1/8 Porsche 908/03

As said before, MAGNIFICENT work of scale miniature art. Your painting technick is nothing short of spectacular, if we did not have the pictures showing that this model is made mostly of plastic sheet and tubing, we would think it was all metal!!!

Superb craftmanship and finishing, looking forward to see it all finished, it has been a great tour of force in the art of scale modeling scrachtbuilding.

Fred

Hi SB

Besides the building itself I'm also amazed with your painting, its really great. Can you talk a bit about it? You use just paints or powders for weathering or what?
I like to use Mr. Colors laquers, amazing stuff, dry super quickly and is strong, but it also destroys brushes like hell... (:

{}Fatbear

Hi
This scratch building remembers me Tina Turner!!!!!
Ram

Hello again,

Apologies for the run of late updates recently - it's just the way things have worked out with the last couple of race meetings I've been to; another busy day on Saturday, but I'll get to that later...

I didn't really touch the engine this week - I've made a few small retainer clips for the fuel lines and started to paint them, but there's nothing worth showing just yet. However, I have made progress with the springs and dampers - I made larger platform collars to suit the new coils, and some spacers for the rear dampers:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803545.jpg

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803546.jpg

In addition, the main body sections of the rear dampers have been extended by about 4mm - mainly to keep them looking 'right' rather than to maintain functionality. The new pieces have been painted, but still need a little more colour-matching to the rest of the dampers.

Here's something else - I finally took the plunge and glued the fibreglass panelling to the front of the chassis:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803547.jpg

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803548.jpg

I masked and painted the 'aluminium' sections before fitting - the first attempt wasn't successful, but more time with the wet'n'dry improved the finish. Now these sections are in place I can do a final fit of the front suspension...but not just yet! I still have to make a couple of small fittings for the front brake lines where they pass through the panelling, and I need to finish off the mountings for the flexible brake duct hose.

Fitting these panels has caused me two problems. Firstly, the join between the two sections was untidy - I moulded the front sections months ago directly on the chassis, whereas the rear sections were made from flat fibreglass sheet cut and glued to spec. In an ideal world I would have moulded the whole panel as one piece, but it just didn't work out this way. Remember I'm still on a learning curve with fibreglass - on the 917-10 I used it just for the bodywork, and on the 908 I've used it for more detail parts too. For the next project, I'll hopefully be taking it even further...

So, to camouflage the join I've added two thin strips of fibreglass to the outside:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803550.jpg

This has enabled me to get a good glue joint between the two panels - the edge of the front section was slightly rippled, so now everything has been closed-up. I need to do a little work trying to 'soften' the edges - probably a little wet'n'dry, rather than using paint. The difference in colour between the two main section is something that couldn't really be avoided, given how (and when) I made them...I can live with it, especially as it is only visible when the bodywork is removed.

The second problem - and more time-consuming to rectify - was that as the door hinge points were fixed to the panels, once they were glued to the chassis, I found that the doors didn't quite fit as well! Of course, they only needed to move slightly, compared with when they were dry-fitted, for eveything to go out of alignment. So, each of the four curved hinges has been modified to suit - re-positioned under the door, shortened, lengthened, etc - and I'm still in progress trying to give them a little more stiffness. I've spent a good day and a half on these mods alone...

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803549.jpg

...but they finally fit again! It's a continual surprise how - despite the fact that all the panels were made on the same body pattern - you still end up fighting to get everything fitting together properly. I guess everyone here has had the same problem...

So, I'll continue strengthening the hinges, and at some point I really need to return to the inner door latch mechanisms...when I'm in the right mood! The doors still need a little fettling just to get the best fit I can to the other panels, and there's also the issue of clearance over the nose when they are opened.

Hi Fatbear, Fred, RamStein - thanks for the compliments! I've talked about my painting here and there throughout the thread, but I'll happily return to it again. To be honest, it's slightly embarassing - it's not a pristine airbrush technique: it's all done by brush, but it works for me! As a kid, I never made model car kits, but eventually got into painting 28mm wargaming miniatures - and this is where I've developed my methods. I mainly use water-based Citadel Colour paints from Games Workshop, although a few Tamiya acylics have been added to the palette recently. As a rule I use a black undercoat, then work from there - mainly by dry-brushing layering lighter shades, but sometimes going straight to a flat coat - it depends on the part.

I haven't tried using weathering powders - that's a whole new ball-game! I'm not really looking for a 'used' look, but there's a difference between 'factory fresh' and 'actual race-car'...hopefully my choice of colouring is appropriate and slightly subdued. As I've said before, standards of fit and finish on many 70's racing Porsches are a long way from what they are on many cars today, so this gives me a certain amount of 'creative freedom'!

Race meeting update: went to Cadwell Park for an evening test session on Friday... about thirty minutes later our car went into the tyrewall and came back on the recovery truck. So, that was the end of the test for us, now it was time to get busy fixing the damage! We worked until it got dark and by 8.45 it had four corners again - the rest would be finished on Saturday morning before scrutineering at 10.15. We were back at the track by 8.00, and drove the car to inspection at 9.55 - job done! Hopefully our next outing in three weeks will be slightly less busy than the last two...

Have a good week!

SB

This is so perfect!! The fit problems are the same on a real car, so your problems don't suprise.

Tom Tanner/Scale Designs/Ferrari Expo 2012-Chicago March 2012

Later than normal, but at least it's still Sunday!

Hello again - not a particularly big update this week, but I've certainly made some progress during the last few days. I started off by continuing with the reinforcement work on the door hinges - adding the extra 0.5mm strips has really improved things. I also had to do a little tidying-up around around the pivots where a couple of them had been extended when the doors were re-fitted.

After all this, an easier task: sorting out the windscreen. I made a series of carboard patterns, starting off with a shape which was basically a 'guesstimate', then adjusting from there:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803551.jpg

The latest pattern (far right) will double-up as both a drilling pattern and the template for the screen itself. It might need a lilttle modification to make sure the doors don't foul the edges as they swing forward.

Despite these recent diversions into door hinges, windscreens and suchlike, I am trying to push-on with getting the bodywork ready for painting. Here's the proof:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803552.jpg

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803553.jpg

Fortunately I had remembered to buy a new tube of Revell 'Plasto' body putty earlier in the year - the old tube had turned somewhat solid...

So - plenty of filler, lots of rubbing with 320 and 1200 wet'n'dry, and the bodywork now has an interesting camouflage pattern! The lower sill panels and the thin bulkhead strips should be okay without filler, so for now I'm concentrating on the nose, doors and tail. The rear kick-up on the tail still needs more work, and there's one or two other spots that need a little attention before breaking out the primer.

In the middle of doing all the filler work, I took the plunge to sort out the centre section of the rear deck. Rather than laying up fresh fibreglass directly onto the tail, I used a section of pre-laid flat sheet cut to a cardboard pattern:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803554.jpg

My biggest concern was whether it would be flexible enough to follow the curve into the engine bay - after a little bending over a knife handle, it was:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803555.jpg

The panel was glued in place, and only a little filler is needed at the edges. The extra layer has added noticeable stiffness to the tail section - it was a little flexible before. It might have been easier to use thin styrene sheet for this outer layer, but I'm sure that - given the amount of CA I used - there would have been some deformation.

So, plenty still to do, but it's getting closer to being ready for painting. I need to sort out the paint for the 'Gulf Blue' topcoat sometime soon - I'm planning to get some aerosols mixed up from one of my suppliers at work, rather than airbrushing it myself. I'll have to check the color charts and find a suitable match - unless anyone here has a good RAL code I can try?

Have a good week,

SB

Super build, mate. Been fun watching the final details be set into place. I have to say though, the fiberglass body is still my favorite part of the build! Great work!

Your work is unbelievable!

About the paints, no idea about the RAL code, but maybe you could ask Hiroboy? After all, his zero paints are automotive paints, he might be willing to tell you the code perhaps?

Gulf Blue (http://www.hiroboy.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=48_77&products_id=2911)

Gulf Blue/Orange (http://www.hiroboy.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=48_77&products_id=1328)

Although it's been said countless times before, I'll again congratulate you on your exceptional workmanship. I'd really be interested to see some shots of your work area and tools; any jigs you might have made, etc.

Looking forward to the next update!

ianc

Wonderful, I can't wait to see the colour on the body :)

I followed your work in complete silence. Today I saw a model of the 908 also in 1/8, but I have to say, that your model just looks spot on and is very realistic. I also have built a spaceframe just from scratch, but I soldered it from bras and is in 1/24. I love your technique of building the bodywork just like the real car. I will try this on my project (917) for the wheelarches. Can't wait to see the 908/03 finished. It's sure gonna be a stunner!

Eric

Hello everyone,

This last week has been all about the ends, rather than the middle...

Monday night: The week began with me finishing-off painting the small fire-extinguisher switch, and securing the wiring for it to the chassis tubes. As the switch sticks through the nose bodywork section, I won't fit it to the car just yet - it's bound to get knocked or scratched during the rest of the build. Continuing with the dashboard area, I made a start on painting the small pull-switches, buttons, etc.

Finally - for some variety - I spent the rest of the evening searching online for 'Gulf Blue' paint references (and before you say it, no - I still haven't searched this forum for it yet!). Lots of different opinion, several different codes and references given, but no RAL codes! However, having spoken with my supplier at work, I'm told they can match to PPG paint codes, so the strong favourite right now looks like being two or three cans of PPG 'Powder Blue' 12163...

Tuesday night: Finished painting the switches and buttons, then glued them all in place. The four domed warning lights were carefully drilled out and fitted over the locating wires through the dash panel...a little bit of touching-up of the paintwork and this was the result:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803556.jpg

Wednesday night: Came home from work feeling less-than-brilliant...with a temperature of 102. So, not an evening for modelling then, but I spent half an hour or so checking through photos of the 1970 Targa-winning car to work out which logos, markings, etc, I would need to add. Fortunately there's not a huge amount of sponsor logos on these cars - a couple of 'Bosch' stickers at the rear, and the 'Gulf' logos on the sides, plus the Porsche shields and logos running along the sills. Now, do I finish the bodywork as it was in-period, or as it was restored in my reference photos...?! I'll worry about this later when I actually start getting some paint on the shell.

Thursday night: Not feeling any worse...but not really feeling any better, either. Two nights in a row without modelling - I must be ill!

Friday night / Saturday: Back in action and looking for a challenge. With the switches and warning lights finished, the only outstanding items on the dashboard were the three gauges. I had thought about blowing-up some kit decals to use for the dial faces, but then I realised how far I'd progressed with them already. So, smallest brush, white paint, and a steady hand:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803559.jpg

The numbers on the tacho were painted onto small pieces of styrene strip glued in place - each one 0.5mm wide, by 1mm long. I guess they are the smallest individual components used on the build! I hadn't actually planned on adding the numbers - it just 'happened' - but the overall effect is pretty good, I think.

Continuing through Saturday I realised I couldn't get away with leaving the instrument faces 'open' - they would have to have glass covers fitted. Out with the punch sets and I found two sizes that would work: the tacho 'glass' fitted perfectly, but I had to file the two smaller covers to get them in. Here's what it all looks like in place:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803557.jpg

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803558.jpg

The rest of Saturday was spent working on the filler on the rear tail section - it's just about there now - and mixing up some paint for the tyres...

Sunday: I used the cardboard template described last week to mark and cut the clear windscreen, then drilled and pinned it in place:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803560.jpg

I might still trim the shape slightly, so the masking tape will stay on for now. With the screen in position I re-fitted the doors and nose, then checked that the doors could flip forwards without catching - this was partially successful, but a little more fettling is required!

My tyre paint is a mix of black craft paint, PVA glue, and - as an experiment - some Micro Balloons. My theory is that the PVA gives the paint a bit more durability, and maybe even starts to 'seal' the surface of the foam. The Micro Balloons? They're not exactly giving me much texture right now, but if they're helping to fill some of the more obvious nicks and cuts in the surface, that's fine with me! For now I'm just working on getting the tyres 'black' as a basecoat - I'll have to work on the final colouring later. Robrex's 935 sticks in my mind as having some particularly good tyres, so that's the sort of thing I'm looking for...

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803562.jpg

Once I started painting the tyres, I had to start on the wheels too:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803561.jpg

...and that brings me right up-to-date. There's still plenty of work to do on the wheels and tyres, so I suspect these will be the focus of attention for the next few evenings. I'm racing at Oulton Park again next weekend, so the update will probably be on Monday when I've had a chance to get something productive done!

In response to Ianc's recent comment, here's a shot of my work area, this weekend:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803564.jpg

...and that's pretty much it! I sit on the cushion with my back against the bed, and all my tools, paints, material, etc are spread all around me. There's a small TV on the floor to my right, my PC is on top of the bookcase directly in front, and my stereo is off to my left. With the exception of laying-up fibreglass, machining the foam wheels, and spray painting, everything else gets done on the floor in my room. Am I the only one who works like this?! Sitting at a table just wouldn't feel right, I suppose...maybe it's a childhood thing: I always used to have my Lego all over the floor, too!

This is my main tool selection:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803563.jpg

The ali mitre block is invaluable to me - I've probably gone through four or five during the course of the last ten-year's modelling. Snips, scissors, pliers, wire-cutters: self explanatory. The curved snips are actually curved nail scissors: they have never been used to cut nails, I must add! Two types of tweezers - very useful, although I tend to use the smaller pair most often. The black pin-vice dates back about twenty years(!) and was probably the first 'special' modelling tool I bought; the silver one is a newer item with a revolving end - much nicer to use, too! Both these tools are never far away when I'm modelling. Files: flat, oval, square, round - again, invaluable. Two knives with interchangeable blades - these are pretty much the only two blade shapes I ever use, although I have more available. Between the knives and the dividers is a tool for cutting and shaping the 'Greenstuff' putty I use. Finally, my compass cutter, digital caliper and 12" steel rule...the digital caliper was a present from my brother a few years ago, and I wouldn't be without it - especially now that I'm using so much smaller styrene, and trying to increase the accuracy.

There's plenty of other stuff I use all the time - glues, paints, punches, wire and cable, etc, but this selection covers maybe 80% of what I do. It's not hi-tech stuff, but it works for me! I always have a stash of thin cereal-packet cardboard to hand to use for all sorts of jobs - patterns and templates, filler scrapers, something to stick small parts to whilst painting, etc. I don't necessarily make a lot of jigs and fixtures during my projects - the chassis is the obvious example when I do use jigs for accuracy. I've made small drilling templates for the wheel pegs, brake disc holes, etc, but that's about it. As I'm only making this as a one-off, I'm never thinking about repeatability of components - other than when they're repeated on the same model, of course.

Hopefully this gives a little more info on my approach to modelling!

Have a good week!

SB

Great update! Love the gauges! You forgot to paint 'VDO' at the bottom of them though. :)

And thanks for the shots of your tools and workspace. For myself, I need a bench or desk type of setup or my back starts killing me, but whatever works for you. It's always interesting to see how other people work. I think I need to get one of those putty shapers; I've been using tongue depressors and they're just not cutting it...

Thanks again for posting!

ianc

Hello again,

It's mainly been about the wheels and tyres this week; I spent three evenings working through all the wheel components getting a black basecoat on, plus another couple of coats on the tyres:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803565.jpg

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803566.jpg

To my eyes the plain black rims just didn't look 'right' - although the colour varies depending on which reference photo you use! The 910 at Stoneleigh this year had pristine black rims (probably freshly overhauled!), whereas other shots of 908's and 917's have a slightly brownish tint. So, I drybrushed some Scorched Brown and Boltgun Metal onto the outer edges to take the sting out of the basic black:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803567.jpg

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803568.jpg

The tyres have also received some drybrushing to bring out the texture - Scorched Brown, Boltgun Metal, Graveyard Earth, Codex Grey and a little more Boltgun Metal!

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803569.jpg

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803570.jpg

I've kept the drybrushing to the centre of the tyre, rather than the sidewalls - the sidewalls don't get the same wear and tear anyway, and it provides a better contrast to the wheel rims. They might need a little more, but I'm just trying to build up the layers slowly.

Here's what they look like on the car:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803571.jpg

The last bit of progress for this post is a return to the engine. I wanted the inlet trumpet covers to be removable, but how to hold them in place? I've drilled and pinned four spigots in place which drop down into the inlet trumpets - job done!

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803572.jpg

So - it's all coming along okay. We've got our last race in two weeks and I want to get it partially assembled by then - it'll be my last opportunity this year to show the guys we race with what I've been up to! The bodywork might get a coat of primer by then, but I certainly want to get the engine and gearbox in place, then add the hubs, calipers, etc. It'll start looking like a complete car very quickly!

Back to normal on Sunday night for the next update - see you then.

SB

Thanks for the update; those tires are looking fab!

Can wait to see the body get some paint. Thanks for posting!

ianc

cant wait for the primer pics!

agreed, so damn excited to see this almost finished even though it's not even my project!

In response to Ianc's recent comment, here's a shot of my work area, this weekend:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803564.jpg

...maybe it's a childhood thing: I always used to have my Lego all over the floor, too!
SB

You're kind in any single expression! I love everithing: the super-job, the approach.. BRAVO!

It's a bit of shame to see those bodyshell' superb fiber covered by putty... but it's the way!

http://staticaf.com/vbulletin/images/icons/icon7.gif thank you for rekindling my love of modeling
i am researching for my project at moment not that i can achieve anything like yours
thanks for the inspiration

Those tyres look absolutely fantastic SB, the texture is brilliant - they look incredibly like real miniature slicks!!

Outstanding!!

Keef

Hello everyone,

Right - it's getting serious now! The aim for this week was to finally get the engine and gearbox installed, allowing so many other jobs to be done afterwards. It's become a bit of a bottle-neck, but I didn't want to assemble it too early - it would have made many jobs so much harder (and probably would have made some jobs impossible!)

Unfortunately I haven't started with the primer on the bodywork yet - although I'm tempted to do it, I want to be sure the panels are ready for it first. After nearly three years on the project, I don't want to rush it now - the plan is still to have it finished by Christmas, at the latest.

So, here's what it now looks like:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803573.jpg

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803574.jpg

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803578.jpg

Before the engine went in I had to spend some time painting the underside of the sump - easy enough. Although it would probably have been possible to fit the exhaust primaries with the engine in place, it was just easier to do it beforehand - so this was another job to do. The small fitting for the oil pressure gauge line was glued into place on the front of the engine, and the clutch lever was added to the side of the gearbox.

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803577.jpg

Also on the gearbox, I re-checked that the starter motor could be added afterwards - it could - and spent some time fitting the two small brass brackets for the fibreglass cooling trumpets. The short earthing strap was given some gentle drybrushing and sandwiched between the brass bracket and the top of the 'box.

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803575.jpg

Throughout all this I was continually touching-up any defects in the paintwork - the edges often suffer through too much handling. The last job before fitting the powertrain was to make sure all the cables and hoses were in the right place, and that everything would be accessible afterwards. The fibreglass fan shroud was slipped over the front of the engine, and the whole lot dropped into place from above; the gearbox was then installed from the rear and glued together. The two large pins which drop through the main gearbox mountings were cut to length, detailed on the ends, painted, and glued in place.

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803580.jpg

Now the flood-gates were open. All the wires and cables were trimmed to length and connected - not a ten-minute job! The two main oil lines from the engine were added, as was the breather line from the top of the tank to the back of the block. Gauge lines, alternator wiring, throttle cable, clutch cable, tacho cable, reverse gear lock-out lever, distributor wiring, etc...there's still one or two pipes to add, but that's a job for this week.

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803576.jpg

The starter motor received some final attention to the paintwork and was glued in place, then the wiring added. The left-hand gearbox cooling duct could then be fitted and pinned to the brass bracket.

Over on the right-hand side, the gearshift mechanism could now be installed. I had to make and paint various pins and fixings as I went along, but it slowly went together. The cooling duct on this side has to be cut away to clear the small rod which connects the gearshift to the 'box - another job for this week.

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803579.jpg

The catch-tank hasn't been glued yet - I've just added it to remind me that there's a couple more pipes which need to be fitted first! Now the driveshafts can be fitted and the suspension connected, then I can assemble the hubs and calipers, etc...hopefully by next weekend. The 'to-do' list doesn't seem to be getting any shorter, but there's not so many parts left sitting around the room!

Thanks for all the positive comments during the last week or so - I'm kinda looking forward to seeing it completed too!

As always, have a good week, everyone.

SB

Nice Work SB, it is really coming together now, can't wait to see it sitting at the starting line!!!!:biggrin::biggrin::biggrin:

:iagree:

So hard to look at the last post of pics and understand that you fabricated all of that, in its entirety!!

Phenomenal! I cannot tell from looking at the pics that they're not of the real car!

ianc

More assembly-work this week...

My target was to get the back end as complete as possible before our last race yesterday, so I could show the 908 to our drivers - they haven't seen one of my projects since the 917-10 was coming to an end three years ago. So, the last barrier to assembling the rear suspension and drive-line was to get the driveshafts and do-nuts finished off - I added some hex-nut detailing and touched-up the paintwork. The ends of the shafts were pinned and glued in place on the hubs and the gearbox, and the top links could finally be fixed:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803581.jpg

The rear stub-axles were glued in place after checking the length would be okay. The dampers were added next before the discs and calipers - more room to manouevre! I'd already made the brake line fittings for each caliper some time ago, so it wasn't a big job to sort out the plumbing from the chassis with plastic-coated braided wire.

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803582.jpg

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803583.jpg

I wanted to show the car with some of the bodywork attached, so I taped on the sill panels, added the tail, and here's the result:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803584.jpg

The left-hand corner was assembled in the same sequence, then I could finish off some of the plumbing from last week: the catch-tank was pinned and glued, and the overflow lines attached:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803585.jpg

In amongst all this I added the other gearbox cooling duct:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803586.jpg

I've left the exhaust tailpipes off for now - a little vulnerable while I'm still having to manhandle the model. There's not much more to add to the rear of the car: roll bar and drop links, inlet trumpets ands fuel lines, the two chassis stays, the filler caps...and that's about it. Once the front suspension is fitted within the next week or two, there will only be the bodywork left to complete...

More to follow at the weekend!

SB

So nice...
I wait it every Weekend or Monday evening.
Good luck until the end

seems really too real.

and all done by yourself.Impressive..more and more.No words.

5 Starts seems like too little to me. I need more stars!!! 10, 20, 100! WOW! This is beyond impressive!

Just beautiful. Still can't get over how fantastic those tires look!

ianc

I have been away from this forum and the hobby for a few years while at college. I just now stumbled upon this build and have spent 3 days going through and reading all your descriptions, responses, and of course studying the pictures. The work is phenomenal, and your use of "basic styrene" and demonstration of what can be done with it is quite welcome to me as I too prefer to use it over metal for the most part.

I'm sure none of us want to see the model postponed, but I couldn't help noticing your mention of Forza 3 (nearly 2 years ago). I too played this game with great enthusiasm and am just now hurrying to reach 100% completion as I have Forza 4 in hand (US release was somewhat before the European release). I just wondered if you were also planning to pick up the title? It looks to be a fantastic game and I am quite excited to get on with it, but insist on completing 3 first.

Thanks for sharing this great modeling work with us and giving so many ideas on the potential of scratch building. I only wish 1/24 scale allowed as much detail!

Alex

Hello Alex,

Yep - you've seen straight through my plans for the next few weeks! My copy of Forza 4 is on order and will hopefully be with me this weekend (or probably Monday - grrr!). I'm about 75% complete with Forza 3, working through the event list and ticking off the less interesting races - but I've been playing throughout the last two years whilst also being busy with the 908. I think I've manged to get my money's-worth from it! Problem is, there's also the new Battlefield 3 coming out later this month....and I really should get hold of a copy of Portal 2 sometime...and if another Half-Life instalment arrives within the next year or two, I'll really be in trouble!

Getting back to the 908, my intention is still to complete the project by the end of this year. The front end should come together quite quickly, then I can finish assembling the wheels, add the front cooling ducts, etc. There won't be a whole lot more to do on the chassis, but the bodywork obviously hasn't progressed much in the last few weeks. I'm hoping I can get some primer on it by the end of this month, so that I can press-on with the main colour in November when I have some holiday booked. If this goes well, it leaves me with five or six weeks to add the detail painting, decals, etc, before a final assembly when I have more time at Christmas. That's the plan, anyway...

Cheers!

SB

Having come this far with such great detail, I would certainly advise against trying to rush to meet any self-imposed or "forum-expected" deadlines... Clearly, your weekly progress is testimony to your dedication, but if you do get a little behind on the bodywork, it's OK... the painting process is nothing to rush, and this superb chassis deserves equally stunning bodywork to clothe it. So best of luck finishing by year's end, and I will definitely be watching this one, but if you get behind by a few weeks, your parents' advice of "it will be finished when it is finished" is definitely sound.

I too am somewhere around 75% of Forza 3 (perhaps a bit more) and trying to wrap it up before diving into the new one... my Fanatec wheel/pedals/shifter set arrives tomorrow so then I will really be tempted. The one deeply saddening thing about the new title is that Turn 10 was unable to borrow from Electronic Arts the license to include Porsches in the game.... it seems a crime that a marque with such a rich motorsports heritage would have to be so cruelly excluded from an otherwise "epic" simulator and "celebration of automotive enthusiasm" as Forza 4 appears to be... but such is the corporate world of rights and legal goings-on. Despite this, I am still confident that the game will be loads of fun. There is information online regarding cars that will be automatically added to your garage in Forza 4 if you own them in 3... worth taking a gander at, I think.

Anyways, again, excellent work. I am a Porsche enthusiast myself, though I lack some of the wonderful books that you have, and am particularly fond of the 959, which I attempted to recreate using a Tamiya model some time back (the model was not a good representation of the real thing, despite the usual Tamiya quality). I am also a big fan of this era and group C motor racing, despite this being long before my time, so all in all this project of yours is very exciting to me and it is refreshing to see someone putting such painstaking labor into this car out of respect and admiration for it. Without sounding cheesy, I would consider your work a tribute more than just a replica. Your frequent interludes about your own motor racing involvement, Le Mans visits, and so forth, and your answers to questions from other forum members are also a delight to read.

Thanks again, and best of luck on the "last lap" of this kit... I'm eager to see the next one too!

Alex

Apologies for the late update, everyone...

I had a motorsport-heavy day yesterday: up at 6.45am to watch the Korean GP, an hour or so getting into Forza 4 on the XBox, then a solid afternoon's modelling with the last round of the BTCC in the background. I was in a bit of a groove with the 908 last night so decided to leave the post until this evening...so here it is!

The rear suspension is now complete - the rollbar has been fitted, and the droplinks and sliders have been added:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803587.jpg

Most of the work has been on the front end of the car; much the same procedure as for the rear suspension - tidy up the damper painting, finish the droplinks and adjusters, make lots of 'bolts' to pin everything together. The stub-axle capscrews were glued into the uprights, discs and bells added, then the calipers fitted. I've left the cooling ducts off for now - still deciding which way to go with the final painting on these.

After all this the two corners were glued in place, then the dampers and droplinks fitted:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803588.jpg

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803589.jpg

The brakelines were added as at the rear, with enough length to cope with full steering lock (of course!). Now that the corners are in place I can finish off the trackrods and the steering, and get everything pointing in the right direction. Then it's just a case of fitting the cooling ducts and hoses, and that's about it for the front end.

Now that the dampers are in place the springs have virtually locked-up the suspension - which was sort of the intention. The important point is that it is locked in the right place! If I'd made my own springs they would have been soft enough to allow me to flex the suspension, but they wouldn't have looked as good as these - thanks Rijk!

That's it for tonight - a bit short on detail this week, but hopefully more progress to come during the next few days.

Cheers!

SB

I´m just trying to remind myself this is scratchbuilt... and I keep complaining on Fujimi´s fitting issues.
Amazing sick work you´re doing here. I´ll be following of course.

I'm still enjoying!!!

I've just now seen this for the first time...I'm absolutely speechless!! WOW

First let me say I have enjoyed/been in awe as this car has come together. Kudos on one of the greatest scratch builds I have ever seen.

One question, are the openings in the front end panels vertically big enough to allow scale movement of the suspension (even though it will be static on this model)? Just wondering, not trying to be a wiseguy.:shakehead

Having worked out the basic measurements on paper, I made the core structure from various square and rectangular-sections. This replicates the main block / cylinder barrels section of the actual engine; the cam-boxes can then be added each side, the inlet and fan detail to the top, sump detail to the bottom, etc. The 8-cylinder engine in the 908 has much in common with the larger flat-12 in the 917, but it's different enough to make it a fresh modelling challenge.
http://www.makemoneymakemoney.net/huang1.jpg
http://www.makemoneymakemoney.net/huang2.jpg
http://www.makemoneymakemoney.net/huang3.jpg

Hello again,

Last couple of jobs to finish-off on the front end: add the steering rack bar, clevis' and trackrods, and attach the two nose support frames. After a couple of evening's work, here's the result:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803590.jpg

...and with a wheel added:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803591.jpg

I know what you're getting at, Subbie27x - my big worry for the front suspension was whether the wheels would be able to turn on lock without fouling the front edge of the wheel-arch. Vertical movement wasn't such a problem - there's plenty of clearance:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803592.jpg

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803593.jpg

One job I really wanted to get sorted out this week was to order the blue spray paint from one of our suppliers at work. I had two PPG references (which I had great hopes for), plus others from ICI, Berger, Omni and even Porsche. End result: no luck! The older PPG number (12163) wasn't on the system, the later number (14718) came up as 'Northwest Orient Blue' but couldn't be mixed, and the ICI number (8013) could be mixed...but only as two-pack!

My only hope is now to find a good RAL match. I reckon I'll need at least two 400ml cans to do the job properly, at about £ 12.50 per can. Alternatively, there's the Zero paint option with 60ml pots at £ 4.99 each...or about £ 70 for the same amount! You can hopefully understand the attraction of the RAL route...

So, I'll investigate some more and see what I can come up with - I'm not going to give up on the Gulf colour scheme now.

I've worked out a schedule for the next few weekends as this is the only time I can realistically do any painting (weather permitting) - it also allows plenty of time for everything to dry off between coats, do any preparation work, etc.

Before applying the first primer coat this weekend I spent some time going over the panels and checking for obvious depressions - a little more filler added and sanded smooth as necessary. I gave each panel a wipe over with thinners to remove any grease or dust, and started spraying...

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803594.jpg

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803595.jpg

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803596.jpg

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803597.jpg

The primer is Humbrol acrylic - I have two 150ml cans of this and will end up using pretty much all of it. I'm planning to add a second primer coat in white once I've got the grey sorted out - for this I have two 400ml cans of Vallejo white.

For the two sill panels I've gone straight to the white primer - they're the smoothest of all the pieces of fibreglass I've made and shouldn't take a great deal of rubbing-down before the blue goes on. I'll save what's left of the grey for the upper panels which really need it! Here's one of them:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803598.jpg

So far, I'm reasonably pleased with the results. The sills and rear cockpit panels should be trouble-free, but the tail and nose (and doors) will need some work before the next primer coat - around the brake ducts and splitter on the nose, for example. Still, it's early in the process and I have to keep focussed on the end result. The fun part will be later on when I have to mask and spray the two large orange arrows running the full length of the car - making sure that everything stays in line...

As I'm forcing myself to leave time between spraying sessions, I can now continue with some of the other remaining jobs - I've started gluing the wheels together this afternoon, and I need to make some adjustments to the rear-view mirror before I start spraying it. Plus, the inlet trumpets and fuel lines are still sitting here, laughing at me...!

More of the same, next week.

All the best,

SB

So it all come nearly to an end.
Awesome,really!

I cant wait to see the end of your impressive work.

Christian

Hello again,
So, I'll investigate some more and see what I can come up with - I'm not going to give up on the Gulf colour scheme now.
SB

Hi SB, that bodywork is looking great (as is everything else)!

As to the Gulf Blue, Halfords Ford Bermuda/Light Blue or Riviera Blue (can't actually remember exactly which one & I can't get into the garage to check at the moment) is often recommended as a good match. May be worth a look - they'll mix up small cans for airbrushing too....

HTH
Keith

Looking fantastic as usual SB, really looking forward to seeing this project approach completion.

As to the the blue, keefr22 is right I believe; I've read in other threads that people have used Halford's Ford Nordic Blue, which seems to be an excellent match.

Thanks for posting!

ianc

Its like youre on a different planet, and i mean that in the best way!

I suggest you can take the sheet of a decal paper and spray it over with orange paint, then cut in the shape of an arrow and apply as an ordinary decal. It may work better then masking.

Thanks for the tips, guys - I'd found a reference to Nordic Blue too, but it looks like an old colour (1979 to 1981-ish) and I'm trying to find a code for it. Or I could just order a bunch of cans from Halfords and be done with it...we'll see. My alternative is from the BS4800 colour range - 18E50 (ribbon blue) - my supplier can mix this in 400ml aerosols, and it looks like it's maybe a slightly lighter shade of blue. To be honest, I think it will work with either shade - once it's got the green and orange detailing and some decals, I'm not going to lose too much sleep over the exact blue tone!

The only parts of the bodywork that will be permanently fixed in place are the two small panels over the back bulkhead, between the doors and the tail. However, I want to paint and fit these before doing the final trim on the doors - only then can I be sure the arrows will line-up along the full length of the bodywork! The idea of spraying decal paper is a good one - although the arrow has to pass over the louvres in the nose, and into the NACA ducts on the tail, so this could be tricky to do...

SB

Thanks for the tips, guys - I'd found a reference to Nordic Blue too, but it looks like an old colour (1979 to 1981-ish) and I'm trying to find a code for it. Or I could just order a bunch of cans from Halfords and be done with it...we'll see. My alternative is from the BS4800 colour range - 18E50 (ribbon blue) - my supplier can mix this in 400ml aerosols, and it looks like it's maybe a slightly lighter shade of blue. To be honest, I think it will work with either shade - once it's got the green and orange detailing and some decals, I'm not going to lose too much sleep over the exact blue tone!

SB

I could well be wrong, but I seem to recall that Nordic Blue may be the same colour as Bermuda/Riviera (which may be the same colour, but I still haven't been able to check) but for foreign markets? Bermuda & Riviera were both late 70's/80's colours - Riviera looked brilliant on a MK2 Escort RS2000!! It was still available in a Halfords rattle can last time I looked!

K

SB,

When I was looking for a gulf blue a lot of forums mentioned Triumph "powder blue" as being a very good match.

Here is a picture of a TR2 but a google search will bring up plenty:
http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?q=powder+blue+triumph&um=1&hl=en&sa=N&biw=1600&bih=775&tbm=isch&tbnid=iJq0UY5SM7GAKM:&imgrefurl=http://forum.miata.net/vb/showthread.php%3Ft%3D375261&docid=LaNcVgxmtnXK5M&imgurl=http://www.classic-marques.co.uk/Powder%252520Blue%252520TR3A%252520XUK%252520009.j pg&w=1200&h=900&ei=3smlTrOIHMmy8QPD9IHtBQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=176&vpy=295&dur=7072&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=181&ty=99&sig=112458615247462662479&page=1&tbnh=134&tbnw=170&start=0&ndsp=30&ved=1t:429,r:7,s:0

You can get from a few suppliers but here's a couple:
http://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/ItemSearch--search-paint--page-2
http://www.autopaintsbrighton.co.uk/index.asp?function=CART&ECD=616&productid=596

Probably not of much use but....
http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb224/cinqster-photo/picture-vi.jpg

:biggrin:

This is so awesome, brilliant work!

Hello everyone! No photos tonight - I managed to kill my own PC last night trying to run Battlefield 3, so dad's laptop has been pressed into action. Hopefully it's just the power supply that's gone, fingers crossed. I'll get some pics sorted out later in the week... However, progress continues. The wheels and tyres are now all glued together, with the valve detailing fitted. I also finally sorted out the door-latch mechanisms and cut the two small holes in the doors for the buttons to poke through. I ordered the spray paints this week too, and they arrived on Friday. I went with RAL2009 Traffic Orange, RAL6029 Mint Green, and from the BS4800 range, 18E50 Ribbon Blue. We'll see how they compare in a couple of weeks. After spraying the first grey primer coat last weekend, I had to apply some more filler during the week - particularly to the nose and tail sections. This was attacked with wet 1200 wet'n'dry yesterday before the first coat of white primer today. There are still a handful of spots to be corrected, though...I fear it could be a never-ending job. SB

No Pictures?????????????????? Video Games?????????????

Son, you need to get your priorities squared away :iceslolan :iceslolan :iceslolan

I feel your pain, I lost a HD on my computer about a month ago now. Been working from the laptop ever since. Man I miss my dual 20 inch monitors!!! :)

Battlefield 3 is a terrific game that will keep all of us away from modelling nights. Still downloading mine...is 13 gigs torrent file.
Btw I dont dare to think at when rfactor2 or C.A.R.S. will be pubblished, cause that are really killer applications.
many of us love this type of cars...they are doing this...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK8P7s-LecU

end OT, sry but had to ;)

Interesting. I'll be very interested to see what clever mechanism you've come up with for the door latches. Good luck with the PC!

ianc

Hello again!

The good news is that the PC is back to normal - the old stock power supply has been replaced with one costing slightly more than £ 5, and all seems well. Wish I could say the same for BF3 - seems to have more bugs than a really buggy thing...good job I've still got Forza4 to keep me occupied.

So, I've been continuing with getting the bodywork primed and ready - for the most part it's been okay, but there are one or two areas where I could keep chasing my tail for days. As well as the 1200 wet'n'dry I've also been using an Extra Fine Grit sanding stick from Squadron Tools - and it has worked well.

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803599.jpg

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803600.jpg

I re-made the baseplate for the rear-view mirror from 1mm plasticard, using the original as a pattern, and had to apply some filler to smooth out the joints between the three sections. One of the inlet trumpet covers also needed some filler to cover up a knife-cut (how that happened, I don't know!).

So, all the panels are primed and have been given a final rub with the sanding stick. My plan is now to mark and mask the areas which will eventually be green and orange, then - weather permitting - start applying the first blue coat.

The chassis itself is now 99% complete - other than the bodywork the only outstanding jobs are to fit and wire the fire extinguisher switch, attach the master switch, and to glue the seat in place. Here's the front brake ducts:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803601.jpg

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803603.jpg

Tailpipes and mounting bracket fitted:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803602.jpg

Inlet trumpets, fuel lines, chassis brace and roll-hoop stay fitted:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803604.jpg

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803605.jpg

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/90803606.jpg

I'll post a photo of the door latches when I've got the first coat of blue sprayed - weather looks dull and overcast for the next few days, but as I'm on holiday I can choose my moment! I also need to touch-up one or two small nicks and scrapes on the gearbox - no big deal.

Have a good week!

SB

Hello
This iits a master piece!!!!!:runaround::runaround::runaround::runaro und::runaround::runaround::runaround:

Not a word I often use, but - AWESOME!!

Keef

A masterpiece! Looks very strange to see this completely realistic chassis against the backdrop of your couch (or whatever it is)...

ianc

If I'm extremely excited to see this build so close to completion, I can only imagine how it feels for you. What a magnificent accomplishment, utter respect, man!

I'm in complete awe!

simply outstanding !!!! an inspiration to us all.