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So, what sources have you used for wheels, guns and instruments? Magneto switches look original. If you could mention how the W670 engine mount will be accommodated based on Bentley mount plans, that would be of great interest.
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Hi Pete,
Thanks for your comments
The wheels were made by a local guy (Phil De Gruchy) who does great work on old racing car wheels, motorcycles and has done stuff for Point Cook museum as well. I gave him the Replicraft plans for the Palmer wheels plus some photos and he has done a great job of faithfully reproducing them. He works from his shed in his back yard and probably the one person round here who does that sort of work. He even trench rolled the rims to get the right profile.
The guns I got from Repligun. Initially I was getting them through someone local as well but unfortunately he went broke and the people who took over were no longer interested. I guess you could make them yourself but it's another complete project in itself.
The instruments are all original and working. I have picked them up all over the place. The pilots watch from ebay, the Altimeter from a local collector, the Airspeed indicator from a country auction, The tacho from a restorer in Queensland. The Pulsometer & inclinometer from Guy Black. The Compass is actually a Type B which I got off Barnstormers. It's very similar to the original Type 5/17. I have one but it still needs a bit more work on it.
The switch box is an original Mk 111 which I got from a collector in the UK and the Throttle quadrant is an original Snipe one with the part number as well. I haven't touched it, I just bolted it straight on. It was a very lucky find. The magneto switches also are original.
As for the engine mount, originally with the Bentley the forward and rear mounts were braced by the motor itself. What I have done is merge the original forward mount design with a Stearman engine mount ring and braced that to the rear mount with 4 stays.
Cheers, Nick