Martin Baker MB-5

[garbs]

Searched for "MB-5" before posting and came up empty. I'm guessing this is old news anyway but saw the almost "finished" replica while at Reno earlier this month. Hadn't ever heard of this particular project - builders (in the photo) say it has a P-51 wing and F-86 gear, with engine & props from a Shackleton:







Not hard to find references to the original plus this replica on Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin-Baker_MB_5

Looks to me like a pretty cool hobby project but I kind of hope it goes to some museum somewhere.

Anyone still want Reno photos? If so, I'll post a link or stick them over in the Air Racing Forum:

[RandolphB]

I'd like any Reno photos you have....! Looks like those props were majorly reworked, as Shackelton props are wide and have square ends. Precious Metal sports the Shackelton nose gear and props as well, and they were re-profiled a couple of years ago as well.

[Matt Gunsch]

lots of info here
http://johnmarlinsmb5replica.mysite.com/index.html

[garbs]

I'd like any Reno photos you have....! Looks like those props were majorly reworked, as Shackelton props are wide and have square ends. Precious Metal sports the Shackelton nose gear and props as well, and they were re-profiled a couple of years ago as well.

You may be right on the props - been many years since I last saw a Shackleton. The guys in the photo said the props were stock, and that racers square them off to get higher RPM.

Heading out of town for the weekend (hope to get to Ron Fagen's place) but will post my pics on the racing site. Not smart enough to link to the album on Photobucket.

And thanks for the reference info, Matt. Sounds like the same story I heard at Reno

[RHenry]

I'd like any Reno photos you have....! Looks like those props were majorly reworked, as Shackelton props are wide and have square ends. Precious Metal sports the Shackelton nose gear and props as well, and they were re-profiled a couple of years ago as well.

On the contrary... just google any image of a Shackelton Patrol Bomber. The replica MB 5 has an un-modded Shackelton prop out front. The Shackelton props you may have seen on modded Mustangs with a Griffon installation have been cut-down and squared-off to reach the desired tip speed and prop clearance. Cutting them down also fools you into thinking they are somehow wider in chord.

On the subject of the replica... I've always thought it to look ungainly due to the fuselage sitting too high up on the wing compared to the original. It has been languishing for quite a long time, and I'd be real surprised if it ever does fly...

[DaveM2]

Search 'Martin Baker' and you will get six pages of results going back to 2004...

[robkamm]

it looks very complete. has it flown yet?

[garbs]

Search 'Martin Baker' and you will get six pages of results going back to 2004...

Yeah - I figured it was here somewhere. That's what I get for not being thorough.

Regarding flight, the guy on the left (sorry - didn't record names) said it hadn't flown but he was "almost ready".