The Gnome

All-wood ( even the valve springs) working replica of a 1910 Gnome aircraft engine to 75% scale, of Poplar, Rosewood, Ebony, Maple and Basswood. Drafted the blueprints myself. Mostly made on the lathe. All internal parts are present.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Wood machine
• wood sculpture
• dynamic sculpture
• kinetic art
• aircraft motor
• wood replicawood radial engine

[hoppper26]

is that worth more then a real engine?

[kahunafrankie]

@hoppper26

Well that depends on your personal assessment of value. Strictly from a no-nonsense labor time calculation, It took 400 hours to create, so the shop time rate dictates a 'worth' of $18,000, not including materials cost. I sold it eventually, but $10,000 was the best i could do; that means that after all was said and done my time was only worth $20 per hour.

[penchinelo]

If you want to talk about replica don't forget the adimision valve on the piston!

[kahunafrankie]

actually, although the initial designs of this motor utilized a piston-mounted intake valve, it proved problematic in use due to the constant need for adjustment, and was re-designed to replace the piston valve with cylinder skirt admission ports, as shown in the model.

[kahunafrankie]

@CADtekk

You're right, that would be pretty cool...I made a scotch yoke two-cycle that ran on compressed air a while back but for some reason it never occurred to me to do it with the radial...next time!

[kahunafrankie]

@CADtekk

It's a kinetic wood sculpture, not an attempt to make a functional powerplant. It's a work of art, made by hand, not a CNC machining exercise. Creating something like this out of wood is much more difficult than if it was metal, because wood is a much less stable material, and each of the 7 woods in this piece have different properties. Therefore it is a woodworking tour de force, and THAT'S why it's wood.

[torgersende]

"Don't want any misfires" classic

[fairyheli2]

now try and run it!

[jamesaddison81]

WHY????

[VonHelton]

Fav'd!