A replica of the late Ralph Watson’s workshop, together with his absolutely self deigned rotary aero engine, which was completely built from raw materials, has been very well displayed at warbirds and Wheels Museum in Wanaka for the past five years. Unfortunately ownership, of these artefacts was divided, as is detailed in the book “Ralph Watson Special Engineer Supplementary Edition. The rotary engine, lathe and all items displayed, have now been logically gifted absolutely to Ralph Smith, who lives not far away from Wanaka in Cromwell.
As is well known and appreciated, Ralph Smith restored and has owned the Lycoming Special for many years and has taken it worldwide in order to compete in classic events. When it is not being driven at suitable events, Ralph often displays the Lycoming at at Warbirds and Wheels alongside the Watson exhibits, thus presenting a very complete picture as is illustrated here. Thankfully the aero engine and exhibits could not be in better hands.
Ralph Smith lives in not far from Wanaka and will be able to keep a personal eye on the exhibits. He hopes to demonstrate the rotary engine when suitable opportunities arise, e.g. at the regular Wanaka aeronautical displays. His son is also an active avid enthusiast, so that ongoing preservation of the artefacts in the long term can be foreseen.
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