Pierre Rivard

When I started in the hobby and joined this forum just a few years ago you helped me figure out the various Cobra kits and from there we got going. You helped me a lot and now I hope some bit of what I share might help a few others. Exchange of information and learnings is the essence of this forum. Happy new year Gary and I hope you'll be posting many of your classics in 2025.

Thank you Brian, appreciate you following my attempts to give life to this old kit. I drop small parts all the time, drives me nuts. No doubt the drivers had to be strong. Steering assist came from shoulders (sitting close to the wheel) and I would believe a high box ration resulting in 4+ turns lock to lock. Even though, these were probably almost impossible to turn at low speed. Taking my time trying to figure out how to make things. More research than bench time it feels. Merci Francis. I think I need your advice going forward. I'll need something other than 0.5mm styrene rods (too fragile) for the braking pull rods. What material, where to find it, etc 30, wow that's a lot of work to do. I'm heading the opposite path, just one build and slowly learn how to make it more precise. It's a constant learning exercise but fun. Every task is a first. Thanks Daniel. Now that it's done I have ideas on a better way, but gotta move on... Thanks Helmut. My 2025 resolution: reduce the build count ant up my game on the details. I hope this one sticks because the gym, booze and sugar resolutions I have broken already...🤣

Thank you all for taking the time to review and comment. I presented these not in chronological but least to most liked projects. Turns out my 3 favorites were the ones giving me the biggest challenges because the kits were either grossly inaccurate (AMT/ESCI Ferrari) or extensive modifications/fabrication were required to achieve a specific car I wanted to replicate (300SLR, BMW3.5csl). A good exercise because it helps me set objectives for 2025. I plan to build less (3-4) but focus on more complicated projects I really want to do despite the fear of the challenge. Happy 2025 build year fellow modelers!

PERFECT!

The essence of the 935/78 is the long tail. It is the ultimate expression the group 5 styling & excess. The 935/78 is outrageously excessive. Not pretty but damn interesting. The MFH's tail looks quite accurate and with efforts normalizing such an abnormal car you might lose the wild look that is the DNA of this car.

Happy new year Daniel. The key components are just components until the wiring/plumbing is achieved and ties everything together and creates a system. This fuel system is wonderful and we can envision it's functionality by looking at it. Great stuff!

Chassis and engine have the look of a well used car. Well done Fabrizio. Please share your methods for weathering, it's very lifelike

Happy new year folks. Before the party begins, summary of last 2 day's work. First picture shows the front end of the 1 part steering system supplied with the kit. I decided to fabricate replacement parts to add a more functional looking unit and a worm gear box that was just not part of this kit. It's all a bit oversized but should look ok with some paint and weathering

Gorgeous replica Mr. Chernosky. Low part count, metal kit... we should not expect much but again you have defied the odds and created a rich, full of realism model. Another one hit out of the park.

I love this era of racing and your replica portrays it very well. Has Fernando provided an engine with this beauty?

Wonderful subject. Looks like you already have a lot done. Does this kit have a complete chassis/engine or curbside?

Another cool one to follow!

While research on how to make and route this "oiling system" goes on, I started adressing the steering system. Picture below shows the nonsense steering system that comes with the kit. The designer really mailed it in with that one. Worm & gear box and all links to front left wheel need to be built in a way that appears more like it should. Updates coming.

Thanks Rich, this is the fun stuff Could be. Finding the routing of all these lines would bring light to it. Only time I plan to use the dime, as a homage to your great work. Back to the bench!

Thanks for posting that brilliant cutaway Cliff. I think we're all converging to some sort of oiling system. Sort of knowing for sure if we could find the routing of these lines to I could try to mimic that.... within the limits of my old eyes and fat fingers.

A toss up between Bill's choice and this one

A great year Bruce. CA cool and diverse bunch. I'd love to build a Daytona some day. Looking at peer's builds does that, expand our own wish list...

I built it with the metal body. Same as your's apart from the body material. Nice kit, chassis vintage Monogram.

So happy this one circled back because I missed it when it was first posted (gotta check the model car section more often). I find this replica both gorgeous, convincing and very inspiring. Very creative and I'm sure research time was just as extensive as building time. Awesome work Noel, Bugatti Fan should be renamed Bugatti Master!

I could not resist. Francis has a dime, and I have a dime!

Thanks for the input fellows. Ken and Cliff are pointing to some sort of oiling system, and I could trace one line to the blower. But for today, throttle linkage... I think 🥺

I am in Montreal, Francis in Quebec, so your go to places. Hurry across the border before tariffs kick in. This grand meeting would be good for US-Canada relationships... show the big guys how it's done. Oops... hope the censors are off today...

OK, making my first call... anybody know what this reservoir and lines are for. Guessing it may me part of oil system of oil distribution to external component like the roots blower... but I'm just guessing. What I know is that it is not related to the brakes as they are mechanical actuated.

One more component on the engine right side done. The coolant pump greaser (sort of...) loosely located above the dynamo. Plumbing and wiring will come in later after paint & assembly. Starting on the left side I fabricated the roots blower clutch linkage and loosely fitted it behind the carbs. On the real car the actuator is linked to the gas pedal. The pedal's very last portion of movement (pedal to metal mode) pulls the linkage to engage the blower clutch. Extra 80HP thank you!

Thanks Ken, yes a little bit of damage to fix or hide Internet is my friend and I found good material. However I have come up empty on components external to engine and the various hoses & hard lines so I'm trying to replicate stuff I don't fully understand. I'll try my best. Thanks Andy. I almost skipped on doing these but I knew I'd end up regretting it... Getting started is the hardest part isn't it. I don't understand all the components and associated plumbing but time to forge ahead and make stuff.