Birmabright. An interesting opinion & mainly based on fact??

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Originally Posted by gromit

Apparently chosen because it was available as soft, 1/4 hard or 1/2 hard, also had excellent corrosion resistance.
High tensile....yes but no pure aluminium both sides.

Details here (if you believe Wikipedia) Birmabright - Wikipedia
The details above mention that Birmetals made aircraft alloys.

Some interesting old adverts here Birmetals - Graces Guide
Posted earlier was this article on Birmabright including another 'story' on why it was chosen for Land Rovers Defender body panels are not Birmabright | FunRover - Land Rover blog & magazine


Colin

P.S. Just found this if you have the time to read it......Birmabright

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Thanks Colin, interesting read.
Terry

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RANDLOVER

I think I read that the DC100 Defender Concept was to have the body made out of plastic, which I think would have been great for polishing out scratches, even removing dents by heating with the wife's air dryer when she's not looking. This would've been like the modern successor to the old easily removable panels.

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I ran a Renault Espace II in the UK about 25 years ago. Galvanised monocoque chassis with GRP panels bonded on. Renault Espace - Wikipedia

I think the Smart car was similar, plastic panels. Original concept was you could drive in, swap the panels and drive out with a new-look car (probably a Swatch idea).

Could have worked on the new Defender.
Rust free, dents pop out.
Damage a panel and just buy a replacement and fit it (pretty much what a panel shop does nowadays).



Colin

The question as to whether the alloy panels on the first Landrovers were left over aircraft panels is a somewhat blurred one.

The reason Rover even considered using anything except steel was simply because of the restrictions on their getting steel, which was rationed because of shortages. On the other hand, aluminium alloys were readily available, because the demand for these in aircraft manufacture dropped abruptly after VE-day as orders for new commbat aircraft in the UK were cancelled - the alloy for these was already in the pipeline.

It has never been clear to me whether the sheet birmabrite used in Landrovers was material headed for these contracts, or whether it had been re-rolled or even realloyed to make it more suitable for civilian use. But despite this uncertainty, the alloy was certainly only available because of the cancellation of aircraft orders - for example, 150 Spitefuls were ordered, only 40 were built, no Furys were built, only a much smaller number of Sea Furys. And the Sunderland, which used a lot more alloy per aircraft "With the end of the war, large contracts for the Sunderland were cancelled " (Wikipedia). And there were far more contracts cancelled - these are just examples.

Rover had experience in fabricating alloy aircraft assemblies during the war, and undoubtedly would have had contacts with the alloy suppliers.

When I was welding up holes on my series one a couple of years ago I used 5356 Alloy filler rods which worked pretty well with the TIG. 5356 has 5% magnesium in the alloy.

Regards,
Tote

I thought birmabright was chosen because it work hardens when folded and therefore holds its form.