Moonbeam McSwine update

[Tim Adams]

Vlado flew into the Quad Cities Air Show today, then flew home I assume. Looked good, I only got a couple decent pics. When I get time they will be up on the website.

[ZRX61]

Ok, I have to know.. who the hell is painting Merlins the same color as Case backhoes???? Thats the 2nd one I've seen, the other being Tom Cruises

[Trey Carroll]

Ok, I have to know.. who the heck is painting Merlins the same color as Case backhoes???? Thats the 2nd one I've seen, the other being Tom Cruises

It's easier to spot when there's a leak, and where the leak is coming from. As opposed to a black case, where an oil leak could easily be overlooked.

[ZRX61]

It's easier to spot when there's a leak, and where the leak is coming from. As opposed to a black case, where an oil leak could easily be overlooked.

True, but most of em are either red or gray & leaks would show up just fine on those.. altho I can't remember ever having to trace an oil leak on a Merlin or Griffon anyway...
I think it's just plain wrong to paint a RR engine the same dang color as a Case back hoe or a Caterpillar engine...






Anyway, thats not as important as finding out what the serial # on the carb is?

[airnutz]

.... painting Merlins the same color as Case backhoes???

Not Case...Chevy Orange???...An homage to the goddess of "long life, reliability, and cheap horsepower"???

[ZRX61]

Not Case...Chevy Orange???...An homage to the goddess of "long life, reliability, and cheap horsepower"???

Chevy orange? ack!
Cranks Hard, Every Valve Rattles, Oil Leaks Every Time...

[DoraNineFan]

It's easier to spot when there's a leak, and where the leak is coming from. As opposed to a black case, where an oil leak could easily be overlooked.

True, but most of em are either red or gray & leaks would show up just fine on those.. altho I can't remember ever having to trace an oil leak on a Merlin or Griffon anyway...
I think it's just plain wrong to paint a RR engine the same dang color as a Case back hoe or a Caterpillar engine...

I've seen a picture of an overhauled Merlin from Mike Nixon that was painted gray and it looks very good in that color, especially with all of the new hardware. In the photo gallery on the Vintage V12s website, there is a picture of a Merlin done in olive drab (much like "interior green".) It looks very good and would look right at home in a restoration.

I've also seen a Merlin in a metallic red that didn't detract from the beauty of the engine.

[ww2John]

Vlado can paint it any dang color he wants.

Thanks again for sharing pix and for sharing your a/c at so many aviation events each year.
See you at OSH in about a month.
John

[TAdan]

Not Case...Chevy Orange???...An homage to the goddess of "long life, reliability, and cheap horsepower"???

Chevy orange? ack!
Cranks Hard, Every Valve Rattles, Oil Leaks Every Time...

I've got one of those in my car, hehe

Moonbeam is looking good.

[ZRX61]

I've seen a picture of an overhauled Merlin from Mike Nixon that was painted gray and it looks very good in that color, especially with all of the new hardware. In the photo gallery on the Vintage V12s website, there is a picture of a Merlin done in olive drab (much like "interior green".) It looks very good and would look right at home in a restoration.

I've also seen a Merlin in a metallic red that didn't detract from the beauty of the engine.

Mike Nixon will paint them absolutely any color you care to specify

[mlenoch]

I have always had 2 engines, both black. After a while, I asked Mike Nixon to paint one yellow in order to track leaks, dropped parts, etc. (bees love it too!). When the second one was finishing overhaul, I asked it be a light, bright color for the same reasons. I asked Mike to pick the color.......yes, he picked Chevy Orange. Coincidentally, I got it delivered from him during the week of Halloween!! Someone over there has a sense of humor.
VL

[stephenk]

I was fortunate to spend some time with Vlado yesterday in the back seat of Moonbeam. I'm still learning photography, but these are just a few of the photos I got.
We went to Sterling Illinois where Vlado did a bit of work with the "Hoppers".


When complete, time and weather allowed us to leave for the Quad Cities show, but you can't waste the opportunity of waivered airspace.


The crowd at Quad Cities was still growing, but was already too concentrated for any open photos. The only shots I got were as we left. This is Snort in Excalibur from the Indiana Aviation Museum.




I know I missed a lot, and would like to see what we missed on the ground. Please share if you've got any.

Yellow is my favorite color, but to each his own. With the cowl on, it needs to run good and get you home, nothing else matters.
Thanks again Vlado!
Steve

[airnutz]

Not Case...Chevy Orange???...An homage to the goddess of "long life, reliability, and cheap horsepower"???

Chevy orange? ack!
Cranks Hard, Every Valve Rattles, Oil Leaks Every Time...

Yahh..the Ol' Toolbox started getting noisy 'round 280,000...She's at 340,335 and I'm afraid I'm gonna
have to put 'er down.
If they crank hard..some bonehead shimmed the starter tight, or you've got a timing glitch.orr.. Yes, everthing
rattles..No Leaks...Daddy loves 4.3 Vortec ...

[airnutz]

....yes, he picked Chevy Orange. Coincidentally, I got it delivered from him during the week of Halloween!! Someone over there has a sense of humor.
VL

I'll never forget Chevy Orange! A car dealer sent me a white '55 Chevy 2-Dr for Uber detail..pretty-up to to sell.
In 1991, I California'd the '55 ala Coddington..painting the block white..she looked Sweet with all the chrome and
polished aluminum..the dude went ballistic whining about Chevy Orange...

Made half-pay that day

Moonbeam loooks Super, Vlado!!!

[51fixer]

Leaks, smeeks. With black you don't have to worry about leaks.
Actually, with flat black you look for shiny areas. That is the leak showing its self.
And you have the other method, use the engine to corrosion proof the airframe-

Rich