François

Almost done with this project, tail gate is done with locking pins, telescopic lift cylinder top anchor post done, front and rear mud flaps done, tarp arm done. All that is left to do is the telescopic cylinder. Here are some pictures. should be getting back to the Bentley soon.

Here are a few progress pictures

I'm currently working on my first 3Design Models projet (3DM for short). It's a dump truck body. I've completed the 3d modeling and will start the actual fab very soon. There is not much 3d printing in this projet, it will be mostly scratch built from styrene and aluminium. It will have a working tail gate and if all goes to plan, a working air driven lift cylinder. It gives an idea of what I can do. 3D model More to come.

Thank you both for that info, very interesting. That being said, since I'm not reproducing an old bentley blower that was built in 1930 but rather à 'new' old bentley built in 2020, I will stick with my goal and try (operative word here) to simulate the rexine that was employed on the continuation series car zero. It will certainly not be rexine, and it will not be any type of woven fabric. It as to be extremely thin, I guesstimate rexine to be around 1/16" thick. So at scale my material would have to be .005". And in order to conform to the very small radii and curves, it will have to be extremely flexible. These 2 criterias eliminate many choice. I'm still looking into the ultra thin neoprene. I'll also look into rc plane shrinkable covering and today I ordered a box of xlarge nitrile glove (thanks gbtr6) which is 6mil thick (close enough) and very flexible.

I'm affraid it would not be flexible enough. It needs to be as flexible as ultra thin latex but non degradable. The frame has multiple curves and very small radii. I'm stiil waiting to hear from the wetsuit guy that has 0.3mm thick neoprene.

If the plan was to simply paint the kit's body I would agree. But since I'm covering the open structured frame I did with a fabric, I really don't believe I can use paint. I think the final texture and color has to come from the fabric I will use.

Bugatti, I will certainly try and find some leather scraps as I will need it for the seats but I not convinced that leather would do for the body. First it would have to be very thin (under 0.015") and second, the Rexine has no grain at all. I'm not sur that leather can have no grain. Still, I'll look it up. Here's a shot of à Rexine coverded body where we can see that there is no grain to it.

A word about my body covering dilemma . I had found some very thin latex (party balloons) but someone from another forum mentionned that latex will degrade in a fearly short time so that's a no go. I'm looking at the option of using neoprene instead. I found a wetsuit fabricator who uses 0.3mm (.012") thick neoprene (apparently the thinnest available) which is exactly what I need. He's looking to see if he might have some cutoffs for me. If it works out my model will end up saying 'l'm Batman' . More to come on this.

Pretty much completed the bulkhead assembly. I still have the gas pedal to do plus a few more wires to install but that will come later. And the real thing

Bonjour Pierre, Tu peux m'appeler si tu veux plus d'info. Suis-tu mon post sur la Bentley que je fais présentement ? Voici le lien au cas ou. http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/topic/181907-airfix-112-bentley-blower/page/6/#comment-2762377 514 947-4842

Completed the gearbox today. I'm not 100% satisfied with the shifter gate. Right now, it's painted to look like brass but I might try and make a real brass one. Espacialy since the gate and shifter are the only 2 things from the gearbox assy that are visible once the model is complet. 20230731_215821.mp4 l also printed a holding fixture to hold both bulkheads in relation while I glue some brackets in place. Here's the design (hi-lighted in blue) And the fixture in use I'm still scratching my head as to how l'll glue the latex covering on the body, it's getting clearer but I'm not quite there yet. I do know that I'll probably glue a thin felt between the body and the latex to give a little more volume and roundness to the latex.

Hello all, Having much more time these days, I've decided to start a small business venture. I'm offering you my 30 plus years experience in design. You would like to add some custom details to your model? Or maybe you need a specific assembly or fabrication jig? I can model them for you and generate a .stl file so you can have it printed. Can't print it yourself ? I can print it for you. Whatever your need, we can discuss it and see if I can help you. Prices will be based on complexity, precision of print and quantity. Here is an exemple of what can be 3d modeled. And printed Here is my info (Sorry but the web site is not up running yet). Hoping to do some modeling with you!! François

After several unsuccessful tries at removing the airfix chrome, I finally found the right product. It's ferric chloride, and this stuff is nasty. Gloves, goggles and a mask are a must. But after about 30 to 60 sec , the chrome is off and about another 2min to remove the copper. And yes, there is copper under the airfix chrome because unlike other kits, and despite what others may say, the chromed parts on the airfix bentley are actually chrome, not paint, and not an aluminium deposit. The process is similar to chroming a metal part except that the copper layer is applied via an electroless process since plastic is not conductive. Once the copper is there, the chrome can be applied thru a normal electro plating process. This producess a very hard chrome which is why it can not be scrapped or sanded off without serious damage to the part itself. I tested Revell's chrome paint on the gear shifter and, althought very pricey at around 35$ canadian, the result is very surprising and extremely simple. No black primer, no clear. Just spray and let dry for 48 hrs. I'll never fuss with Alclad products again. Here's the shifter before and after the chrome paint.

Finaly got the body framework completed and added the aluminium sheets. I found what I think could be a good alternative to the different materials l've been testing to wrap the body with. I was looking for a latex sheet but couldn't find any so I bought a large latex party balloon. It won't be easy but I think it could work. It's not as shiny as I would like but I'll get some latex shine to buff it up once all glued on. Next I tackled the gearbox. The one provided with the kit is pretty good. But the side extension for the shifter is non existing. The kit's shifter is simply glued to the floor. That won't do since I'm doing redo the floor out of wood as should be and I really want a moving shifter with a 4 position gate. Here what it should look like. Here's what I've done so far I had to modify the shaft going thru the gearbox t9o accomodate the shifter extension

body prototype number 3 is fully assembled using an assembly jig. Next up are the panels. I found another material for the skin that is 4 way stretch and shinier. But is it better, not sure. I think what would be best in latex but I'm having a hard time finding some.

Fusion is not really the successor but a more affordable 3d cad system that will cater more to the educational/ hobbist crowd like autocar did in tge late 80's and 90's. Inventor is, for now at least, a more powerful mecanical design tool.

Thanks Bugatti, I'm not using fusion 360, l work with Inventor which is a mecanical design software. So making 2d line drawings from the 3d cad is quite easy, every part I would design had to be transfered to a 2d line drawing so it could be machined.

Still working on the second body prototype. Added the aluminium sheets to the front portion and tried my hand at covering it with the faux leather I found. Not to bad for a first try. I still have to work on the flatness of the assembly so that the seams aren't as visible. Not sure about my fabric choice. The ref car look a bit more shiny.

Second prototype of the body. I'm getting closer with every try. I'm trying different slicer applications to see which will give the better result.

2 big steps were achived today. I finally assembled the ladder frame with a mix on kit parts and newly printed parts. Everything went together well. next, I test printed the front portion of the body. I wanted to see if the parts were printable and how they would fit together. Again, I'm very happy with the result. Even if preliminary, it is promissing Althougt I'm not sure l'll ever make it in wood. Here the newly completed 3d body on the frame and as a reminder, the real thing Next, I'll do some test fitting of the aluminium sheets on the body.

Ok, so I finaly finished modeling the brake linkage and all the parts that need resin printing are sent out. It took me a while to figure out how the system works but know it's ok. When you press on the foot pedal, the hand brake doesn't move and vise versa. It was just a question of mounting a pivot tube over a pivot shaft 20230718_221136.mp4 the pivot tube (in black) over the pivot shaft (aluminium). I also finished modeling the main bulkhead (firewall) with all the brackets to attach the steering column, dynamo, oil tank and dashboard. There is also a smaller bulkhead frame that is attached to the body. Fun fact, these 2 bulkheads where made out of magnesium, quite adventurous for the time as magnesium is explosive. I worked on a dashboard fabrication line for a GM car 15 years ago and I remember it was a big safety issue even with robots doing the majority of the part handling. all components printed (the part over bulkhead is actually a locating jig to help me glue the various parts in the proper location. a bit of assembly on the bulkhead And l finally started modifying the frame rails by removing certain moulded features such as the fake brake linkage levers which will be replaced by real ones and the steering column mounting bracket which will be replaced with a more accurate one. I'm also drilling a few holes for various pivots.

Thanks Bugatti fan, I already have some wires like that but I find them to stiff. The good news is the Italeri is willing to send me a good length for 5 euros.

I'm not familiar with this, could you please elaborate ? Thanks

It's actually silicone. I contacted italeri, hopefully they can help.

Hi all, when I did the Alfa from Italeri, the kit came with a small coil of 1/16 dia rubber hose. I didn't use it all on the Alfa but used the rest on this build's fuel line. I'm trying to find some more but all my searchs have failed. Any body know where I could find some? I was about to write italeri to see if they could sell me some but I would like to cut the middle man. Here's the tubing in question.