Video 186 Restoration of Lancaster NX611 year 6.. Rolls Royce Merlin top half assembly

[@edwardpardy7866]

My dad was very fond of that Merlin engine, it was his favourite thing to hear it start and take off, especially at night. If he was still alive he would love to have helped you guys with it. He worked on engines right into his 90's but sadly time has left him behind.

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Nice story Edward.

[@johndavey72]

As always Neville you end with "Thanks for watching " .....I think l can speak for everyone .....it's we who are in your debt and it's "THANKYOU NEVILLE !" 🥰

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Cheers John.

[@mikepocock575]

To hear these Merlin engines run still sends shivers down my spine,i brought my dad and his friend up to East Kirkby some years ago my dad trained up as radio op/air gunner his friend flew on Lancs from East Kirkby and when the Lancs engines started up you could see the tears running down their eyes,something i will never forget.What the lads are doing here is wonderful i just wish my dad and his friend were still here today.Neville again thankyou for the videos.

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Nice story Mike.

[@pjweds]

Surely I can't be the only one, watching on an iPad I made a grab for the oil can when it fell off the block. !!

[@brianbeale528]

I thought Nev was going to grab it😂

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Nice one pjweds.

[@earlchapman8729]

Many years ago , when I was involved with the maintenance of Merlin’s, I had the opportunity to meet Maurice Hammond and tour the facilities of Eye Tech Engineering. The care that a Merlin receives there is as good if not better than that bestowed upon them by Rolls Royce. Another wonderful video Neville, so many thanks for all your efforts.

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Cheers Earl.

[@peterlancaster4876]

Actio-packed episode Neville! Thank you for continuing to spend the time there and send us these despatches from the front! I can’t imagine the difficulties the ground crew had in repairing these aircraft on an open airfield, in winter, in the dark in low to minus temperatures.

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Thanks Peter.

[@iaincathro3373]

Brilliant to see highly skilled lads like this at work. Amazed at the (relatively) great condition of these engines after all these years.

[@peter-e2q]

Fascinating look at the inside of a Merlin, and fabulous information. I used to strip and rebuild Ford Kent engines in the 80s so completely at home watching this. I can even smell the oil. :) Brilliant!

[@davidwebb8877]

Proper craftsmen

[@namer6643]

Cheers, Neville and crew, for sharing another great video with this enthusiastic audience!

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Cheers Namer.

[@williammillward3696]

Martin; "Shocking" best wishes !!!

[@adriangiddins6065]

Thanks again Neville... it really is a pleasure to see the real "nuts and bolts" of all this hard work.

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

cheers Adrian.

[@FlightEngineering1]

I totally agree that those corner studs are a nightmare. They had problems with them as far back as the 1950`s and tried various types of heavy plating, and including seals (which made the situation worse by trapping water). they should have machined the corners of the blocks or added a drain hole so they are open to the atmosphere like the single-piece block, and the problem would have disappeared.

[@andybarratt0704]

Cheers for the update Neville. Lovely to see the inner workings of that merlin. What a beautiful piece of engineering. To hear that some of the parts have not been touched since it was made at Rolls Royce all those years ago. A real testament to the level of skill that was around back then that these engines are still around today. Not like the modern rubbish that only last for a short space of time. Also credit goes to the guys there at East Kirkby for all the hard work they do regarding the restoration and also for keeping those merlin engines running for all of us to enjoy. No sweeter sound than the roar of a merlin engine. Melts the heart every time. Best wishes to all the guys at East Kirkby and also to you Neville. 👍

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Thanks Andy.

[@barry5787]

Another great video, the mechs being very cooperative, always nice to see.

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Cheers Barry.

[@richtaylor2129]

Love the sound of a Merlin Engine!! The more Merlins in formation, the better the sound!!

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Cheers Richard.

[@robleary3353]

Brilliant that the skills are still around to bring a lovely bit of kit like this back to life for generations to come to remind us of those who served and sacrificed everything to give us the freedoms we enjoy today!. Nice one!.

[@richardknight4677]

I always enjoy watching Brader's and Martin working together. They have a great working relationship and always very will to explain exactly what they are doing and why. As do all of them at the centre. Keep up the good work Neville. I enjoy watching all your videos.

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Cheers Richard.

[@stevewayne1359]

Thank you for another brilliantly informative video Neville. Getting to see inside an "open" Merlin Engine is extremely special and something that members of the public very rarely get to see - if ever.

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Cheers Steve.

[@СергейКругляков-х4ч]

Огромное спасибо! Приятно смотреть как люди занимаются любимым делом!

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Cheers Sergey.

[@peter-e2q]

Love Brad’s preemptive comment: “We do know what we’re doing!” Anyone who doubts that, hasn’t been watching this channel! So many dedicated professionals in one hanger!! Total respect for their tools and materials. Fabulous to watch.

[@neilharrison1420]

what wonderful viewing ,love seeing that merlin

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Cheers Neil

[@Peter.w]

Bradley and Martin the Merlin Magicians! Lovely update Nev.. That merlin is a beauty! Interesting to see the process of reinstalling the elevators. We had to remove and reinstall the elevators on FM159 in Nanton Alberta as well as change a couple of the hinge brackets. These were little piggies to get access to the head of the studs inside the tailplane. Thank god for smaller hands!

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Good luck with FM159 Peter.

[@ianstewartaviation2634]

Every time I watch your excellent videos Neville I am in total awe and admiration of the skills of everyone involved with Just Jane if all goes to plan I will be around 75, when she takes her maiden flight as always a big thank you Neville for the videos and to all involved in this amazing project 👍👏🇬🇧

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Lucky you I was 75 ten years ago, cheers Ian.😪

[@lindamckenzie4543]

Bradley, you do know what you are doing! 🙂 “Thank you” to you and to Martin (?) for the great info on your work on the incredible Merlin. I can hear the beautiful sound of it in my mind right now! Thank you again, Neville, for your excellent video. I wonder if any of your audience have downloaded all of your videos so far, to create a library of the amazing process. A big wave to you all from Aotearoa/New Zealand 👍🏼

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Thanks Linda.

[@jazzkazz]

Thanks for another interesting insight Neville, and top job by Bradley and Martin - they make a great team. See you again soon folks! 🙂

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Cheers Karen.

[@ronnieboulter1607]

I have visited east kirkby aviation centre and stood next to just Jane. The finds the guys have at the centre is remarkable,the mustang P51 cockpit and the spitfire and the stories about the pilot's of those 2 planes. I am lucky enough to live near one of the dams in Derbyshire that 617 squadron based at raf scampton based in Lincolnshire practised on. The Lancaster bomber truly is a legend.

[@andrewmurton8379]

Incredible that these engines are still about and usable. Thanks Nev for the updates.

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Cheers Andrew.

[@KeithLeyland]

Another great video Neville! Good to see "other trades" getting involved , not just riggers working 😀

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Cheers Keith.

[@Macrobish]

Respect to the boys working on the Lanc - they’re very patient with you Neville

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Yes they are Macrobish, good set of Lads.🤔

[@peterwilson8797]

As a grease monkey and a motorcycle rider I love these hands on videos. Wish I could win the lottery, retire and work there for a breakfast and a few brews. The skill of the people there is spot on.👍👍

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Cheers Peter.

[@michaelhorner2722]

That was excellent a usual Neville .

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Cheers Michael.

[@johnbradshaw354]

Intersting points on the merlin the corrossion issue and the fact that the engine is untouched since produced by Rolls Royce. Assembly progress on the flaps. Many thanks Neville.

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Cheers John.

[@davidlawrencebanks4610]

Nice episode Neville you're spoiling us lol... 👍👍

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Cheers David.

[@CheshireTomcat68]

always love seeing engine innards being explained!

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Cheers CT68.

[@KevinMeeds]

Great update Neville and shows the range of work being undertaken on a daily basis.

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Cheers Kevin.

[@alancrowley7991]

Good update Nev keep em comin...👌

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Cheers Alan.

[@mischef18]

Another great video update bro there is always something interesting. Safe travels

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Cheers Ken.

[@stenalbertsen2440]

The boys are doing a great job 👍.

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Cheers Sten.

[@simvrod]

Velcro and glue that’s the British ingenuity that won the war😂

[@michaeldargan7290]

Another great video thanks Neville!!✈

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Cheers Michael.

[@nofider1]

Excellent Neville. Thank you. One of the best channels on KZbin. :-)

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Cheers nofider1.

[@charleshart6992]

Another excellent video Neville - all looking good for the hew season!

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Cheers Charles.

[@philipbrailey]

Nice video. I learn a lot, thanks for posting.

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Cheers Phil.

[@bigmac60]

More excellent videoing Nev.

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Cheers Paul.

[@garyneilson1833]

Thank you for the update Neville

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Cheers Garry.

[@happyhome41]

Fantastic - engine and elevators.

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Cheers HH.

[@petersmith4455]

hi, great work, i am sure Guy Gibson is looking down on you, look forward to take off,

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Cheers Peter.

[@malcolmjames1866]

Thanks, Nev.

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Cheers Malcolm.

[@buffplums]

7:00 as they used to say when you couldn’t get something “in the hole” … “put some hair around it” … kids today would not have a clue what this means hohoho😂

[@ianallan8005]

Damn you, Brazilian deforestation!

[@buffplums]

@@ianallan8005 what do you mean?

[@fredblogs5801]

We used rotating engine stands so the banks could be lowered square onto crankcase.

[@johncrook7705]

I remember the fuselage end section being stored here at Blackbushe airfield with Doug Arnold. He had a mosquito and had just got a B17. Funny how parts get moved around for projects!

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Cheers John.

[@flypawels]

Nice Engine!!!

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Cheers Pol Can.

[@kimeldiin1930]

The side load is on the inlet side only on one side of the engine as it depends of the angle of the conrod during firing...and THAT is identical on the two sides...hence pistons are mirrored on US V8:s or have not utilized valve pockets.....on the old push rod variety...not on the more up to date 4 valve variety ,took em decades though....

[@ajg617]

Hi Nev, is this a Merlin that's been on Jane for taxi or has it been in the shop? When they said it hasn't come apart since RR assembled it, I was curious.

[@VulcanBomberxm655]

This is a ground running engine only.

[@ajg617]

@@VulcanBomberxm655 Yes, but they have extra taxi only and airworthy engines in store. My question was did this come off of Jane or maybe even the Mossie for which there are also extra taxi only Merlins if memory serves. As of early 2018, the center had 10 Merlins. Nev, is this the 'brand new' engine retrieved from Switzerland?

[@BradleyWinder96]

This is Tony Agar’s original Port engine for his Mosquito. His Mossie has been running with a loaned Merlin from LAHC for the last year (the ‘Swiss’ engine).

[@brutter602]

The rods don’t spring in length they extend in length when they get hot.

[@kurtbarker3303]

Another great update Neville, thank you. I worked with a few of the lads you feature. Brad is a chap I don’t know but he seems very knowledgeable, and I just wondered where he learned his skills? I’m also wondering if Norm sleeps in the tan nighty he always wears?!?

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Hi Kurt, Brad was an apprentice at East Kirkby

[@oxcart4172]

I wonder what the difference is between taxiing and airworthy engines

[@grahambrand9263]

What oil do they use in the marlins was it castrol r in the day

[@Mark13091961]

This is absolutely top stuff Nev. Great Brummie accent - bostin! Id love to know what distinguishes that engine as only being worthy of taxi status?

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Hi Mark, airworthy engine, it would have to go to specialist firm for a complete strip down. Cost would be £50.000 plus also I think it would have to be registered with the CA

[@Mark13091961]

@@nevillewheeldon1693 understand- cheers Nev

[@FelixIsMyName]

Do RR still do service work on these engines, or is it specialist only?

[@albertschultz7151]

Please excuse what might be a daft question, where do you source parts from to restore the RR Merlin engines? Did RR have spares available from the time they manufactured the Merlin or are new parts being made as required?

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Hi Albert, sorry late getting back to you. check out video 190 uploading this weekend I ask Brad this question. (they are getting scarce)

[@KevinSmith-up1qo]

Is Nev Ok 😟

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Hi Kevin , yes just fine thank you., an update on Saturday

[@stulynn2005]

The non airworthy engine comment explains my confusion. I had thought the engines were already done

[@nevillewheeldon1693]

Hi Stu, the Centre has 5 Airworthy engines in a climate controlled bonded store and 6 taxying engines 4 of which are on Just Jane now.

[@nissmoguy]

mabey hemi swap with twin turbos