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Post by arcticwolf on Jul 11, 2020 17:04:22 GMT -8
Acc Min's tires are a possible problem. On my build and the builds of some others, the tires would crack and split after spending some time mounted on the kit wheels. I'd recommend finding some replacements. I didn't know that. Thanks.
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Post by Joel_W on Jul 12, 2020 5:48:38 GMT -8
Paul, About the only issue I haven't heard about is the tires cracking. I'm sure that there's plenty of substitutes out there if need be.
I had two Dremels that both died literally from old age. Both were over 40 years old. I even used a wall dimer switch as a method to reduce the RPMs to a crawl for polishing, which was their main function. I've looked at all the units out there, and the lowest they go is 5,000 rpms which I think is still to high for kit polishing, and even drilling holes in plastic. I'm looking at the better nail polishing machines as a viable answer.
Joel
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Post by arcticwolf on Jul 16, 2020 12:27:45 GMT -8
Fiberglass resin and I don't get along. I seem to be hyper sensitive to it, not as a liquid so much but the dust!! I recall when we had bodywork going on in our shop it used to bother me back then, so I shouldn't be surprised. Anyway, progress report. One thing missing from the spare kit was the doors (??), so back to plan A version 2.0. Modify the M8. I'm trying for visual appeal here, I want it to look like an M1, not for technical accuracy, so a lot of artistic license used! After lots of measurements and test fits, I've come up with this:
There is just a slight lip on the floor pan for the body shell to rest on. Because of the interior cut out, you can see a lot of this car with the body shell on, both from the top and underside. I'm considering cutting the body, so that the front half is fixed in place and the rear engine cover etc is removable. Haven't decided yet. But a bit of aluminum paint, not worried about what you can't see when done, this is where I'm at. A test fit to check, I think it will have an authentic looking cockpit anyway, if not dimensionally all that accurate. Custom made resin bulkhead for the back, time to start trying to build some frame members. The fun begins.
The engine is a Ford from a Lola T70, I think I can make it look like an Olds when I'm done.
Later
Paul
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Post by Joel_W on Jul 17, 2020 5:44:36 GMT -8
Paul, Your McLaren M1 is really starting to take shape. the modified chassis/interior with the shell on view looks like both were molded for the same kit. looking forward to following how you start to fabricate the bulkheads and rear suspension.
Joel
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Post by arcticwolf on Jul 23, 2020 15:17:45 GMT -8
I've been out playing lumberjack lately (which I am old enough to know better than but doing it anyway). But I have spent a few hours on these babies. A lot of work for very little progress sometimes, but it keeps me out of trouble. The basic chassis is more or less done, sections cut out and re-shaped, tube frame added, suspension pieces re-located (with some parts borrowed from a Brabham). The rear is the same, just mounted to a crossmember. Front's totally different geometry. Getting the dashboard to fit the curve of the windshield was fun! Side by side, more or less to the same stage:
The tires were always going to be the issue, much narrower and a bit taller for the M1 - 1965 vintage. Solution - Calvin's resin tires for the Lotus Indycars, period correct and close enough size wise. They didn't quite fit the rims I had in mind (some old ones from I don't know what but they looked right enough), but a little masking tape and CA and not too bad:
Just a test fit on the car, the M8 tires beside them for comparison:
And yes, the kit tires cracked within a day or two after mounting them. They're just a bad molding, maybe a bit too stressed on the rim. Anyway I CA'd them back together, I don't know if it'll work for long. So that's where I'm at. Next to try some engine parts, see what I can come up with. I'll take some more pics when I get them cleaned up a bit.
Later.
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Post by Joel_W on Jul 24, 2020 7:10:57 GMT -8
Paul, Double thumbs up for those chassis. You're giving me the fortitude to build mine over the winter. Just hoping that the tire bug doesn't bite me as well.
Joel
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Post by arcticwolf on Jul 25, 2020 17:38:30 GMT -8
Joel, I believe the tire bug will bite everybody. So far, I've been working on the assumption that I'm building Bruce's McElva, either in black and silver or red and white. Then it struck me that back in the mid 60's, there was this yellow thing that terrorized the Canadian racing scene. Basically, it won everything (Mosport, St Jovite, Harewood etc) driven by one Ludwig Heimrath. Now Ludwig wasn't the most personable human being you'd ever meet, but he was a bloody good race car driver. I kinda liked him, I was always cheering for him to beat the imported hot shots - sometimes he did. Well, the yellow thing was a Trojan built McLaren M1A. And I thought, instead of trying to make a Ford engine look like an Olds, guess what was in Ludwig's car? A Ford. So, why not, another addition to my Canadian drivers collection. Plus I already have some cool Ford goodies that are period correct. This is Heimrath's car, shot at St Jovite I believe:
This I'm not sure where, maybe Harewood:
So my McElva, test fit of a 4 Weber setup and the kit exhausts modified and flipped upside down (not glued in yet), and the mill painted the appropriate blue:
Yeah, I think it's going to be a yellow car.
And thanks, Joel, if it wasn't for you I'd never be trying to work in 1/24th scale on anything. I do find it more challenging, but that's the fun!
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Post by Joel_W on Jul 26, 2020 6:32:58 GMT -8
Paul, The Yellow thing sure looks like McLaren Kiwi to me, which is even better IMHO. The switch to a Ford really is a huge help and a lot less issues. The rolling chassis with the Ford V8 and exhausts looks fantastic.
Joel
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Post by arcticwolf on Jul 31, 2020 11:53:55 GMT -8
I've hardly touched the M8 but this little McElva is taking a lot of time. I've got a rolling chassis that I'm more or less happy with:
The exhausts will have to be bent and extended once the body is mated up to it. Lots of touch ups to do but that's to be expected:
Thanks to Historic Racing Miniatures for their beautiful 3D printed Weber setup, I'll be ordering more of those if they still have them, best I've seen yet. More to come.
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Post by arcticwolf on Jul 31, 2020 12:13:32 GMT -8
The body shop. The pegs from the slot car mounts tend to show through from the top, some TLC needed. Heimrath's car didn't have the crossover exhausts so the holes seem to have grills to fill them in, so I made grills. Some creative rebuilding around the roll bar hoop, re-enforced from beneath and everything CA'd together to keep it straight. This is 2 coats of primer and wet sanded, getting there:
It's getting there, lol.
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Post by Joel_W on Jul 31, 2020 13:02:01 GMT -8
Paul, The rolling chassis looks darn good if you ask me. As does the slot car body. It's making the conversion to a highly detailed static McLaren slowly but surely. .
Joel
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Post by arcticwolf on Jul 31, 2020 14:36:33 GMT -8
Thanks Joel. As it sits right now, after a couple more coats of primer, one more test fit. Starting to look like a proper sports racing car:
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Post by Joel_W on Aug 1, 2020 10:36:58 GMT -8
Paul, Talk about impressive. Joel
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Post by afx on Aug 2, 2020 4:25:17 GMT -8
Looking good.
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Post by arcticwolf on Aug 11, 2020 11:24:51 GMT -8
I could have built a real car quicker than this. It's probably the most hours I've spent on anything, but the chassis is done.
This is probably the last build I'll bother posting as it goes along. It seems only Joel has any interest in it, but whatever, I've started so I might as well finish it.
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