Auto Union C - Vanderbilt Cup 1937

[89AKurt]

Can't believe it was July when I stalled.  This is one of my 2020 Resolution projects, so have only one month left to finish.  Spent all afternoon on getting reacquainted, and jumping a couple of hurdles that stopped progress.

First up, prepared two parts that are missing from the instructions, found a good reference picture to know where to place.

Got two of the same trailing arm parts, sawed off the arm, slightly different angle sanded on the end, and hope is in the correct position.  The front suspension arms needed major cleanup.

The gearbox was not included, the original kit design would have hidden it, so why bother?  Since I opened the louvers, it can sort of be seen, so I sort of mimicked the shape.  Cut a Chevy Stovebolt valve cover in half, turned a basic shape for the starter end, and repurposed ..... let's see if anyone can guess what the white parts were.

Used the Dremel to hollow the body at the tail end, and the fuel tank void.

Can barely see from this angle.  There is a plate that should go in there, which keeps the carb intake separate.

There was a steering wheel shaft molded in, amazed how it could be cast, but it was rough.  Now there is a wire.  Cleaned up the steering wheel.

Worked on the radiator fit in the body, fuel tank fit so the filler cap sticks up enough, coolant pipe, seat fit in the cockpit.  Every part needs cleanup and test fitting, which is tedious, but I'm also trying to add detail that will distract.  ?

I'm apprehensive about how to paint, since it's much like building an airplane.  I will have to paint the inside of the body, the engine and cockpit, then assemble.  Don't think I can paint the outside of the body and expect no screwups during construction, so may have to shoot a final coat of silver after it's assembled.  When I was looking at pictures today, noticed there are some rivets that should be added.

[Beamerman]

Amazing work. I have a lot of respect for you guys who are working resin kits. Much work. Love to follow this wip. ?

[curt raitz]

From one Curt to another Kurt, I love it!

I've built three of Fernando Pintos so far just got a fourth to build, the Bugatti T251 (1956 French GP)

looking forward to hopefully seeing your Auto Union at DSL this year.

c'ya

[Bainford]

I've managed to miss this one until now. Looks like a nice kit of an awesome subject. Very nice work so far. Looking forward to watching this one come together.

[ZTony8]

I recall reading an article about the restoration of one of these pre war Audi race cars( don't know if it was a type C or a D) and there was analysis of the metal frame. The results showed that the frame was equivalent to lawn chair tubing!

Edited November 29, 2020 by ZTony8

[89AKurt]

18 hours ago, Beamerman said:

Amazing work. I have a lot of respect for you guys who are working resin kits. Much work. Love to follow this wip. ?

It looks like a butcher job to me so far.  ?  I've done some very simple airplane resin models, and did two conversions, the Chevy Canopy Express and Porsche 959 Paris-Dakar.  I tend to make mountains out of mole hills.  Thank you.

12 hours ago, curt raitz said:

From one Curt to another Kurt, I love it!

I've built three of Fernando Pintos so far just got a fourth to build, the Bugatti T251 (1956 French GP)

looking forward to hopefully seeing your Auto Union at DSL this year.

c'ya

You certainly inspired me!  I blame you for this, so thank you too!  ?

7 hours ago, Bainford said:

I've managed to miss this one until now. Looks like a nice kit of an awesome subject. Very nice work so far. Looking forward to watching this one come together.

It's been in hibernation, thank you for the comment.

1 hour ago, ZTony8 said:

I recall reading an article about the restoration of one of these pre war Audi race cars( don't know if it was a type C or a D) and there was analysis of the metal frame. The results showed that the frame was equivalent to lawn chair tubing!

Was that the one found in Russia?  The book I read was fascinating, many innovations were developed.

[curt raitz]

I actually got to experience Phil Hill driving the Auto Union C around Laguna Seca Raceway when Porsche/Audi was the guest marquee at the 1982 Monterey Historic Auto Races. Just the sound of the engine was quite fantastic and Phil Hill driving it through the "corkscrew" was a site to be seen. 

Edited November 29, 2020 by curt raitz

[89AKurt]

8 hours ago, curt raitz said:

I actually got to experience Phil Hill driving the Auto Union C around Laguna Seca Raceway when Porsche/Audi was the guest marquee at the 1982 Monterey Historic Auto Races. Just the sound of the engine was quite fantastic and Phil Hill driving it through the "corkscrew" was a site to be seen. 

[...]

You were very fortunate to attend one of those races, I understand the track will become history. ?  I attended the Ferrari year, early 1990s, also did Pebble Beach, had a headache from sensory overload both days.  I was also lucky to have ridden shotgun in a Miata on the track, the Corkscrew is a trip, look for the big oak and aim for it.

Went overboard with adding to the hood "jambs".  The 3 cutaway illustrations show the drilled (what is this called besides jamb?) parts, used aluminum newspaper printing plate.  Thinned the hood edges some more.  Added some shims to the fuel tank, so it will fit better without slop, the filler cap needs to be centered in the hole; also added a tiny piece to the cap.

The louvers really need to be screwed with, they look so primitive! ?

[89AKurt]

Drilled more holes. ?  I didn't like the pedal assembly, would have taken as much time to clean up as fabricating a better unit.  Started with a regular shirt pin, cut to length, then the head got a flattened side which indicates down.  .20" styrene for the arms, that was drilled.  Each of the 3 cutaway drawings showed only one or two pedals.  Used the Model Car Garage photo-etch pedals, which are sort of close, but look good enough.

Good illustration showing how important test fitting is.  The instructions are vague, not location marks showing where this goes, that's why I used Tacky glue for temporary gluing.  One photo-etch washer is added to the shifter.

FPPMODELOS usually has photo-etch with his models.  The pedals and washer, and what I made earlier would have been nice to have.  The tiny windscreen frame would probably be another candidate, think I will be making that out of aluminum too.

P.S.:  I had forgotten that I built another resin model, this 1/72 scale Auto Union Munga.

[Straightliner59]

Looks like a challenging project. Your work looks great, Kurt!

[Danno]

Allow me a moment to compose an appropriately comprehensive yet concise, complimentary comment:  WOW!

??

[89AKurt]

9 hours ago, Straightliner59 said:

Looks like a challenging project. Your work looks great, Kurt!

I will be ready for a simple box stock kit after this is done.  Thank you.

10 minutes ago, Danno said:

Allow me a moment to compose an appropriately comprehensive yet concise, complimentary comment:  WOW!

??

? ? ?

[89AKurt]

Started on detailing the engine.  Grandt Line bolts used for the valve cover and what must be a water pump.  Parts box pulley was modified, looks like another water pump.  Carburetors got details cut off and glued to the plain looking carbs.  Stainless steel tubing replaced the part that would have required a bunch of cleanup.  The remaining parts will require more cleanup, good thing the resin is strong.

Seems like each picture of the engine, there are some different parts, and colors.  The museum engine displays, one block is gray and the other is aluminum.  According to the book, they were improving the car every race, so I have to assume the modern pictures are with the latest modifications.  I just want it to be detailed enough to fake it until I make it.

[89AKurt]

Today I got one of the exhaust pipes done.  Last year I got some stainless steel tubing, this is *the* project that prompted me to order several sizes.  Ever since I was a brat, have been fascinated about exhaust tips, this V16 was, well I better stop here. ?  Also cleaned up most of the other parts for the engine, and improved the distributors by adding the caps (which need to be drilled for wires).  Discovered that one part was not fully cast, the plug wire tube.  The coolant pipes will be interesting to get glued on, I'm sure those need to be shortened.

[afx]

Good stuff Kurt.

[Bainford]

That's looking fantastic. Nice added details. It's starting to come alive.

[Belugawrx]

Great work so far Kurt !

[89AKurt]

4 hours ago, afx said:

Good stuff Kurt.

Thanks!  Saw your comment on my tubing topic. ?

1 hour ago, Bainford said:

That's looking fantastic. Nice added details. It's starting to come alive.

Thank you.   Yea, looks more likely that it will be finished.

35 minutes ago, Belugawrx said:

Great work so far Kurt !

Thanks!

[89AKurt]

Added some more stuff to the cockpit around the dash area.  Started to get OCD about the delicate parts on top of the engine, the coolant piping is going to be a PITA.  The spark plug loom is another detail that I need to tackle.  All that can be done after painting, so that's what I did today.

Made a rotisserie out of scrap hardwood.

First coat is Tamiya primer.

This is a fun stage, all the scratch built parts blend in, like they were part of the kit.

[Dann Tier]

Love this creativity, Bud!!!!

[Dann Tier]

On 11/27/2020 at 11:16 PM, 89AKurt said:

Can't believe it was July when I stalled.  This is one of my 2020 Resolution projects, so have only one month left to finish.  Spent all afternoon on getting reacquainted, and jumping a couple of hurdles that stopped progress.

First up, prepared two parts that are missing from the instructions, found a good reference picture to know where to place.

Got two of the same trailing arm parts, sawed off the arm, slightly different angle sanded on the end, and hope is in the correct position.  The front suspension arms needed major cleanup.

The gearbox was not included, the original kit design would have hidden it, so why bother?  Since I opened the louvers, it can sort of be seen, so I sort of mimicked the shape.  Cut a Chevy Stovebolt valve cover in half, turned a basic shape for the starter end, and repurposed ..... let's see if anyone can guess what the white parts were.

Used the Dremel to hollow the body at the tail end, and the fuel tank void.

Can barely see from this angle.  There is a plate that should go in there, which keeps the carb intake separate.

There was a steering wheel shaft molded in, amazed how it could be cast, but it was rough.  Now there is a wire.  Cleaned up the steering wheel.

Worked on the radiator fit in the body, fuel tank fit so the filler cap sticks up enough, coolant pipe, seat fit in the cockpit.  Every part needs cleanup and test fitting, which is tedious, but I'm also trying to add detail that will distract.  ?

I'm apprehensive about how to paint, since it's much like building an airplane.  I will have to paint the inside of the body, the engine and cockpit, then assemble.  Don't think I can paint the outside of the body and expect no screwups during construction, so may have to shoot a final coat of silver after it's assembled.  When I was looking at pictures today, noticed there are some rivets that should be added.

Those white bits are easy to tell if you love Porsches!, lol...they are the impact bits off the bumper of a Fujimi 911 kit.

[89AKurt]

9 minutes ago, Dann Tier said:

Those white bits are easy to tell if you love Porsches!, lol...they are the impact bits off the bumper of a Fujimi 911 kit.

BINGO!  ?

[Dann Tier]

4 minutes ago, 89AKurt said:

BINGO!  ?

What do i win?!!!!!

[89AKurt]

2 minutes ago, Dann Tier said:

What do i win?!!!!!

Notoriety? ?

 

[Dann Tier]

21 minutes ago, 89AKurt said:

Notoriety? ?

 

What a joke....lol