Mercedes D.III / D.IIIa intake manifolds.

[Umlaufmotor]

During my many visits to the museums, I noticed that the intake pipes at the Mercedes engines were manufactured offen of different materials.
I have seen intake manifolds made from steel, brass sheet and copper.

This applies, however, only the intake pipes which were not manufactured in two layers.

I mean the intake pipes without water jacket in our case.

The intake pipes were usually (not always) painted with a dark (black?) color.
The museums in Munich and Oberschleißheim have some of these engines as exhibits .

I liked very much the version with the dark painted copper intake pipes. I also wanted to represent this in the model.

Some dents were attached to the intake manifolds at the WNW Pfalz D.IIIa - engine (see yellow arrows) .
You know, I mean our old, rotten, worn-out workhorse ................ .

 

 

The Kit-part intake manifolds were painted in several thin layers with Tamiya XF -6 " Copper".

 

 

After that, some thin layers of Tamiya " Semi-gloss-black" were painted.

 

After the paint had dried well , the black color was polished off - very, very carefully -, with very fine steel wool.

 

 

But not polish-of everything of the black color! The dents must must remain black!

 

Here the almost ready-of Mercedes D.IIIa engine from the Jasta 37 Pfalz D.IIIa.

I tink, the copper/black intake manifold looks not too bad.............

 

 

And here are the intake manifolds of the WNW Albatros D.V.

 

 

The Albatros Mercedes D.III at an early stage of construction.
Many, many details were added afterwards..........................  

 

 

Servus

Bertl

[James H]

That is just fantastic. I'll use that tip, and others on the Albatros I'm starting soon. Are those extra Taurus details I can see (crown cap fasteners on the manifolds?)

 

I'd love some tips on how you do those amazing wiring looms to the magnetos and spark plugs. I always struggle with those.

[wackyracer]

Another top tip, many thanks. I'll be trying this with my current build.

[Matt_]

I'm with James on the wiring Bertl. It looks very tidy and orderly in your photo, something I'd like to emulate.

 

Matt

[krow113]

Excellent manifold work, more texture and colors in the engine area is a good thing.

[mspaw]

Bertl-

 

Awesome post yet again. I had a couple of questions for you.

 

A few years ago when you were posting on the aerodrome forum you had offed me a set of you're cnc Albatros parts. I disappeared for a couple years and am just getting back into the hobby, but id love to take you up on the offer if you still have a set. i know you were only making a few so I completely understand if they are long gone.

 

Regardless id love to know more about the other parts youve made with the mill and how it fits into you're detailing.

 

Also i wanted to find out about your source for the small springs on the engine and seat belts. Are you hind winding them or have you found a good source for small diameter springs?

 

All the best!

 

-Michael

[mspaw]

Oh, a general question, Ive seen asbestos wrapping on some manifolds, was this common, or just on some machines? its a nice detail to add if its relevant. but im not sure if it was a rarity.

 

-Michael