¼ Scale 426 Hemi

[Scale-Master]

I have not fully figured out how this is going to look when it is done.  Some of the exterior parts will be painted appropriate colors and other parts will be left clear to show off the working internals.  I may mask some of the glue joints on the clear parts with paint too, but I’ll have to decide as I go.

 

While most of the internal mechanical parts are molded in a metallic gray, I’m not sure if the swirls in the metallic plastic will be visible through the clear “body”.  So I decided to paint them in case it turns out to be that they are seen.  I mixed TS-42 Light Gunmetal and clear flat for the cast/forged steel parts.

 

The cam lobes were highlighted by dry brushing and burnishing aluminum power on them.

 

The rods, crank and main caps were painted with the gray mix.  I used a tiny amount of olive oil to lube the bearing areas.   While there is ample (sloppy?) clearance a little adjusting of the tension of the main cap screws help ease the friction and the oil smoothed out the action furthermore.

[Harry P.]

That's a cool model. Like you, I kept part of the engine clear. I painted everything, but kept one valve cover clear.

[Scale-Master]

Did you notice that some of the parts are mis-numbered in the instructions?

[Len Woodruff]

Neat!

[bismarck]

Love that kit!! Good start. I wish they would re-issue it....

[Scale-Master]

The pistons are shown to be assembled onto the rods in the instructions.  I assembled and painted them first, (so I could address the seams), then attached them to the rods with the wrist pins and keepers.

(I didn’t like the cloudy effect from the cement where it showed through on the block so I painted those mounting points at the corners orange.)

[bismarck]

You have my undivided attention. More please!!

[Cato]

Mark,

The cam lobes would have a chromed appearance from lifter contact. BMF would work, The journals would not.

So would the block decks, unless you fab a copper or fiber head gasket.

Edited November 25, 2015 by Cato

[Harry P.]

Did you notice that some of the parts are mis-numbered in the instructions?

I can't remember. I built this kit many years ago, when it first came out.

[Scale-Master]

Mark,

The cam lobes would have a chromed appearance from lifter contact. BMF would work, The journals would not.

So would the block decks, unless you fab a copper or fiber head gasket.

Yes, after building a few real engines I'm aware of that, (and the used cams I have on hand for my small-block have bright journal surfaces).  The silver, while not as polished as a real cam, it is brighter than it photographed.  And the raw material between the lobes should be darker and rougher too.  I burnished the bearing surfaces so there would hopefully not be much of a friction issue, and I suspect I'll need to use some EVOO to lube it for the "lifters" (which are molded to the push rods), further darkening the lobes.  I doubt the cam will be all that visible once assembled, and I think BMF would tear and muck up the works when it is "fired up".

True accuracy is somewhat of a moot point the more I look at the way the kit is engineered, and if it is to run.

[Scale-Master]

This assembly was the first that I noticed there were incorrect directions.  One deck can fit on either side; the other only fits in its proper place.

[Mooneyzs]

Mark... This is going to be an awesome build. It is looking great so far. I can't wait to see more of it.

[426-Hemi]

I've got a couple of these, THEY ARE FUN, but be careful things need to be assembled right, left or right, up or down, right or left, MAKE SURE of THIS! -They do "run" remember!!!!!

Edited November 28, 2015 by 426-Hemi

[The70judgeman]

I built one of those years ago around when they were released. Everything went great until one of the valve stem springs went flying. Well, that half of the engine got painted up like the real thing and the other is clear to show the inner workings. One of the future problems you'll have is the belts. They'll dry out and get brittle.

[MrObsessive]

Mark, you have my attention with this one! I too have had this kit for years ever since they were first intro'd, but never did a thing with it. I do have the poster they give you hanging on the wall in the model room though.

Another one that's always interested me that I have but it still sits in the box, is AMT's 1/6 scale '57 Chevy 283 Fuelie engine. This thread may inspire me to take a long look at that one and give it a shot. Andy, that's an interesting point about the belts. Yeah, I guess they would dry up and get brittle over time--------too bad there's no replacement one could get as they've not reissued this kit since it was discontinued years ago.

[Art Laski]

Hey Mark, this is cool! Looking forward to watching along...

[Scale-Master]

The heads are assembled and ready for the rockers. 

I did a spring count while I was I was separating them for the valves and the kit is one spring short.  Looks like I’ll have to make a new one for the rockers.

I am being very attentive to the way it goes together especially since I noticed how ambiguous the instructions are early on.  Add to that the error in part numbers I found, I am triple checking before cementing parts.

The belts look like they are just O-rings, and I have some that are left over and look close from when I rebuilt the power steering pump on my 1:1 Camaro.  I’m sure if I don’t have the sizes that fit properly I can source some that will work if needed.

[mecklm]

Mark, nice build so far. On one of your next photos could you place some known size object next to this so I can gauge the size? Much appreciated.

Mike

[The70judgeman]

The HEMI I built years ago.

Edited November 28, 2015 by The70judgeman

[Scale-Master]

Yours looks good Andy.  Mike, I'll include my "big ruler" in the next photo(s).

 

The rockers are installed.

I found some wire that was pretty close to the same thickness to make a replacement spring and copied the diameter and wind count.  It isn’t exactly the same, but it works and I think after the valve cover is installed no one will be able to tell.

Edited November 29, 2015 by Scale-Master

[Scale-Master]

The pushrods and lifters are in and it works properly.  I used a tiny bit of EVOO applied with a cotton swab to the bottom of each lifter.  One of the springs in this shot is the one I made.  Looks close enough even without the shade of the valve cover.

[Scale-Master]

Heads and intake are cemented on.

[Scale-Master]

The spark plug boots took a little while to clean up.  I attached them and the valve covers with tacky glue so the covers can be removed if needed to reset the rods.  They look like they may have issues since they don’t have a very positive fit to the rockers.

The carbs were shot with Tamiya Titanium Gold.

[TooOld]

Looks great so far Mark ,  I like your attention to the small details !  I built one a few years ago and plan on doing another one with a little more detail one of these days .

Here's a size comparison .  The 1/4 scale Hemi next to a 1/25 57 Chrysler wagon and next to a 1/18 scale Hemi . It's a MONSTER ! 

[Scale-Master]

I think it's wise to build one to see how it looks before building a super detailed version.

 

Harmonic balancer & lower pulley, fuel pump & lines, coil & distributor are installed.