Some images of this AM-35A engine are the base of our description, in
spite of the lacking of some pieces. The most of the comments written on
this page are only deductions obtained comparing images.
The AM-35A was a 12 cylinder 60° vee engine; the max power was
of 1350 hp (993 kW); fuel consumption 330-360 g/hp for hour; the nominal
rate was 2050 rpm, while the maximum rate was 2350 rpm..
Dimensions: lenght 2402 mm, width 866 mm, height 1089 mm; mass 830
kg.
This large engine was specifically projected for high altitude use
by the chief designer Mikulin; it equipped both the single engined fighters
MiG-1, MiG-3 and the four engined bomber Petlyakov Pe-8; besides it was
used on some examples of the long range bomber Yermolaev Yer-2, as an alternative
to the Diesel engines.
This engine was very similar to the AM-38F of the Il-2 Shturmovik,
and built in the same plant (Kuybyshev, in late 1941); this was the reason
of the end of its production, and of the consequent end of the MiG-3 program
too.
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These images from behind show the centrifugal supercharger.
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the central intake should be connected with a twin duct beginning with
the wing root air intakes, visible on the photo above but missing in this
one.
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the steel support on the right seems to be for a box, probably a top pressure
valve (see photo of AM-38 below); this valve should be connected with a
thin pipe to the compressed air duct.
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a piece of duct, connecting the supercharger outlet with the longitudinal
compressed air collector, is lacking.
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note the asymmetrical connection of the supercharger outlet.
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On this image of the supercharger, from the top, we see:
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the oblique pipes visible between the supercharger and the engine block
contain shafts to move the distribution shafts (two at the top of
each cilynder bank);
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besides, the shafts move the distributors placed behind them (not visible
here);
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the clean silver plate (on both sides) could be the support for oil filters
(absent).
This image, from the left, shows the same things as above.
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On this photo, taken from behind to thcylinder banks, we see:
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the ignitors, partially visible on the sides (metallic, connected
to silver wiring);
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the connection between the central compressed air collector (large pipe)
and the inlet stacks (two for side, connected to three cilynders each);
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between this collector and the stacks there are air flow control valves
controlled by the throttle;
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the control levers for such valves;
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grey fuel pipes connected to the injectors (only two for each triple stack);
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metallic supports for the trasversal tubes supporting the gun barrels.
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This photo represents the right cilynders bank, taken from behind-left.
We see:
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the holes here are for missing spark plugs (4 for each cilynder, two on
the internal side of the bank, two on the external side); the wires should
go to the ignitor, as those visible (from the external bank side spark
plugs).
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a metallic support for trasversal tubes substaining the gun barrels is
well visible on the upper right corner.
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Here we see the external left side of the engine.
We recognize:
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the exhaust stacks (with a deformed outlet; it should be circular);
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the spark plugs (only one mounted for each cylinder; the hole for another
one is void);
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the spark plug wires (only six; in a complete engine, other 6 should pass
behind these; the small silver circles are probably the fixing points for
other 6 wires);
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vertical Y-shaped pipes; the larger part is for a shaft connected with
distributor shaft;
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a silver thin longitudinal cooling pipe departing from a larger one
connected on each engine side,probably for cooling water.
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This shows the engine from a frontal perspective.
We recognize:
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the propeller shaft;
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the conical reduction gear;
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a lubrification (?) pipe attack over it;
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a twin pipe connecting the reductor to the cylinder banks (for lubrification?);
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a connection to a pneumatic starter (?), missing on the photo;
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large holes on the cilynder banks front, perhaps to connect cooling pipes.
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In this frontal view we recognize:
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the head of the cylindrical compressed air duct;
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the other extremity of the control levers of the air inlet valves;
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the injectors;
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two green pipes attacks, probably for oil from the side radiators.
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This image from the rear shows the lubrification/cooling pump under
the engine block.
We see:
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on the rear, the connection for a coolant pipe to the ventral cooler;
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on the right, the connection for cooler inlet;
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the motion should reach the pump by an internal shaft.
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The same device seen from the left side.
We see:
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a short oil pipe collecting oil from the engine;
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two outlets for pipes directed to the oil side coolers.
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The same device seen from the right side; we see:
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the connection for cooler inlet (?),
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a short lubrification pipe from the engine block to the pump;
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another pipe for oil, probably directed to two oil filters on the engine
sides (absent).
In front of the pump under the engine, there should be a cylindrical device
connected to the pump by a small shaft, probably an electric generator.
It should correspond to the larger bulge under the MiG-3 nose, and has
an hole for air cooling. |
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This image shows the pneumatic starter from an AM-38F under restoration
by Rusavia.
It should be identical to the piece missing in the Central Finland
Aviation Museum engine. |
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This image shows the AM-38F under restoration by Rusavia.
The engine is turned upside down.
A green coolant pipe is visible. It should be present on AM-35A too,
even if it doesn't appear on photos I have.
It is likely that coolant pipes were green, and oil pipes were orange
brown on original AM-35A too.
Photo from Istrebitel MiG-3 by Medvedv, Hazanov, Maslov |
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This is the AM-38F under restoration by Rusavia.
We see the small shafts inside two red y-shaped pipes; these were for
moving the distribution shafts and distributors.
Probably these shafts functioned as oil pumps too.
Photo from Istrebitel MiG-3 by Medvedv, Hazanov, Maslov |
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This is an oil cooler, again from Rusavia.
It has to be installed into the tunnels on the side of the nose.
Photo from Istrebitel MiG-3 by Medvedv, Hazanov, Maslov |