Adventures in Soldering: The Maserati BirdcageTipo 61 update Bodywork 12/17/22

[Rattlecan Dan]

This entire project is mind-blowingly amazing work. Thanks for posting and sharing this experience.

[Randy D]

Thank you for the nice compliment Bill, hope you are on track to join us out west!

Thanks Pierre, do please keep us up to date on Jason's progress. I have several sets of his wheels and am impressed.

Good to hear from you Pete!!!

Chris,  I don't know about that "mere assembler "   I think you get extra credit for your wonderful results from those monstrous MFH kits?

Andy,  I really dropped the ball on my entry 

Daniel,  thank you my friend.  Sharp eyes, not many people catch those spokes.  

Thank you David,  I really need to finish this one!!!

Glad you like it R Dan!

 

Chris,  I did check on some MFH kits and in the older ones they are pretty standard Photo etch.  The newer ones have 3D printed ones that are so-so.

I did look at the wheels in my 1/12th Maserati 250F kit and you are correct...146 pieces in each wheel ?

 

 

On to some progress...

 

Trying to complete the drivetrain.   These cars used a rear transaxle.  Hard to find good reference on this but luckily Maserati used the same one from the 250F car. I was able to get dimensions and details from my 1/12th MFH kit. 

Some pics that I did find...

 

 

These first 2 are Ed Matsuishi pics from the Tamsoldracecar site.

 

 

This one is from the factory and gotten from Joel Finn's book.

 

 

This last one from the Ultimate Car Page.

 

Using white metal that I cut and file to shape...

 

more ....

[Randy D]

 

 

 

 

 

[Pierre Rivard]

Magnificent work... how long did it take to fab this transaxle? 

Admit it Randy, You have Elphs with tiny fingers making these components for you...?

[Randy D]

Adding working u joints( from MadMikes 3D printed F transaxle kits)   These are great as they are printed with all the tiny holes in the various pieces open...

 

 

 

 

working on the top mounts....

 

 

 

 

[Randy D]

This thing had six mounting points,  here I'm working on the 4 on the bottom..  2 front and 2 back..

 

 

on the front ones, the tubing is bird mouthed so it sits in the frame.  the 2 back ones also attach to the frame.

 

 

 

 

Eventually this will get soldered in place but I will still be able to unbolt it like the real one for painting the chassis.

Made up the drive shaft ...

 

 

 

Will finish with a pic showing test fitting of the 1/2 shafts...

 

 

Thanks for looking in!

 

Randy

 

[Art Laski]

Love to see you back at it, my friend! Every update is always a lesson in old-fashioned, top-tier model-making. Such good stuff...

[absmiami]

Not looking…

leering …

or is it learing ??

[Chris Smith]

Sir I am still at amazement. 
I thank you for the kind words and hopefully I will get to see you build those beautiful MFH wheels ?

[Straightliner59]

Beautiful work on that transaxle! Well, on all of it, to be sure, but the work on the transaxle is stunning. 

[David G.]

Wow!

I know I keep saying it but it's true: Museum Quality!

It's going to be a shame to cover all that work with a body. Which is also quite the work of art on its own.

David G.

[Codi]

Well, so nice to see that order has been restored throughout the world now that I've seen your recent updates Randy.  This is beyond compare and if it takes 5 more years to finish it I'd be perfectly fine with that too.  There is not one aspect of the car that you've ignored or fabricated to perfection.  I've always been a "fanboy" of your work and everyone can learn something from your builds or at the very least, be inspired.  I am.   cheers, tim

[Muncie]

I'm still having trouble getting the pictures of the model mixed up with the reference pictures of the real car... Excellent work

Randy, It's good to have you back.

[Straightliner59]

14 hours ago, Codi said:

Well, so nice to see that order has been restored throughout the world now that I've seen your recent updates Randy.  This is beyond compare and if it takes 5 more years to finish it I'd be perfectly fine with that too.  There is not one aspect of the car that you've ignored or fabricated to perfection.  I've always been a "fanboy" of your work and everyone can learn something from your builds or at the very least, be inspired.  I am.   cheers, tim

It's even cooler, in person! Yep!! I got lucky, that day!

[Pierre Rivard]

Amazing work. The whole rear end looks like it's ready to take life, half shaft spinning, little shock absorbers pumping up and down, the suspension absorbing bumps...it all looks so real!

[Big John]

What a unique transaxle and De Dion suspension, Beautifully rendered!

[AmericanMuscleFan]

Breathtaking or mind-boggling, I don't know which of these words is more appropriate so I choose both!!! ?

I was just wondering where you source your white metal, there aren't many modelers who use it but you have mastered an art that is not common to everyone or anyone I should say!

[charlie libby]

hi randy amazing work . i have learned a lot from you and your your updates. your car will be just a work of art. keep  the up dates coming

 

[Big John]

Check out McMaster Carr for casting metals.  They list metal composition and melt temps.

[Randy D]

Hi Folks,

Pierre. One thing I never do is figure out how much time I spend on these parts?I have to be the slowest modeler!

Thank you Art!  and thank you for that last order of nuts and bolts.

Andy,  no leering allowed here Sir!

Appreciate the comment Chris, now get back to work on that beautiful  Ferrari!

Daniel, thank you my friend. See you are still getting well deserved awards for that wonderful dragster!

Hey David, With the big front clip, open interior tub and large trunk opening  I do think that most of the details will still be visible in this car...I hope?

Tim,  you are too kind buddy!   So good to have you back.  You are a true unicorn in our little world of modeling.

Thank you Steve !!

Francis,  Humbled by your comments Sir!  I have amassed alot of white metal detail castings in my train modeling and use these as "stock"  that I cut and file to shape.

Right back at you Charlie, your threads are just awesome!

Thanks Big John !!

Some progress...

 

The input side of the transaxle has a gear driven oil pump and Maserati did their usual 4 miles of external oil lines....

 

 

 

Making up the shifter and linkage ....

The linkage joint coming off the transaxle is not functional but I wanted the joint next to shifter to be workable to aid in setting the shifter in place.

The joint is not a typical u-joint but rather 2 clevis that are formed together....using a shifter gate and lever from this set making up the rest...

 

 

The shifter has a round shaft that I flattened to resemble the 1/1.

 

The eyelets for the clevis are RBMotion items that are modified.

 

 

 

more ....

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Randy D]

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

more....

[Randy D]

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a pic of the 1/1....

 

 

 

 

 

That is all for now.

Thanks for looking in!

 

Randy

[Muncie]

so now I'm looking at my fingerprints to work out a size reference of the shift linkage from your photos... and I discovered that I couldn't even see my fingerprints!

This project continues to amaze.  craftsmanship at its best. Thank you so much for posting your work.

[Straightliner59]

Randy, this is some fantastic work! The shifter is exquisite. Glad you're finding time to spend at the bench, my friend! Thank you for the congrats on the dragster! Appreciate it!

[Chris Smith]

That is a beautiful shifter and linkage sir! 
I will have a update on a Ferrari in a few days I hope,