Airfix 1/12 Bentley Blower

[François]

So, I've been working alot on the rear drum and spinner hub, printing like a mad man. Here's a crude sketch on how I think the set up would be like.

here's a shot of spinner hub and nut mounted with the drum in place. We can clearly see that un like what the kit provides,  the nut is just à threaded plate with wings. The chrome cap is not part of the dpinner nut but rather of the spinner hub. 

My version so far. 

[François]

I'm almost done with the brake system modeling. I thought the italiens where gutsy designers, but the way these bentley boys did the front braking system is beyond cool! They use double universal joints with the pivot points properly located to permit both an up/dw mouvement of the wheel while still being able to steer. Quite a nice design. 

 I started modeling the handbrake system, and if all goes to plan, it should be functional

And finally, I printed some small ajustable candles, I wanted to see if I could print functionning threads, and it's possible

[absmiami]

You’re illustration of the fr brake system is wonderful - but don’t be too effusive with praise to Bentley - the French used this system too - i have a facsimile of it on my Delage 2LCV  build - i doubt that it worked well when the car was asked to slow in a bumpy turn - or worked at all - brake fluid was the answer - in just a few short years … you’re killing this thing - as we say …

[François]

Thank you absmiami, I didn't know about the Delage. l have no doubt that these type of systems must have been quite scary to use let alone ajust. So many pivots and levers but, from a pure design stand point,  you have to admit it is way cooler then a simple hose filled with fluid. It's a lot more fun to 3d model this then a simple hose and a lot more fun to do in scale.

[absmiami]

Twue ….   Fuel injection surpassed supercharging - but who doesnt like a bentley supercharger …. Or any supercharger …

[Bugatti Fan]

Chassis in last photo looking good Francois.

[François]

Test fitted the fuel tank in the chassis, it fitted fine.

I also received all the internal parts for the engine, there's a lot of fitting to do but the result should be good.

[absmiami]

This is so cool …

[peteski]

23 hours ago, François said:

Test fitted the fuel tank in the chassis, it fitted fine.

 

You are doing a superb job on super-detailing this model!

I'm curious about the frame.  Did the real car have frame made from C-shaped  steel, like the model, or was it closed box shape?

[François]

Thank peteski

yes, it was effectively a C section frame hand beaten on special toolings. 

[François]

I've pretty much finished the brake linkage modeling, l should be ready to send these parts to resin print next week.

 

I decided to tackle the steering box. To my 'not so big surprise', the steering wheel is not linked to the wheels on this kit, in other words,  the front wheels won't steer by turning the steering wheel.  That's not acceptable. So I decided to add a worm gear combo to fix this.

Here's what the kit provides

what's surprising is that there seems to be a space already moulded in to receive a worm gear. Could it be that in the past,  the kit provided something for this?

So here's what I wanted to do

and after final fitting 

and the result 

 I should be ready to start the frame rail modifications soon and should have a glued up frame shortly.

[Rattlecan Dan]

Francois, you are freaking me out! Such skill and creativity leave me completely amazed. I return tearfully to my twenty-dollar styrene kit and try to regain my composure. You have my respect and admiration.

[François]

I mated the wooden body with the frame and the fit is surprisingly good considering that they where 3d modeled 9 months apart.

[Bugatti Fan]

That frame looks good fitted to the chassis.

So good you could alternatively build a skeletal model of the car showing how coach builders used Ashwood frames for the bodywork.

[Big John]

The CAD layouts shouldn't have changed that much over 9 months. Beautiful Work!  Serious dedication to detail especially the inner workings like the super steering layout. Thanks for the great WIP.

[François]

Big John, what I meant was that 9 months ago, l modeled the wooden body using the kit's plastic body as a reference and a few weeks ago I modeled the frame using the kit's plastic frame as ref without ever checking one with the other. I'm just surprised that my models fit together. 

[Big John]

Hello François, Mostly just kidding about the CAd part.  It looks like you are using both the kit and printed parts so I didn't realize that the frame was printed also, I may have missed that along the way.  Do you use a 3D scanner or reference probe to copy the kit parts?  Not being familiar with the kit I was going to ask if the Airfix kit included a molded version of the wood structure, not something usually found in box kits.  I gather that you have good reference material for the internal wood frame construction.  Yes It is pretty surprising that there wasn't some warping or misalignment of the original kit parts, especially in this scale.  Thanks again for sharing!

Edited July 9, 2023 by Big John

[François]

John, l'm using the kit's original frame that l'll be updating so I can fit the brake system's various pivot shafts and whatnots.  The reason I 3d modeled it was to be able to fit the brake linkage. I mainly use a dial caliper, scale protractor, a ruler and my eye ball to copy the parts. The Airfix's body supplied with the kit is a simple molded tub. 

[Big John]

Old School, cool I am an eyeball engineering man myself even with my CAD work for the most part. Great job so far, I'm looking forward to the rest of your build.

Model On! 

[François]

Did some more work these ladt few days. Added the front brake shoes with spring.

Modified the rear shoes to simulate the double shoe setup (I missed that one). The real setup calls for one pair of shoes actuated by the foot pedal and one pair actuated by the hand brake.

Started tinkering with the gear box and drive shaft.

I 3d modeled the wire wheels.

it's not 100% accurate but all I needed was to create the hole patterns on the rim so I could design the drill jig.The kit's wheel are not accurate, they have 1 set of holes on the outside rime and 2 sets on the center portion.

In reality, it's 1 set on the outside rim, 1 set in the center and 1 set on the inside rim. The hubs will be printed.

And the jig

I'm still not happy with the brake drums I printed. New one are being printed as I write this.

I also added pedal pads with the Bentley 'B' on thems. And the clutch fork.

That's pretty much it for now.

[Bugatti Fan]

Wire wheels have always been the Achilles Heel in the majority of plastic kits where the subject has them. 

3D printing has changed the goal posts as more people are offering very acceptable scale  wire wheels wheels in this medium, especially for much smaller scale kits than the Bentley. Gone are the limitations of the injection moulded process as spoke configurations can now be made correctly and successfully by 3D printing. The wheel set that Francois is having made will certainly be a vast improvement over the kit items, and will take his model to a different level along with all the other improvements he is making to it.

Nick Edwards at Unobtainium has taken a different approach using 3D printed rims and hubs and the wheels being built using real wire for the spokes. He is developing these to be supplied as kits for those wishing to upgrade their big Airfix  Bentleys.

Edited July 12, 2023 by Bugatti Fan

[François]

Thank you Bugatti fan. Just to clarify,  the only part l'm printing is the hub. I could have used the kit's hub like I did with the Alfa but it doesn't fit the new spinner hub l'm making and it basically didn't have the correct shape. The rim portion comes from the kit. And of course the wires themselves will be hand bent and hand laced.

3d printing has in deed upped the game but I still like to use the kit part whenever it is possible. 

[François]

Printed the drilling fixtures for the rims. I just need to glue in small tubing in the appropriate slots to act as drill brushings and I'll be good to go.

[François]

I reworked the pedal arrangement and incorporate the throttle between the clutch and the brake. I 3d modeled the firewall as per the kit's part but l'll try to get it closer to the real thing and print it. If it looks ok, it will replace the kit's firewall. I finaly got the drums right. 

[François]

My first test bulkhead, the shape is not quite right yet but almost. Once painted aluminium,  l'll add polished aluminium curved sheets with the bolts.

Should eventually look something like this.