LKF1130 Posted June 2, 2021 Share Posted June 2, 2021 Hello everyone, this is Kenneth from Hong Kong. I would like to share with you the progress of my build of the 1/12 MFH Mercedes Benz C11. The car I wish to build is C11 #31 which won the 5th place of the 1991 Le Mans. The car is driven by K. Wendlinger, M. Schumacher and F. Kreutzpointner. My knowledge about sports car is limited so do correct me if you find any incorrect in the narratives. Your valuable comments is welcomed. I start the kit with the assembly of the roll cage and engine holder and below is some photos taken during the process. White metal parts are filed and polished. Chassis, engine, gearbox, roll cage and engine holder are temporary assembled and their position fixed. The roll cage and the engine holder are joint by solder. All joints are filed and polished. Though most of the roll cage will be covered by the body, it's fun to treat it seriously. Roll cage dismounted. Next I shall build the chassis and shall update this thread from time to time. Thanks for watching Kenneth 15 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted June 2, 2021 Share Posted June 2, 2021 Welcome to the forums Kenneth, that's a great start on another excellent looking MFH kit of a car I really like! Some excellent soldering to get the cage looking so good! Looking forward to seeing it progress Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted June 2, 2021 Share Posted June 2, 2021 Kenneth, Welcome and welcome to that gorgeous MFH kit! You will find a number of Model Factory Hiro fans here (myself very much included). I'm really looking forward to seeing this build. I met the whole Sauber team at Le Mans '91 but I have to say that from scrutineering onwards I had my eyes mainly on the Mazda team. I was hoping that Yojiro Terada might take a well-deserved victory but in the end the result was still awesome. The C11 was one of my favourite Group C cars, but I only took a few photos of the #31 car that year. I hope these may be of use: two photos taken during scrutineering and two during practice & race: 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LKF1130 Posted June 7, 2021 Author Share Posted June 7, 2021 Thanks for your warm welcomes and the reference photos for the C11. It’s a great help in painting the model. I have completed the first stage of building the cockpit and radiator frame. It takes me around 30 hours. C11’s chassis, cockpit, radiator frame and the wing are built from carbon fibre. MHF creates them from resin and simulates the appearances of carbon fibre by means of a lot of carbon decals. Here’s how I execute the MFH’s idea. The resin cockpit and the radiator frame are prepared and primed with gloss black. Primed with gloss black not only provides a smooth base for the decals, it also eliminates the need to re-touch the decals’ borders in case that they are not perfectly matched. Next step is to apply the decals. Since MFH does not provide decals for the sidewalls and the floor of the cockpit, I create them from scratch. Then the kit’s decals applied. They are not difficult to apply, all you need is patience. When their application is completed, they are sealed with several coats of gloss clear. Here are some pictures of the temporarily assembled cockpit and radiator frame. For the next stage for the cockpit, I am going to install its white metal parts. I am looking forward to posting the next update. Thanks for watching. Kenneth 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted June 7, 2021 Share Posted June 7, 2021 Really nice work, the carbon decalling looks excellent! Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Octavian Posted June 13, 2021 Share Posted June 13, 2021 Kenneth, Beautiful work so far; a great start to what is sure to be a beautiful model. Best, Andrew Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LKF1130 Posted June 26, 2021 Author Share Posted June 26, 2021 Thanks you all for your encouragements. Here’s a small update. I’ve completed the seatbelt system. The seatbelt system comprises white metal parts, etched parts, ribbon and stickers. Thanks for watching. Kenneth 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted June 26, 2021 Share Posted June 26, 2021 Nice belts! Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LKF1130 Posted June 28, 2021 Author Share Posted June 28, 2021 The work on the cockpit continues smoothly. Pedals and the steering mechanism installed Aftermarket rivets inserted The three resin parts of the cockpit are merged; engine control unit is attached and wirings will be added later Front suspension and steering system completed, not all the contact points require CA glue, if applied it will be difficult to do the adjustments to the parts White “bottles/containers” are installed but I don’t know what they are 😅 Here’s the end of this update. Thanks for watching. Kenneth 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted June 28, 2021 Share Posted June 28, 2021 Really nice detailing Kenneth, good update! The front suspension looks very realistic! The white bottles I believe are the clutch/brake master cylinder and possibly power steering fluid resevoirs with the big one being the coolant overflow tank (or maybe screenwash container? ) Keith 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LKF1130 Posted June 28, 2021 Author Share Posted June 28, 2021 Thanks Keith for your information. Kenneth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malc2 Posted June 28, 2021 Share Posted June 28, 2021 Looks really good. I really enjoyed all the model shops in HK when I last visited! Malc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LKF1130 Posted June 28, 2021 Author Share Posted June 28, 2021 (edited) There are at least six model shops in MongKok / Yau Ma Tei Districts, some emphasise on kits and materials, some emphasise on aftermarket accessories, do pay a visit to them when you visit Hong Kong next time. Kenneth Edited June 28, 2021 by LKF1130 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted July 11, 2021 Share Posted July 11, 2021 Some really neat stuff going on here; very clean modelling too.👌 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Octavian Posted July 11, 2021 Share Posted July 11, 2021 I'm late to the party here, but I have enjoyed catching up on the build so far. Beautiful work, and can't wait to see how it progresses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vesa Jussila Posted July 14, 2021 Share Posted July 14, 2021 Really nice work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LKF1130 Posted August 19, 2021 Author Share Posted August 19, 2021 Hello fellow modellers, the build of the C11 continues but a bit slow. The instrument penal is completed. The next thing is to build the chassis. The chassis is a large sheet of resin (14 inches long, 7 inches wide) and it is not difficult to deal with. Just sand it and paint it black. The application of aluminium foil to the engine compartment requires some tricks. The aluminium foil is self-adhesive and is not easy to handle. If they are pasted directly to the chassis then the re-positioning of which will not be possible and wrinkles/damages are certain to occur. I add a few drops of detergent to water and apply it to the chassis and the detached aluminium foil with brush in order to temporarily reduce the adhesiveness of the latter so that I can re-position them until they sit correctly. Toothpicks are used to expel the water underneath the foil by moving towards their edges and to iron the wrinkles. Aftermarket rivets are applied to the chassis. Here’s some photos with the cockpit sits on the chassis. Then come to the construction of the exhaust pipes. One end of the exhaust pipe is connected to the engine and the other end is connected to the turbocharger. The position of the four insertion pins of each side of the exhaust pipes is fixed by the engines’s resin parts. Parts are put together by solder and supplemented by CA glue. Solder is applied at the bottom of the exhaust pipes so that they are not visible after installation. It would be very difficult, if not impossible, to construct the exhaust pipes after the completion of the engine. The exhaust pipes, together with the turbochargers and the intercoolers, will be attached to the model when the engine, gearbox and the roll cage are installed at a later stage. Here’s the end of this update. I shall build the engine, gearbox and the rear suspension system and hopefully to present them to you soon. Thanks for watching. Kenneth 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
busnproplinerfan Posted August 19, 2021 Share Posted August 19, 2021 This will be nice, like this style of race car. I also don't know anything about them. Great work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted August 19, 2021 Share Posted August 19, 2021 Excellent progress Kenneth, I really like the cockpit, looks great! 👍 Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LKF1130 Posted October 27, 2021 Author Share Posted October 27, 2021 Hello, I am pleased to present an update of my MFH 1/12 Mercedes Benz C11, this time the middle section of the body. The middle section of the body comprises several resin parts and a pair of door made of white metal. Resin parts are covered with #1200 surfacer; they are polished with 1000/1200 grit water-proof sandpaper when dry. Holders made from plastic sheet are added to the side panels for receiving the air intake ducts. Insertion pins and holes are created for the side panels and the cockpit roof to fix their position. Side panels and the cockpit roof are test fitted to the chassis for installation of the doors. The doors are made of white metal. Adjustments to its height and thickness should be made for fitting them to the body. I use diamond files and a battery-powered grinder to do the adjustments. Further, they should be carefully bended to conform with the contour of the cockpit roof. Here’s some pictures of the middle section of the body with the components test fitted to it. Here’s the end of this update. Thanks for watching. Kenneth 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malc2 Posted October 27, 2021 Share Posted October 27, 2021 This is fantastic! I can not imagine how you manage to keep the parts so clean of dust before you take the pictures! Looking forward to the next update. Malc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted October 27, 2021 Share Posted October 27, 2021 That is some very impressive work getting those doors to fit so well to the body Kenneth! Looking really good! Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sabrejet Posted October 29, 2021 Share Posted October 29, 2021 Lovely lovely lovely! Keep it coming Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LKF1130 Posted December 12, 2021 Author Share Posted December 12, 2021 (edited) Hello All, here’s another update of my build of the C11. As the weight of C11 is increasing, in order to protect the fragile suspension systems of finished model, I added foam pads to the chassis so that the weight of the model is spread across them instead of concentrating on the suspension systems and the wheels. The roll cage, the M119 engine, rear axles, rear suspension, transmission and the rear wing stand are completed and merged. Here’s the pictures of the finished system. The M119 Engine: The roll cage, engine, rear axles, rear suspension, transmission and the rear wing stand: I think I have passed through the most complex and difficult part of the build which has only a small allowance for errors. I am looking forward to posting my next update. Wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year. Thanks for watching. Kenneth Edited March 12, 2022 by LKF1130 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malc2 Posted December 12, 2021 Share Posted December 12, 2021 The Merc is looking great, the pads look like a good idea. I am also looking forward to the body going on! 恭喜發財! Malc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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