Eagle Weslake, MFH, 1/12

Hi

It's time for me to do a new WIP. I already built the MFH Eagle in 1/20 (http://www.marcosaupe.de/mod_Eagle_Weslake.html) but I could not resist when they released the 1/12 version a few weeks ago :)

A look in the box:

http://www.marcosaupe.de/images/mod_eagle12_kit00.jpg

http://www.marcosaupe.de/images/mod_eagle12_kit01.jpg

http://www.marcosaupe.de/images/mod_eagle12_kit02.jpg

http://www.marcosaupe.de/images/mod_eagle12_kit03.jpg

First step: sort the little metal parts in boxes. A few parts cannot be seen here since I have already started...

http://www.marcosaupe.de/images/wip/wip_eagle12_00.jpg

I started building with the nose. For the air intake on the sides, a metal part has to be glued in. I thinned the nose on the inside, so the front of the metal part is flush with the nose and you can see no seam after puttying with some instant glue

http://www.marcosaupe.de/images/wip/wip_eagle12_01.jpg

Here is a first view of the engine, I dryfitted some parts. The cam covers were painted black and I sanded the colour off the lettering. I don't prime those metal parts (except for the bodywork), since if some colour flakes off the edges it looks more real if you can see the metal, but no primer. The engine block is made from resin and painted with Alclad Aluminium + some Chrome, but you can hardly notice it's painted as the block is mostly covered by metal parts.
As always with MFH kits, do not forget to drill out all the holes for holding pins; this will keep me busy for now...

http://www.marcosaupe.de/images/wip/wip_eagle12_02.jpg

Hi,

Cooooool!!
Great start!!

I will follow it with interest!

Pascal

Love it.

I spent 2 hours building the fuel distributor, which consists of 32 parts including the pins to hold the fuel lines. Attaching those will also need some good nerves...

I already mentioned the lettering on the covers; I think it was better in 1/20 where it was made with an etched part, which left clean lettering after sanding off the colour. Here it's the metal of the cover, which is not fine enough to show the "3 Litres" in the middle clearly...

http://www.marcosaupe.de/images/wip/wip_eagle12_03.jpg

Next step is the preparation of the chassis. The quality of the metal parts is not quite as good as those of the 1/20 kits I built. Sports with a rough surface, some places that have to be puttied, etc... but most of it is not visible anyway, as it will be hidden under paint or other parts like the seat, so not that big a problem with the Eagle. I tried some dry fitting - this is real important work, to get everything to fit together nicely, so you can later put the painted cowling on without damaging it. This will be tricky... It's also bit strange that the upper front suspension is one massive part. In the background the 1/20 kit, to compare sizes.

http://www.marcosaupe.de/images/wip/wip_eagle12_04.jpg

One of my all time favorite cars. Looking forward to seeing this one come together. The engine looks great so far.

It's not that I didn't work on the kit in the last days, there was just not that much to see ;)

To continue with the previous step, I spent a few modeling evenings fitting the cowling parts; sanding, puttying, sanding, bending metal parts in place, to have them all fit together nicely at the end. The main part of the monocoque I had glued together for this, the other parts are just dryfitted, but they are all needed to make the parts fit with each other. Glueing the cowling in place will probably not work with light and careful handling alone, so I'll spend the next days with the paintjob, to give it enough time to dry properly.

http://www.marcosaupe.de/images/wip/wip_eagle12_05.jpg

OK, I had to do at least some little thing to see some progress, so I glued on the intake trumpets and the ignition wire supports.

http://www.marcosaupe.de/images/wip/wip_eagle12_06.jpg

Does someone have a nice picture of the right side of the engine without cover? I'm looking for where the throttle linkage cable is supposed to connect to...

Engine looks fantastic - I look forward to seeing this build progress

I decided to paint the white areas (i.e. mask them and paint the blue around), and here is the result: it went fairly well, I only have to redo the white stripe on the cockpit surround (which in theory was the easiest part) and then do some retouching, like the blue gap between stripe and number roundel on the nose which was to complicated for me to do in one go. The 1/20 kit did have all white decals included twice, the 1/12 does not, so I could not just mask the ring on the nose and use doubled up decals for the rest, which would have been my preferred option. Caution: I used Zero Paints Eagle blue, and the colour seems to be thinner than usual and not as opaque, so you have to airbrush several thin layers, which makes the paintjob with the masking a bit more difficult.

http://www.marcosaupe.de/images/wip/wip_eagle12_07.jpg

The 1/20 kit did have all white decals included twice, the 1/12 does not, so I could not just mask the ring on the nose and use doubled up decals for the rest, which would have been my preferred option.

Wait, what do you mean? Are there decals missing, because unless I misread what you wrote, it should come with these (image taken from the MFH website (http://www.modelfactoryhiro.com/new/en/archives/18365))
What's your opinion on the kit otherwise? Did you notice any difference in colour due to the different base materials?
But anyway, with the Euro dropping like a rock vs the Yen at this time I've put all my MFH orders on hold :shakehead.

The left sheet on your Pic is for the B Version of the Kit, the right sheet is for the A Version, which I have. So the sheet is complete for each version, but you don't get both sheets.

・K509 Ver.A : 1967 Rd.3 Dutch GP / Rd.4 Belgian GP
・K510 Ver.B : 1967 Rd.5 French GP / Rd.6 British GP / Rd.7 German GP / Rd.9 Italian GP / Rd.10 U.S. GP / Rd.11 Mexican GP

However, with the 1/20 kit, the decal sheet had all white areas included twice, see the pic on this link:
http://www.1999.co.jp/eng/image/10179131n/40/1# (http://www.marcosaupe.de/images/wip/WipEagle_001.jpg)


You have to put several layers of white primer on the metal parts anyway, if you want to paint the roundels, and after those layers, you will not see any difference in colour.
Casting is a bit rougher than on the 1/20 MFH kits I have, but otherwise a fine kit.

That blue looks nice though. Possibly the most realistic?

The colour of the Zero Paints Eagle Blue seems to be spot on, but except for the properties of the colour I already mentioned, there is another massive problem: the colour seems to react with itself when you spray a new layer on top of dried colour. I refined the roundel on the nose and repaired the cockpit surround, when immediately after the colour started to dry it startet to grey out whereever I had sprayed. Adding another thin coat helped only at a few places. I had not had this happen with Zero Basecoats before. Now I have to think on how to repair those spots, or whether I either a) remove the paint from the affected parts and do them again in just one session or b) remove the paint from all parts and mix the colour myself...

Any ideas, anyone?

http://www.marcosaupe.de/images/wip/wip_eagle12_08.jpg

To find the cause for the paint problem, I treated the 4 affected parts differently today, also using the warmer weather today to be sure the colder temps last week were not the problem: I stripped the engine cowlings, primed and painted again and it was good, while the greying got worse on cockpit and nose with each layer. The colour really does not like to be painted over itself... therefore I now also stripped nose and cockpit, which is depressing if you had been just a few mm² away from getting it done. To cheer myself up I will probably also do some work on the engine next...

Re you sure that humidity has not been part of the problem?

I can't be sure, but I painted the two engine cowlings that I stripped and reprimered at the same time, and they were fine...

As I said, I worked a bit on the engine, adding iginiton wires and fuel lines. There are transparent fuel lines in the kit, but with a bigger diameter. The instructions ask you to stretch them from 1.2 to 0.7mm diameter. Well, since MFH offers all kind of wires and hoses as addon parts, I would expect some with the right size to be included in a 600EUR kit.
I took some fuel lines from the parts box and used those instead. Made by MFH...

http://www.marcosaupe.de/images/wip/wip_eagle12_09.jpg

Looks exceptional...

I continued to work on the engine. The sidepods next to it were covered with heatshield. Unfortunately nothing was included in the kit (again unlike the 1/20 version) but I still had some MFH adhesive foil for this occasion. This also helps to hide the roughly cast surface on this part. I then mounted the engine in the frame; take your time in eorking out which way to put the parts together works best for you.

http://www.marcosaupe.de/images/wip/wip_eagle12_10.jpg

The second attempt with the paintjob worked. Only a few minor spots have to be touched up, which I will do with a brush, as well as the gap between the stripe and the nose roundel. I can mix the colour from Aquacolors, so there should not be major problems (and no 2nd layer of paint, so hopefully no reactions). But celebrations will only start after the final layer of clear is dried.

http://www.marcosaupe.de/images/wip/wip_eagle12_11.jpg

http://www.marcosaupe.de/images/wip/wip_eagle12_12.jpg

After the first layer of protective clear, I could not resist dry fitting the bodyparts, and I think it looks quite good. The gap between cockpit surround and the side part disappears if the latter is properly fitted to the chassis.

No pic today, but maybe some helpful hints for other builders. I wrote about fitting the sides to the chassis. The same goes for the cockpit surround. Be prepared to remove some material from the bulkhead between cockpit and engine. Also make sure M78 and 29 (the cylinder on the engine side of the bulkhead, don't know what it's for) are not mounted to high or to far to the outside, or the cockpit surround will rest on top of it and will not fit. So mount it a mm lower and remove some material from the bottom of the cap or it's mount. Making everything fit is not the easiest work all around, as you would need more hands, or you would have to glue some parts you don't yet want to glue, before painting or before knowing if everything fits.

http://www.marcosaupe.de/images/wip/wip_eagle12_13.jpg

Almost the same picture as yesterday, but just a little difference. I only had the number decals and the logo on the nose to apply so it was a quick job. As I mentioned, the cockpit surround fits better now, when I hold the parts together with some Tamiya tape.

Next step was building the gearbox and attaching the surrounding acessories. No problems here. I suggest to use elastic yarn for the tension rope holding the small oiltank(?) on the left side of the gearbox, it looks more real that way.

http://www.marcosaupe.de/images/wip/wip_eagle12_14.jpg

http://www.marcosaupe.de/images/wip/wip_eagle12_15.jpg

The tires are pre printed with logo and blue stripe, the rims turned aluminium parts. I painted the wheel center inserts black and then sanded the color away where needed. BTW: the 6 wheel bolts were seperate parts as well...

http://www.marcosaupe.de/images/wip/wip_eagle12_16.jpg

For those who never built a model with metal parts, here is a small picture showing the work steps: On the left the part as you can find it in the box, in the middle the part was cleaned and sanded with Micromesh and steel wool, and on the right side I have applied a washing of thinned acrylic black. Not shown it the step, where I have polished a bit over the washed parts. Other parts that are more visible could (should?) be polished a bit more in Step 2, but for those parts it's enough for me.

http://www.marcosaupe.de/images/wip/wip_eagle12_17.jpg

Here is a shot of the next subassembly at the fron end of the car; the pedal box with fluid reservoirs. The pipe made from solder wire will be connected to another part after assembly.

http://www.marcosaupe.de/images/wip/wip_eagle12_18.jpg

I was wondering what your preparation steps were for the white metal bits. They look very good in your assembly photos so far. This will turn out great I'm sure!

ianc

This step I was waiting for, but also afraid of... After doing a few parts of the front suspension I could glue the cowlings to the chassis... and it fits. Not 100% but much better than I feared. I can still make the cockpit surround fit a bit better, as the front part can be bent in place a little bit. I also dry fitted the nose with some wire and now it looks like an Eagle.

Again, make sure your clear coat on the cowling is thouroughly dried - you need to handle those parts pretty strongly to attach them.

Attachment of the lower V-links with screws through little rectangular attachments does not work however, as these will break when drilling, so I put a small rod through the front link to glue them to the inside.

http://www.marcosaupe.de/images/wip/wip_eagle12_19.jpg

Nice progress. Will continue watching this build.

Cheers
Anthony

I continued to work on the front: suspension, cooler, pipes, etc... the usual fiddling around with cars of those era, but it worked out OK.

http://www.marcosaupe.de/images/wip/wip_eagle12_20.jpg

It was time, that the car stood on it's own wheels. Therefore, after a couple of hours spent cleaning metal parts, I attached the rear suspension.

http://www.marcosaupe.de/images/wip/wip_eagle12_21.jpg

Everything whent together smoothly, the parts fit well, the wheels all touch the ground well aligned. You just have to dry fit if all the drilled holes in the parts are wide and deep enough.

http://www.marcosaupe.de/images/wip/wip_eagle12_22.jpg

Really is coming along beautifully!

For a change a view of the lower side of the car, where a couple of pipes had to be attached.

http://www.marcosaupe.de/images/wip/wip_eagle12_23.jpg

I also glued the exhaust pipes together and dry fitted them to the engine, but for the Spa version, those will have to be painted.

http://www.marcosaupe.de/images/wip/wip_eagle12_24.jpg

very nice, thanks for sharing this build.


Paul

The exhausts are painted and attached. I used the Tamiya weathering set for the heat stains. The exhausts somehow ended up having different lenghts, but on all the pictures I saw they were either the same length at the back or the inner pipes were symetrically shorter. I cut off the end of one pipe to make the second option. However I still have no clue how you are expected to use the included springs to hold the exhausts, therefore I used pieces of guitar stings for the exhaust mount.

http://www.marcosaupe.de/images/wip/wip_eagle12_25.jpg

Then I also attached some rivets and etched parts to the nose.

http://www.marcosaupe.de/images/wip/wip_eagle12_26.jpg

Next step was to attach the roll hoop and the windscreen. The latter one is attached with rivets, which should be put in the holes in full length and cut after attaching the screen, to make assembly easier. The holes in the screen have to be drilled at marked points, but maybe it would have been better to just insert the rivet heads and glue the screen from the inside. that way you would not have the drilling holes visible on the inside.

http://www.marcosaupe.de/images/wip/wip_eagle12_27.jpg

The last step, the mesh over the trumpets. It's difficult to assemble, the etched frame has no folding marks for example. But the real mesh is a bit skewed, too, so no problem. Next up: Gallery pics

Thanks for watching and all your comments :)

http://www.marcosaupe.de/images/wip/wip_eagle12_28.jpg

that's a beautiful model there... great work!! the finish, the exhausts, the wheels and tires...beautiful..
I want to ask you: what are your thoughts on the kit ? would you recommend it ? I have some experience with multi-media but never done a full kit.

I want to ask you: what are your thoughts on the kit ? would you recommend it ? I have some experience with multi-media but never done a full kit. There were no big problems with the kit itself, fit was good, and if you are willing to spend that money on one of your favourite cars I can recommend it, but I think it helps if you already have some experience building MFH kits - knowing to drill out all the pin holes, using drills from 0.1mm onwards, where to dry fit over and over again... On the other hand, while it needs a bit more effort than a plastic kit, it's not any more difficult than the 1/20 MFH kits. Just be patient, doublecheck and dry fit each step and you should be alright.

Marco, did you find the reason for the problem you had with the paint? Hope to use it on the 1/20th.

Been a great build instruction, thanks.

did you find the reason for the problem you had with the paint?
I'd guess the colour reacted with the Tamiya primer somehow, maybe the primer was not yet fully dried, the problems were at some of the places were I had multiple layers of primer sprayed on.

Thanks. Will try to avoid the same.