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Post by pnance26 on May 24, 2021 5:14:39 GMT -8
Wow... too bad this is such a monster of a kit! Aren't you glad you have a second on the way?
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Post by arcticwolf on May 24, 2021 6:07:16 GMT -8
Wow... too bad this is such a monster of a kit! Aren't you glad you have a second on the way? Thrilled.
In all fairness, their engine/transaxle/suspension assembly is at least the equal to Tamiya's offerings, if not a touch better in some ways.
Just think, I only have 5 or 6 other Heller kits yet to build - I have not yet begun to complain.
As an aside, the lack of instructions is not an issue, step one in building a Heller kit is to throw them out.
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Post by arcticwolf on May 24, 2021 7:01:47 GMT -8
The side pod came off. No big deal, I have more glue. Now the damn thing fits:
A comparison, the kit vs what I came up with. Kit on left of each pic, my version after a coat of paint on right:
As you can see, there's a substantial difference in shape. I think it's reasonably authentic, more important at this point, it will work!
cheers
Paul
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Post by Joel_W on May 24, 2021 12:58:32 GMT -8
Paul, You simply nailed those exhaust headers. Well done my friend.
joel
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Post by arcticwolf on Jun 8, 2021 16:07:16 GMT -8
Some progress. After re-attaching the side pods, some repairs including making two new rear suspension links which I broke trying to manhandle the exhausts into place, and a lot of touch ups (a few still to do), a test fit of the body parts and voila.........it more or less fits. Not great but it will do, so far anyway.
The irony is that the exhausts are only visible on the finished car if you turn the thing upside down. But, as my friend Patrick says, we know they're there.
To quote Charlie Brown...............AAARRGH!
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Post by Joel_W on Jun 9, 2021 11:03:39 GMT -8
Paul, I'd say that's one great save for sure. joel
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Post by 4wheels on Jun 9, 2021 12:00:28 GMT -8
Hey Paul, maybe Lucy will hold the football (Ligier) so you can kick it! Seriously, you're making great progress, please stick with it!
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Post by arcticwolf on Jun 16, 2021 8:51:19 GMT -8
Lucy is on standby.
Still working on it. The 1:1 car has an oil pump on the back of the transaxle, completely missing on this kit (and Tamiya's for that matter). I had this little gem, a resin casting of a water pump from a 1/25th Ford:
I rotated it, cut the outlet pipe off it and it looks remarkably like a Ligier oil pump. Also added a starter motor and shaft, transmission cooler, hydraulic lines and some wiring. Kit has none of this of course:
Having literally thrown out the instructions, I wasn't sure if it came with a shift linkage rod or not. Either way I couldn't find one, so I made one up from some styrene rod. After it was all done I found the kit part, of course! A lot of touch up needed but it's starting to look like a proper race car model.
A test fit with the seat and cockpit cowling, not bad and that's about the best I can get it. Looking at the real car back in the day, it didn't fit any better so I'm authentic!!
Cheers guys more to follow.
Paul
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Post by mickgee on Jun 16, 2021 10:51:31 GMT -8
Good model making going on here, I like that ole Henry F. could help along with a pump!
Think too, about the unseen exhaust pipes, you know they're there and this can only help out for further endeavors.
I like these cars!
Mike..
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Post by Joel_W on Jun 16, 2021 11:22:50 GMT -8
Paul, I'm just blown away at your detailing. All those lines and fittings at the rear of the transaxle really adds so much to your build. The seat and cowling looks like it fits darn good.
joel
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Post by arcticwolf on Jun 16, 2021 12:19:47 GMT -8
Thank you Mike, and Joel. Coming from you guys it means a lot.
The way Heller does things, sometimes you get a locating hole, mostly its just a vague "somewhere about there". So there's a lot of this to do, steel pins glued and cut to length later and holes to be drilled. As a result, most of the kit ends up being CA'd together. Example, front lower a-arm:
And the kit is 40 yrs old so very brittle, this broke and I really haven't a clue how:
No filler, just melted a piece of thin styrene into place. Fixed, but it happens so much I'm sick of handling this thing.
Sorry for whining.
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Post by Joel_W on Jun 16, 2021 13:29:38 GMT -8
Paul, Great way to make a missing part pc repair. It's something I've never heard or nor seen before. joel
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Post by arcticwolf on Jun 16, 2021 18:44:24 GMT -8
Paul, Great way to make a missing part pc repair. It's something I've never heard or nor seen before. joel Apply a bit more glue than needed, set the patch in place, wait a bit, it will soften, and press it into shape. Next day sand it smooth. If it doesn't look good you can always apply some filler if needed. Works quite well for little things, don't try it on body panels!!
Not hard to guess how I discovered that little trick. The hard way.
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Post by arcticwolf on Jun 16, 2021 19:02:41 GMT -8
So, this is what Heller gives you for the top of the fuel tank and the roll bar - not much!
Their idea is to glue the roll bar to the cockpit cowling.. I could make a roll bar and cut a slot in the cowling, not authentic (I think Ligier had a removable cover panel of some sort), but this plastic is so brittle I'm not happy playing with it. So I made a 2 piece bar, inner and outer, also not authentic but it might look plausible:
One half will be under the cowling and the kit part will be on top.
I have very little reference for what actually goes on top of the tank, so I'm going basic for the moment. This is from the USGP 1979:
I have other pics but they're the wrong car, a JS17 I think. If I keep it simple I can always add to it later.
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Post by arcticwolf on Jun 16, 2021 19:36:30 GMT -8
So, here's where I'm at.
The skirts are supposed to slide, but just in case they don't I mounted the wheels so I have an accurate ride height to adjust them to. The chassis is basically finished at this point:
The wheels turn, the suspension works, and it will steer, but I'm in danger of breaking it every time I move the steering so I might glue that part solid. Further details on top of the tank can wait 'til later, if ever:
So far it looks OK from the rear:
Now on to the dreaded 2 tone paint and decalling. Pinstripes, oh joy!
Cheers guys.
Paul
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