Revell Porsche 914-6

[Straightliner59]

13 minutes ago, Pierre Rivard said:

No no no Daniel, if you plan to not get too carried away means we will miss out on your best creative efforts. Build it Daniel style and I will follow religiously despite my dislike of the 914. Deal?

I will see what I can do, my friend. I am afflicted, after all!😀

[Straightliner59]

Thanks to Les, I believe, for moving this. It is appreciated.

To begin, the kit's distributor was nothing more than a blob--which is understandable, as it doesn't appear too be readily visible, once assembled. I removed it, and made a simplified one, but with six holes drilled for plug wires, and of course, one for the coil. As I am prone to do, I overcomplicated things! In looking at photos of engines, one thing that stood out was the ribs on the fan housing (I guess?). To duplicate this, I needed .060" channel, which I didn't have. I did have some Plastruct .060" H-beam. I used the edge of a blade to shave off one side, resulting in channel stock I could use. I wrapped it around the molded fan housing. I also added the band that, I assume is the clamp that holds the fan housing in place. I'll add the tensioning bolts, as well. The outer pulley face is a miscellaneous bit of photoetch I found.

It's been said that a journey of a thousand miles begins with the first step. Here we go, I reckon! Thanks for looking!

 

[Dragline]

What a blob of a motor. Do your best brother. 

[Straightliner59]

18 hours ago, Dragline said:

What a blob of a motor. Do your best brother. 

Actually, most of that is a molded cover that shrouds the engine. I think it helps direct the air to the engine. There are a couple of little details I can add to it, but not a ton.

Edited July 25 by Straightliner59

[Straightliner59]

[Straightliner59]

I've added a few more bits. I'm close to painting the fan section, once I figure out the best way to go about it. I turned a new ignition coil, as well. I think it looks better than that blob of plastic, alongside it!😄Thanks for looking!

[Straightliner59]

I got the fan end of the engine done, except for a touch of weather, and boots for the plug wires. I'm not doing any wiring beyond plug wires and the visible cables at the battery.The plug wires are from some crafting set. They're under .0197" in diameter, so less than 1/4" in scale, for anyone curious. I plan to print the firing order decal for the fan clamp, and a Bosch label for the coil. All-in-all, I reckon it's not too shabby! Comment, questions and critiques are always welcomed. Thanks for looking!

[Straightliner59]

Got a bit more done. Threw on some plug wires, and got the coil mounted. Those plug wires match the Prussian Dragoon Blue I used on the coil, pretty nicely. Now, on to the rest of the engine and bay. I'm trying to decide wheter I want to paint the upper shrouding body color, as I have seen a couple done that way, or semi-flat black. I'm also considering taping it off and giving it a coat of "Zolatone" (just thought of that, this very second!). I'm likely going to go with a green, for the body--likely trending towards lime. 

In researching these things, I saw one photo of a 914 with flares more similar to a 911. I really liked the way it looked! I don't think I'll mess with that, because I want to complete this relatively quickly. Also, I didn't save the pic, and I couldn't find it, when I went back to. Oh, well...Thanks for looking!

[Straightliner59]

I thought I was almost done with the main engine assembly--except, because I need the correct firing order, I get to replace some wires for replacements that are long enough to reach their proper destinations!🙄Other than that, and some touchups and a wash, we're good! I shot most of the lower end with Testors Metalizers. I maked with Parafilm, which is my new favorite masking medium. You can seal it down, and around tight corners using the heat from your fingers. It never leaves residue, and I've never seen it lift paint. If it does--you have bigger problems to address!🙂Oh, yeah...That green will be the color of the car. It's a can of some decorator color I bought, years ago, at Michael's. It's called "Basil". As always, your comments and questions are welcomed. Thanks for looking!

[Ace-Garageguy]

Looking good, worthwhile improvements on the engine.   

Just looking at that orange 1:1 engine bay reminds me vividly how sweet these cars are to drive. Everything good about the 914, light, nimble, responsive, perfect brakes, but with a little more power...and it sounds like a 911.  

[Straightliner59]

5 hours ago, Ace-Garageguy said:

Looking good, worthwhile improvements on the engine.   

Just looking at that orange 1:1 engine bay reminds me vividly how sweet these cars are to drive. Everything good about the 914, light, nimble, responsive, perfect brakes, but with a little more power...and it sounds like a 911.  

Thanks, Bill. I had never built one of these engines before, so it's been enjoyable researching them, and adding the little stuff that looks more like it should! 

[Straightliner59]

Well, let's just say things went a little haywire! When I cut and installed the plug wires, I didn't think there was any way they wouldn't all be long enough. I was wrong. Two were not long enough. They were both adjacent to one that was. When I weighed the prospects of things that could go wrong in the process of replacing wires, and, when I considered that the distributor wasn't likely to be visible, anyway, I swapped cylinders on the pairs that had a short wire. It'll bug me, but, it doesn't have to run...

In research photos, I noticed that the plug boots are unique-looking, so I used some bored-out rod to mimic those, and some of the same insulation I used for the boots on the cap, to create the 90. I then painted them with Mr. Color Tire Black. Overall, I don't think they look too bad! Thanks for looking!

[Straightliner59]

Okay, the engine is done, and the transaxle is attached. I shot some paint on the lower chassis/pan after these photos were shot. I found some rolling stock I like. Some big 'n' littles, and some wheels that are drag race wheels, but, I think they look like they belong. I guess I'll be doing brakes. I'm hoping for something like this, stance-wise. Thanks for looking!

[Straightliner59]

Progress continues...I painted the "chassis". It will get a shot of some clear. I'm not sure yet, whether gloss or semi-gloss, although I am leaning toward the latter. I looked disdainfully at the cleanup that the shocks needed, and whipped up a pair. That was much more fun! Now, I need to clean them up, then clean them. Because they had to be soldered with the spring in place (well, now that I think about it, I could have avoided it! Duh!), I'll have to primer and paint them, then hand paint the coil and any other details. Boy, does this kit have a ton of flash! I almost have the rear suspension arms straightened out. I'll probably turn some CV shaft boots, and replace the kit shafts with .040" aluminum wire. The powertrain isn't cemented into place, yet, pending the aforementioned clear coat. I plan to make the steering poseable. Anyhoo, work continues, and progress is made! Your questions, comments and critiques are always welcomed. Thanks for looking!

P.S. This tiny miter box from Micro Mark is awesome! Just wanted to say that!🙂

[Straightliner59]

Based on their molding, and the fact that the color chart calls for the upper ends of the shocks to be flat black, I decided they're probably supposed to be boots...So, once the shocks were primed and painted, I used some heat shrink tubing to cover the springs. While I was doing that, it dawned on me that I could use the same material to make CV shaft boots. In their case, I turned this little form, on the lathe. I first bored it to accept the .052" wire (the molded plastic shafts were right around that), then cut the "steps" using a 'v'-shaped bit. now, I could just slip the heat shrink tubing over the end of the tool, insert the half-shaft, and shrink it. It looks pretty decent. I'd rather it was a tad more pronounced, but, it works! Thanks for looking!

[NOBLNG]

Terrific idea! I have done something similar for shocks, but never thought to do it for a tapered boot.

[Straightliner59]

37 minutes ago, NOBLNG said:

Terrific idea! I have done something similar for shocks, but never thought to do it for a tapered boot.

Thanks, Greg. I thought of trying it, when I did the boots on the shocks.

[Straightliner59]

I got the rear suspension built and installed. I still have some nut and bolt detail to add, and some touchup, to that. I applied semi-gloss clear to the chassis pan, then brushed the bottom, and wheel wells with a mixture of pastels, then shot it, again. I also got one brake rotor turned. I'll do the other, after I eat, some time. I'm not disappointed! Thanks for looking! 

[Ian McLaren]

So here you are, quite a change of pace but still great results. Small changes that make a big impact, I like it.  In a presious comment on this thread you mentioned a Nova?

[Straightliner59]

9 minutes ago, Ian McLaren said:

So here you are, quite a change of pace but still great results. Small changes that make a big impact, I like it.  In a presious comment on this thread you mentioned a Nova?

It is a bit different, for sure! Thanks, Ian! I don't recall a Nova. Before this came into my world, I was really leaning toward getting back on my Warren, Coburn& Miller inspired dragster. Hoping to keep this a short detour!

[Straightliner59]

I got started on the front suspension. Since I want poseable front wheels, I had to decide the best way to make that happen. I decided the best bet would be to drill out the half-moon shaped holes on the tops of the inner fenders, so that 1/16" tubing could fit through them, then drill out the cups where the struts fit into the A-arms. That would allow the 1/16" tubing center of the new struts to remain in place, and rotate. The axles are 1/16" and 3/32" brass tube. I bored out some brass rod I had on hand to make the larger pars of the struts. The spindles are set at -3 degrees camber, just like specs I found somewhere, here:

https://www.pelicanparts.com/Porsche/index-SC.htm?srsltid=AfmBOoo7m0vfkYHGgknPJ77WJpVgffBUBcLOMWiEIcMXA7QE5kmvsVAP

There's a lot of really good stuff there! 

I also finished the brake rotors for all four corners. Next up, I'll be cleaning up the A-arms and figuring out the rest of the steering. Thanks for looking!

[NOBLNG]

I’m loving the metal work you are doing Daniel!😎

[Bainford]

Very nice, Daniel. You are really wrestling this thing to the ground. It's good to see a 914 getting the attention it deserves. I am digging the colour, too. You can't get more early-70s than that.

[Straightliner59]

9 hours ago, NOBLNG said:

I’m loving the metal work you are doing Daniel!😎

Thanks,Greg! I appreciate that.  I really enjoy working with metal.

[Straightliner59]

4 hours ago, Bainford said:

Very nice, Daniel. You are really wrestling this thing to the ground. It's good to see a 914 getting the attention it deserves. I am digging the colour, too. You can't get more early-70s than that.

Thank you, Trevor! It's similar to one of Porsche's greens. It does look very "avocado"!😅