Marvel's Hydra coupe 1/12 scale full scratch build

[François]

You know the saying that goes 'one step forward 2 steps back'? Well that's exactly what happenned with the head lights.  I had 1 completly installed but I  wasn't bright enough to test the lighting before gluing everything in place.  It turns out that the light from the bulb shines thru the bucket wall, which is only .040" thick and even though it's chromed.  So I had to remove it by breaking the mounting bracket.  I took the opportunity the redo the chrome on all 4 buckets since I didn't like how it looked so that's a plus. I also printed a heavy wall bucket liner that I  painted black on the outside and silver on the inside. Now, the light goes out only by the front of the bucket as should be.

Bucket without liner (this bucket is not chromed so the efect is worse)

Bucket with liner inside, problem solved

The heavy wall liner

And liner in bucket 

 

On the plus side of my Hydra day, all the firewall parts are painted and I started the pedal box assembly. The hydra logo on the brake and clutch are kinda cool!  If all goes to plan, I should have working pedals once hooked up to the spring loaded clutch and brake masters. 

[François]

You know when you're too close to the forest you can't see the tree? I've been working with the steering mecanism for the last week but just found this problem today.

(Hint, look at the rotation of the steering vs the rotation of the wheels)

 The problem is that I printed a left hand worm instead of a right hand. I've reprinted the steering column parts with the correct worm so easy fix.

I test fitted the dash board, fits like it should but I don't like tge dial gage area 

Newly redesign dashboard with a test dial in place.

Exploded views of the clutch master assembly 

And assembled 

Brake and clutch masters in place on firewall with brake piping done

Pedal box completed and installed 

Functional brake and clutch pedals

 

[Big John]

Does it have power assist breaks? that thing will be a beast to stop, though you do have 6 drums.  Love the logos on the pedals.

 

Edited March 31 by Big John

[Scott Colmer]

This is so fun to watch come together. Great work!

 

(I made that stirring mistake too, but with simpler linkage. Someone else caught it from a picture I posted.)

Edited April 1 by Scott Colmer

[François]

Almost done with the wheels and tires. All 7 wheels have been primed, painted and clear coated. Once dry, I'll install 18 white rivets per wheel and 1 valve. I've got 6 tires printed so far and 3 primed and painted. I  decided to forgo the flexible resin and print the tires wirh my usual hard resin. The finished model will be under glass so no one will be kicking the tires.  I should have the 7 wheels assembled sometime next week. 

Here are a few pictures. 

A small setup on my laid down drill press to sand away the support marks from the back side of the tire.

Pinstripping of the wheels 

Clear coated wheels and painted tires (the paint on the tires is still wet, I used the black rubber from tamiya which gives a nice rubber like finish)

[Mattilacken]

Looking good! i use the normal resin al the time and i do aslo use the LP Ruber black and that looks good. The Vallejo model Air tire black is more gray.. not for any one was asking but hey

 

By the way! Epic work on the working pedals. O and all the other thousand things!

Edited April 4 by Mattilacken

[François]

Thanks Mattilacken, I've never tried the Vallejo rubber. The tamiya does à nice job once dried.

[François]

The wheels and tires are all done. That mean I now have a rolling chassis, althought not 100% completed yet. I still need to finish the dashboard,  head lights and a few other odds and ends before tackling the body. But I have to say,  it's starting to look like an actual car and more and more like the design I made. 

 

 

[François]

Engine and firewall bolted in for good. The dashboard is completed and installed but was still quite difficult do to despite it's simplicity (espacialy when compared to the Bentley's). All firewall related wiring and piping done. I'll be installing a fuel pump (stolen from the Bentley's spare parts bin) complete with feed hoses from the tank and outlet hoses to carburators.  Next up, installing the head lights and wires.  All wires from the head lights, gearmotor and tail lights will be routed towards the rear and eventually be hooked up to a multi pin connector that will be plugged into a control panel "a la" Marvel. Then, front and rear bumper and I'll need to design a stand of some sort to take the weight off the wheels,  it's getting pretty heavy and I want to better distribute the weight on the frame. 

[Big John]

Wonderful work as always François.  What is the firing order on that beast?

[François]

Thanks big John,  

I based my design on the Auto Union V16 for the mecanical aspect but also on the modern bugatti v16 for the firing sequence which is as follows: 1-5-9-13-2-6-10-14-3-7-11-15-4-8-12-16

[Big John]

Whew, that's a mouth full! Odd,odd,odd,odd Even,even,even,even, Odd,odd,odd,odd Even,even,even,even.

[François]

A few more boxes were checked today,

fuel pump and fuel hose installed 

Head lights with wires installed 

Radiator completed

And installed on frame 

Functionning Head lights 

[Codi]

Just fascinating Francois.  She is looking pure too btw in the dark.  I'm truly enjoying your build and talents.  Congrats on what you've achieved so far.  cheers, tim

[François]

I fitted the carburators to the blower and with that done,  the radiator assembly is now complete and was bolted on the frame.  I could then route the head lights and gearmotor wires all the way to the back and hook up the fuel lines to the carbs.

Carburators on blower 

Completed radiator assembly bolted on frame 

Wire routing

Fuel line hooked up (Viewed from under)

Before going any further,  I decided to make a rack to hold the model so the the weight is not on the wheels and to ensure a more stable position. 

Model on wooden block just doesn't cut it

Newly designed stand

[Big John]

What you really need are Kraken tentacles rising up from the floor supporting the car. Stunning work!

[Bainford]

Super impressive model building, Francois. I am just amazed at your project, and how quickly you work. This thing must be one impressive beast to see in person.

[François]

Thank you all for the nice comments.  

Bainford, yes it is much more impressive in person, pictures can't do it justice.

Big John, kraken tentacles would be nice but I think I'll stick with the stand I made. It will eventualy be part of the display case which should have a similar Dr Doom/vilain look. It's not all clear in my head yet but it's slowly forming. Anyway, I'm still a long way from doing the case.

I just installed the front and rear bumpers so that pretty much completes the frame assembly.  The completed frame is now on it's stand (which still needs to be painted).

[François]

I decided to go with yellow for the model stand. Reminds me of the large assembly jig I saw at Canadair (became Bombardier aeronautics) back in tge early 80's on during my first summer job.

[François]

First body panel test. I have a bit of a conundrum. Do l make the complete body and install it on the frame and hide everything ? Do I make a second frame (without any mecanical components on it) to hold the body? Do I make a half body mounted on the completed frame? I'm really not sure where to go with this.

[stitchdup]

18 minutes ago, François said:

First body panel test. I have a bit of a conundrum. Do l make the complete body and install it on the frame and hide everything ? Do I make a second frame (without any mecanical components on it) to hold the body? Do I make a half body mounted on the completed frame? I'm really not sure where to go with this.

theres a third option that i've never seen done in scale but might be ideal for displaying all your fantastic work. Have you seen the haynes manuals covers? not the best cover image as there are less cut away version that might work better

 

[Big John]

Since the frame and running gear are up on a serious support you could mount the body on a body buck as though if was in the process of being fabricated.

[François]

That's pretty much what I intend to do. I might redo the the yellow support go incorporate a upper rack to hold the body. I'll design the new support and post à picture shortly.

[François]

For those who wonder why I hesitate in hiding the rolling frame, here's a reminder.

 I just can't hide all this neat stuff.

 

[absmiami]

No you can’t -  - thought - - clear “resin” is coming on line for 3D printing - is this an option ??  This is so cool …