Villiers 9e fan cowlings.

[NickPoll]

Hello all, I was lucky enough to pick up a N.O.S. 9e fan the other day from Villiers Services for my fan cooled engine. I use a foundry in Doncaster often and mentioned the ali ducting that guides the air over the cylinder & head. It's an easy job for them to cast the large and small part. First I need to borrow these and secondly would anyone like a set ? The foundry are very good at looking after parts and are careful.   Nick.

[Bob Purton]

By strange coincidence Blob [Mick plant] is just about to have some made in London.

[NickPoll]

Brilliant news. Right then Blob, any remarks from you on this venture ?    I'll have an engine set.   Will you be getting them machined ? If not, I have a bridgeport mill and can do that, but of course I wil still need to borrow an original to measure.              Nick.

[Barry]

Not promising anything but............. wouldn't the best thing be to CAD them up in 3D and make rapid prototypes for patterns?

I can't do the CAD but I may be able to persuade someone.  Not for free but perhaps a small share of any final sales value.  How many will ever be wanted?

Just a thought - may not work out.

[Bob Purton]

How would that work then Barry? You still need an original for all the dimensions, you may just as well cast off of the original cowling set. Last time I did this it was for an Ydral cowling, it was a  sand casting straight from the original , a quick jiggle in the sand to compensate for shrinkage and it produced a good copy with minimum cost and fuss.

Blob's gone quite about this, maybe it was all talk?

[Barry]

If you can cast from good originals then you are right Bob.  Much easier.
I am not familiar with the villiers parts.

If the originals are in pieces then the 3D route could work.  As you say, you still need something to measure.

I now have Solidworks 3D program on my PC and will get up-to-speed over the next few months (+ website package).

Hopefully I will be able to help out one day.

[Big Al]

If the originals are in pieces then the 3D route could work.  As you say, you still need something to measure.

I now have Solidworks 3D program on my PC and will get up-to-speed over the next few months (+ website package).

I am glad to hear your not just a CAD with designs on a PC........ Oh Misses.