Scale-Master Posted July 6, 2017 Posted July 6, 2017 (edited) This was a factory built Caterham model from Tamiya I bought in 2002 so I could display it next to the Red Super Seven I built and heavily modified/detailed to show the difference between what the kit builds straight from the box and the changes I did. I took it apart and I am going to make it Left Hand Drive along with some other upgrades. I had already begun tinkering with it when I took this picture of it looking like a pile of junk. Edited October 3, 2017 by Scale-Master
Scale-Master Posted July 7, 2017 Author Posted July 7, 2017 I usually start with the wheels and brakes on these reworked or fabricated Sevens, this one is no exception. I milled these cross-drilled directional carbon rotors from raw stock I cast out of aluminum impregnated resin.
OldNYJim Posted July 7, 2017 Posted July 7, 2017 Ohhhhhh - a new build of yours! How exciting! I can't wait to see another masterpiece come together!Also, I never heard of metal infused resin before! Interesting!
Scale-Master Posted July 7, 2017 Author Posted July 7, 2017 The aluminum resin has some interesting properties and machines pretty well. I milled a set of aluminum hubs for the front brakes. The parts at the bottom of the photo have been acid dipped to create the finish.
OldNYJim Posted July 7, 2017 Posted July 7, 2017 pics aren't showing up?I can see them ok...Can you polish the aluminum infused resin to buff it up a little? What an interesting material!
Scale-Master Posted July 7, 2017 Author Posted July 7, 2017 To a certain degree it can be polished, but it has a gray tone to it. It won't polish up like a shiny wheel for example. It also reacts with the acid I'm using to texture and finish some of the other aluminum parts.
Earl Marischal Posted July 7, 2017 Posted July 7, 2017 Pity you're putting the steering wheel on the wrong side steve
Scale-Master Posted July 7, 2017 Author Posted July 7, 2017 I'm doing a lot of "wrong" with these Sevens... The front hubs are assembled. Again acid was used to make the final finish. The studs are the only thing I used from the kit and are a press in fit.
John Teresi Posted July 7, 2017 Posted July 7, 2017 Mark......Happy to see you building again.......looking good!!!!!
Scale-Master Posted July 8, 2017 Author Posted July 8, 2017 Thanks John. Never stopped building, actually been finishing 3 kits a month (or more) plus making 3D patterns for mass production. These are the assembled front rotors/hubs.
Mooneyzs Posted July 8, 2017 Posted July 8, 2017 Mark... This is going to be another Beauty of a model. Glad to hear you have been going strong building. Looking forward to seeing this one come together. You are off to a great start.
Scale-Master Posted July 8, 2017 Author Posted July 8, 2017 3d patterns?mass production?Yes, I'm a patternmaker and last year I switched to SolidWorks from the old school way I have been doing it. Right now my projects are car bodies that will be injection molded using my 3D designs. And thanks Chris! I know you can relate. After 10+ hours a day in SW it's nice to work with actual parts as opposed to the virtual ones.
Scale-Master Posted July 8, 2017 Author Posted July 8, 2017 These are the raw machined parts for the rear hubs. Being similar to the fronts sped up the process of making them.
John Teresi Posted July 8, 2017 Posted July 8, 2017 Mark.......great news.......haapy for you.......keep truck`n Buddy
Scale-Master Posted July 9, 2017 Author Posted July 9, 2017 And the finished assembled rear hubs, studs and rotors. No paint, just treated/raw materials.
mecklm Posted July 9, 2017 Posted July 9, 2017 Mark, beautiful parts. I'm really curious about the acid treatment for the aluminum parts. Is it something really weak like vinegar or is there a specific, stronger acid that transforms the colors and surface texture? Any safety concerns with fumes, aside from the common sense skin/eye protection? Thanks for any feedback you can offer.
Mooneyzs Posted July 9, 2017 Posted July 9, 2017 Mark... Those Rear hubs are looking great. I can totally relate to you when you have been staring and Designing parts at the computer all day, the last thing you sometimes want to do is sit in front of the computer when you get home. So it is nice when you get relax and work with your hands.
Scale-Master Posted July 9, 2017 Author Posted July 9, 2017 Mark, beautiful parts. I'm really curious about the acid treatment for the aluminum parts. Is it something really weak like vinegar or is there a specific, stronger acid that transforms the colors and surface texture? Any safety concerns with fumes, aside from the common sense skin/eye protection? Thanks for any feedback you can offer. No, it is very nasty when used on aluminum. It cuts brass slowly, about 55 hours to burn through 0.010 sheet. But on aluminum it boils and smokes and creates enough heat to burn skin in seconds. Part of the color change is the char left behind. Parts need to be made larger to compensate for the material that gets burned away too. The stuff will burn through concrete as well. Tools and containers need to be plastic. Common sense is a must to work with this stuff safely. And thanks!
Scale-Master Posted July 9, 2017 Author Posted July 9, 2017 These four corners are ready to be bagged until final assembly of the car.
Scale-Master Posted July 11, 2017 Author Posted July 11, 2017 I masked off the FORD lettering and filed off the "bolt detail" and drilled for the new hardware then textured the cam cover.
Scale-Master Posted July 11, 2017 Author Posted July 11, 2017 Thanks John. The lettering was repainted after the final dark metallic gray color was applied. (The texture looks a lot coarser in the photos than it actually is.)
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