Search the Community
Showing results for tags '1/12 Doyusha'.
-
A stated in my build thread, I was more concerned with achieving the beauty of this simple wedge form so well done by Bertone. I wanted no clutter like wing or black bumpers or wheel flairs to interfere. Operating details were omitted for ease of construction but a full engine and mostly full cockpit happened over time. Of great satisfaction is the creation of the wonderful OZ wheels by Angus Davidson with 3D technology. That alone makes my car truly unique for a Countach model. It makes a welcome and unexpected addition to my small but very old 1/12 collection. Never leaving well enough alone and to torment myself forever I show a side view of the model. Then with a bit of crude graphic skullduggery, I lower the ride height to what I had hoped for. As stated in the build, I snipped one coil from each spring and that is the current result. But had I known, I'd have snipped 3. Here is the look of a 2" body drop on a 1:1 car. Much more accurate to 'low body' originals. Before lowering: After lowering: The body bottom edges and wheel openings at tops of tires are the clues. Oh well, it looks fine in its glass home. Thanks for looking in.
-
This is another attempt to see if I should retire to the back porch with a blanket over my legs. My previous attempt at this un-retirement was a sweaty, fidget-filled affair with micro screws and gossamer-thin parts of the big Tamiya Caterham. I got it done to mixed reviews (mine) and swore never again. Resting on my Rolls laurels was the plan. However in the dim recesses of the basement, a wobbly old voice beckoned and it was my decades old Doyusha (no longer extant) Countach. The copyright date on the box reads 1988, seen here: Purchased for $79USD from a now-gone hobby shop this was also the time I began my love affair with a certain 1:1 Cobra bunch of parts in my garage. I had opened and fooled with the Countach by cleaning parts and simple assemblies. It was a very complex kit in the day - the equal of Tamiya kits. The shapes and molding were accurate and exquisite. The complexity more so. At the time, I got all body panels in gray prime and sanded to 600, built engine/gearbox and most of the highly complex chassis. However Cobra fever took over and I packed the kit away - for 31 years and two houses. After guessing about the feasibility of trying this again with one eye and wobbly body tools I foolishly brought it into the light of day. This will be a sort-of WIP, which I began by accumulating photo references and a few books I bought in the '90's. All had excellent pix of my boyhood dream car. I decided, shamelessly, that I only cared for its shape and finish as a badboy and would almost make it a curbside, cutting lots of corners. An opening engine lid and doors but neither front or rear trunk. More explanations to come but here's the start in 2019. Tamiya fine white prime applied after iso washing the old parts. Thankfully there was nearly no warping - something a Pocher always prepares you for: My research taught me that the Countach had several iterations and like most Pochers, this model was a patchwork of several of them. It has the Walter Wolf round front wheel flares and front bumper, early periscope roof and Campagnolo 'phone dial' wheels - detested by me. The perfect bad-boy look was the OZ deep dish 5 hole wheels. Back in '88 I had taken a Dremel ball sander to the wheels to remove the raised edges. Of course that ruined them. So more on this problem later. Construction began on getting major bits together. Weapon of choice became CA and a simplified, neater method of use was devised. Prop up a plastic spoon safely, pour a small puddle in the spoon and dip in an applicator made of a sliver of PE with a handle. You can apply small amounts or a neat line of CA easily this way. Hours later discard the spoon for tomorrow's work. In test fitting major parts I discovered the major flaw of this kit. It seems like the team that designed the power unit did not talk to the team that designed the cockpit tub and both ignored the chassis guys. All the parts were beautiful in them selves but would not mate without MAJOR modification. Which, like the Rolls, meant hacking/grinding/melting of the highest order. After you've hacked a Pocher you can hack anything. A much more orderly and meticulous construction is shown by friend Spiny and his 1/24 version. We share aesthetics in our finish choices so I have nothing but pity for him. I'll leave the weak of stomach at this juncture for a medication break but show you the direction this disaster is headed. A color choice was made and inspirational photo was why. Being totally mechanically immature comes naturally to me despite advanced years. Much more soon: