Thanks guys for your kind words. I am back from my doctor appointment yesterday at the Neurologist where I was poked and prodded with multiple electro shocks to test my reflexes. After about 3 hours and 70-80 shocks in my legs my hands were tingling. Now I'm trying to re-size more pictures; at any rate here are some more of the in progress pictures I took of the engine build. I tried to take each section like a model unto itself. So, I wound up put all these little completed models together when done.
Some of the pictures are a little out of sequence but, there was a lot test fitting with pieces being taken off and put back on throughout the engine build. This kit being the newer 540K True Roadster the engine had the supercharger linkage deleted but, I got the PE fret from Model Motor Cars with the levers and made and threaded the linkage rods. As you can see there is a fairly complete K74 500K engine I used for comparison. It came in pretty handy as use as a prototype and as positive reinforcement that a painted and detailed engine is the only way to go when building these kits. I personally can't stand molding seam lines and unpainted models; it just somehow seems wrong. It reminds me of when I was a kid and all we wanted to do was get the model put together as fast as possible so we could play with it. I know these kits are probably the most difficult model anyone will build and some feel that it is just an accomplishment to get it finished. I know it will be that but, when my kit is done I want to at least have some pride in the work I've done. I don't have any illusions that my building skills are on the level as some of you out there but, I'm going to give it my best shot. I'm glad to hear that there a couple of interior experts out there to query when I get to that point. Truth be told that is the one part I'm the most apprehensive about; probably because it is something I've never done. On the up side I am lucky to live only about 40 miles from Paul Koo and he is always helpful. I've been to his house and seen his collection and we talked models for hours; it was a lot of fun to see all the Pochers that are on the DVD's in person. I am actually almost completely done with the rolling chassis at this point but, I am going to post this as I went through the steps. I used a lot of Alclad colors on the engine and I tried to create some contrast and visual interest in the engine compartment. I have 3 different air brushes which I use for different things but, on the engine when I sprayed the Alclad I used my old siphon feed single action Badger primarily because I purchased a screw on cap that fits the Alclad paint bottle so it was easy to switch from color to color without having add color to a cup and clean a lot in between. And since Alclad is properly thinned for airbrush painting there is virtually no waste when painting straight out of the bottle.
Codger, I hope things improve for you and your wife. I will endeavor to provide if nothing else some comic relief. And at one point I will probably start a post on the rat rod when I start working on it. I need to sit down and look at the frame and engine and body combinations in order to decide which direction I am going in. i have the 3 bodies and 3 different engines all from 1/8 scale models so this is really a spare parts box build. I know the frame is going to be narrowed to accommodate any body and I really like the Alfa shock set up so I want to keep that.