{"product_id":"williams-brothers-30260-80-hp-le-rhone-9c-rotary-aircraft-engine-1-6-scale","title":"Williams Brothers 30260 80 HP Le Rhône 9C Rotary Aircraft Engine — 1\/6 Scale","description":"\u003cp\u003eManufacturer: Williams Brothers\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eKit number: 30260\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eManufacturer\/product number: 0040-30260-01\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSubject: Le Rhône 9C \/ 80 HP rotary aircraft engine\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eScale: 1\/6\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eType: Injection-moulded plastic engine model\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eColour of moulded parts: Black plastic\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eStatus: Discontinued\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eKit contents: Engine components and instruction sheet\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eApproximate finished dimensions: 6.25 in \/ 159 mm diameter and 7.25 in \/ 184 mm long.\n\u003cbr\u003eWilliams Brothers\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWilliams Brothers became particularly well known among enthusiasts for producing unusual aircraft subjects, aircraft engines and accessories in scales that were sometimes poorly represented by the major manufacturers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe company's engine kits are especially interesting because they allow the modeller to display the mechanical heart of an aircraft rather than simply the exterior.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Williams Brothers Le Rhône is one of the company's best-known engine subjects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA contemporary modeller discussion specifically identifies the Williams Brothers engine range as including the Wright Whirlwind, Pratt \u0026amp; Whitney Wasp Jr. and Le Rhône, with the Le Rhône being one of the company's reissued engine kits.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe 30260 is therefore part of a distinctive Williams Brothers product family rather than a conventional aircraft-kit range.\n\u003cbr\u003eKit contents\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe kit is moulded in black plastic and is intended to reproduce the principal components of the nine-cylinder rotary engine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe documented contents include black plastic parts trees containing:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    nine cylinders;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    crankcase components;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    pushrods;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    rocker arms;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    associated valve-train components;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    other engine fittings;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    instruction sheet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe large 1\/6 scale makes the engine particularly impressive as a display model.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAt approximately 159 mm across, the completed engine is substantially larger than a conventional 1\/32 or 1\/48 aircraft-engine accessory.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe model is intended to be assembled and painted by the modeller, with conventional polystyrene cement and modelling paints required.\n\u003cbr\u003eWhat makes this kit unusual\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Le Rhône was a rotary engine, meaning that the cylinders and crankcase rotated around a stationary crankshaft during operation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThat makes it quite different visually from a conventional fixed-cylinder radial engine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA good model therefore has considerable display value because the exposed nine-cylinder arrangement, rocker arms and pushrods are immediately recognisable.\n\u003cbr\u003eThe real engine — Le Rhône 9C\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Le Rhône 9C, commonly referred to simply as the Le Rhône 80 HP, was a French nine-cylinder rotary aircraft engine that became one of the most important powerplants of the early First World War.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe engine was developed by French engineer Louis Verdet.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSafran's historical account records that Verdet developed an 80 hp nine-cylinder rotary engine in the early 1910s and subsequently founded the Société des Moteurs Le Rhône on 29 September 1912.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe 9C became an important development in rotary-engine technology at a time when aircraft engines needed to provide greater power without becoming excessively heavy.\n\u003cbr\u003eTechnical specifications\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe 9C was a remarkably compact engine for its output.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTypical specifications include:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Configuration: 9-cylinder rotary\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Cooling: Air cooled\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Displacement: approximately 10.9 litres\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Bore: 105 mm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Stroke: 140 mm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Power: 80 hp\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Rated speed: 1,200 rpm\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Weight: approximately 110–112 kg\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Diameter: approximately 940 mm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Australian War Memorial has a complete Le Rhône 9C in its collection and records the engine as producing 80 horsepower at 1,200 rpm, with an approximately 11-litre capacity and a diameter of 940 mm.\n\u003cbr\u003eHow a rotary engine worked\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe term rotary can be confusing because the engine is not simply a conventional radial engine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn a normal radial engine, the cylinders are fixed around a stationary crankcase while the crankshaft rotates.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn the Le Rhône, the cylinders and crankcase rotate, while the crankshaft remains comparatively stationary.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe propeller is attached to the rotating engine assembly.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis arrangement had several advantages in early aviation.\n\u003cbr\u003eLow weight\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe rotary engine eliminated some of the heavy components required by conventional engines.\n\u003cbr\u003eGood cooling\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe complete cylinder assembly rotated rapidly through the airflow, providing excellent cooling.\n\u003cbr\u003eSmooth operation\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe rotating mass also helped produce a relatively smooth-running engine.\n\u003cbr\u003eMajor disadvantage — fuel and oil consumption\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe engine's design had a significant disadvantage: lubrication and fuel systems were primitive compared with later engines.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCastor oil was used as lubricant and much of it was expelled overboard.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis is one reason early rotary-powered aircraft were associated with the distinctive oily residue that covered the pilot and airframe.\n\u003cbr\u003eValve arrangement\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Le Rhône's valve system was particularly distinctive.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEach cylinder used a single push-pull valve rod and rocker arrangement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Australian War Memorial describes the engine as having poppet valves, rocker arms and a distinctive connecting-rod arrangement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe nine connecting rods were arranged around a central master crank arrangement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe design was mechanically ingenious but quite different from later conventional radial engines.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis is one reason the Williams Brothers model is interesting: the relatively large 1\/6 scale gives the modeller enough space to reproduce these mechanical features.\n\u003cbr\u003eDevelopment and production\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Le Rhône 9C first appeared in the early 1910s.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSafran's historical material traces the development to Louis Verdet's work on rotary engines around 1911, followed by the establishment of Société des Moteurs Le Rhône in 1912.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe engine became sufficiently successful that production expanded beyond the original French manufacturer.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe 9C was manufactured in:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    France;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Britain;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    the United States;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Sweden;\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Italy and other licensed-production locations.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Australian War Memorial notes French, British, Italian and American production, while historical engine references also document licensed manufacture in Sweden and other countries.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe American version was manufactured by Union Switch \u0026amp; Signal Company in Pennsylvania during 1917–1918.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eMore than 10,000 Le Rhône 9C engines were produced, making it one of the major early rotary engines.\n\u003cbr\u003eGnome and Le Rhône\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe history of the company is closely connected with Gnome.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCompetition between the Gnome and Le Rhône companies was intense before the First World War.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eEventually, the two companies were brought together.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSafran's corporate history explains that the relationship developed into an acquisition, eventually leading to the later Gnome et Rhône company.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eGnome et Rhône subsequently became one of Europe's most important aircraft-engine manufacturers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe company ultimately became part of the industrial lineage that leads to modern Safran Aircraft Engines.\n\u003cbr\u003eAircraft powered by the Le Rhône 9C\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe engine was used in a remarkably wide variety of aircraft.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDocumented applications include:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe propeller is attached to the rotating engine assembly.\n\u003cbr\u003eLow weight\n\u003cbr\u003eGood cooling\n\u003cbr\u003eSmooth operation\n\u003cbr\u003eMajor disadvantage — fuel and oil consumption\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Nieuport 10\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Nieuport 11\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Nieuport 21\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Sopwith Pup\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Bristol Scout\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Caudron G.III\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Morane-Saulnier L\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Morane-Saulnier N\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Morane-Saulnier P\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Royal Aircraft Factory S.E.4\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Vickers F.B.12\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Thomas-Morse S-4\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Farman HF.20\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Bleriot aircraft\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    Sopwith Dove\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e    numerous other early aircraft.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis means the Williams Brothers engine can be displayed with a surprisingly large range of WWI aircraft models.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Williams Brothers","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57512972386684,"sku":"Williams-30260","price":69.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0432\/8584\/0033\/files\/0043E2CE-D951-4E82-AC3A-EFE718126161.jpg?v=1790662279","url":"https:\/\/sussex-model-centre.co.uk\/products\/williams-brothers-30260-80-hp-le-rhone-9c-rotary-aircraft-engine-1-6-scale","provider":"Sussex Model Centre","version":"1.0","type":"link"}