Tamiya 1/12 Ferrari 641/2

[Rich Chernosky]

More progress to report.  Lots of nuts and bolts and fitting. Most of the really small work on the engine is done. A big hurdle was the valve covers as there was a ;lot of detailing. Spark plug boots and fasteners and all the bolts and brackets holding the covers in place. See more info in the pictures.

About halfway through the process. All the exhaust ports done, brackets from the kit installed, replacement half shaft support and PE , oil hose and fitting fabricated. 

other side of the engine and just as much work. This consumed about 20hrs.

Valve covers and some accessories installed.  Valve covers were sprayed a semi gloss metallic black. The chrome letters were bare metal foiled before painting and then exposed with a q-tip and thinner  when the paint was semi dry. A great trick I use a lot. Wires are heavy thread coated with craft glue.  There are 12 PE covers over the plugs and each has a nut bolt washer assembly holding it on. The 1:1 car often has a cover over this area and the kit has this. But sometimes they don't use it and I like the detail exposed. 

[Pierre Rivard]

Formidable work Rich. I think it's the first time I see a WIP from your bench and definitely lots to learn.

What a mix of detailing and productivity.

I started at 60, build about 5 a year, so I ll reach 1000 by the age of....

[Dave B]

Great work Rich, it all looks rather time consuming!!

Dave B

[Rich Chernosky]

5 hours ago, Pierre Rivard said:

Formidable work Rich. I think it's the first time I see a WIP from your bench and definitely lots to learn.

What a mix of detailing and productivity.

I started at 60, build about 5 a year, so I ll reach 1000 by the age of....

Pierre...thanks for the compliment. I have been wanting to do this for quite awhile.  I have been accumulating parts for many years and the fact that it was a turning point number of builds for me made it just seem like the right time.  Don't think its about  how many a year you build . It about the fact you build.  and what you do is just as formidable. 

 

1 hour ago, Dave B said:

Great work Rich, it all looks rather time consuming!!

Dave . 

Dave...I am just thankful I have the time to consume. Thanks for your support BTW. 

 

[Rich Chernosky]

Progress report.  Took a break from all the tiny nuts and bolts and deviated from the instructions. I actually like doing some of this stuff so it was a little bit of a refresher. Technical details under the pictures. 

This was a necessity. Filled the hollow tires with urethane foam. In this case Gorilla glue. Took a few applications and then had to be carved so the wheels fit. In the past I have had these tires cave in over a period of time. In one case they went entirely flat and cracked badly. That was on my Tamiya Ferrari 312T. Was lucky to find replacement tires for most of the bad ones. This is now standard procedure for all hollow rubber tires. The foam dries hard and the tires keep their shape. The hweels are painted Tamiya X-18 over gold. The semi black was just thin ebough for a little of the gold to poke through. Looks different than all black. 

Sprayed and detail painted all the brake and hub assemblies. These will get brake lines before going on the model. 

Now this was fun. Fabric covering came from the kit. Didn't follow the advice on the instructions and cut some of it too short. Luckily it pieces together seamlessly. Seatbelt fabric was from the kit but the hardware is PE from the Perfect Parts pack. Shoulder harness fastens to the chassis and will be installed when the seat goes in. Did a little on the brakes cylinder assembly. Will also get brake lines later. 

[peteski]

I stuff hollow rubber tires with foam backer rod from a hardware store. It comes in various diameters.

Less messy than urethane foam, but still stiff enough for the tires to retain their shape. But I use it on regular width tires. I imagine with wide tires you would likely have to use 2 rods inserted side by side.

[Rich Chernosky]

1 hour ago, peteski said:

I stuff hollow rubber tires with foam backer rod from a hardware store. It comes in various diameters.

Less messy than urethane foam, but still stiff enough for the tires to retain their shape. But I use it on regular width tires. I imagine with wide tires you would likely have to use 2 rods inserted side by side.

Peter...that is a great tip.  Yah...the urethane  foam is a little messy.  Only good thing about it, is it fills the interior to the exact shape.

[Rich Chernosky]

More progress.  Started in on the rear suspension and shock assembly.  Lots of tiny fabrication.

Thgis is what I am up against. All this just to fabricate the shock/spring assembly. Lots of drilling and grinding to get them to look right. 

All the pieces ready,    machined and painted for final assembly. This took the better half of a couple of days. 

[BK9300]

Yes, and your attention to that detail shows up in the final assemblies - masterful build!

[Nacho Z]

She is really coming together, Rich!  I’m enjoying the regular updates, keep ‘em coming!

[Rich Chernosky]

5 hours ago, BK9300 said:

Yes, and your attention to that detail shows up in the final assemblies - masterful build!

Thank you Brian.  appreciate the encouragement. 

 

5 hours ago, Nacho Z said:

She is really coming together, Rich!  I’m enjoying the regular updates, keep ‘em coming!

John...don't worry I got plenty more. Been working on this on a daily basis.

 

[Pierre Rivard]

Lots of beautiful fabrication going on, and the F1 Specialties detailing kit may be scary to look at but it sure takes this build to the next level.

This may be the last truly beautiful F1 racer and you are building a spectacular replica of it.

[Rich Chernosky]

18 minutes ago, Pierre Rivard said:

Lots of beautiful fabrication going on, and the F1 Specialties detailing kit may be scary to look at but it sure takes this build to the next level.

This may be the last truly beautiful F1 racer and you are building a spectacular replica of it.

Thank you Pierre. You are not kidding. I must have looked at this up-grade kit a half dozen times and said I am not ready for this.  But eventually it had to be done so I jumped in. I have learned a few new techniques along the way.  The 641/2 WAS a beautiful car and had some success in 1990.  Then all those ugly aerodynamics started to take over and they fell behind. 

[absmiami]

[absmiami]

[absmiami]

[absmiami]

[absmiami]

[Rich Chernosky]

22 minutes ago, absmiami said:

Andy....can't thank you enough. Been all over the web  and there is plenty on this car but nothing as good as what you\ have posted.  Thanks again...this will be a great help. 

[Rich Chernosky]

Small update.  Rear shocks and hardware ready for installation. Most of the rear suspension  arms have been attached to the engine. More info below.

Shocks, anti roll bar pieces and shock lever all ready  for installation.  This represents two days of very fussy work .

This is how the nut/bolt washer assembly is made. Bolt is .025 piano wire that was cut with moto tool cutoff wheel. Ends had to be shaped. Small alligator clip was also machined to hold this while the washer and nut were carefully slipped over.  This was then pushed down to the desired height and a drop of super glue added. The excess was wicked off with a paper towel. Many of the nuts and washers had to be drilled out while on the sprue. Perfect Parts were less than perfect. Can't tell you how many of these had to be made but so far it has been...a LOT. 

[1959scudetto]

Very impressive modelbuilding, Rich - I'm afraid I don't have this endurance to keep on processing with hundreds of tiny (photo-etched!) parts. But at least I can watch the master at work.

I will stay with 1/24 scale (and a few 1/20 F1 kits and 1/18 sportsracers).

But one day I may repair/rebuild my Tamiya Lotus 49 junker with the help of a 49 B gluebomb (both 1/12 scale).

[Rich Chernosky]

47 minutes ago, 1959scudetto said:

Very impressive modelbuilding, Rich - I'm afraid I don't have this endurance to keep on processing with hundreds of tiny (photo-etched!) parts. But at least I can watch the master at work.

I will stay with 1/24 scale (and a few 1/20 F1 kits and 1/18 sportsracers).

But one day I may repair/rebuild my Tamiya Lotus 49 junker with the help of a 49 B gluebomb (both 1/12 scale).

Thank you Helmut.  We all realize our limitations and just enjoy our hobby.  One day I realized I had all the tools, the patience and courage to tackle this...so I did.  I have built that Lotus kit 4 times now. The first one was destroyed when my cat decided to pull down the placemat it on,   to the floor. I saved all the important pieces from that build but don't know if I will ever use them.  Yours if you need them. Keep in touch. 

[Rich Chernosky]

Latest update.  Shocks and rear suspension pieces installed.  What looked like a straight forward installation turned out to be a 2 day fight. Absolutely nothing wanted to fit right.  But in the end...I won. Some details below the pictures.

Completed shocks and springs in place.  Rocker arms had to be ground down and modified to get the correct angle.  Stabilizer assembly didn't go as planned either and a new bolt had to be made. Amazingly the whole assembly actually works.

Note the electronics box all wired and installed. Also extra line going to the adjustable shocks. A long time ago I paint the metal suspension pieces with Tamiya TS-29 with NO primer. This has caused the paint to chip off in areas and give the assembly a used look. Many of the real race cars I have seen look like this.  I am wondering if I should leave it like this or touch up the paint.  Anybodies thoughts would be appreciated. 

This is what the completed parts looked like before they were manhandled into place.  Sure looked easy. That's what I get for thinking. 

Edited October 4, 2024 by Rich Chernosky
photo left out

[Rich Chernosky]

More progress.  This project is starting to come together.  This part went rather smoothly with one exception,  details below.

Rear brakes,half shaft and uprights installed.  I discovered that I was missing apart for the hub assembly that would allow the halfshaft to be attached. Brake scoops are screwed on then the other half glued in place. The brake scoops had to be pried apart so I could add this piece.  They came apart fairly easily but all of this could have been avoided fi I had paid attention to the instructions.   Oh well, it ended OK

That metal bracket that is screwed to the lower  A-arm  had to be removed and ground out to go around the brake scoop. Also the screw had to be shortened  to clear. This was a design flaw of the kit. Unusual for Tamiya.

Other side brake/upright assembly.  Had to fabricate the brake lines and fittings. There is a metal line connecting the brake cylinders underneath the brakes that also had to be fabricated. (previous photo..not to clear)  The tape holding the lines in place on the suspension arm is Tamiya tape cut down and sprayed flat black.

 

 

[Nacho Z]

Just fantastic, Rich!