Including the flywheel and transmission, it's over 20" long now

The Gar Wood water pump master is done and the first casting is on the prototype. It was a complicated mold, due to the shape it was darn near impossible to get the thing out of the rubber once it cured. The white area on the side is where the water outlet will be attached. The next step is the removal of the aircraft centrifugal water pump and the making of the oil scavenging pump that mounts there. When I first started the project I was going to do the aircraft version of the engine. After visiting the Garwood conversion at the Antique Boat Museum that changed. The aircraft oil pump on the low point of the pan will have to come off as well and will be replaced with the pick up plate for the other oil pump. An interesting note, the domed cover that was ground off to install the marine water pump was where the gun synchronizer was mounted when the Liberty was installed in fighter aircraft.

I have finished up the front accessories. The water pump is done with its output manifold and valves, the oil pump and plumbing is complete, the oil pickup on the bottom of the pan is installed and lastly the mushroom shaped crankcase vent by the left cam tower is on. At the other end, I've completed the output flange for the transmission. It should be on and painted by tomorrow evening and I will send another photo. The next big push will be the molding of the exhaust headers.
 

After a almost a year of work my 1/4 scale Garwood Liberty V-12 marine conversion is nearing completion. 
The left exhaust header mold is complete and the first casting is on the model. 
The right hand header master is in the casting chamber and will be ready to come out later this afternoon. 
Each mold is a two part casting and I hope to have enough steam to cast the second half this evening. If I do I can cast right-hand manifolds in the morning.
 

I've been running all the simulated water hoses and plumbing. 
The next thing to tackle will be the spark plug wires. I'm still looking for something that will look scale and not toy-ish.

The model is 20.5" long, 8" wide and about 10" high. Weight is about eight pounds.
 

On the left is engine #1 of a run of four, on the right is the prototype. The cam tower and tubes are just sitting there for now. 
The Olive Drab Green is based on an original Liberty in the Smithsonian. It's more appropriate then the flat green I used on the prototype. 
This is I believe a model "TS-34" with Miller carburetors. It is modeled as the one on display at the Clayton museum. Apparently the Miller carbs are a rarity but they are pretty cool!
There is a lot of hand painting in my future.
 

This is the first test fit in the case. It will not be sitting on those blocks! 
The engine and transmission will be connected on scale rails and they will be on varnished oak stringers.
 

This will all be mounted atop to machined pylons that will go into the oil pan and be through bolted into the bottom of the case. 
The idea is to have the model about in the middle of the case. I think I will be raising it up about another inch or so. 
 

©2006 - 2007 Keith P. Brayer

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