Any pictures of Char B1 engines?

Discussion in 'Trux Discussion Area' started by Dave55, Oct 3, 2014.

  1. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    I haven't been able to find much info on these engines. I see it is a six cylinder Renault of 16.6 liter displacement. Thats just a few cc less than the Hall-Scott sixes used in the Dragon Wagon and bigger Diamond Ts. Sounds pretty interesting.

    Does anyone have any info or pictures of them?

    Thanks
     
  2. von Poop

    von Poop Adaministrator Admin

    A rather slight start on Missing Lynx:
    http://www.network54.com/Forum/47208/thread/1394554694/Slight+update+on+my+B1-bis+blog.

    Which leads to this chap's serious & superb large scale model:
    http://charb1bis.blogspot.co.uk/

    Real gearbox photo:
    http://charb1bis.blogspot.co.uk/search?updated-min=2011-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&updated-max=2012-01-01T00:00:00-08:00&max-results=43

    But I find blogspot hard to search - seems likely there will be more images there.

    Aha:
    http://enpointe.chez-alice.fr/b1bis.html

    That example seems to be at Saumur (entirely appropriately).
    Searching in French has got me stuck though.
    http://www.museedesblindes.fr/spip.php?page=recherche&recherche=char+b1
     
    Dave55 likes this.
  3. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    You never fail.

    Thanks!
     
  4. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    Not my usual area of interest but the mention of Hall-Scott engines grabbed me.

    They were fitted in Mk1 LCTs in 1940 and proved to be rather unreliable in the marine version. RN was not really prepared for their maintenance in the Med and failures were common.
     
  5. Smudger Jnr

    Smudger Jnr Our Man in Berlin

    Adam,

    The Blogspot link that you provided Shows some most excellent modelling skills.

    Regards
    Tom
     
  6. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    They sure do. Wonderful.

    Here's a Char B1 video. Sounds like they have it running perfectly.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZwH2EmB3XA


    I've been looking around trying to figure out which Hall-Scott was used in the Mk1 LCTs. All I can find is that they were Hall-Scott of 350 HP each. That sounds too powerful to be a Hall-Scott Invader marine engine, but not powerful enought to be a Hall-Scott Defender V12. I know their A-7 airplane engine was a piece of junk but I've read a lot of good reviews of the Invader for civilian use during the thirties and forties.
     
  7. Wills

    Wills Very Senior Member

  8. Mike L

    Mike L Very Senior Member

    Wills has it.

    The RN Green Lists includes a note 'hsd' adjacent to entries for the Mk1 LCTs and the contents page for each volume has a list of abbreviations used. 'hsd' = Hall Scott Defender.

    Apparently de-tuned from 600 to 350HP for marine use in this context but it still didn't do much for reliability. As aero engines they really weren't designed for long periods of running and many failures are reported in the LCT accounts. After events in Greece and Crete a senior Naval Officer even suggested that the LCTs with these engines should be not be used when long term running was required and should be replaced by dumb lighters and steam tugs.

    Mk2 LCTs were initially fitted with Napier Lion de-tuned aero engines, amazingly with raw water cooling! This, on occasion, caused the alloy cylinder blocks to disintegrate! Later Mk2s had Paxman diesels, still with raw water cooling but with iron blocks.
     
  9. Dave55

    Dave55 Atlanta, USA

    Yes He came through as usual.

    The whole 1939 Motor Boating issue in that link is great. I'm going to read every page when I have time.
     

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