Moebius Comet... Wild Bubbletop Show Rod- Done! 3-17

[wisdonm]

Thanks for showing how you are doing this. So if I understand. Instead of endless measuring and trial by error, you are drawing this on a computer program, that does all the measuring and shapes for you, then cut it out on a machine, and then assemble it like a kit. Very interesting.

 

I saw this the other day and it reminded me of your build.

 

It received the Klingon Kruiser Award as the most "out of this world" entry at a prestigious contest in Salt Lake City. It's a 1/25 AMT 1960 Ford Starliner combined with the bubble top and interior from the Roth Beatnik Bandit Revell kit.

 

[Impalow]

16 hours ago, bobthehobbyguy said:

Very nice. One question on the shots of the cross members I noticed the plastic has a slight curve to it. How do you get rid of that when you glue them together.

Thanks bob!      So to layer parts like that:

1. I usually rough up the surfaces to be glued with a sanding sick, both surfaces with approximately 150grit.. I do this before gluing anything really... it helps break the surface tension and lets the glue bite faster
2. I just flood one side with the tamiya extra thin cement, sometimes on large parts I do a couple applications of the glue before stacking.
3. then really quickly put the other on top.. like really quickly before the glue evaporates.
4. Align the parts as best you can as fast as you can... you have a couple seconds to do this.
5. Then clamp it between two flat pieces of wood ( I think this is the answer to your original question, but the other info seemed valuable as well)
6. Let that sit while you prep the next layer... un-clamp and repeat for the next layer,
7. once all layering is done I let it sit overnight before sanding and handling.

I hope that helps... that is pretty much my procedure for all the layering I do..  It takes some time, but I'm getting warp free parts from .020 with this method.

 

[Impalow]

4 hours ago, wisdonm said:

Thanks for showing how you are doing this. So if I understand. Instead of endless measuring and trial by error, you are drawing this on a computer program, that does all the measuring and shapes for you, then cut it out on a machine, and then assemble it like a kit. Very interesting.

 

I saw this the other day and it reminded me of your build.

 

 

It received the Klingon Kruiser Award as the most "out of this world" entry at a prestigious contest in Salt Lake City. It's a 1/25 AMT 1960 Ford Starliner combined with the bubble top and interior from the Roth Beatnik Bandit Revell kit.

 

Thanks Don!  I love that build, i remember watching the build log here on the forum!

You are pretty much correct with how the scrapbook cutter works. 

What I'm doing in a nutshell is

1. creating a body with traditional modeling hand work, 
2. then scanning a flat side view and top view of that body into a computer program.
3. Then I draw/design the chassis and other components directly on top of those scans with lines.... because this is all done at full size, it minimizes the need to measure every little thing.
4. those lines then become the cutting paths for the computer controlled scrapbook cutter.
5. I feed .020 sheet styrene into the cutter and it scores it per the cutting paths
6. trace all those paths by hand with an xacto until the parts separate.
7. then layer and assemble by hand.

Its still a ton of work, but it allows you to layout and see how things fit in advance of cutting,  and also helps you make multiple pieces the same shape easily.

here are a couple screen shots of my computer layouts from my last few projects:

 

 

 

Edited January 10, 2018 by Impalow

[Slomoslam]

Next level stuff here.

[Codi]

Nice progress Eric. Clean & Crisp as always.   cheers, tim

[Impalow]

Thank you guys!!

Making some progress here and there.... hopefully more soon.

First up I made some motor mounts, and worked out the engine placement.

Then cut out the chassis pan to accept the frame and engines.

Test fitting and opening up the "hood" so that everything fits.. will still need to notch the front for the blower belt... I also trimmed up the wheelwells/body openings, that should all make sense once the axle is in place.

Then tossed some primer on the 3D printed tires...  one coat and some light sanding .. really smoothed out the grow lines.  The wheels aren't quite deep enough yet,  im going to work on that.

Then mocked up the rear end assembly... need to make links and shocks...  but that is the Winters change from RepMinCo, with scratchbuilt spring/link mounts.

[Codi]

That's just NUTS Eric.  In the best sort of way of course.  Just spectacular as always.  cheers, tim

[dino246gt]

Wow what a great imagination you have! Love this crazy project, WOW!

 

[Impalow]

Thanks guys!   This a really fun one..  the engines are going to be pretty crazy as well... thinking (2) blowers on each. fun stuff.

Last night I worked on setting ride height (shocks) and made my rear links.  Since the pinon angle is a bit wonky, they are a bit long, so ill be shortening them.  But the RB motion rod ends are just awesome, probably overkill for this build since everything will be chrome... but eh.. oh well.

[mecklm]

Will you be adding upper arms to the rear axle? You'll either have to do that or create a second attachment to the rear axle for each of your lower arms. I'd hate to see that axle twist out from under the car, especially with twin motor, quad blower torque available. 

Mike 

[bobthehobbyguy]

Looking good. Really coming along. The tires look great.

[Gary Davis]

Really enjoying your Build Eric. Very creative and great craftsmanship. Looking forward to the next update.

[bisc63]

Nice! just out of curiosity, have you tried it with those control arms flipped over? Seems like the lines would flow more inline with the frame. Beautiful work so far..

[Impalow]

Thank you guys!  

On 1/18/2018 at 10:47 AM, mecklm said:

Will you be adding upper arms to the rear axle? You'll either have to do that or create a second attachment to the rear axle for each of your lower arms. I'd hate to see that axle twist out from under the car, especially with twin motor, quad blower torque available. 

Mike 

Yeah.. I have to something there.. I honestly had a brain lapse on that one...  both on the rear and the front.. Doh.   Oh well, i get something in there to sure it up.

6 hours ago, bisc63 said:

Nice! just out of curiosity, have you tried it with those control arms flipped over? Seems like the lines would flow more inline with the frame. Beautiful work so far..

Thank you!   Yeah I had that thought!      May or may not work with the angles, I shortened the arms last night so they tuck up into the frame now.

 

Here is a glimpse of the last couple nights progress.... I'm having a hard time getting large chunks of bench time...Hope to get more of the fabrication done this weekend, maybe get the chassis freestanding.

Front axle and spring cups made, going for poseable steering on this one... so ill have lathe time on the hubs and spindles.

Then onto the engines.... I sourced the blowers from the old blue-printer parts packs, its the Pontiac one... I still need 1 more ... so if anyone has one laying around they don't need, please let me know.

For the manifolds I went with a 1:1 Showrod trick... hiding a carb inside it.. haha.. Using the regular old 4brl manifold from the mustang engine, and customizing the double blower manifold from the 1953 Studebaker kit.

Its coming together... slowly..

 

Edited January 25, 2018 by Impalow

[James2]

Always a treat to watch over your shoulder....

[geemoney]

love this thing!

started one in 1981.......

used a 289 cobra grill for the nose........

now where is that?

again, love this a lot!!!

[bobthehobbyguy]

Shaping up nicely.  Definitely wild.

[Spex84]

This is incredibly cool. Very jealous of your Silhouette cutter setup!

I can't wait to see the poseable steering.  I laughed at the hidden carbs--now that's an honest but accurate 60s touch!

I just started a project that I think must have been subconsciously influenced by your Comet--a narrowed '63 Vette-- and this thread has given me some serious food for thought!

[James2]

Eric, Looking at the pix again, will this be a flip up body?

[Impalow]

Thanks guys!!! this one is quite a large amount of fun...

8 hours ago, James2 said:

Eric, Looking at the pix again, will this be a flip up body?

I was thinking about it... but im just going to have the bubble top open up instead... these blowers are going to stick way out and keep that from working.   Hopefully i can get this bad boy done in time.... the interior tub is the next major hurdle.

Here is a couple shots of the one double blower setup.... its going to be pretty wild.. haha.. Im using the flywheel from a scenes unlimited clutch park Ive had laying around, just to sprinkle in some extra detail.

 

[D. Battista]

Awesome so far ,  Good luck with show deadline....I'm sure you can do it..... I'm having trouble getting a stock Suburban with a wheel change done...LOL..!!

[El Caballo]

Off the charts, this is amazing.

[Codi]

That is SO over the top that I can't wait to see the rest of this car.  You sir have one of the best imaginations around.   cheers, tim

[Impalow]

Thanks guys!!!   Making little steps of progress here and there....

Thanks to Mr. Dave Battista I have all the blowers I need!

Posable steering check.

Grille narrowed:

Starting to work out the interior tub and engine compartment panels:

Exploded View and a Mockup:

 

 

 

[D. Battista]

Glad I could help Eric...

Was gonna check on an update...but did'nt want to bug you....Great progress so far ...always a pleasure watching your creations come together...!