Straightliner59 Posted September 5 Author Posted September 5 6 hours ago, NOBLNG said: The headers look great daniel.😎 I have to build a wild set for a Corvette project. I might have to look for some proper sized solder.🤔 Thanks, Greg! Also look for aluminum armature wire. It's dead-soft and works great. If I had 1/16" on hand I would have used that. I just grabbed my micrometer and started measuring what I had, on hand until I found this. It was all I had, in this size, that I could form easily. 2
Straightliner59 Posted September 5 Author Posted September 5 2 hours ago, Mark W said: The headers look great. I like that you made the tubes equal length. I always try to. I am generally an inch or two off, by the time everything's lined up, in place, due to trimming, etc. I couldn't find a stated length, for these, so I went with 24". Thank you, Mark! 1
BK9300 Posted September 5 Posted September 5 Terrific work on your headers, Daniel - lot to learn watching this. 2
Straightliner59 Posted September 6 Author Posted September 6 18 hours ago, BK9300 said: Terrific work on your headers, Daniel - lot to learn watching this. Thanks, Brian. I hope to get them finished, later today! 1
Straightliner59 Posted September 7 Author Posted September 7 I turned the megaphones. I need to start some work on the body, so I can see how I like the length of these. Otherwise, I like 'em! I need to make hangers, and be sure they're adjusted, so that they end up along the same vertical plane, given the offset of the cylinders. I'm going to work a little more weathering, on them. Your comments are always welcomed. Thanks for looking! 6
Mark W Posted September 7 Posted September 7 Nice lathe work. Do you use your compound for the taper or offset the tailstock? Also, did you make the header flanges? 1
Straightliner59 Posted September 7 Author Posted September 7 (edited) 7 minutes ago, Mark W said: Nice lathe work. Do you use your compound for the taper or offset the tailstock? Also, did you make the header flanges? I bought a compound slide for tapers. I have done it, before, rotating the headstock. It's much better, this way. I can use a RH cutting tool, and push it down, turning between centers. The flanges are Detail Master. Thanks, Mark! Edited September 7 by Straightliner59 1
Straightliner59 Posted September 9 Author Posted September 9 They're mounted, and the megaphones are in place. Next task is to make the hangers, which will line them up, nicely! I ended up using Detail Master's square flanges, and sanding two corners off and rounding them to make the flanges, here. I also changed the front tires. I'm not sure what they're from, but they're Centuratos, like the rears. They're a tad shorter. I had to trim material from the inside edge, so that the tire would slip far enough back, onto the wheel. It's not really visible, though, so, good! Thanks for looking! 5
Straightliner59 Posted September 11 Author Posted September 11 I made the hangers, and got the pipes done. I saw a similar setup, using a hose clamp, so I went with that. I fudged the mounting, a bit, because to mount them to the rear of the tranaxle case still seemed too far forward--especially for the model, so I went through the pan. I'll have to figure out something for the topside, but, it shouldn't be too difficult. I've been comparing the body to the drawing, below. It lines up, nicely, once the sail panels are fixed. The only other real glitch, is that the fender openings should be slightly more squared, but, they don't detract too awful much--for me! Otherwise, lining up any section of the model with the drawing (to avoid parallax distortion), it's pretty dadgum close. I'll be working on the carbs, next. Your comments are always welcomed. Thanks for looking! 1
NOBLNG Posted September 11 Posted September 11 Fabulous work on the exhaust system Daniel. And your lathe work on those brake discs is something I envy. I have one of those chinese lathes but don’t have the skills to do that kind of intricate work.👍 1
Mark W Posted September 11 Posted September 11 On 9/5/2025 at 3:41 PM, Straightliner59 said: Thanks, Greg! Also look for aluminum armature wire. It's dead-soft and works great. If I had 1/16" on hand I would have used that. I just grabbed my micrometer and started measuring what I had, on hand until I found this. It was all I had, in this size, that I could form easily. Aluminum armature wire, eh? That might just be what I need! Also Greg, we might not make it perfect, but lathe work is just one cut at a time. Go for it and ask for help when needed. 1
kensar Posted September 11 Posted September 11 (edited) Nice work on the megaphones. 👍 All your scratchbuilding is defintely an upgrade. Edited September 11 by kensar 1
Mark W Posted September 11 Posted September 11 On 9/5/2025 at 3:41 PM, Straightliner59 said: Thanks, Greg! Also look for aluminum armature wire. It's dead-soft and works great. If I had 1/16" on hand I would have used that. I just grabbed my micrometer and started measuring what I had, on hand until I found this. It was all I had, in this size, that I could form easily. Dan, just had the proverbial brain fart. While looking for the aluminum wire and being a retired electrician, I naturally thought wire for wiring motor armatures. I found it under craft wire. It’s used for making frameworks for various crafts, the framework is called an “armature”! I use hard aluminum for turning and this soft stuff I needed was right in front of me. Great tip for model builders! 1
Straightliner59 Posted September 12 Author Posted September 12 18 hours ago, NOBLNG said: Fabulous work on the exhaust system Daniel. And your lathe work on those brake discs is something I envy. I have one of those chinese lathes but don’t have the skills to do that kind of intricate work.👍 I appreciate your comments, Greg! I am going to go out on a limb, here, and say that I'd bet you do have the skills to turn rotors. You're an excellent builder! The hardest part, for me, of machining anything is getting my measurements consistent--I always seem to forget just how far I've turned the knobs! I make drawings, but, any little distraction can make me forget where I was!😂 Rotors are a great place to start, though. They're pretty straightforward. You should give them a try, you might just surprise yourself. 1
Straightliner59 Posted September 12 Author Posted September 12 11 hours ago, kensar said: Nice work on the megaphones. 👍 All your scratchbuilding is defintely an upgrade. Thank you, Ken. I appreciate that!
Straightliner59 Posted September 12 Author Posted September 12 11 hours ago, Mark W said: Dan, just had the proverbial brain fart. While looking for the aluminum wire and being a retired electrician, I naturally thought wire for wiring motor armatures. I found it under craft wire. It’s used for making frameworks for various crafts, the framework is called an “armature”! I use hard aluminum for turning and this soft stuff I needed was right in front of me. Great tip for model builders! Mark, yes, it is, indeed, also called craft wire. I actually managed to turn an end of a couple of lengths of this, to make mounting pins on the push bars, on my Corvette. I was surprised it worked, at all! Here's another cheap source for aluminum to turn--dollar store aluminum knitting needles! That material machines beautifully, and given that so much of what we make is tiny--there you go!
Straightliner59 Posted September 12 Author Posted September 12 11 hours ago, Mark W said: Dan, just had the proverbial brain fart. While looking for the aluminum wire and being a retired electrician, I naturally thought wire for wiring motor armatures. I found it under craft wire. It’s used for making frameworks for various crafts, the framework is called an “armature”! I use hard aluminum for turning and this soft stuff I needed was right in front of me. Great tip for model builders! Oh, yeah...you mentioned solder for plug wires. I forgot to mention that you can buy spools of soft wire for fly-tying. I have them in .015", .020", .025", .030" and .035". That stuff works beautifully for a lot of hoses, wires, etc. 2
BK9300 Posted September 12 Posted September 12 Beautiful work on your exhaust, Daniel - those are very tiny bits to work with! 1
Ian McLaren Posted September 12 Posted September 12 I'm really liking this project, as per usual your fabrication is spot on, love the front struts. I'm also enjoying your finishes clean, appropreate and scale looking, not too much bling. Well done! 1
Straightliner59 Posted September 13 Author Posted September 13 12 hours ago, BK9300 said: Beautiful work on your exhaust, Daniel - those are very tiny bits to work with! Thanks, Brian! They are, for sure. I know you're familiar with that kind of work, as well!
Straightliner59 Posted September 13 Author Posted September 13 8 hours ago, Ian McLaren said: I'm really liking this project, as per usual your fabrication is spot on, love the front struts. I'm also enjoying your finishes clean, appropreate and scale looking, not too much bling. Well done! Thanks, Ian! I appreciate your comments, my friend. I've never been big on a lot of "flash". I really like things that look practical, and used! It's coming along, pretty nicely. I'm itching to get back on my Warren, Coburn and Miller inspired dragster. Thanks for checking in!
Straightliner59 Posted Wednesday at 12:16 PM Author Posted Wednesday at 12:16 PM I got the carbs finished, except for getting the fuel inlet nipples trimmed down, to slip a bit of hex and "hose" over them, without them being so long, as they are, in these photos. That said, the carbs aren't glued in place yet, either. I added tabs to mount the throttle cross-link, because, I can't ignore something that huge! It's a prominent feature, so it needs to be there. I finished the carbs by shooting them with Krylon Nickel, then washing them with a mixture of Vallejo Oiled Earth wash, mixed with a little sepia tone India ink. The main fuel line is sinking-core braided, 18 lb. test trolling line (it's in such wide use on the internet, that they can barely up with production!). The carb fuel lines are 1mm aluminum and .3mm brass tube. While I can make the rest of the components, assembly will not be completed until the firewall is painted and installed. Comments are always welcomed. Thanks for looking! 3
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