JollySipper Posted January 14, 2021 Share Posted January 14, 2021 I'm excited to be working on this kit...... it's the well-known Tamiya Porsche 959. If I had a Porsche, I would want it to be one of these..... Got this kit in a trade with a good friend on here and started on it the day it arrived. I'm just working on the engine now, this is the first two steps of the build. Looking at reference pics, the block and cylinders are a dull aluminum, where the cam covers and front plate are a more shiny silver aluminum, I tried to replicate that....... also washed the cam covers a bit to bring out the detail in them some..... This is going to be a fun build! I hope you guys follow along....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TransAmMike Posted January 14, 2021 Share Posted January 14, 2021 TJ , I got that kit for Christmas (along with several others) and I'm looking forward to getting started on it but I have never done a Tamiya kit and have some apprehensions getting started. There is another pretty detailed in WIP thread on this car on here too. Good luck and nice start on the engine. I'll be watching. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JollySipper Posted January 14, 2021 Author Share Posted January 14, 2021 Hey, Mike man..... I believe this is one of Tamiya's more simple kits. It appears to be an excellent kit, tho. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
afx Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 Looks good TJ. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doorsovdoon Posted January 15, 2021 Share Posted January 15, 2021 ooh, great looking engine! Nice clean work, can't wait to see more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JollySipper Posted January 17, 2021 Author Share Posted January 17, 2021 Thanks, Fellas! Got some more done on this. The next few steps, anyway... Also decided on the interior color! I found a pic online of a two-tone ruddy brown and tan that I thought looked good, so I'm going with that. Still need to put some satin clear over this dash to give it a sheen........ Thanks, and comment freely... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steamboat Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 Make sure you test fit the chassis after the drivetrain is installed. I gave up on it after being unable to make it fit. I probably did something wrong.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TransAmMike Posted January 17, 2021 Share Posted January 17, 2021 (edited) Keep her goin TJ, ya know I'm watching? Edited January 20, 2021 by TransAmMike spelling Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JollySipper Posted January 17, 2021 Author Share Posted January 17, 2021 5 hours ago, Steamboat said: Make sure you test fit the chassis after the drivetrain is installed. I gave up on it after being unable to make it fit. I probably did something wrong.... Thanks for the heads up! I was asking around about that, and thanks to Mr. Atin who has built this, I think I know the fitment problem. Seems the two protrusions for lining up the chassis within the body are actually in the way..... I'll try to get a pic sometime later to show the issue.......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89AKurt Posted January 18, 2021 Share Posted January 18, 2021 I've built this, several versions. The thing to look out for is how the chassis meets the body at the engine. There are two pins that don't want to meet up, then add the engine accessory belts smashing against the cross member. I'm not sure what the proper fix is, other than redoing the holes at the cross member. The rear wheel tubs need to be shaved at the front too. Also be sure to fill the joint seam on the wing! I won't suggest adding the missing intercoolers. ? I'm surprised Tamiya didn't include them, sort of an important aspect of the 959. Have fun, other than the nit-picking, it's a sweet kit of an iconic groundbreaking car, when everyone manufacturing exotic cars were struggling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JollySipper Posted January 20, 2021 Author Share Posted January 20, 2021 On 1/17/2021 at 8:09 PM, 89AKurt said: it's a sweet kit of an iconic groundbreaking car, Porsche's first foray into supercar'ness, is what I've read about this car...... Got the interior pretty much done! It's just two Folk Art colors cleared with a matte clear...... still need to paint the seats, there's some ejector pin marks on them that need to be fixed first. Thank you, and feel free to comment/make suggestions........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TransAmMike Posted January 20, 2021 Share Posted January 20, 2021 Continues to come along nicely TJ, and the fit issue Kurt mentions is one reason I'm kind of leary about starting mine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89AKurt Posted January 21, 2021 Share Posted January 21, 2021 13 hours ago, TransAmMike said: Continues to come along nicely TJ, and the fit issue Kurt mentions is one reason I'm kind of leary about starting mine. Knowing what to expect helps, better than being surprised. Painting 5 colors on the seats is still an option. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TransAmMike Posted January 21, 2021 Share Posted January 21, 2021 11 hours ago, 89AKurt said: Knowing what to expect helps, better than being surprised. Painting 5 colors on the seats is still an option. Apparently these cars, being special order, could be had in any color in and out. I could be wrong but seems I read that somewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete75 Posted January 21, 2021 Share Posted January 21, 2021 Very nice! Got this one lined up to go at some point so I'll be watching ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JollySipper Posted January 22, 2021 Author Share Posted January 22, 2021 Thanks for following along, guys! Question for you Kurt...... Is it going to be possible to get this back apart once I try to test fit? or Is it a one and done kind of deal? I'm thinking I should try to fit it together once it's time for it to stay together...... if that makes sense? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
slusher Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 On 1/20/2021 at 9:50 AM, JollySipper said: Porsche's first foray into supercar'ness, is what I've read about this car...... Got the interior pretty much done! It's just two Folk Art colors cleared with a matte clear...... still need to paint the seats, there's some ejector pin marks on them that need to be fixed first. Thank you, and feel free to comment/make suggestions........ TJ did you brush your folk art paint on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
89AKurt Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 1 hour ago, JollySipper said: Thanks for following along, guys! Question for you Kurt...... Is it going to be possible to get this back apart once I try to test fit? or Is it a one and done kind of deal? I'm thinking I should try to fit it together once it's time for it to stay together...... if that makes sense? Going from (fading) memory, typical Tamiya snap fit, it can be undone. Start with fitting only the chassis into the body. The cross member behind the engine, it's like an angle iron, that's where the issue is. I deleted the a/c pump, irrelevant for this. The black Y member, getting it into the holes is the problem. I think taking a sanding stick or file to the cross member, on the engine side, will give some clearance. I had to take drastic action to clamp when gluing together. You can see where I boogered up the left pin mount hole. It's up to you to try this, drill those holes bigger, so there is leeway to slop the engine in. I punched aluminum washers to hide the mess, you could drill and then shape from plastic sheet. (ignore the intercooler piping) When I built the Paris-Dakar, the resin kit had a mediocre copy of the cross member. I cut it out, and made a new aluminum angle. Bottom line, lots of test fitting this area of the kit. Do it before installing the interior and glass. Hope this helps. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tortuga Kustomz Posted January 22, 2021 Share Posted January 22, 2021 i build this kit once, super fun and easy to work with, now i'm doing my version of an '89 Porsche 911 with this engine and suspensions parts, let see how that goes, looking forward to see yours man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JollySipper Posted January 22, 2021 Author Share Posted January 22, 2021 10 hours ago, slusher said: TJ did you brush your folk art paint on? Hey, Carl! Yes, the interior is all brush painted.... I just used a soft sable brush and a little water to thin it. Most of the brush marks work themselves out.... Thanks, Kurt, for the explanation. and Thanks, Guys, for following along! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JollySipper Posted January 31, 2021 Author Share Posted January 31, 2021 I just wanted to give you guys an update on this..... I managed to get the engine assembly to fit into the engine bay! It took some trimming at a few places. First, I had to trim up in the wheel well some (area in yellow circle)..... Then some trimming was needed at the ends of the stabilizer and the front edge of the shock tower.... (yellow arrows) I'll touch those up, and the whole assembly should relax into the engine bay...... The only damage during the test fit was that I broke off one of the tabs that supports the engine in the bay. Gotta figure out how to repair that...... Anywhoo, that's the progress for now! Thanks for looking, and feel free to comment.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TransAmMike Posted January 31, 2021 Share Posted January 31, 2021 Geez, everytime I look at this thread and the engine install issue I get very nervous about starting the one I have.😱 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beeRS Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 I love the way this is coming along. Great 80's colour choice. Surprising that you had to make adjustments to get the fit on the engine right - don't expect that from a Tamiya! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete75 Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 Gonna be great! Thanks for sharing your engine fit adjustments - will be useful when I come to build mine 👍 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stitchdup Posted February 2, 2021 Share Posted February 2, 2021 I like your interior colours TJ, and the engine is looking pretty sweet too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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