From the Rolls-Royce experimental archive: a quarter of a million communications from Rolls-Royce, 1906 to 1960's. Documents from the Sir Henry Royce Memorial Foundation (SHRMF).
Issues with S.3 front wings, including corrosion from spot welding and poor joint sealing.
| Identifier | ExFiles\Box 26\1\ Scan025 | |
| Date | 13th December 1965 | |
| To : SB{Mr Bull/Mr Bannister} c : Gry{Shadwell Grylls} Hgs JPB BJW Kgt. 2. PJW. 13.12.65. S.3 Front Wings. Your memo: SB{Mr Bull/Mr Bannister}/JA. 6.12.65. It is disappointing that the wings of SHS 45 incorporating double spot welds and zinc dust primer are showing signs of rippling, but I do not think that this should condemn the use of spotwelded lap joints on bodies. This type of joint on certain visible panels is inevitable, and has in fact been used with no ill effects elsewhere, as for instance on the tonneau of 'S' Series cars. The costly mistake in the case of the S.3 wings was to use it in an area where it is subjected to corrosive attack from salt and water thrown up by the wheels. This, coupled with inferior control during manufacture by the wing makers has been fatal. In addition, BJW and I have had to point out to our own people on several occasions, gaps in the sealing of this joint inside the wing. The poor performance of a similar joint between the side lamp fairing and the wing of S.1/S.2 cars was due to water ingress, the omission or poor execution of the removal of lead loading flux residues, and the absence of zinc dust priming inside the closed section. SY has this type of joint on the tonneau sides and on the scuttle top, both of which should be no worse than the 'S' Series tonneau joints. There are no similar joints on the front wings, you will be relieved to know, and the wing undersheets provide considerable protection to the rest of the wing structure. I hope we will never again decide to cut down on tool costs by doing the sort of bodge up job adopted for the S.3 wings, particularly in an area exposed to corrosive attack. Kgt. | ||