Saturday 5 October 2013

Lotus 72D progress, beginning of October



Lining up the fuel injectors 

Using the bottom of the air intake as a template for the air funnels

Well that didn't go well.
The body will need some filling and sanding.
There are also some.. -

..ugly seams that will need taking care of..

These mould seams are in the most visible spot possible really.


Lucas mechanical fuel injection system.


Combined with the ignition system.



Working suspension shocks.


Fuel injection spider!

Glueing into place.
Again using the base of the air intake as a jig.
Beware of optical illusions when making sure it is straight.
The right side cylinders are further forward than the left, so the intake funnels are too.
I recommend measuring, rather than going by eye: 

Seems level enough.
Hopefully the air intake will not be leaning sideways..


..and a bit of work on the front suspension while it dries..

-Dry fit with the transaxle assembly.

Wednesday 11 September 2013

Build log, starting with the Cosworth DFV engine..

Here we go, work started

Middle: Ford Cosworth DFV engine block, bottom view.
To the right: Right side waterpump and oil pump assembly.
To the left: Left side waterpump and oil pump assembly.
At the bottom: Transaxle and gearbox started (8 parts assembled already for transaxle and gearbox)
Top: Valve covers in black plastic..

Masking for black paint..


Painting of valve covers and auxilliary drive cover.
The black paint I've chosen is a mix, 3/4 Tamiya Nato Black and 1/4 Tamiya gloss black.
Then a light drybrushing with Testor's exhaust metalizer.


Left side water pump and oil pump assembly to the left, Right side oil pump and water pump assembly to the right.

Dry fitting parts for the ignition system and the mechanical fuel injection system.


Disc brakes by Swarowski?! Urgh.. Needs fixing:
Stripped the chrome plating using oven cleaner.
Before and after shot..

 -A bit of paint and they look a bit more like real disc brakes


Dry fitting on the transaxle..

I plated the cockpit with aluminium foil kept in place using adhesive glue spray.
A bit shiny at the moment, but it will get a good rubbing and a grey/brown wash.
Trying to glue the polyethene plastic bits, but not having much luck. :-(
Cyanoacrylate worked best so far, but the parts pop off really easily with a slight pull..


In the meantime, I'm getting started on the bodywork in order to have it ready as soon as possible.
Paintwork will need several days worth of drying time, so planning ahead here.. :-)