Hannes Posted May 25, 2018 Share Posted May 25, 2018 I want to cheer you up a bit , dear Harvey , that´s why I post this photo of my " Willy the walking car " It´s a rare battery-operated Japanese tin toy from the late 50´s and there´s a funny story behind . Some weeks ago I bought a very rusty version of this toy on a flea-market for 15 euros . It was complete and working but with wrong wheelcaps as I had to learn later . I was looking at the internet and found a toy-dealer in New York who was selling this toy for 50 dollars but without driver´s head and a damaged remote control . I ordered it and exchanged the parts and now I have an almost brand-new toy . Willy is 60 years old now but in a very good condition and even the car walks very slow he´s been living on three continents already ( Asia , America and Europe ) Many greetings ! Hannes 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harveyb258 Posted May 25, 2018 Author Share Posted May 25, 2018 2 hours ago, Roy vd M. said: Beautiful job Harvey! Could you elaborate a bit on your rivet application method? Thank you, Roy. Yes, of course, I will get on it this weekend. I'm terrible at taking pics of each step...I get so involved with the job at hand, that I forget! 16 hours ago, Olivier de St Raph said: , me too, I'm having a ball with my Mustang... I can tell!!! 16 minutes ago, Hannes said: I want to cheer you up a bit You did, my friend...my drink of tea came out of my nose!! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harveyb258 Posted June 2, 2018 Author Share Posted June 2, 2018 Good afternoon chaps! On 5/25/2018 at 11:32 AM, harveyb258 said: Could you elaborate a bit on your rivet application method? Here we go then.... First off... the required tools: Black marker pen - I always use black or blue when marking out with metal, your eyes will thank you for it, too. A steel ruler. A metal tube/rod. Finally, an engineers scriber ( 2 for a fiver on flea-bay). Please excuse the surgical tape, it's not poorly, it just helps to get a good grip on the thing! Oh, and not forgetting...the cutting mat! I then gently scribe the lines and mark each hole... Then, with greater even pressure and ensuring the scriber is perfectly vertical (otherwise, you won't have round rivets), you "press" each rivet into the aluminium.... To create flat rivets, simply roll them flat with your tube, or desired implement. Even on 0,3mm ally, though, the rivets are remarkably robust and take quite a lot of pressure to get them to comply. Then, after a good fettle with a brass brush, I think they look very convincing. I hope that helps. Okay then, time for an update. 2 steps forward, but unfortunately, 2 steps back as well. First, the bad news....I'm going to have to re-make the rear springs and their shackles. It appears that the burnishing fluid, used on the springs, is still working, despite having been very thoroughly rinsed and allowed to completely air dry!??????? I don't understand it!! Now, the good bit!! The rear bulkhead/ fuel tank support is now complete (apart from a spot of weathering) and firmly bolted in place.... With that in place, I made a start on the fuel tank. For this, I am using 0,3mm tin-plate steel sheet. Front mount soldered in place... … and rears.... …. then a dry-fit to check the lay of the land... Well, that's all for now, folks!! Thanks for watching, more soon! Cheers, H 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hannes Posted June 2, 2018 Share Posted June 2, 2018 A great tuto , dear Harvey ! I used this method for the hinges blades of the Mef . In this case the sheet originated from a candle bowl and I used a hard piece of wood as the base plate . This candle sheet is very useful for a lot of purposes because it´s very thin and flexible . Too bad what happened to your suspension parts ! Maybe a rust transformer could save some substance ? Regarding your tank : It´s a pity that we cannot see these beautiful parts later on . But it´s a good feeling to know they exist ! If I decide to establish a wall like you did I would be tempted to build no tank at all ! I guess that´s sculptor´s philosophy and I know it should not be the foundation for modelling . Great progress ! Don´t be angry because the rust , all these problems are solvable ! Hannes 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harveyb258 Posted June 3, 2018 Author Share Posted June 3, 2018 Thank you dear Hannes. I won't know the level of damage until I remove them. The springs may well be salvageable, as they don't look too bad, but the shackles are ruined and I know I can do better with the springs, so I will replace them anyway. So, my project schedule is writing itself for me... 1- complete tank fabrication 2- make 3pr spring shackles 3- make 2pr springs (front and rear) Then I can move to front axle, suspension, radiator and cowl!!! Cheers, H 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickD Posted June 3, 2018 Share Posted June 3, 2018 Harvey, Bit slow to catch up so... As the others have said, pleased to hear you are OK. Good to see the progress, Building it certainly gives a good idea how it worked as a design. Nick 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harveyb258 Posted June 4, 2018 Author Share Posted June 4, 2018 Many thanks for your kind words, Nick. 14 hours ago, NickD said: Building it certainly gives a good idea how it worked as a design. It certainly does, mate. I'm really enjoying the engineering challenge of fabricating this beautiful slice of history. Cheers, H 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harveyb258 Posted June 4, 2018 Author Share Posted June 4, 2018 Good evening gents!! A small pictorial update on the fuel tank, for your kind perusal..... Hope you enjoy and thanks for watching! Cheers, H 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hannes Posted June 4, 2018 Share Posted June 4, 2018 Wonderful work , dear Harvey ! I´m not sure if the original tank was ever completely filled with gasoline .For the test runs and the short formula libre race over 50 km the additional tank on the left side should have been big enough . But we can see that there were higher ambitions with a tank for 170 litres of gasoline . The successor version´s tank ( drawing 2 ) was probably supposed to be a bit bigger for an average consumption of 35 litres on 100 km .A GP-run lasted 500 km at that time. Great progress ! Hannes 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harveyb258 Posted June 4, 2018 Author Share Posted June 4, 2018 Thank you, Hannes! Personally, regarding the tanks, I think that the tank to the left of the driver will have been for engine oil, not fuel and the frontal tank will have probably been for clutch, gearbox and diff. Just my humble opinion, of course.... Cheers, H 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hannes Posted June 5, 2018 Share Posted June 5, 2018 I agree regarding the frontal tank . The tank left of the driver most likely was established after the announcement that no second driver was prescripted anymore for the´year 1927 ..I cannot imagine that the 426 engine was designed with a completely oversized oil tank from the beginning . A big space problem ! A small oil radiator would have been a better solution ! In my opinion there was a gasoline tank on the left side for a better balance in short races The two-tube funnel allows a quick filling . The big cap was removed when the gasoline was filled in to control the amount of gasoline and to prevent enclosed air . The pump was operated to fill the carburetors . An oil supply would not need this kind of construction imho. .Drawing 1 , which seems to be subsequent altered , still shows the original concept imho : An central engine and two seats like in the predecessors . BTW : I intent to alter drawing 1 and to reconstruct the original plan with the 451 engine . No cam fairings but 2 or 3 straight rows of louvres ( long louvres only can be seen if there´s a straight sheet on all racing cars of that time ) , with a double fairing like on the late 805 ´s, an central engine and propulsion drive , two seats and an symmetrical opening on the bodywork similar to drawing 2 . This could be quite interesting . Maybe someone will build this version as a model in the future . It could possibly also show that the progenitor of modern racing cars " 806 with 426 engine" was an unwanted child and was created by chance , new GP-rules and the fact that the 451 concept failed . Many greetings ! Hannes 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harveyb258 Posted June 5, 2018 Author Share Posted June 5, 2018 5 hours ago, Hannes said: BTW : I intent to alter drawing 1 and to reconstruct the original plan with the 451 engine . No cam fairings but 2 or 3 straight rows of louvres ( long louvres only can be seen if there´s a straight sheet on all racing cars of that time ) , with a double fairing like on the late 805 ´s, an central engine and propulsion drive , two seats and a symmetrical opening on the bodywork similar to drawing 2 . This could be quite interesting . Maybe someone will build this version as a model in the future . That, my friend, is exactly what I'm hoping to achieve with the kit and my planned 451 engine......watch this space! Great minds think alike! Cheers, H 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hannes Posted June 5, 2018 Share Posted June 5, 2018 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hannes Posted June 5, 2018 Share Posted June 5, 2018 This photo of an 805 shows us that the gap between the 805 and the early 806 was possibly not too big ( beside the " sandwiched " engine ) I can imagine a very similar fairing for the first version . Also note the almost identical steering wheel ( without gap ) and it´s suspension . The fairing´s inside and the bodywork part below are not painted and I guess it was the same on the 806 . I hope this photo will be helpful for you , dear Harvey ! Hannes 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harveyb258 Posted June 5, 2018 Author Share Posted June 5, 2018 Great photo, Hannes. Thanks mate! Yes, I agree that the fairing would be similar to that shown, as well as other details. It would be a crossover 805B/ 806A hybrid!! Cheers, H 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharknose156 Posted June 5, 2018 Share Posted June 5, 2018 Dear Harvey, did i read 'heart surgery' somewhere while catching up ? gee welcome back to the thread and your legendary scratch build. Hope you feel 20 years younger now at least. warmest Sam 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harveyb258 Posted June 6, 2018 Author Share Posted June 6, 2018 Thank you, dear Sam, for your warm wishes. 15 hours ago, sharknose156 said: Hope you feel 20 years younger now at least. Only in the head, mate!! Cheers, H 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harveyb258 Posted June 9, 2018 Author Share Posted June 9, 2018 Good afternoon all, from the "play-pen"! Work continues on the fuel tank. Instead of carving a buck to shape the top, I simply used up some old filler on the bottom and sanded to shape. After making a paper template, I transferred it onto my steel and cut to shape with kitchen scissors. Forming the initial half-cone shape was easily achieved with fingers..... then the fun part; annealing and beating!!! Unfortunately, my butane torch couldn't reach the desired temperature for long enough to do the job!!! ( note to self...buy a propane torch!) So, it was just a beating, then! After a few???? hours of tap, tap, tapping, I was almost there. The 2 right-angled cut-outs of the axle arch would NOT conform, though, so a couple of cuts and a bit of solder did the job, instead. So, that's where things stand at the moment. I will get the tank soldered together, a bit later, then give it a good fettling!! More soon, chaps. Thanks for watching! Cheers, H 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hannes Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 Great work , dear Harvey ! It looks like polyester filler from the car supply and that´s my favorite filler too . You´re doing sculptural works ! BTW : A big diamond file is the best tool for filing filler imho . That reminds me :I´ll have to construct a copy of the frontal bodywork because I don´t intent to build the new fairing directly on my model . Casting procedures will be necessary for that ( clay , maybe silicone caoutchouc ) . Plaster will be possibly the material for this copy . Great progress ! Hannes 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harveyb258 Posted June 9, 2018 Author Share Posted June 9, 2018 24 minutes ago, Hannes said: It looks like polyester filler from the car supply No, it's just decorator's poly-filla! Purely for form, not strength. I could easily remove it, but, I like the weight. It will nicely balance out the weight of the engine (when complete)…...we wouldn't want her sitting funny, would we??? Thank you btw! Cheers, H 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PROPELLER Posted June 9, 2018 Share Posted June 9, 2018 Great job Harvey! But it would be easier with brass and better with coper... Once painted, it's the same thing! Dan. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harveyb258 Posted June 18, 2018 Author Share Posted June 18, 2018 Hi guys. On 6/9/2018 at 4:53 PM, PROPELLER said: Great job Harvey! But it would be easier with brass and better with coper... Once painted, it's the same thing! Thank you Dan! I agree, brass/copper would have been far easier, but I would prefer not to paint, as I always mess it up! Ok then, I am now pleased to present a newly complete and installed fuel-tank. I added a few "rivet" strips to give it a bit of interest/detail, then a couple of brown/black washes to bring the detail out. I'm pleased with the outcome!! She's now gaining some substance....and it feel's good!!! Hope you enjoy and thanks again for your continued support! Cheers, H 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hannes Posted June 18, 2018 Share Posted June 18, 2018 A wonderful work , dear Harvey ! These pictures will stay in our minds .You should think about an easy to remove bodywork because it would be a shame if all these beauties will vanish later on . Great work ! Hannes 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCrank Posted June 18, 2018 Share Posted June 18, 2018 Incredible work, incredibles skills, incredible result 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harveyb258 Posted June 18, 2018 Author Share Posted June 18, 2018 Thanks chaps! 1 hour ago, Hannes said: You should think about an easy to remove bodywork because it would be a shame if all these beauties will vanish later on . The bodywork will be attached by several bolts, so everything will be removeable if needed, but in all honesty, once she is fully clothed, she will remain that way. I have all the pictures to remind me of the internals, when I feel the urge! Cheers, H 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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