224 replies to this topic

[endbelldrive]

Very nice, Bob. It will be a shame to hide that beautiful grain with paint.

I think I'm going to do a Danish oil finish on it... so I better not screw up the carving!

[Bruce Wayne]

... body is quite a bit lighter...



... might clear coat the wood and run it like that...

Beautiful work, Bob! You have some eye for curves.

You couldn't ask for better grain orientation either, just love the way it flows around the front and rear fenders perfectly.

I don't blame you for not wanting to hide that with paint either, that's going to be a tough decision.

[endbelldrive]

Bump...been busy because I'm moving the carving area from the kitchen cutting board to a big honking dedicated work area.

PS...anybody can join in on this thread whether they are building something or not!

[Bruce Wayne]

Found out that a full fendered sports car like a DBR1 would be too difficult for a beginner, so went back and found a simpler Mercedes GP car to model.

The same process and techniques will be used, but this time I'm going to use Basswood. It does feel heavier, but is also more robust. It sure is a lot harder to carve than Balsa though! Hopefully once hollowed out, it won't be too top heavy.

So, back to where the progress left off. The body jig was reconfigured, the blank was made from laminated Basswood, and the basic shape roughed out...



Again, some of the inside material was removed before glue up, dowel pins added for ease of removal/refit, and the contour patterns cut out of 0.010" styrene so they will hold their shape better through the process...



Slowly started the real deal, carving wood! I'm still trying to find the Mercedes lurking inside this chunk of wood, but it is starting to look more like a car

[Jairus]

Bruce, I had the same thoughts about this regarding full fendered cars. But quite a few builders on Slot Forum insisted that they be included sooo....
But that's the same reason for my choosing the Maserati 250f.
Your Mercedes is looking great!

[MrWeiler]

...The late great Rocky Russo suggested an old RC plane trick for protecting balsa... a woman's nylon stocking can be stretched over the outside and painted with lacquer thinner. It melts into the balsa and forms a lightweight protective coating.

 

Try coating the balsa with 3M #77 spray when you want to apply the nylon.  It's a spray glue and you can then rub down the nylon before the iacquer thinner.  Just don't use too much spray or it will be more difficult to put the nylon on over the carved balsa block...

[Regis4446]

106g at the beginning, how the body once completed?

I think between 20 and 30g, 30g probably closer.

 

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[Jairus]

Well, after a month of letting my project sit... I got it back out on the bench.
After a full day I managed to get this mock-up of the front axle made.

 

The lower control arms feature clearance for the guide weight... which also controls the steering.

 

[dc-65x]

Wow!

[Bruce Wayne]

Regis,
I greatly admire your woodworking and building skills, they are both very inspiring. It will be a true challenge and honor to compete with you in this proxy. Thank you for sharing your project and looking forward to more updates.

Jairus,
I like that you've made that symphony of music wire and brass you call a mock up into a "front steer" just like the prototype!
Meticulously well done.

Gentlemen,
The bar just got raised a notch or two!!

[Regis4446]

I forgot to mention, I'll try to make a Connaught Type B (GP Syracuse 1955)

Here's the plan, but for this car, I will not use balsa that I feel too fragile, I still want to find it has not too damaged from his journey.

 

 

 

   to this step, it weighs 35g

 

 

 

 

 

[Regis4446]

now she weighs 21 g.

[Jairus]

That is looking really, really good Régis!

I like how you built up the body with plywood inserted to strengthen the nose and tail.  I did the same by inserting basswood into my balsa body. BUT, plan to make the forward lip of the air-intake out of brass or marine grade plywood.

Nice carving work. 

[dc-65x]

Beautiful work .

 

For the heck of it, I just weighed my original (Braverman I think) fiberblass Lancia Ferrari GP. It is uncut and tips the scales at 18g.

[Jairus]

I got 21g with the brass exhaust with my Maserati 250f. (Never thought to watch the weight... huh.)

[dc-65x]

Hey, what scale are you two building in? It's 1/32 isn't it? I reread the thread and didn't see it mentioned.....probably just missed it. The fiberglass body I weighed was a 1/32 job.

[Jairus]

Rick, We are allowing both scales.  

I am building 1/24th.

[Regis4446]

the connaught is 1/24

But there's the exhaust, the driver, chassis and engine, yet

This is the total weight will be interesting

[dc-65x]

Okie Dokie, 1/24 scale...my favorite scale .

 

Just for grins I weighed an uncut 1/24 Auto Hobbies fiberglass Lotus 18 GP body. You can tell it's much thinner material than the Lancia Ferrari. It weighs just 16g.

 

The all balsa wood 1/24 sports car body Rodney carved me tips the scales at 35g without a driver figure.

 

Onward gents

[endbelldrive]

...Onward gents

OK ...got the other side marked out and rough carved...


...major shaping with a wood rasp...


...a few hours of shaping and fine sanding...et voilà...


...underside of headrest carved and glued to rear deck...

...a bit of carving and sanding...

...underside has an Antoni Gaudi Art Nouveau look to it so far.

[Jairus]

Coming along very nicely Bob!

[Regis4446]

 good work Bob. not easy

 

 

[dc-65x]

Super Swoopy Bob! 

[Regis4446]

This car carburetors are apparent, they will be aluminum.

 

 

 

[Regis4446]

 Today, gas cap, a few hours