Jo NZ Posted November 27, 2017 Author Share Posted November 27, 2017 (edited) Honest, mate! Aluminium tubing of 48.4mm dia with a wall thickness of 4.5 mm is perfect for making the rims from. It's also the standard size for scaffold tube. I managed to buy 300mm (usually 6m is the shortest length) for $10. I started off lacing the spokes with 0.3mm soft stainless wire, but it work hardened after being pulled tight a couple of times. So I thought I'd try something else! For the rivet counters it's 0.37mm 7kg nylon fishing line. The only problem is gluing the free end when it's finished. I've got the plastic friendly Zap-a-Gap, but it's not that good with nylon. I may try roughing up the end of the line with emery. I'd like to say I used some No.8 wire. Will keep trying... Edited November 27, 2017 by Jo NZ 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hewy Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 Excellent model engineering, really informative too, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpnuts Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 Superb work, I'm totally gobsmacked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fastcat Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 Lovely work Jo. Great to see this car modelled. I've often thought about doing this to the 1/24 Heller kit but haven't had the nerve to destroy a perfectly good kit yet. Like you say, there's not too much of the original model left, not surprising considering that Birkin only used the chassis and engine and even the chassis rails have to be extended. You've done a great job and the wheels are brilliant. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 The wheel looks great. I respoked the kit ones with piano wire as I don't have any metalworking equipment. I may have to try your method for the louvres though as the kit panels are terrible...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandsaw Steve Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 This is a great thread. Very informative! Keep up the good work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo NZ Posted January 26, 2018 Author Share Posted January 26, 2018 Two wheels done, here's how it looks 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted January 26, 2018 Share Posted January 26, 2018 Even like this, it looks fantastic, the wheels especially but not just them. Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fastcat Posted January 26, 2018 Share Posted January 26, 2018 Beautiful work. What a difference the wheels make - much more realistic. Just one tiny point, Birkin's car didn't have the release lever on the handbrake. This was a feature of the road cars (and a modern replica) but I'm guessing that for racing Birkin used the fly-off type. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harveyb258 Posted January 26, 2018 Share Posted January 26, 2018 Excellent work Jo!! Cheers, H Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCrank Posted January 26, 2018 Share Posted January 26, 2018 What an amazing work Congrats, Jo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo NZ Posted January 26, 2018 Author Share Posted January 26, 2018 12 hours ago, Fastcat said: Beautiful work. What a difference the wheels make - much more realistic. Just one tiny point, Birkin's car didn't have the release lever on the handbrake. This was a feature of the road cars (and a modern replica) but I'm guessing that for racing Birkin used the fly-off type. Dave Thanks Dave. I hadn't noticed the handbrake - but here it is (Photo Gettyimages) 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sharknose156 Posted January 27, 2018 Share Posted January 27, 2018 Awsome job. Wheels make a big difference. Am also working on the spokes of my car 1 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wkennerley Posted January 28, 2018 Share Posted January 28, 2018 On 09/10/2017 at 2:22 AM, Jo NZ said: Thanks! It went through Bonhams in 2014 and fetched about £5M. I think it went to a private collection in the US. The car is in Germany Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wkennerley Posted January 28, 2018 Share Posted January 28, 2018 On 06/10/2017 at 11:58 PM, Jo NZ said: I'm occasionally struck by madness. I think that this was one instance... I decided that the Airfix Bentley could be turned into Tim Birkin's Brooklands car. So far I've: Lengthened the chassis Built a complete new body - from plastic strip over formers Made a new bonnet from aluminium Here's where it is so far. You may recognize a few Airfix parts... Is the original on a lengthened chassis though?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo NZ Posted January 28, 2018 Author Share Posted January 28, 2018 2 hours ago, wkennerley said: The car is in Germany Yes, it appeared at the Villa d'Este concours in 2016, minus front brakes and looking a lot more like it did in 1932 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo NZ Posted January 28, 2018 Author Share Posted January 28, 2018 2 hours ago, wkennerley said: Is the original on a lengthened chassis though?? Not actually a lengthened chassis, but the standard Bentley long chassis. Only the three blower team cars for Le Mans we're built on the short chassis - and that's what's in the kit. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo NZ Posted April 26, 2018 Author Share Posted April 26, 2018 I've remade the steering linkages and scratchbuilt the rear dampers - two lever arm hydraulics and a whopping friction damper And now it looks like this... 23 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevehnz Posted April 27, 2018 Share Posted April 27, 2018 You only got a like 'cause I couldn't find the "Wow, that is gob smackingly incredibly wonderful looking" reaction. I could go on but I'd get accused, justifiably, of gushing. Steve. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kpnuts Posted April 27, 2018 Share Posted April 27, 2018 That is just mind blowingly good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harveyb258 Posted April 27, 2018 Share Posted April 27, 2018 I'd been wondering what had happened to this build...and VOILA!! Definitely worth the wait!!! Great work, Jo!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
s.e.charles Posted April 27, 2018 Share Posted April 27, 2018 looks like it's going fast just sitting there! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
At Sea Posted April 27, 2018 Share Posted April 27, 2018 That REALLY is something else! Micro-engineering not modelling. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted April 30, 2018 Share Posted April 30, 2018 That is just beautiful! Top work, and the friction damper looks rather familiar..... Ian Ps I may have a couple of spare decals for the damper adjustment plates. If you're interested pm me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo NZ Posted June 24, 2018 Author Share Posted June 24, 2018 (edited) More scratch building - the blower mounted oil pump and it's oil cooler Edited June 24, 2018 by Jo NZ 14 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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