Bastardo Posted February 6, 2012 Posted February 6, 2012 Ok, so this is one of the things I've always hated doing... Fitting 8 wires into a distributor in 1:24... So I had to come up with something... Before we go any further: I take NO REPONSIBILITY for any kind of damage, injuries or any other bad thing that might occure while trying to do any of the things and actions mentioned in this post! Ok, safe from the courthouses LOL let us continue... This method is very simple and, honestly, doesn't look too good, but for my case (1949 Merc rat) it was good enough Ok, so you're gon' need 8 spark plug wires with a correct diameter, a small piece of metal rod (a stretched paper clip will do just fine) and some heat-shrinking tube. The lower image pretty much sums it up as in a cross-section drawing or something like that: So... - Step 1: Take a metal rod that suits the positioning hole for the distributor on your model. In my case it was slightly over 1 mm in diameter, but I used a piece of a paper clip with a 1 mm diameter and it turned out just fine. - Step 2: Glue 8 (long enough) wires around the metal rod using a super-glue-kind-of-glue - anything that seals the wire to the rod in a very short time. Making a rat rod? Use different colors of wires now and here - Step 3: Get a cup of coffee. Kidding... Take a piece of heat-shrinking tube. In my case it was about 5 mm long. Adjust it to your needs and plans. Put it aroud the wires and heat it up. I use a lighter, but a hot-air-fan or any other similiar kind of tool can be used. BE CAREFUL NOT TO BURN YOURSELF!!! - Step 4: This is what your distributor should look like in the end. If not, blame the tooth-fairy and start over. I nailed it (not the tooth-fairy, but the distributor) in the first attempt and if I could do so, I see no reason(s) why an of you guys shouldn't/couldn't/wouldn't/whatevern't. Btw: I droped a small drop of superglue between the wires from the top after the distributor was finished. Why? Just to bond-up all the wires, the heat-shrinking tube, the metal rod... One pic of how the distributor looks like on the engine in the end: Yeah, I know, ugly as a drunk zombie, but hey - solved my problem with these nasty nerve-curling distributors for good Have a nice day! Damir
Rob McKee Posted February 11, 2012 Posted February 11, 2012 That is a great idea. Nice and easy and it looks good. What size wire did you use? I have had a hard time trying to find wire small enough for this purpose.
wagonmaster Posted February 12, 2012 Posted February 12, 2012 For plug wires I have used wraping wire from radio shack. Not sure if they sell it anymore the roll I have was gotten about 20 years ago. yeah it does last a long time. Tim
tbusch Posted February 12, 2012 Posted February 12, 2012 (edited) For plug wires I have used wraping wire from radio shack. Not sure if they sell it anymore the roll I have was gotten about 20 years ago. yeah it does last a long time. Tim They still have it, Bought it 2 weeks ago. Tell them it is wrapping wire, it is on a different shelf from the regular wire tb Edited February 12, 2012 by tbusch
Bastardo Posted February 13, 2012 Author Posted February 13, 2012 Thanx for the feedback Rob: Not sure... I have plenty of different wires back in my workshop and they go from 0.2 mm up to a few mm in diameter. I usually use whatever seems right at the moment. If I had to guess, I'd say I used about 0.7 mm or so for this project
MikeMc Posted February 29, 2012 Posted February 29, 2012 Damir....I think the whole thing is great and easy to do!...But you need to glue 1 more wire in the center for the coil...I think you could add one to your motor, by drilling a small bore hole in the center..
Bastardo Posted March 8, 2012 Author Posted March 8, 2012 I agree, Mike, but that Merc is already finished and since the engnie bay is realy tight and there are turbo pipes all over the place, there's no way I could still "reach in" and add what needs to be added... :/ I'll do it on my next engine wireing trip
Wayne Buck Posted March 9, 2012 Posted March 9, 2012 GREAT IDEA!!! Thanks so much for taking the time to share and post this tutorial! I will definitely have to try and make up a few of these bad boys. I have a few engines sitting, soley because I'm too broke right now to buy more pre-wired dizzys, that I can now finish! Woo-Hoo!! Awesome!
Kaleb Posted March 9, 2012 Posted March 9, 2012 Looks easy enough, my small bit broke and I'm not going to spend ten bucks for a new one. I'm going to try this method. Thank you for posting.
Bastardo Posted March 9, 2012 Author Posted March 9, 2012 Well, if I can help at least one modelling buddy anywhere in the universe, I'm happy to do so You're welcome, guys I have plenty more of these tricks in my head and I'll try to find time to post them
donkeypuncher76 Posted May 16, 2012 Posted May 16, 2012 Neat way to make homemade distribs. I love/love the steel stem prewired ones I used 2 be able 2 get, I am gonna give that a shot in just a few minutes since i have everything out still, the wire i can use is old telephone wiring, close in size and alot of old photo etched looms t
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