Packard Merlin colours- RNZAF Mustangs

[alanw]

Hi all

Quick technical question if I may.

Generally Packard Merlins (to my knowledge)
left the factory a black colour.

Did at any time the RNZAF repaint any of
the Merlins powering the RNZAF P 51's, a
different colour eg grey?

Just curious

Thanks

Alan

[glycol]

They were black. I distinctly remember one that had Ferrari chalked on the cam covers and another that had Maserati. That was on 2 TAF. Prior to the end of the Mustangs there were about a dozen overhauled engines ex Rolls Royce Australia in boxes. They may have been gray.

[Dave Homewood]

Not all Packard Merlins left the factory black. The one that was fitted to Mustang 'Dove of Peace' when it arrived in NZ had a yellow block, and the guys assembling it at Pioneer Aero told me they understood it had been licence built by Caterpillar (the bulldozer manufacturer) who painted all their Merlins yellow. That as the engine it had been originally factory fitted with but I think it may have since been changed?

[alanw]

Hi Glycol/Dave

Thanks for your replies

Glycol
I like the Ferrari and Maserati on the cam covers,
the bird I have is 1 Squadron.

Thanks for the info on the ex Aussie Merlins,
I know that a Merlin on display at MOTAT 2 is
grey, wonder if it was an ex Aussie one?

Dave
That is really interesting about caterpiller
and them producing Merlins.

That would make a great talking point for
a model with it's yellow Merlin ;D ;D.

Thanks/regards

Alan

[Dave Homewood]

Here is a photo I took of that yellow Merlin on Dove of Peace.