Bishop Hobbies

Beginning in 1911, and until manufacturing rights were sold to Renault, Clerget, Blin, and Cie of Paris, France, built various types of airplane engines, but mainly air-cooled rotaries. During World War I, the company's effort was concentrated almost entirely on this type of engine. Gwynnes, Ltd., Hammersmith Iron Works, London, England, controlled the British manufacturing rights on Clerget engines.

The Clerget Type 9B was a highly successful engine and was used extensively during World War I. Among the French aircraft equipped with the Type 9B were the Nieuport 12 and 17, Nieuport Triplane, Pommier, Caudron, CSL, MS 30 and 35, and Spad. Numerous British aircraft were also powered by the Type 9B, among them the: Avro 504C/K/L and 531/A Spider; Bristol 10 M.1A and 11 M.1B; Cierva C.6C/D and C.8R Autogiro; and Sopwith Baby, Triplane, F.1 Camel, Scooter, Triplane, and LCT 1-1/2 Strutter.

Object Details

Date:  Circa World War I

Country of Origin:  France

Type:  PROPULSION-Reciprocating & Rotary

Manufacturer:  Automobiles Delaunay-Belleville. Panhard-Levassor

Designer:  Clerget, Blin and Cie

Physical Description:  

Type: Rotary, 9 cylinders, air-cooled
Power rating: 96.9 kw (130 hp) at 1,250 rpm
Displacement: 16.26 L (992.07 cu. in.)
Bore and Stroke: 120 mm (4.72 in.) x 160 mm (6.3 in.)
Weight: 173 kg (381 lb)

Dimensions:

Diameter 102.1 cm (40.2 in.), Length 110.5 cm (43.5 in.)

Materials:  Steel, Paint, Preservative coating, Aluminum

Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

6/10/2025 Here are photos of my just finished Hasegawa 1/8 scale Clerget 9B rotary engine.  It was a lot of fun to build, went together easily and will look great next to my Hasegawa 1/16 Sophwith Camel. I haven't added any weathering to it – I may do that later.

Herre are some pics of the 1/8 Clerget 9B alongside the 1/16 Sopwith Camel:

 

6/1/2026 I built this model several years ago, but never took any pictures of it. Now I'm going to place it in a diorama. I had originally built it with the interior lights that replicate the engine running. I'm a terrific fan of this 1956 movie. I remember seeing it at 7 years old, and the monster terrified me – but I still loved the movie. And just because I can, here are some images from the internet:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is the box top of the model:

This is the instructions to build the model – very simple.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a small image of the engine sequencer lighting from Tena Controls:

 

 

 

 

 

These are pictures of the diorama build:

I had also purchased a resin diorama base sometime in the past.

6/7/2026 I sent my backdrop jpeg to an online print center. It came today. Now I can match the area in front to the color of the backdop.

6/13/2026 I have finished painting the saucer, wired it and temporarly installed it in the display box. I realize now that I need to drop the saucer down an inch or two. I have also ordered another wider backdrop. This one is 12×38 and I think 12×48 inches will work better. That way the backdrop will cover both sides. Currently I'm working on the lighting, trying to figure out what works best regarding type of light, placement, and hue. I will also cover the outside of the display box with black foam board as I think that will give it a more finished look.

6/21/2026 Here are some more pics. I think I fried my Tenacontrols sequence board. I've ordered another one – sigh.