Nostalgia Fuel Dragster--Blower Manifold (01/28/23)

[Straightliner59]

Working on more details. I didn't like the ball valve drain I had, originally. It was a brass model railroad casting, and was just kind of "lumpy"--not really defined. I made a new one using 1/32" and 3/64" brass tubing and a watch hand for the lever. I painted the handle blue, to represent a rubber-coated surface. I added some Strange tags to the rear axles. i am not very happy with the way they turned out, so I will likely print another set. I hand-painted a gold (Humbrol Brass, actually) outline on the arrow on the front of the car. I really felt it would set it off, nicely. It became one of those "just gotta go for it!" moments. I'm pretty happy with it! I'm currently finishing up the 'chutes and lines, after making a new bracket and new canopy lines--which may be happening, again. The bracket is fine, but I'm not satisfied with the sheathing for the cards. Anyway, as always, your comments, questions and critiques are always welcomed. Thanks for looking!

[AmericanMuscleFan]

By adding more and more details, we become critical, don’t we? ?

[Straightliner59]

15 hours ago, AmericanMuscleFan said:

By adding more and more details, we become critical, don’t we? ?

Yes. Sometimes the stuff we liked, before, suddenly doesn't seem quite good enough!?

[Ian McLaren]

On 12/17/2023 at 9:35 AM, AmericanMuscleFan said:

By adding more and more details, we become critical, don’t we? ?

Absolutely, especially on a big project, the bar continues to go up during the process, and second or third attemps usually seem to produce better results. This model is a perfect illustration of that process.  Outstanding!

 

[Straightliner59]

10 hours ago, Ian McLaren said:

Absolutely, especially on a big project, the bar continues to go up during the process, and second or third attemps usually seem to produce better results. This model is a perfect illustration of that process.  Outstanding!

 

You are so correct, Ian. I often think that a big part of being a decent modeler is to be willing to do things over. I also think that, if you have that willingness, you're a little less afraid to try a new method, to solve a problem. Thanks for your kind words, my friend!

[Straightliner59]

Chutes: It took me a few days to figure out what to use for the sheathing for the canopy lines. I wanted to replicate the look of the 1:1 'chutes, below. I didn't like the previous set of them, because they just looked too bulky, to me. What I ended up doing was to cut strips of black garbage bags, and fold them over, then seal the edge with the flame from a lighter, creating a tube of ultra-thin black plastic that could be slipped over a length of thermostat wire. Before that installation, I stripped about 5/8" of insulation from one end of the wire. I cut that bit of insulation roughly in half. I then flattened the exposed copper wire. I wasn't nuts about the result I got with my bench vise, so I used a chasing hammer, on the anvil. The purpose for this step is to create a neater, tidier-looking assembly. I then slid one of the short lengths of insulation over the now-flattened copper wire, until it was centered on the bare wire. I then looped the t-stat wire, at the point where the newly-installed insulation sits, careful to align the two bare segments of wire with each other. Next, I slipped the trash bag tubes over the thermostat wires, and slid a piece of heat-shrink tubing to the point you see in the photos. Once the tubing was shrunk, I taped over the heat shrink, and shot Tamiya Tire Black lacquer over the assembly. Great news! It dried, and hasn't begun to flake off, in spite of some rough handling! So, that's that. Comments, questions and critiques are always welcomed. Thanks for looking!

 

Edited December 20, 2023 by Straightliner59

[Ian McLaren]

Daniel those packs look fantastic, you have captured the look of the real ones extremely well. Certainly one of the best efforts I have seen over the years, perhaps the best, very well done my friend!

[Straightliner59]

5 hours ago, Ian McLaren said:

Daniel those packs look fantastic, you have captured the look of the real ones extremely well. Certainly one of the best efforts I have seen over the years, perhaps the best, very well done my friend!

Thanks, Ian! Like we were talking about, the other day, about doing things over--it took tries with three different materials, and then several to get the seam and the size right, once I'd decided on the trash bag material. I appreciate your comment!

[absmiami]

Dunno

think you saved the best for last - 

[absmiami]

About flattening the stripped wire - try doing it with the widest portion of a needle nosed pliers …

[Straightliner59]

On 12/23/2023 at 10:36 PM, absmiami said:

About flattening the stripped wire - try doing it with the widest portion of a needle nosed pliers …

That's a good idea. The wire I used, would have to be annealed, first. It's pretty hard.

Progress has been kind of slow, as I have been sorting out the steering, and generally wrapping everything up, so that I can begin work on the blower manifold--which is happening, next! I also mounted the radius rods. I printed new axle tags, too. On to the fuel system! Comments, critiques and questions are always welcomed. Thanks for looking!

[AmericanMuscleFan]

Very realistic Daniel, this project is going in the right direction so as not to make a pun! ?

[Straightliner59]

12 hours ago, AmericanMuscleFan said:

Very realistic Daniel, this project is going in the right direction so as not to make a pun! ?

Thank you, Francis! It must be headed in the right direction. I'm down to the last major assembly, and everything else is pretty much done! ? Now, I just need to figure out where to mount the fuel block for the manifold. There isn't much room, back there!

[Ian McLaren]

12 hours ago, Straightliner59 said:

Thank you, Francis! It must be headed in the right direction. I'm down to the last major assembly, and everything else is pretty much done! ? Now, I just need to figure out where to mount the fuel block for the manifold. There isn't much room, back there!

Here is a mount you may like, I saw it on a T/F car years ago may use it on the Hill car.  Sorry for the quality it's a picture of a picture

[Straightliner59]

14 hours ago, Ian McLaren said:

Here is a mount you may like, I saw it on a T/F car years ago may use it on the Hill car.  Sorry for the quality it's a picture of a picture

Thanks, Ian! I ended up doing something like that (to the manifold). The biggest problem I was having was clearance, with the mag back there. I ended up going all "Pete Robinson" on the blower end plates, and thinning them down. I have to make a new blanket for it, now, but it fits! I used  .060"X.080" styrene for the block, and mounted it on the manifold, beneath the mag. I'll get some photos in the next couple of days.

[Straightliner59]

On 12/28/2023 at 9:37 AM, Ian McLaren said:

Here is a mount you may like, I saw it on a T/F car years ago may use it on the Hill car.  Sorry for the quality it's a picture of a picture

Upon further review, I will be redoing the below pictured setup, to one like this one, except with the check valve on the left, instead of the right. I'll be changing the entire way I was going to do the port lines/injectors. I don't like the high sit of the valve, here. I used a 1/32"-ish end mill to cut the hex shape in the check valves. Next, I'll figure out what to use for the flex lines to the fuel blocks, and fittings, and how to put them together. I also need to make the new explosion blanket for the blower. It's getting there! Clearly won't be by the end of the year, as I'd hoped!? Comments, critiques and questions are always welcomed. Thanks for looking!

[AmericanMuscleFan]

Perseverance, never give up!!! ?

[Straightliner59]

Work is continuing on the fuel and induction systems. I made a new fuel block for the port lines. For anyone who is interested, I brush painted it with Humbrol Metal Cote #20004. Not sure what it is, because I can't find that nomenclature on the tin. I mention it, because I just picked it up a week ago, from a local shop. It's very similar in behavior to Testors metalizers, for any others who like to use it for brush painting details.

Setting up the mill for drilling the manifold made that operation very easy, and very accurate. With the setup blocks, all I had to do was turn the manifold around, re-set it, and align the holes along the side of the manifold, they were already centered along that axis, and at 45 degrees. It looks like I'll be making aluminum fittings for the fuel system, to match my (ahem) "custom-sized" lines. I just shot the manifold with Testors Metalizer Aluminum Plate (Buffing). Next up, I'll get the port injectors/lines installed, and figure out exactly how i am going to make and assemble the fuel lines. Thanks for looking!

[absmiami]

Yup

[Straightliner59]

I got more work done on the blower manifold, and on the barrel valve. I found these square nuts with large washers in the drawer. The real nuts are eight-pointed star nuts, and the washers a tad large, but, hidden back there, behind fuel lines, a blower belt, etc. , they will barely be visible, anyway. I found some tiny springs in a drawer full of miscellaneous metal bits and pieces. I shot them with some Krylon Satin Black. I also mounted the port distribution block. I mostly detail painted the barrel valve components, and assembled them. The linkage arm is an old Garage Scenes part. That's secured with a nut made from Plastruct hex rod. Thanks for looking!

[AmericanMuscleFan]

Excellent work Daniel, the milling machine is certainly the tool of choice for this type of surgery. Well done my friend! ?

[Ian McLaren]

This model just keeps getting better and better and has long since passed the landmark stage!

[Straightliner59]

6 hours ago, AmericanMuscleFan said:

Excellent work Daniel, the milling machine is certainly the tool of choice for this type of surgery. Well done my friend! ?

Thank you, Francis! There is no doubt, about that! I don't even like to think about drilling that stuff, without it. I also milled the popoff plate on the manifold. I am putting it to further use, today, as you will see!

 

1 hour ago, Ian McLaren said:

This model just keeps getting better and better and has long since passed the landmark stage!

Thank you, my friend. I appreciate that, very much! It's getting very close to done! I was planning to work on the injectors for the ports tonight, but decided to experiment with a couple of different sizes of aluminum armature wire, to make fittings for the fuel lines. It's very soft, so I wasn't sure I'd be able to mill the flats on it. It worked! I have the armature wire in both .040" and .052" (maybe 14 and 16 ga.?). I need fittings for the braided fishing line, so I thought I would see if I can make them from aluminum. Looks like a go! The "anodized" fitting is cut from 1/16" tubing.

[Straightliner59]

Just trying to make a little progress, every day. I made more fittings and installed some of them. Both return line fittings are installed. I made the line from the barrel valve to the port fuel block--it's just sitting kind of in-place, right now. I made a couple of zip ties for the returns, and attached the fitting for the main fuel line into the barrel valve. Next, I'll make the fuel block and line for the hat injectors. I am really leaning toward rubber injector lines. They're perfectly legit, and I like the old-school look of them. Once I have those installed on the manifold, I can mount it to the engine. This is getting exciting! 

[Straightliner59]

Still plugging away on the parts for the zoom juice! I have the fittings made, along with the port injectors and hoses. I got one side of the manifold plumbed. It went much easier than I'd expected, so I don't foresee not being able to finish the manifold, before bedtime. Heck, I may even get it installed! Comments, questions and critiques are always welcomed. Thanks for looking!