Awesome... I built an 80% Spad xlll powered with. 4.2 Rover V8, 2.17:1 prop redrive with about 175 hp at 4400 rpm at sea level. Am just starting to do power runs/break in/reliability runs... wish me luck...!!!
Did Titan make a custom front structure/cradle (whatever term u want to use) for you? (for the V12) Did u make it? Is it something Titan offers, knowing plenty of people would want &/or try to fit a V12? VERY clean installation! Where do u have the radiator? Under the "belly" like the original P-51s? A lot of people (on other planes which require a radiator for the coolant (like a Chevy V8, Mazda Rotary aka "Wankel", Subaru Flat-4 powered, etc) seem to mount the radiator behind the engine, against the firewall! Which seems crazy to me. But I guess there's enough airflow?,(add a few NACA ducts gave enough airflow in & out). And at 10,000 feet (+/-) it's usually pretty cool in general. The most logical to me and what I've seen only twice, was a long, narrow radiator, possibly two on each side of the engine (it was a Chevy LS3), but space issues are often a problem. Lastly, except take-off, a fast climb, maybe aerobatics, you throttle back, cruise & its in the 2000rpm range. Thx!
+Master Warning Buy the Titan Mustang. Best replica available, best safety record. Titan has more Mustangs flying than all other kit makers combined! You might consider the LS3 V8 engine. That is now the engine of choice...and it sounds better than the V12!
The best ww2 fighter being reborn! Im totally on board! I can see this aircraft being developed into a COIN, ass kicking winner! Low level tactica,l armed recon for sure.
+soaringtractor That isn't a Falconer. It's a BMW automobile engine. They "get away" with labeling the valve covers because Rolls Royce uses this engine in at least one of their cars. Ironic to see German and Brit technology together, I know.
What BMW v12 motor is that? M73 maybe? How much does it weigh? Why not consider the N74 v12 motor which was used in the BMW 750 and 760 and is currently being used in the Rolls Royce Phantom? Power figures also looks impressive. 450hp with 750nm torque. What prop are you gonna swing on her? With a V12's torque, I'd love to see the 91" Hartzell which is on the Stewart S51 And last..and most important...Sound Factor With a Merlin's sound being produced at 3000RPM and below, the N73 BMW engine's torque peak is at 3500RPM which will allow it to sound MUCH more like the real thing than say for instance the Falconer V12 at 5000RPM
Paul Lambrechts Not sure which one this is...but it has two separate banks of 6, with two ECU's to control each bank. You can shut down one bank and still have power to fly. This engine does sound good!
Not all P-51s had Packard built Merlins, there's lots of em that have Rolls Royce Merlins, but this is really nice, and Yes the new Rolls Royce Phantom and Wraith cars had theez V12 BMW powerplants.
All North American built P-51's had Packard engines. None were Rolls-Royce powered. You might find a couple today that have the transport heads, from a Rolls engine.
OlesonMD every Merlin ever made is a Rolls-Royce, only some of them were built in the Packard factory in Detroit. Although this V12 is not as powerful as the LS V8, it fits the bill so well and sounds very similar to the Merlin. Strangely though the engine is German...
Bart Goins yes all the early Mustangs were fitted with the Allison V-1710, a very similar engine to the Merlin. The variant fitted to the Mustang was actually a really good unit and was comparable to, and almost on par to the early single stage supercharged Merlins. In 1941 R-R designed and developed a 2 stage, 2 speed Supercharger for the Merlin that increased it's overall performance, particularly at high altitude. It was at high altitudes that the Allison simply couldn't compete, so a decision was made to modify firstly the Spitfire, then the Mustang to accept the new 2 stage, 2 speed Rolls-Royce engine. By the end of 1943 Merlin powered Mustangs were operating from Britain.
John Orven Tano nope it is a BMW M73 V12 engine from a BMW 750i sports sedan, it just says "Rolls Royce" 2 hide the fact that it's a BMW motor from the purists, but when I do a conversion like this in a Stewart S-51D mustang, I'd rather "show" the BMW brand name on the engine.
Julian Neale I agree, cause the Falconer is a racing engine, and those were not built 2 last, they were made 2 run high rpm at normal operation and blow out. This BMW is a high quality automotive engine and I don’t see any problems and turns out 2 be a great engine, and this thing is in flying condition now. I’d do this engine in a Stewart Mustang, sounds exactly like a Merlin.
Kirby York I think the Falconer V12 had issues with cracks in the block. It's just basically a Chevy V8 with another part block grafted on to make it into a V12. It was originally designed as a V8 and in that form, a really great engine. It's not an easy practice to make 2 V8s into a V12...
Julian Neale I couldn’t agree more than that, cause if I were Welding an engine block, I’d be patching a hole where an engine threw a rod, and someone was talking of an LS V12 which to me isn’t a good idea cause like U said, it’s very dangerous 2 use an engine which is 2 blocks welded together 2 make a longer engine so ya u’ll get lots of cracks in the block cause it puts a lot of stress on the material crystalline structure which makes the engine vulnerable 2 cracking, and blowing 2 pieces, even in a car/truck, so if I want a V12 airplane, I’d stick with the BMW M73, much more reliable, and not vulnerable like a V12 which is 2 V8 block pieces welded together 2 make a V12. Plus, it was designed 2 be a V12 and putting the “high rpm” output on a welded V12 from a V8 really scraps it out, but this BMW V12 looks a lot more resilient than the Falconer or the LS V12, that’s my point of experience on that, so I guess 2 separate minds do think alike.
This engine sounds good as is. When fitted with a four-blade prop, and the engine has a real "load" on it, it will sound even better.
Awesome... I built an 80% Spad xlll powered with. 4.2 Rover V8, 2.17:1 prop redrive with about 175 hp at 4400 rpm at sea level. Am just starting to do power runs/break in/reliability runs... wish me luck...!!!
Wow! Gotta admit.....that sounds GORGEOUS! I'd kill if my S-51 sounded that good!
Twister051 id swap this engine in my future S-51 and put a Rotrex variable boost supercharger and an aftercooled intake on it.
In 2019, I found a pair of lock pliers locked inside on the engine mount and some other really sketchy things like clecos instead of rivets.
With the modification to add the V12, how has that effected your cruise and stall speeds? And did you do any further modification to increase VNE?
Did Titan make a custom front structure/cradle (whatever term u want to use) for you? (for the V12) Did u make it? Is it something Titan offers, knowing plenty of people would want &/or try to fit a V12?
VERY clean installation! Where do u have the radiator? Under the "belly" like the original P-51s? A lot of people (on other planes which require a radiator for the coolant (like a Chevy V8, Mazda Rotary aka "Wankel", Subaru Flat-4 powered, etc) seem to mount the radiator behind the engine, against the firewall! Which seems crazy to me. But I guess there's enough airflow?,(add a few NACA ducts gave enough airflow in & out). And at 10,000 feet (+/-) it's usually pretty cool in general. The most logical to me and what I've seen only twice, was a long, narrow radiator, possibly two on each side of the engine (it was a Chevy LS3), but space issues are often a problem. Lastly, except take-off, a fast climb, maybe aerobatics, you throttle back, cruise & its in the 2000rpm range. Thx!
I know it's an M73 BMW engine, but where did you source the valve covers? Or were they just custom painted?
Congratulation....
Isn't titan designing a full size P-51 mustang replica which will have a V12.
I'm either going to buy this T51 with the V12 or FK is also coming out with a larger engine too
+Master Warning
Buy the Titan Mustang. Best replica available, best safety record. Titan has more Mustangs flying than all other kit makers combined! You might consider the LS3 V8 engine. That is now the engine of choice...and it sounds better than the V12!
+OlesonMD Thanks so very much. Ill have to see if I can find a video of the LS3 V8 engine.
+OlesonMD if you dont mind me asking, why do you prefer the V8 over the V12? Thank you!
+Rick Frank I want the V-12 myself....and a prop as close to the appropriate size as possible.
+Rick Frank - The LS3 6.2 V8 has more power, more torque. And it sounds just as good.
I thought the plane wasn't rated for it yet but stand corrected great vid
The best ww2 fighter being reborn! Im totally on board! I can see this aircraft being developed into a COIN, ass kicking winner! Low level tactica,l armed recon for sure.
I knew there was something really good about how it wood sound with short stacks. Sounds EXACTLY like a Rolls Royce Merlin.
Isnt to much on it??? Do you have any video for it when its flying?
+61kwt
Yes...check out the video Titan Aircraft Fly In. You will see two high speed passes, one in formation with a D model Mustang.
This is the only proper engine for a P-51 replica. How does this aircraft fly with this engine?
How did you fit in the V12? I heard only smaller engines could fit.
The fuselage and frame are modified to allow room for the longer V12 engine. You lose most of the forward baggage compartment.
soaringtractor
Wrong. The engine is a BMW V12. The Rolls-Royce logo is just for cosmetic purposes.
+soaringtractor That isn't a Falconer. It's a BMW automobile engine. They "get away" with labeling the valve covers because Rolls Royce uses this engine in at least one of their cars. Ironic to see German and Brit technology together, I know.
+soaringtractor Except, of course, the P-51A, which utilized an Allison V1710.
The Falconer engine is huge and it doesn't use any Chevy parts.
Where can I find this engine to purchase?
What BMW v12 motor is that?
M73 maybe?
How much does it weigh? Why not consider the N74 v12 motor which was used in the BMW 750 and 760 and is currently being used in the Rolls Royce Phantom? Power figures also looks impressive. 450hp with 750nm torque. What prop are you gonna swing on her? With a V12's torque, I'd love to see the 91" Hartzell which is on the Stewart S51
And last..and most important...Sound Factor
With a Merlin's sound being produced at 3000RPM and below, the N73 BMW engine's torque peak is at 3500RPM which will allow it to sound MUCH more like the real thing than say for instance the Falconer V12 at 5000RPM
Paul Lambrechts
Not sure which one this is...but it has two separate banks of 6, with two ECU's to control each bank. You can shut down one bank and still have power to fly.
This engine does sound good!
John Deere730 I think that is a BMW M73 automobile powerplant that came from a BMW sports sedan.
Stock falconer is 600ci and puts out 600hp non blown
What kind of reduction gearing/governor/prop are you going to put on it? Also why did you choose the BMW V12?
soaringtractor no, wrong again! It's a BMW M73 engine from a BMW 750i, which was then adapted by Cosworth for Rolls-Royce to put into their cars!
Not all P-51s had Packard built Merlins, there's lots of em that have Rolls Royce Merlins, but this is really nice, and Yes the new Rolls Royce Phantom and Wraith cars had theez V12 BMW powerplants.
All North American built P-51's had Packard engines. None were Rolls-Royce powered. You might find a couple today that have the transport heads, from a Rolls engine.
OlesonMD every Merlin ever made is a Rolls-Royce, only some of them were built in the Packard factory in Detroit. Although this V12 is not as powerful as the LS V8, it fits the bill so well and sounds very similar to the Merlin. Strangely though the engine is German...
I thought the North American P-51 started with the Allison, but it was under powered, so the RR Merlin was retrofitted?
Bart Goins yes all the early Mustangs were fitted with the Allison V-1710, a very similar engine to the Merlin. The variant fitted to the Mustang was actually a really good unit and was comparable to, and almost on par to the early single stage supercharged Merlins. In 1941 R-R designed and developed a 2 stage, 2 speed Supercharger for the Merlin that increased it's overall performance, particularly at high altitude. It was at high altitudes that the Allison simply couldn't compete, so a decision was made to modify firstly the Spitfire, then the Mustang to accept the new 2 stage, 2 speed Rolls-Royce engine. By the end of 1943 Merlin powered Mustangs were operating from Britain.
I thought so. Thanks for the input.
Is it really a Rolls-Royce V-12 engine?
John Orven Tano nope it is a BMW M73 V12 engine from a BMW 750i sports sedan, it just says "Rolls Royce" 2 hide the fact that it's a BMW motor from the purists, but when I do a conversion like this in a Stewart S-51D mustang, I'd rather "show" the BMW brand name on the engine.
soaringtractor it's a BMW M73 from a BMW 750i! Yet another thing you've got wrong. The Falconer V12 had huge issues that were at best 'dangerous'.
Julian Neale I agree, cause the Falconer is a racing engine, and those were not built 2 last, they were made 2 run high rpm at normal operation and blow out. This BMW is a high quality automotive engine and I don’t see any problems and turns out 2 be a great engine, and this thing is in flying condition now. I’d do this engine in a Stewart Mustang, sounds exactly like a Merlin.
Kirby York I think the Falconer V12 had issues with cracks in the block. It's just basically a Chevy V8 with another part block grafted on to make it into a V12. It was originally designed as a V8 and in that form, a really great engine. It's not an easy practice to make 2 V8s into a V12...
Julian Neale I couldn’t agree more than that, cause if I were Welding an engine block, I’d be patching a hole where an engine threw a rod, and someone was talking of an LS V12 which to me isn’t a good idea cause like U said, it’s very dangerous 2 use an engine which is 2 blocks welded together 2 make a longer engine so ya u’ll get lots of cracks in the block cause it puts a lot of stress on the material crystalline structure which makes the engine vulnerable 2 cracking, and blowing 2 pieces, even in a car/truck, so if I want a V12 airplane, I’d stick with the BMW M73, much more reliable, and not vulnerable like a V12 which is 2 V8 block pieces welded together 2 make a V12. Plus, it was designed 2 be a V12 and putting the “high rpm” output on a welded V12 from a V8 really scraps it out, but this BMW V12 looks a lot more resilient than the Falconer or the LS V12, that’s my point of experience on that, so I guess 2 separate minds do think alike.
There's an expensive conversion.