My FE2b reproduction..

[John McKenzie]

[John McKenzie]

[John McKenzie]

[j ferguson]

John,
was that core constructed of 100s of short tubes swaged with a hexagonal drift on each end then soldered together? If so, it would be interesting to know how the soldering was done.

best regards, John

[Michael Scheetz]

John,

I am awestruck to tears. Your work and craftsmanship is impeccable.

I was gone for two weeks to return to this wonderful thread. Thank you, thank you, and thank you.

Observing,

Michael Scheetz

[John McKenzie]

Hi there John ,...Thanks for that Michael....Glad you like it ......Only going to go into the construction briefly , 'cause otherwise , if I were to write a little book later on , as surjested by some of the guys who've come on here or the BE thread , there'd be nothing left to write about.............The radiator is of the honeycomb type, comprising hundreds of paper thin brass tubes , 9mm in diameter , each with their ends expanded to a 10mm hexagon , such that when fitted together ,whilst air passes horizontally through these tubes , the annular space formed between them allows for the passage of cooling water....The basic 5" thick brass core is laid up as a rectangular block and sealed on each side to the depth of the hexagon portions , and then this is shaped to match the correct curved outline by addition or subtraction of full or half tubes......The tanks and sides etc., I made in Brass , over form tools , with spun copper inlet and outlets with the two part inlet "swirl" collection chamber fitting under the ledge of the top tank . The filler assemblies and fittings are machined from Bronze , all the parts having to be riveted and soldered on in a pre-determined sequence , using the smallest available oxy-acetylene nozzle . It was necessary to make up a dozen or so special clamping devices to hold the flanged joints together , due to the nature of the construction .....Great care had to be exercised to keep the solder only within the bounds of the joints., all this being rather a delicate opperation , where one slip could spell disaster , with such thin material of the tubes and relatively thick side plates......To these attach the upper stay brackets of riveted on tinned steel.....At the bottom ,the tank sprouts 4 studs on each side , and these , in conjunction with rubber pads and steel straps secure the radiator to the two for & aft tubes on which it sits......On completion of all soldering , there followed a thorough flushing and testing.......JM

[tengew]

just how did you hex the tubes ... did you draw them over a mandrel or swadge them on a die

[John McKenzie]

[John McKenzie]

[John McKenzie]