoothest running "scale" engines I've ever seen, & a take off of my favorite powerplant, the P&W R2800.

[@Jean-Pierre-Villard]

UNBELIEVABLE ! What an amazing, beautifull piece of work/Art from your Dad!

[@skyking6989]

Sounds soooo good. No sound quite like a radial engine

[@MartinAlva]

That is so beautiful. Truly a piece of art.

[@carmelpule6954]

Excellent and Brilliant in every way..... a masterpiece and a work of art and engineering together. Congratulations

[@CreaseysWorkshop]

Really the pinnacle of model engineering.

[@chrispza]

This little gem is a work of art.

[@brian42776]

be great on a a RC corsair!

[@japcas]

Great work on the engine. It sounds as good as it looks too. Thanks for sharing.

[@ColeAviation]

WOW!!! What an amazing piece of work! Great job! 👍

[@myfordboy]

Wow that's an amazing engine. It sounds great and starts so easily. You are very skilled.

[@greasydot]

Wow, Uncle Duane!!! That is one sweet engine!!!

[@blackturbine]

I has so many cylinders it's hard to tell if one is miss firing Still amazing craftsmanship That thing is gold

[@jasonb9629]

That is amazing! Nice work!

[@maxwellbutler4184]

Disliking this should be a federal crime.

[@christopherknee5756]

Not putting it in a RC plane too!

[@Istayuplatedrivefast]

playing music over the beautiful sound of a radial engine should be a crime

[@maxus302]

Why?

[@walterriely4032]

I keep finding this vid, still flaws me every time, just superb!:-)

[@truman42746]

Amazing! I would love to see it on a plane!

[@blueskys8814]

Another fine work of art !!!!!

[@dougkubash8673]

FANTASTIC!! A work of art

[@robertgift]

Wow! Congratulations!

[@turbocompound]

Absolutely perfect engine, wow.........

[@Chuck59ish]

That is a master piece of machining.

[@kffive]

I think my dad sang me this lullaby when I was a baby. That and hot rod Lincoln.

[@jacquespoirier9071]

no price tag on this... it is a piece of art from your father keep it jalously

[@mechcntr7185]

Very nice smooth sounding engine. I wanted to hear it under full load though.

[@dansweet9694]

Very Nice, Johnny!

[@DetroitEngineWorks]

Hey Dan, Thank's for the comment. I will tell Pop you seen the video. We will be coming to Zolfo Springs Friday just for the day. Will you be there?

[@endwood]

Stunning!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@SquillyMon]

Boy she runs GOOD too

[@sawdust9929]

Plans for this 18 cylinder radial & a 9 cylinder available from Lee Hodgson at Ageless Engines

[@marktate3431]

Stunning

[@Vindicator58]

Man I wish I had that talent!

[@nicksofialakis1448]

What a gorgeous lady she was, she was firing as smooth as a Rolex.

[@bitemykrank1970]

Someone payed attention in Shop Class....

[@billville111]

Love it. The C clamps make me nervous though.

[@detroitbluesguy]

Raw Talent!

[@OzParkPilot]

Amazing !!!!!!!!

[@nswiss19751]

Art!!!!

[@billymaros3064]

Nice !

[@KO-pk7df]

That's seriously amazing. It sounds great. I wonder whare the 9 post distributor caps came from or did they custom make them? 3d print or what?

[@DetroitEngineWorks]

My father thanks you for the compliment. He machined the distributor cap if I remember correctly from either acetal or Delrin round stock.

[@chrismcclain5136]

how much hp would be a good guess? and how much on e cost?

[@thepotentielhunter]

Love the music. What's the title ?

[@sharpsdoublerifle1439]

Honestly I'm flabbergasted, I'm a amateur machinist, with the most basic mill and lathe, and I could no more make this than fly to the moon. I don't even know anybody who could. Where do you learn this skill set anymore? I went the route of college and engineering/flight school to satisfy my interest of mechanical things. But I always have thought I should have been a machinist instead, but at the time and now for sure, there is no way to gain this skill/knowledge. My kids can't even take shop anymore...and I live in the country with wheat farmers for crying out loud!

[@DetroitEngineWorks]

Me and my father are both machinist and he is also a retired tool & die makers. He retired in 1993 with 36 years of experience. He has been retired now for 24 and has never stopped machining (still works in his own shop) so he has about 60 total years of experience. I am 55 still working as a machinist myself now going on 37 years. My father is 81 years old and he can still do more with a lathe and milling machine then most ever dreamed of.

[@finleylewis9944]

now ya just got to find a rc plane big enough for it

[@animussilica2606]

Why RC? I'd go for a little manned aircraft with this one. Autogyro or something.

[@finleylewis9944]

na not powerful enough

[@bogeyboy4044]

for someone who does not have a machine shop, do you offer a complete engine or just the plans? You probably guessed my next question lol......How much? I visited your site and found no info for completed engines

[@Islacrusez]

Mmm, beautiful. If someone wanted to buy one off you, or have you build a new one, what would the approximate cost be? Not including the prop, what is the cost in materials alone?

[@adrianlarkins7259]

That needs brains, skill, experience, devotion, money and a well equipped workshop. Brilliant. I would love to see it in model aircraft but I can understand the reluctance. However, here's a thought. I think I'm right in saying this engine was fitted to the Sherman Tank. That would not be dangerous. Anyone got a 1/5 scale Sherman?

[@wi11y1960]

Have you bothered to film it at night to see if she has night flames from the exhaust?

[@ronitsingh85]

That engine is dying to be powing an RC plane and be flown once!

[@dirkgrobler2179]

Salute

[@AsloAso]

how much hp does this little engine do?

[@hasnanabdullah670]

What are the firing order for this ya??

[@bixewoschtfighta]

Hi, this is true dedication, very impressive! But please let us also know about the song title and artist. brg

[@TheSamchilders]

I want one of those on my ugly stick!

[@TestECull]

Why soil such a lovely engine with such a boring airplane?

[@sherylcyranoski8968]

lots of cylinders how much horsepower???????

[@Glasher1]

Any thoughts of loaning this out to mount on a scale aircraft?

[@DetroitEngineWorks]

+AH Glasher No thoughts of loaning, so sorry.

[@LuizCma]

very good video , brasil ok.

[@DetroitEngineWorks]

Horse power probably around 15 to 16.

[@rwm6060jn]

were may I get one of these nice video

[@DetroitEngineWorks]

Video only available on KZbin. I do plan on maybe doing a updated version some day and it would also be on KZbin.

[@brentor111]

I just need four for my B17...

[@xach1090]

This engine is absolutely fantastic! What is the name and artist of the song in the video?? Thanks for sharing this!

[@DetroitEngineWorks]

+xach1090 Posted at the end of the video, Serachi Music, check him out on KZbin.

[@jamesaddison81]

It's called Passion :) Great engine by the way!

[@rwm6060jn]

did you build this? I work for Boeing 20yrs am now retired old me like your engine shutting down today 4/9/2016 my B day and a vet of nan ; like your video

[@CreeperOnYourHouse]

What's the horsepower of this?

[@Flightstar]

What event was this video shot at and where?

[@DetroitEngineWorks]

Daytona Florida Turkey Rod Run 2011 (Hot Rod Show) inside the Daytona speedway.

[@windchimeman4286]

just one question .Is CNC required to make such a piece?

[@DetroitEngineWorks]

No CNC, all done with manual milling machine and lathe and a few jigs for machining the one piece heads.

[@sblack48]

DetroitEngineWorks cnc machines did not exist in the days when these engines were the technology of the day.

[@davejay15]

Can you make me 5 of them . One for a spare the 4 will go into a wingspan 208 inch wingspan model. It'll be operational and flyable. I would need an exhaust ring too.

[@DetroitEngineWorks]

We do not machine for retail sale, Sorry.

[@johnabuick]

Is it running on alcohol?

[@DetroitEngineWorks]

johnabuick Running on Colman Lantern fuel.

[@johnabuick]

White gas is what we called that when I was a kid out camping many many moons ago. How much HP do you think it produces?

[@Bubblytubebob]

That's music t my ears . Thanks.

[@scottdearmond4804]

Ok

[@puchomoreno]

Supercharge it!

[@modelleg]

That's using compressed air.

[@InTheDogHouse3DPrinting]

+modelleg I don't know what you are smoking, but it's running on fuel, NOT compressed air.