200 replies to this topic

[stump]

... ..
Thank you very much for your very kind words and encouragement George...
I'm sure I'm getting NUTTIER.....that's a given, it's the next natural step ain't it......

To be honest, I'm enjoying this challenge more than any I tried/started in the last couple o years......Must've been meant to be....
Yeah, I'd be a hell of a lot happier if there was more aftermarket bits for 1/12.......I may have to change that..
I have a giant (1/12) turbo I'm going to set in resin as well.....see what else I can find to do......

hahaha....I been called lotsa things George, don't think angel has been used since I was in diapers.....
Cheers mate
Greg

[Foxer]

Those are coming along spectacular! Building a wheel and tire from scratch would put me in George 53's house chained to the wall!!!

Glad you're filling us in on this.. watching with mouth agape and eyes the size of pineapples.

[rv1963]

Amazing work on your wheel and tire combo looks just as good as any factory made parts can't wait to see what you do with the rest of the kit.

[stump]

Thanks very much Mike and rv1963..

Update...kind of a large one too, sorry...
First up...front tire.......DONE !


Work has begun on the rear too, but as it will be built the same way, I won't bore ya's with that...
Spent the best part of the last few weeks working on an exhaust system...I knew I did not want it standard....Off to Bill's Muffler Shop.....
Headers, these were first started in 3mm plastic rod, but after bending up 3 tubes, gluing in place and test fitting...it became obvious that the
next 3 would not fit...My bends just weren't tight enough....
So, off to the hardware store...I returned with some 3.2mm solder, and the bends were much easier to get right. I think they come out ok...


From the twin 3-pipe collectors (ex Ferrari...) I made a 2-bolt collector to mount an over-size single sportz system.
The hotdog centre muffler is scratched, the rear is a kit part, slightly modded...I'll add a second "U"-bolt as well..scratch-built too.

2-Bolt collector..


HOTDOG..



REAR..



More soon guys...I have an 8 day break coming up..the 4 days after Easter, so I expect this to roll on...
cheers
Greg

[george 53]

YEEESH Dude!, That thing gotta RUN? Have you seen the thread where the guy built a 1/16th Engine from scratch? I mean, he built the Block,Crank,heads,valvetrain,the WORKS! Since you've come THIS far, Just hook that bad boy to run on Petrol! GREAT JOB so far Stump, ya CAIN'T stop now!!!

[B_rad88]

WOW, that thing is huge! nice wheels and tyres! how much for a set of the rims and tyres? i am working on a 1/18 scale die-cast datsun 240. i pull out the little whimpy sohc straight-6 engine and droped in a 2000 LS1 V8 engine. and doing some of my own work to it.




i also have a 1/18 die-cast 1970 Datsun 240Z #26 BRE Race version.

Edited by KUZTOMMODELS88, 05 April 2009 - 06:26 PM.

[B_rad88]

YEEESH Dude!, That thing gotta RUN? Have you seen the thread where the guy built a 1/16th Engine from scratch? I mean, he built the Block,Crank,heads,valvetrain,the WORKS! Since you've come THIS far, Just hook that bad boy to run on Petrol! GREAT JOB so far Stump, ya CAIN'T stop now!!!

WHAT????????? a scratch built 1/16 engine? what engine was it? wow i gotta see this! hey george 53 whats the link? thanks bro! and fantasic job stump! i can't wait to see it finished!

Edited by KUZTOMMODELS88, 06 April 2009 - 08:39 AM.

[stump]

Hehehe... Thanks George and Brandon..
George, nah..she wont be getting that well built....though I've heard it said, I should at least make the wipers and washers work.....
I'm finding it hard enough trying to work a "working" throttle......not gonna give up on it........

Brandon, the 1/18 looks pretty kool....So, you going to drop an LS1 in there, huh..? Can't wait to see that.

UPDATE....May '09
Thought I'd better bring you guys up to speed on this....it's been a while.
The rear tyre is almost complete...I'll be sending the wheels and tyres away for casting very soon.......
Tackled a little body work as well..The G-nose is now in place. Lots of sanding and re-shaping to get a nice result with that.....
Whilst at the front, I finished my new radiator panel and joined the two piece firewall....


Those of you with a keen eye may have noticed a couple of "spare" bolts sticking up in the engine bay area.....??
I'm "bolting" in the struts, as they are on a 1:1 car.....I'm not sure yet if they will be adjustable, but it allows me to lower the front about 3mm without cutting stuff...


I've then switched my attention to the rest of the suspension....
The rear end requires that you glue the 2-piece upright, around the lower control arm...being ever so careful not to let glue contact the actual joint....
I thought about it for a while, and knowing first hand that the joint is quite sloppy when built, figured there had to be a better way.....
The area in question I've circled in red on this diagram.....


My solution......I jumped right in and glued the two 2-piece uprights together.. Who reads or follows instructions anyway....
After giving the glue plenty of time to cure, I ran a drill through the bore, ready to accept a length of plastic tube.


I removed the old pivot bar from the control arm and drilled a couple of holes to accept 2 bolts..


And finished up with 2, very neat, better fitting, control arm sets. There is minimal free play, yet it still has full movement.


After all that, I re-assessed the front.....Here too, I also knew that there was way too much free play in the joints....
The area of concern was where the lower control arm attached to the front cross member.....It is designed to just "clip" into place on either side...
The locating pins are on the right hand side in this pic....


After removing the pins and drilling yet another hole...(yes, more bolts..) this is a "test" mule being tried....



Ready for installation.....


That's about if for now guys....Still a good way to go, but at least I'm having fun....
Thanks for stopping by.....

cheers
Greg

[george 53]

Geeze Greg, it looks like you'd need a Chilton's manual ta build this thing! It's lookin like a million bucks so far! One of these days, when I make it down ta Dragalogalong, you'll DEFINATELY hafta give me a ride in that BAD BOY!!!

[MrObsessive]

ABSOLUTELY IMPRESSIVE!!

I'm blown away by the detail of this thing Greg!

Tamiya does great detail to begin with in this scale but you're doing this fine kit super justice!

[Foxer]

yup.. this just keeps getting better and better! Your solution on the suspension was beautiful.. simple and the bolts added great detail.

[Pete J.]

Man, I love the suspension! I guess I need to go back to school on my building. I love the use of small scale nuts and bolts. Very nice!

[Mr.1/16th]

BEAUTIFUL BUILD BROTHER!!

[stump]

Geeze Greg, it looks like you'd need a Chilton's manual ta build this thing! It's lookin like a million bucks so far! One of these days, when I make it down ta Dragalogalong, you'll DEFINATELY hafta give me a ride in that BAD BOY!!!

DOH !...You guessed my secret George.....hehehehe.......
Actually, I just received a second hand Haynes manual the other day..... I got it to help in the lay out and installation of brakes and fuel lines....
Most of what I have found online, has been cars already into a restoration, and they have most of this stuff removed already.....
Got some great pics from a young bloke on a 1:1 Z site the other day...he was just starting a build and graciously offered to take some pics before he got into it..Thanks Owen.

Many thanks to you too Bill, Mike, Pete and Santiago..
Yes, Tamiya did do a fantastic job engineering these big kits....It's funny, I was ever so tempted just to do an "out of box" build, because of this fact.....
But I'm kinda glad I decided to press myself for something a bit more.....I'm really pleased you're all happy with my progress so far.

Stay tuned, more updates to come.....
cheers
Greg

[B_rad88]

fantastic job greg! i love it!

[FujimiLover]

Holly cow! Home made wheels AND tires? Now I've seen it all! And that suspension not only look's great, it look's functional! Does it actually work? Impressive!

[stump]

Holly cow! Home made wheels AND tires? Now I've seen it all! And that suspension not only look's great, it look's functional! Does it actually work? Impressive!

Thanks Brandon and FujimiLover..
FL, yes, the suspension is fully functional straight out of the box, I've only reinforced things by making sturdier joints..
And I knew what I wanted with regard to wheels and tyres.....finding them in the size I wanted drove me to this nuttiness...... ..Hope to have some available soon...
cheers mate
Greg

[stump]

Update..May 24...

G'day guys, back with another sizable update...
I got to thinking how the exhaust was going to fit up....seeing as I'd cut off the butt-ugly huge mounting pins....
And being an "aftermarket" over sized system, I figured I could apply a little artistic expression....still wanting to stay within the realms of realism though..

First up, I decided that the large centre section needed some support of it's own....
A simple bracket was "welded" in place, it will secure with a rubber block to the chassis, to help absorb movement..


The rear of the muffler received a simple U-bolt clamp. It is attached to an "L" shaped bracket, via a "rubber" strap..(cut from a zip tie..)



The bracket, in all it's glory.....


And a breakdown of the parts I made. The "U" is bent from spring steel, but I might find something more user friendly...


In between this and doing more work on the rear tyre, I decided to kick start the next project.... .........
Yes, another Z.......I got the Safari kit as well recently, mainly to rob the triple webers and manifold for this build..... ....I'm nut's, huh.....George told me I was...
Well, the idea was to build it as a "stock" showroom type build...still is........
My balloon was burst upon opening the Safari version....it has a race style fuel cell and no spare wheel well.......

Not to be put off.....I set about making some.
These new parts will go into this build, I'll save the good kit parts for the showroom version......





I will run a duel feed from the fuel pick up, to 2 inline fuel filter/pumps which will mount at the front of the tank.
I figured it was easier/better to do the mods to a scratch built tank, rather than cut up the good one......

More soon guys, and thank you for your enthusiasm in following..
cheers
Greg

[george 53]

Now yer makein sense ta me Greg, If the stuff ain't in the kit, YOU'LL MAKE IT!!!! Now THAT'S the Stump I've come ta know an luv!!! Ya know, I don't think yer crazy so much, as I just LOVE the way you solve problems inherint to customizing! If'n it don't exist, you MAKE it exist! I LIKE that. To me THAT'S the essence of MODEL MAKEING. You and Santiago are the only 2 guys on this forum I know personally,who build in this scale and you BOTH can do some INCREDABLE things in these off the wall scales! Have you seen his 1/16th 63 Chevy? Same as you, he's gotta make all his stuff too! I'm just blown away by your talent Greg, To me your up WAY up there on MY creativity scale! And ta think we became freinds over some Dog dishes an steelies! Best dam swap I ever made! You GO Bro, The BEST is yet to come!I an PROUD ta call you my Aussie mate!!!!!!!

Edited by george 53, 24 May 2009 - 04:37 AM.

[B_rad88]

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


i wish my scratch building skills where like your greg! wow that is amazing!


A PIECE OF ART!!!!!!!!!!

(hey greg quick question? how much would it be if you can make me one of those masterpieces? )


can't wait to see if finished!