Roy vd M. Posted April 19, 2018 Share Posted April 19, 2018 Remember that in Ettore Bugatti's workshop things were not always perfect... all was handmade, as is your model. To me it looks awesome. We're our own worst critic Fortunate that you found the logo, that doesn't always happen! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCrank Posted April 20, 2018 Author Share Posted April 20, 2018 Thanks @Roy vd M. for your sweet words Yes you're right...I'm an eternal dissatisfied person 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCrank Posted April 23, 2018 Author Share Posted April 23, 2018 Time for tiny bits A plug for the radiator's hole of my Lady Bug through which cross the starting handle (Crazy CRANK). Nickel plating remains to do... . . . And hereunder a try for rounded-head micro-bolt.... Doesn't exist ?...have done it ! I'm working on a cosmetic solution for the attachment of the direction shafts and the wheels, and I need such type of bolts . . . The bolt is 3,22 mm diameter and is threaded M1: Stay tuned if you like, and thanks for watching 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harveyb258 Posted April 23, 2018 Share Posted April 23, 2018 Beautiful work as always, Thierry!! I like very much indeed! Cheers, H 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PC2012 Posted April 26, 2018 Share Posted April 26, 2018 Classic work, wonderful 😊 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCrank Posted May 27, 2018 Author Share Posted May 27, 2018 (edited) Always very busy with my principal job and my parent's care, I've had the time today to make a little progress on my "Bug". All the bolts of front axle have been made and all parts are waiting for nickel plating. This should be also the case for all steering parts, and for the spare wheel's nut. . I've decided to remake the front and rear braking system, because I wasn't happy with my brake chains.... There's no question of giving up now ! So, I've ordered a new Top Studio full metal chain (Honda 1:12 motorcycle chain), and, carefully following the assembly instructions, I've been able to realize two 21-links pieces of chain... and I'm very happy with them..much more realistic than the plastic ones. I've begun to remake the front part of front braking system, and have planed to scratch-build new levers for front brakes, using my milling machine. . Nothing world-shattering, but this work is progressing quite well 😉 Stay tuned if you like and thanks for watching 😎 Edited May 27, 2018 by CrazyCrank 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy vd M. Posted May 27, 2018 Share Posted May 27, 2018 Good idea to use the Top Studio set. However I thought your original ones were just fine... eye of the beholder-thing probably For my own model I intend to photo etch the link sides, as I made the highly questionable (=wrong) decision to scratch-build every particle. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harveyb258 Posted May 28, 2018 Share Posted May 28, 2018 Much better, Thierry! I think you made the right decision! Great job! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCrank Posted May 29, 2018 Author Share Posted May 29, 2018 After a comprehensive review of my ref. pictures (most of them provided by @Roy vd M., and, unfortunately unpublishable on the thread), I've modified the chain of front braking system. In reality, it's made of two parts, a large one, 12 links, forward, and a little one, 2 or 3 links, backward. The two parts of the chain are joined by a connecting element, whose shape is a parallelepiped rectangle, pierced by two 0,5 mm holes. This connecting element has been made using a 2mm brass rod and my milling machine, using the dividing head to drill the two holes, oriented 90° It remains to secure the links on the 3 junctions using 0,05 mm copper wire, as on the prototype, and to manufacture the connecting part that joins the 3-links part of the chain, and the main brake cable, and to make the same job for the other side of the car ! Stay tuned if you like, and thanks for watching 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hannes Posted May 30, 2018 Share Posted May 30, 2018 I ordered the same Tamiya motorcycle chain when building the Mef but they were way too small for this model . That´s why I know how tiny these parts are . Great work , dear Thierry ! Hannes 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCrank Posted May 31, 2018 Author Share Posted May 31, 2018 (edited) New right front brake system finished, not without difficulties: 95 parts for this set at the moment 😮 and not far from 24 hours of hard job with magnifying glasses and a severe headache 😎 Stay tuned if you like Edited May 31, 2018 by CrazyCrank 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCrank Posted June 6, 2018 Author Share Posted June 6, 2018 (edited) Waiting for brass square profiles of different sections, to scratch-build on the milling machine, some parts of braking system, such as levers . And thinking about how entirely scratch-build, as PROPELLER, the junction parts between front drums and front axle, and the steering arm on the right junction part. Mine is OOB and absolutely unrealistic ! I've intended to be more realistic scratch-building a lot of parts of this car, and now, I don't want anymore to let stay together realistic parts and ugly / unrealistic others. As Penelope, "Cent fois sur le métier, remets ton ouvrage": "Try, try, try again and constantly get back down to work on issues" Edited June 6, 2018 by CrazyCrank 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hannes Posted June 7, 2018 Share Posted June 7, 2018 Dear Thierry , Nietzsche also said : We don´t work in the moments where we do our best . Work is only the way for reaching these moments . Many greetings ! Hannes 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PROPELLER Posted June 7, 2018 Share Posted June 7, 2018 It's an endless job Thierry, I know that! Good luck and have fun, it's to my eyes the more important thing... Dan. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCrank Posted July 15, 2018 Author Share Posted July 15, 2018 Hi chaps ! Still alive but busy at my office, so not very productive... I've spent a lot of free time, to clean and reorganize my (very ) little workshop, and make numerous tests on my milling machine. As I told you some weeks ago, I've decided to rework entirely the braking system of my LadyBug, partially taking inspiration of PROPELLER's one. Chains are ready...well, almost ! And I've begun to mill some brass square rods, to machine front brake levers To determine accurately their shape, their holes location, and their size, I've used one of the Pocher's photo etched brake levels, and glued it on the brass rod with CA gel. Then, it's been easy to drill the two holes at their right location After that, I remained to mill the rod on its four faces and to drill the perpendicular 0,8mm hole on the front face of the lever's foot, and I got, for my first attempt, this thing (after milling and filing, but before polishing): I'm not satisfied at all with this result, because the upper hole is frankly too big, but the global shape is correct, so, let's go back to the milling machine... Thanks for watching 😎 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harveyb258 Posted July 15, 2018 Share Posted July 15, 2018 It's good to have you back, Thierry!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCrank Posted July 22, 2018 Author Share Posted July 22, 2018 Hi chaps 😉 After having drilled the 2 holes of the future lever (second attempt), here is the first draft of the shape, made on the milling machine: It looks rather good, imho 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCrank Posted July 22, 2018 Author Share Posted July 22, 2018 Second draft: It remains to mill perpendicularly on both sides to thin the lever, and to round the two ends Stay tuned if you like 😉 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCrank Posted July 22, 2018 Author Share Posted July 22, 2018 Unfortunately I've failed: probably because of a mistake during milling, the piece has broken 😥 Let's go for the third try 🙄 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCrank Posted August 1, 2018 Author Share Posted August 1, 2018 Well guys This third attempt of the brake lever has been entirely rough shaped and then refined on the milling machine. I've used the files only for rounding off sharp edges of top part of the lever: Once separated from the rod, I got this part, on which a lot of work remains to do: Essentially to round off the bottom of the lever, and then polish I before making a second one, and nickel plating them Stay tuned if you like and thanks for watching 😉 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCrank Posted August 4, 2018 Author Share Posted August 4, 2018 The best is the enemy of good 😥 I was rounding off the bottom of the lever on the milling machine, when suddenly, the tiny bit , quite achieved, said bye bye to the pin on which I had fixed it and has flown somewhere in my workshop It has been impossible at the moment to find it....sad ! Let's go for the fourth attempt 🙄 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCrank Posted August 4, 2018 Author Share Posted August 4, 2018 Wow ! I've found my lever on the floor, enlightening it in the dark Here it is; it remains a little bit of work on the milling machine to decrease the thickness at the bottom, and then filing and polishing it: 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harveyb258 Posted August 4, 2018 Share Posted August 4, 2018 Lucky find, Thierry!!! It doesn't look like it needs much "tickling" to shape tbh……...great job matey! Cheers, H 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCrank Posted August 5, 2018 Author Share Posted August 5, 2018 Here is the lever quite achieved( remains opening the upper "eye", polishing and nickel plating), with its bolt, washer and nut: Stay tuned if you like and thanks for watching 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCrank Posted August 7, 2018 Author Share Posted August 7, 2018 Hi chaps and gentlemen... There will be a little break for this construction, because I'm on holidays since half an hour, and I leave France for Canada tomorrow evening, for three weeks. See you soon. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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