1/8 Porsche 935/78 'Moby Dick'

The details are mind blowing. Great work.

What more can there be said, apart of that what has been said allready ?
Excellent work, fenomenal, etc, etc.
It's always a pleasure to follow your building progress. Keep surprising us with new things...

Mark

Evening all,

Playing catch-up tonight before hopefully having a busy two weeks modelling 'holiday'! I've got a few moulds lined up for fibreglassing, and in between all that I'm sure I'll be working on some styrene parts - there's all sorts of stuff buried down in the nose (battery, fuel pumps, etc) so I've got plenty to choose from. I'll probably also take the opportunity to start working on some drawings for the engine, as I'd like to get this underway during December...

So, before all that I wanted to get the nose in better shape. I think I mentioned a while back that the inner edges had been trimmed too short and would need extending - now's the time. First job was to make some cardboard patterns:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby461_zpsd5e06939.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby461_zpsd5e06939.jpg.html)

...and from this I cut two fibreglass pieces, one the full height to act as a backing plate, the thinner one to actually extend the edge:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby462_zpsd7715d06.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby462_zpsd7715d06.jpg.html)

With some filing and fettling, the edge now sits right down onto the top chassis tubes:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby463_zpse12865f0.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby463_zpse12865f0.jpg.html)

This isn't the final stage, though, as the edge now needs modifying to create a lip for the bonnet panel to sit on. To get the bonnet at the right height I had to finally trim away the front edge (previously being used to hold the nose in position); I can now add the lip to the front and sides - but not in this update!

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby464_zps9e365b09.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby464_zps9e365b09.jpg.html)

Last item tonight is a mould for the radiator exit duct - this will eventually sit down behind the oil cooler in the nose of the car and take the air out into the wheelarches. In time there will be some particularly complicated-looking ducts added to meet up with the bonnet louvres, but they're definitely a job for 2014...

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby465_zps2257b6b0.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby465_zps2257b6b0.jpg.html)

I'll see how this goes next week - I'll have to do a lot of trimming to get it into position, so I might just end up re-making the whole piece if necessary.

That's it for tonight - next update will hopefully be towards the end of next week, by which time I should have some new fibreglass to show...

All the best,

SB

This model is amazinggggggggg!! I wish I could do something like that SB hahaahha :-)

Hello again,

All sorts of things to show in this update. I started more fibreglass parts last week, and in between layers I spent time on a few styrene bits. Firstly, the rear sills have been trimmed slightly to get the side rads fitting in the right place, and I've made a start on the top bracket - this is probably not going to be totally structural, as I've drilled and pinned the rad into the sill too:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby466_zpsad6b5544.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby466_zpsad6b5544.jpg.html)

At the top, I've greenstuffed the end-tanks and added the pipework and bleed-screw detailing:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby467_zps52e40f0f.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby467_zps52e40f0f.jpg.html)

The pipework is clearly not finished but it'll be enough to allow me to trim out the holes in the side panels.

Next up, more work on the front rad and oil cooler. A few extra bits and pieces on the top, plus I've added the detailing for the side brackets...but not taken a photo. The third top mounting has also been added to the front of the chassis:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby468_zps335d4b09.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby468_zps335d4b09.jpg.html)

Here's the fibreglass parts - the rad exit duct, the two ends for the rear wings, one of the door inner panels and a section of the front bumper:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby469_zps81043279.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby469_zps81043279.jpg.html)

In time the front bumper section will be used to make moulds for the main cooling inlet and the brake ducts...but not yet. The rad exit duct is - so far - the only part I've fitted to the car:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby470_zps03962e52.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby470_zps03962e52.jpg.html)

It was a bit of a struggle to get it trimmed and in place, but it helps that the fibreglass has a little flex in it. Once in, I could add the two diagonal tubes shown below:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby471_zps0cc2fb63.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby471_zps0cc2fb63.jpg.html)

Finally, I've made a start on the battery tray / fuel pump which sits down in the nose of the car:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby472_zpsa98a45be.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby472_zpsa98a45be.jpg.html)

This is the same type of fuel pump as used on the 908-3, but I've tried a slightly different approach to making it and am adding a few more details as I go. Most of which won't be seen once it's in place, of course! It's not finished, but not far off.

I'll add the battery next then get the whole lot pinned to the chassis. As you can see, it's a snug fit down there:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby473_zpsc5aca90f.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby473_zpsc5aca90f.jpg.html)

In addition to all this I spent several hours comparing photo references to work out how the fuel, oil and water systems were plumbed. There's one or two details which are not 100% yet (for example, I know where the intercooler water pump is, and I know where the water goes back to the rad, but I've not got a good view of the actual connections to the intercoolers) but hopefully these will be sorted out in time. I'm trying hard not to think about the electrics just yet...!

So, that's it for tonight - more to follow at the weekend.

All the best,

SB

Another great up date, looking good.

OMG the electrics...

And don't forget the brake lines! ;)

ianc

...regarding the electrics, I suppose the one plus-point about this model is that there will be certain areas that will eventually be hidden from view, which will hopefully make the wiring easier. I'm pretty sure the backs of the dashboard instruments and switches will all be concealed, for example, unlike on the 908-3 where everything was exposed. However, the visible wiring still has to look right and connect to all the right places (or as many as I can work out)...so I'll probably be referring back to the 917's wiring layout for inspiration!

After all that, the brake lines should be fairly straight-forward...

Back to the update. Having made most of the battery tray, it seemed sensible to put a battery in it. As it's buried in the nose rather than in the cockpit it doesn't have to be in a protective box, so this allows a little more creativity and detail to be added. The core shape was put together from four lengths of box-section styrene with plain sheet added to the sides and ends to tidy it up. On top, the L-shaped pieces provide room in the corners for the wiring to connect:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby474_zpsc9562ec1.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby474_zpsc9562ec1.jpg.html)

Between the L-pieces I added some 0.75mm thick strip to create a pair of folded handles. The separate square pieces are drilled for the wires and will be the terminal covers:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby475_zps319922bf.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby475_zps319922bf.jpg.html)

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby476_zpsa7e756a7.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby476_zpsa7e756a7.jpg.html)

Down in the chassis I added a cross-tube which supports the back edge of the battery tray, and pinned the whole lot in place:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby477_zpsabf25742.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby477_zpsabf25742.jpg.html)

The only thing missing now is some sort of securing strap over the top - this might end up being made from folded brass strip, if I'm keen.

Missing from the last update, here's another shot of the front rads showing the extra detailing added to the end-tanks. Everything is attached to the rad on the right of the photo, so that once the inside faces are painted I can fit everything together, add a little greenstuf, then paint the outside:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby478_zps8ccb9280.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby478_zps8ccb9280.jpg.html)

The next job was to start trimming and fitting the closing panels to the rear wings:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby479_zpsfee7c5ad.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby479_zpsfee7c5ad.jpg.html)

Although most of the panel will be cut away, I wanted to leave them as intact as possible for as long as I could to make life easier. The first step was to get them sitting down onto the sill panel correctly:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby480_zps326e55af.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby480_zps326e55af.jpg.html)

The rear of the doorframe gave me the template for trimming the inner edges. After that, it was a question of getting everything in position before gluing them in place:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby481_zpsab87e062.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby481_zpsab87e062.jpg.html)

Once the ends were fitted, I trimmed back the leading edges of the outer wings and added greenstuff to cover the join and reinforce the inside:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby482_zps73a4975f.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby482_zps73a4975f.jpg.html)

Eventually I'll have to make some internal ducting to blank off the inside of the wing and feed air to the side-mounted rads, but this is for another time. I've also got to think about fitting some mounting hard-points to the front end of the wings - should be easy enough.

That's it for today. I'll probably continue alternating between working on the rear wings and making a few more styrene details (extra fuel pumps, etc), and start making plans for what I'm going to do over the Christmas break...

Have a good week,

SB

Another fascinating update SB. Your hobby supply shop must love it when you walk through the door, have you ever estimated how much plastic sheet for example, you use on your creations?

Regards Rick H

Thanks Rick; to be honest I've not given too much thought about how much material goes into one of these projects - I stopped counting the hours a long time ago, too!

To give you some idea of what's involved, I've just counted through my stock of 'Evergreen' styrene packets which I keep to hand for immediate use - 101 different sizes of tube, strip, box, angle, etc. There's a similar quantity in a drawer as 'back-up' stock too - it's not a five-minute drive to my local hobby store, unfortunately! Plus you can add the packets of hex-section styrene, aluminium and brass tubing, flat sheet in different thickness', and five or six different weights of fibreglass cloth. Most of the styrene I buy is stuff that I know I'm going to use regularly, but other less-common sizes have crept in on the basis that "...it'll come in useful eventually". And sometimes it does!

I have no idea how many packets-worth will go into the 935, though - so far it's maybe the equivalent of fifteen or twenty, but by the end it will certainly be plenty more!

Interestingly, flat styrene sheet is possibly the one material that I have tried to reduce in quantity during these builds - mainly because it's the most prone to distortion over time (in my experience). This is why you've seen me make more bits using either fibreglass mouldings, or by laying-up flat sheets to use instead. The floor and much of the interior panelling of the Moby Dick will be fibreglass, for example.

Cheers!

SB

SB - I try not to fill your thread with comments, but I have to say You are an amazing scratch builder - your talents keep me glued every week for another update - you really have taught me a lot about what a little styrene can do.
Simply in awe
John

I've just counted through my stock of 'Evergreen' styrene packets which I keep to hand for immediate use - 101 different sizes of tube, strip, box, angle, etc

Heh, I think I've got about 10-12 laying about. ;)

Love that batt. What is the round gizmo beside it? A pump of some type? You mention pinning it in place; is it still removable for painting?

Looking better every single update. I'll bet you're chafing to get started on the engine!

ianc

That's the first of the fuel pumps, Ian - same type as used on the 917 and 908. This one feeds the collector tank, then there's three more smaller pumps of a different type to send it to the engine - I might make a start on these this week.

I'm trying to pin as much as I can - both for strength, and for ease of construction; I won't be gluing any of these smaller parts into position for a long time yet!

Yes, the engine will probably be started over the Christmas holidays - although I'm still trying to focus my efforts on the bodywork and the nose area, before moving backwards. We'll see; if I get on a roll with other bits I might re-think my plans, but as a minimum it would be good to get some proper drawings together...

SB

It's looking more fantastic (and complex) with every update SB! Keep it up!:)

Still loving the updates!!! Have you considered buying your styrene from a plastic wholesaler rather than a hobby shop (not that im saying we shouldnt support our Local Hobby Shop) But as a comparison, I years ago brought from one of my work suppliers 4 sheets of styrene (1370 x 762mm) each a different thickness 0.5-2mm
at a total cost of $22NZD, at the same time I went to local hobby shop & they were selling Evergreen sheet styrene A4(297 x 210mm) 3x 1mm at a cost of $25NZD!!
Weather or not you'll be able to find a wholesaler that sells some of the pipes/ hex etc might be tough.. & you might be able to get longer lengths too which im sure would come in handy with your 1:8 scale builds

Hello again,

Not too much to show this week - it's taken a while to get the rear wing openings...opened...but that's the way it goes sometimes. My biggest worry with these was being able to get the inlets wide enough - I'm happy that the outer profile of the bodywork is about right, but the curvature of the doors is not necessarily accurate...and the difference between the two is how wide I can make the opening. So, the first step was to mark out some guidelines, drill some holes, then open them all out. Then, plenty of snipping, filing and shaping to end up with something like this:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby483_zpsd4e09047.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby483_zpsd4e09047.jpg.html)

From the Freisinger photos I could see how they've used a large pip-pin to secure the front end of the rear wing to the doorframe, so this is what I wanted to do. Unfortunately, none of the photos show the actual bracket - so it was a question of playing around with some bits of angle section to get something that worked:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby484_zps7f4166ea.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby484_zps7f4166ea.jpg.html)

The tricky part was making sure the bracket missed fouling on the radiator, but was still close enough to the doorframe. So far, so good.

Now, I still wanted to open out the inlet width some more, but felt it would be a good idea to reinforce the thin strip first (between the door and the inlet). In addition, the fit to the doorframe was slightly gappy, so I wanted to extend the inner edge. I CA'd a piece of 0.5mm styrene sheet into position, but left it overhanging the edge by maybe 1.5mm all round:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby485_zps1118c0da.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby485_zps1118c0da.jpg.html)

...and with a bit of filing and fettling:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby486_zps08318b4d.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby486_zps08318b4d.jpg.html)

The fun part is now going to be getting a thin snake of greenstuff onto this edge, then filing and smoothing it all out - a job for next week, I think. There's still a little more to take out of the inlet, but I need to allow for the internal ducting - I have to make sure there's something I can actually glue it to at some point!

That's it for tonight. Not an earth-shattering update, but it's still progress. Moving on, I've made some sketches for the extra fuel pumps - I just need to punch out some styrene discs first.

Have a good week,

SB

Simon,

Progress is progress, please do not apologize for making progress even if you think it is only just a bit. The work you are doing can be tedious at times and will slow you down but it is the end result that counts and from what I can see you are doing just fine. :):):)

I do have one comment though, I have worked on cars with a lot of Englishmen. I have never heard them use the term "Wing" when talking about a fender :):) every time is see you use that term I start looking around for an aerodynamic device, especially when I see the word "Rear" preceding the word "Wing":iceslolan:iceslolan:iceslolan

suspect I plan to stole that hands... :D

Simon,


I do have one comment though, I have worked on cars with a lot of Englishmen. I have never heard them use the term "Wing" when talking about a fender :):) every time is see you use that term I start looking around for an aerodynamic device, especially when I see the word "Rear" preceding the word "Wing":iceslolan:iceslolan:iceslolan

LOL...I in turn have never heard an Englishman (in England at least) call a wing a 'fender' - apart from at Hot Rod shows! Over here fenders hang off the side of boats!!!:)

Sorry, Icon, I've got to side with Cinqster here: talking about 'fenders' starts me thinking about boats; we'd better leave discussing 'mufflers', 'sway-bars', and 'trunks' for another time...!

Short update tonight. I'm still working on the edges of the side rad openings - the liquid greenstuff is working well, so I'm building up a few layers of that before smoothing it down. Photos at the weekend. I've also started making some brackets to fix the top of the rads to the back face of the doorframe:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby488_zps406150d1.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby488_zps406150d1.jpg.html)

This should keep everything in position when I'm trying to trim and fit the internal ducting. I'll add some hex-nut detailing and some greenstuff welds where the brackets meets the doorframe.

Next up, the three extra fuel pumps I mentioned a while back:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby489_zpsdad24d93.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby489_zpsdad24d93.jpg.html)

I punched-out a batch of styrene discs to close the ends of the tubes, and added the hex and strip (1mm x 0.5mm) detailing. They'll also need connections for the wiring on the side, some retaining straps around the middle, and a connection for the fuel pipe on the other end - all jobs for this week.

The main mounting brackets on the bottom fit into slots in the outer casing, and are pinned through into the body:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby490_zps2aa9be85.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby490_zps2aa9be85.jpg.html)

These will need some rubber spacer pads adding underneath and some hexnuts before pinning through to the front firewall / bulkhead. Then, at some point I'll have to have a session making a whole bunch of pipe fittings for the fuel lines - these will be similar to the 908-03.

So, I'll finish the pumps, fettle the greenstuff on the inlet edges, lay-up some more fibreglass, maybe start on the rear mountings for the rear bodywork, and hopefully get my head around how I'm going to do the engine and gearbox. Hmm...that's my Christmas holidays taken care of!

See you at the weekend,

SB

Continues to look great SB, fantastic build!!

For squadron green, along thin edges, one trick I use is that after sanding fine to final shape, is layer on a thin coat of CA glue, to harden, and then lightly sand out with 2000 grit, gives it enough strength to work with further, and not be so vulnerable to damage

Wow, I love it! Mark!

Sorry, Icon, I've got to side with Cinqster here: talking about 'fenders' starts me thinking about boats; we'd better leave discussing 'mufflers', 'sway-bars', and 'trunks' for another time...!

SB

No :nono:, the things hanging over the side of a boat are Bumpers, Mufflers you ware over your ears in cold weather or put in your wife or girlfriends mouth to keep her quiet. Sway Bars, you guys call Roll bars which is that thing over your head that protects you in a "Roll" over and a trunk is what you call a boot which is what we ware on our feet. :icon16::icon16::icon16:

Yay; engine thoughts!

ianc

Hello everyone - a happy new year to you, too.

As planned, I've been able to spend plenty of time modelling during the last couple of weeks. The main focus has been on starting the engine - as you'll see - but I also did a little more fibreglassing in the background. I'll leave this for another time, though.

So, the engine. For starters, you'd think that there would be plenty of good 911 engine reference drawings floating around, either in books or online. Well, yes...and no. I plundered 'Excellence Was Expected' again for a couple of drawings of the regular 930 Turbo unit (for the crankcase dimensions), and have combined these with a drawing of the 956 engine (for the cylinders and heads). After making my own drawing giving the key dimensions, I was ready to start building.

On the 908-03 the starting point for the engine was a core frame of box-section, to which I then added the detailing for the cam boxes, valve-train, etc:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/9083012.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/9083012.jpg.html)

I wasn't convinced this approach would work this time around, as there were too many areas of the engine layout that were not clear to me. So, I've gone for a more modular approach - this should allow me to make small changes and adjustments if necessary, without having to scrap weeks-worth of effort (well, that's the plan...)

The first job was to make the six cylinder barrel units; for now I only wanted to make the lower halves, as the upper section would be covered by the fan shroud and not be visible on the finished engine. A key feature of the cylinder barrel are the cooling fins, so I needed an easy way to reproduce this detail. My solution was to glue a long strip of 0.4 x 2.5mm (as the fin) to a length of 0.5 x 1.5mm (as a spacer) - this was then cut into 6mm lengths easily enough, and glued together to create a finned block:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby492_zps32ccbc47.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby492_zps32ccbc47.jpg.html)

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby493_zps810a27d2.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby493_zps810a27d2.jpg.html)

The main cylinder barrel was constructed from various pieces of box-section and strip, with a little quarter-round thrown in. The chamfered sections on the left-hand side of the next photo were recycled from one of the earlier versions of the water radiators - no point letting them be wasted!

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby494_zps9483d47f.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby494_zps9483d47f.jpg.html)

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby495_zpsdf065a6c.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby495_zpsdf065a6c.jpg.html)

Eventually I had the six cylinder barrels in a basic state, with pilot holes drilled for the exhaust centres and for the water-cooling:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby496_zps92b685fc.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby496_zps92b685fc.jpg.html)

The next photo jumps ahead slightly. I made a simple frame for each bank of cylinders which would be the starting point for the head and valve-gear section. Hopefully you can also see where I've done a little filing and shaping on the cylinder barrels to soften the edges:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby497_zps632b086b.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby497_zps632b086b.jpg.html)

The components in the foreground are the starting point for the cam covers - these were a new design for the four-valve '78 engine and would continue with the 956 and later 962 engine. To get some depth into the covers for the spark-plug holes I made a sandwich of two layers of 0.5mm sheet with 1mm strip and sheet in between. The top layer was marked to show all the rib positions, which were added using more strip and tube pieces:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby498_zps14d81836.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby498_zps14d81836.jpg.html)

The cam covers were extended by adding another layer of 0.5mm sheet as a backing plate - this would define the outer edges and allow for the bolt web detailing. More tube section was used to create the larger bulges to clear the camshaft drive-gears:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby499_zps0949be95.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby499_zps0949be95.jpg.html)

So, as of today this is how far the engine has progressed:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby500_zps2398ed47.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby500_zps2398ed47.jpg.html)

Clearly there's a long way to go, but I'm happy with what I've achieved during the last fortnight. I can continue detailing the cam covers in the evenings now, adding the water-pump drives, bolt webs, supports for the fuel injection unit, etc. Once the cam covers are closer to completion I can start on the head area and slowly start linking these pieces together via the crankcase. The fan shroud will make it pointless trying to detail every aspect of the top of the engine, but there will still be plenty to do.

Before I finish tonight, here's the fuel pumps from a while back with a little more detailing added (nearly forgot about these!):

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby491_zps98c9fcdd.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby491_zps98c9fcdd.jpg.html)

Back to work tomorrow...have to get back into the groove of modelling evenings and weekends only for a while now! Although there's plenty to do on the engine, I've given myself a good starting point for the year - a few weeks away from trimming fibreglass will be good, I think!

Have a good week,

SB

Evening all,

More work on the cam covers this week. Firstly, I made the three main support webs for the intercooler system pump (two webs) and the fuel injection pump (single web). These have been drilled and pinned for strength, but are not yet glued in place:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby501_zps226ff41a.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby501_zps226ff41a.jpg.html)

The next job was to make a start on the two small oil pumps which fit onto the end of each cam-shaft housing. It wasn't necessary to make the whole part just now, but the mounting plate surround was required to help with getting the cam cover detailing right. So, step one was to punch four small 2.5mm diameter x 0.75mm thick styrene discs and glue then to a sheet of 0.5mm, then add sections of round tube cut to suit:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby503_zpse8b1c46b.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby503_zpse8b1c46b.jpg.html)

Step two was to add short lengths of 0.75mm square strip, file across the top to get it all down to a consistent 0.75mm depth, then trim around the edges. Here's the end result:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby504_zps834c818b.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby504_zps834c818b.jpg.html)

With these I was able to then work out how I was going to do the new section on the cam covers, which you can see in the foreground below:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby502_zps61e028e4.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby502_zps61e028e4.jpg.html)

A little greenstuff will eventually smooth it all out, but that's for another time. Next up, I used the oil pump mounting plates to add the matching bosses for the fixing to the lower cam cover (bottom left corner):

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby505_zpsa38b57dc.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby505_zpsa38b57dc.jpg.html)

Across the top you can see where I've started adding more bosses for the fixings between the cambox casting and the cover. These will have to be filed back to match the 2mm thickness of the layers below. There's more to add to the bottom edge, of course, so that's a job for next week.

So, it's all small stuff, but it's starting to add up and making it look more like it should. Layers on layers on layers...!

See you next time,

SB

So much detail, it's all great but I like it when you get onto. The engine.

Mmmm.... Engine good...

ianc

...have you been washing your hands with acetone again, you need some Neutrogena hand cream you naughty boy...err sorry, turned into my wife for a minute!

Engine looks brilliant already SB! ;-)

part of me is expecting the next update to show moving pistons and all the related parts with all the details so far :)

awesome updates!

Hello everyone,

Sorry I didn't post last week - I didn't really have too much to show, although there was plenty going on. It just needed a little more time to get it all together!

I broke-off from adding the cam-cover detailing as I knew this was working out okay, then started on the two pairs of castings which house the cam drive-gears:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby506_zps9bf2c8d3.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby506_zps9bf2c8d3.jpg.html)

The basic box-section core was given a 0.5mm outer skin, with more added to close-off the top. In time I'll add a 0.75mm layer to match the detailing on the cam-covers - you'll see this later in the post. The edges all need smoothing over, but for now can stay square.

In the next photo I've added the core for the second section - a slightly more complex shape with the curved element on the underside, and a change of angle on top:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby507_zps155f5b74.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby507_zps155f5b74.jpg.html)

Again, 0.5mm sheet will be used to skin the core, but I'll also be adding a thick plate to the end with lugs for the bolts, etc. There'll also be some small webbing strips added to both the top and bottom surfaces.

Here's the start of the 0.75mm detailing I mentioned earlier:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby511_zps91d36775.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby511_zps91d36775.jpg.html)

This was a simple case of marking round the outline of the existing detailing then filing and trimming to suit. Sounds easy - took over an hour of filing and fettling to get it this far:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby512_zps8477c701.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby512_zps8477c701.jpg.html)

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby513_zps3965d82c.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby513_zps3965d82c.jpg.html)

Of course, I'll have to make another one for the other side, too!

Next up, I made a start on the main crank-case section. In keeping with the rest of this build it's probably more complicated than it needs to be, but it gives me the chance to adjust things as I go along. The large pieces of box-section are spaced to match the cylinder bores, with the appropriate offset for the two banks. The whole lot can be connected together with yet more lengths of box-section, allowing the overall width of the engine to be set to the correct measurement:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby508_zpsce380b0f.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby508_zpsce380b0f.jpg.html)

The top surface of this structure is effectively the level of the cylinder centre-line. To provide further reinforcement I added a layer of box-section across the top:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby509_zpsced29953.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby509_zpsced29953.jpg.html)

You can see where I've added a little more strip-work to the heads, and also the outer skins that have been added to the cam-drive parts. Here's what it looks like from below:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby510_zps885f8c5e.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby510_zps885f8c5e.jpg.html)

On the left-hand side you can see the L-shaped panel which closes off the bottom of each of the heads. There's plenty more to be done here - the fun part is working out how much you can glue together, and how much needs to be left loose!

I think that covers everything to get us up-to-date. Hopefully by next weekend I'll have the heads and cam-boxes closer to completion, plus more work on the drive-gear housings. Then it'll be time to push on with the rest of the crankcase!

All the best,

SB

ps. I can confirm that there will be no moving pistons or similar in this engine!

your last statement was a shocker. LOL!

looking awesome as usual! :)

Small update tonight - other things are in progress, but rather than waiting until next weekend, I wanted to get these up now. The main thing this week has been getting the two camcover / cambox assemblies to the same level of completion - I'd been putting all my efforts into one side to make sure the design worked, knowing that at some point I would have to play catch-up with the other:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby514_zpsdcf7d69e.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby514_zpsdcf7d69e.jpg.html)

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby515_zps798ba6fb.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby515_zps798ba6fb.jpg.html)

So, both sides now have a full compliment of mounting bolt bosses around the ouside, the housings on the end (for water pump mountings, etc) have been completed, and the strip-work detailing for the top and bottom of the camboxes is in place. I'm now making the small in-fill panels which will close off the back ends of each cambox - slightly fiddly, but they have to fit in with all the surrounding detailing. More of these next week...

SB

Good hands!!

Back again...

These last couple of weeks I've been making a start on creating the underside of the crankcase. Not so easy as it's not a regular shape, there's very little symmetry, and measurements are thin on the ground. So, lots of checking through the books, finding reference photos, and trying to scale measurements from various views.

The very first element to be tackled was the lower surface of the crankcase, including the round hatchway for the oil-pump scavenge. The difficulty here was that this area is very sculptured, with lots of indentations, webs, changes of depth, etc. Rather than try to build this up with multiple layers of flat sheet stacked on top of each other, I opted to use lots of lengths of different strip (mainly 1.5mm and 2mm thick), laid side-by-side:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby516_zpsa16e8359.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby516_zpsa16e8359.jpg.html)

The round area in the middle is where the sump hatchway will fit. The long ribs running lengthwise are the starting point for the seam between the two sides of the crankcase. When all the sections are added together, it starts to look like this:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby517_zps81e2583a.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby517_zps81e2583a.jpg.html)

Still a long way to go - this is only the central section. Towards the front end there will be the areas where the cam drive goes out either side, and at the back there's different detailing around the flywheel and the oil filter housing.

Next up was to start making some structure for the back of the engine, around the flywheel. Or the front of the engine, depending on which way you look at it! Either way, I had to extend the core structure to give me a mating face for the gearbox, and to give me somewhere to put the oil filter housing on the side. First, I added box-section to the lower core to make sure it locked into place:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby518_zpsa3dbbdc8.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby518_zpsa3dbbdc8.jpg.html)

Then, more box-section was stacked to give me a core for the flywheel housing:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby519_zps90ff4dd3.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby519_zps90ff4dd3.jpg.html)

I added a 0.5mm backing plate to this core to get the spacing just right, and you can see here how it fits in place:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby520_zps1c1d6f54.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby520_zps1c1d6f54.jpg.html)

The lower half of the backing plate will be trimmed and re-worked in time as the bottom of the crankcase is detailed further. Next, I made another 0.5mm plate to add to the outside - this will be the face that the gearbox mates with later on:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby521_zps2fe23ee6.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby521_zps2fe23ee6.jpg.html)

You can see where I've marked the four holes for the gearbox studs; the long straight section on the left is where the oil filter housing will be mounted, the two sharp corners on the right will be smoothed-off. The little tab on the bottom (for the crankcase seam) will be adjusted to suit the detailing as described at the start of this post.

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby522_zpsbb1196a0.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby522_zpsbb1196a0.jpg.html)

So far most of this is not glued together - not until I'm happy I'm doing the right thing! It's a question of remembering that I don't have to detail everything, as most of the top of the engine will be covered by the fan shroud.

It's all coming together, but it's slow-going. I probably wouldn't recommend this method of engine-building, but without proper drawings to work from it's possibly the safer way to proceed. Once it's finished it will be obvious how a mk2 version could be improved, so time spent now is not necessarily wasted time! The same basic engine was used in the 956/962, after all...

I'll hopefully have more to show you next weekend.

SB

just a dream....

Amazing work, the size, the proportions of all build is fantastic.
Keep going
Guillermo

More crankcase detailing this week. I started by trimming back the 'base' of the crankcase to suit the structure I had built-up around the flywheel area:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby524_zpsd37d1703.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby524_zpsd37d1703.jpg.html)

The detailing for the flange along the centre-line of the case could then be extended to meet the underside of the flywheel housing, and I could then work on bulking out the two areas either side:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby525_zps5c53c1cd.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby525_zps5c53c1cd.jpg.html)

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby526_zps4831fe62.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby526_zps4831fe62.jpg.html)

Again, it's all just strip-work and odd bits of tube. It's complicated slightly by the fact that I'm building it in small sections which are not necessarily glued together, but so far it's all coming together. The step between the flywheel area and the main crankcase will be hidden by another piece which is part of the oil feed system:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby527_zps727da2ef.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby527_zps727da2ef.jpg.html)

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby530_zps3b66aae0.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby530_zps3b66aae0.jpg.html)

This piece was made from five layers of styrene sheet, with different inner profiles to match the crankcase detailing. You can see it here in the next photo:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby529_zps4e3349bd.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby529_zps4e3349bd.jpg.html)

Also shown here are two of the panels which are the starting point of the crankcase sides. The long strip with the discs will give me the locations of the main case through-bolts. The larger strip in the centre of the photo is the main panel, back view. On a regular 911 engine the two holes in the middle are where oil return tubes connect the heads to the crankcase, but on the 935-78 engine these will be plugged.

Here's the crankcase side in place:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby528_zpsad1db248.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby528_zpsad1db248.jpg.html)

The top edge will be trimmed and fettled to suit the stripwork on the bottom of the crankcase, and the far end will be made to suit the cam-drive structure which has yet to be made. The other side of the case has slightly different detailing, so that's going to be this week's project - then I can move to the other end.

So, it starts feeling more like an engine each week! I'm pleased with the results - it'll need odd gaps filling with greenstuff later on, I'm sure, but that's to be expected on something like this.

As usual, thanks for looking and have a good week.

SB

Your pleased and you should be, I think it all looks great.

Fantastic progress, yet again...
You keep amazing us SB.
Glad to read that you're pleased with your work. I can only dream of that kind of craftmansship.

Mark

Really looking spectacular! Can't wait to see paint on this sucker,

ianc

Evening all,

Lots of photos tonight - everything was starting to come together last Sunday, so rather than break off to do the post I wanted to keep going! So, first up this evening is the second crankcase side panel - similar detailing to last time with the holes and cut-outs, but this side also has some webbing and extra bosses at the flywheel end:
http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby531_zps88eb4878.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby531_zps88eb4878.jpg.html)

...and with the webbing and bosses fitted:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby532_zpsd74845e1.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby532_zpsd74845e1.jpg.html)

Next up, I wanted to make a start on the front end of the engine (or, the back end as it's going to be fitted in this car). The problem here is that there's an awful lot going on at this end - lots of webbing, pulley hubs, bosses for the mounting plate to pick-up on, etc, plus the stagger between the cylinder banks has to be resolved. So, take one piece of 0.75mm styrene sheet, mark up some key positions, and drill out four holes for the mounting bosses to locate in:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby535_zps242ca297.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby535_zps242ca297.jpg.html)

Then, start adding the web detailing with 0.75mm strip:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby536_zps7d6f01f5.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby536_zps7d6f01f5.jpg.html)

...add a housing for the pulley and the main cooling fan mounting:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby537_zpsf76376a6.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby537_zpsf76376a6.jpg.html)

...then start trimming back the backing plate to leave behind the useful part:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby538_zps35489572.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby538_zps35489572.jpg.html)

This front plate would have to be fitted to the front of the engine in the right position, so I added an extension piece to the existing core:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby533_zps53c5245d.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby533_zps53c5245d.jpg.html)

At this stage it's not glued in, of course, but you can see what I'm trying to do:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby534_zps59b08029.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby534_zps59b08029.jpg.html)

As the core structure is a little rough, the next stage was to start tidying up. The extension piece was modified to match the outer profile of the front plate, odd little bits of styrene were added in various places, and slowly it starts to look a little more presentable:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby539_zps93087a41.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby539_zps93087a41.jpg.html)

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/4e2b6b8a-47ce-4cbb-ae90-e25795b5254e_zps60c3b8cf.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/4e2b6b8a-47ce-4cbb-ae90-e25795b5254e_zps60c3b8cf.jpg.html)

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby541_zpsd5ccd3f2.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby541_zpsd5ccd3f2.jpg.html)

In the next few shots you can see how the engine is coming together. I've glued more of the underside detailing in place (although not the very front piece as this has to match the detailing of the front plate).

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby544_zpsa6f764dc.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby544_zpsa6f764dc.jpg.html)

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby542_zpsa09bf9b5.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby542_zpsa09bf9b5.jpg.html)

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby543_zps87d29e2b.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby543_zps87d29e2b.jpg.html)

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby545_zpsd3844966.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby545_zpsd3844966.jpg.html)

So, it's definitely looking more like a 911 engine! The next week will see more detailing added, and the area immediately behind the front plate will be built on to give the fan somewhere to sit. The cam-chain boxes need more work, too. In other words, more bits of small styrene!

That's it for tonight - more next weekend...

SB

:eek2::eek2::eek2::eek2::eek2::thumbsup::thumbsup: (not enough words to describe this artwork)
Mark

SB - it is stunning what you can do with raw styrene.
I am just in awe.
words cannot describe it
John

:runaround:OMG!,, I'm new to the forum and just found this build. Truly inspiring! Primarily an aircraft modeler, but great modeling knows no genres. I will follow this with great interest.

Dave

I can't even wrap my head around what it takes to do this. This is phenomenal

That it great work.

More engine progress tonight! Much of the work has continued at the fan-end of the engine - firstly, I started adding some detailing to the underside to match the lugs on the front plate, and to add the angled section on the underside of the cam-drive box:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby546_zps971c09e5.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby546_zps971c09e5.jpg.html)

...plus detailing on the side:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby547_zps7f635961.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby547_zps7f635961.jpg.html)

...and with the final section of the 'sump' panelling added, I could finish detailing under the front:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby548_zps3c8adc39.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby548_zps3c8adc39.jpg.html)

Next job was to add the boss-and-web detailing to the cam-drive boxes either side. Most of these were drilled and pinned in place, with 0.75mm strip used for the webbing:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby549_zpse79c8235.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby549_zpse79c8235.jpg.html)

Not the best photo, but more detailing added to the underside:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby550_zps14da8ea4.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby550_zps14da8ea4.jpg.html)

Moving to the top of the engine, I started building up the area below and behind the cooling fan mounting. I used various pieces of box-section and strip to create the shapes, but also to create slots for the curved panels to fit into:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby551_zps6b7a6538.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby551_zps6b7a6538.jpg.html)

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby552_zpsd39d894c.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby552_zpsd39d894c.jpg.html)

The curved plate you can see here was trimmed back as much as I dared, plus more tube detailing added behind it. In the foreground you can see where the distributor will be fitted:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby553_zps7e40092f.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby553_zps7e40092f.jpg.html)

An extra curved piece was slotted-in behind the tube detailing, and glued to support the main section. The two main vertical parts of the fan support have been connected with a 0.75mm thick curved plate:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby554_zps7f32fbdf.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby554_zps7f32fbdf.jpg.html)

A second smaller plate has been added to the other side:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby555_zps630b4e78.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby555_zps630b4e78.jpg.html)

In between all this I had a greenstuff session to start filling some of the gaps, which you can see here:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby556_zps394dd1cc.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby556_zps394dd1cc.jpg.html)

Finally, I spent a little time at the flywheel-end of the engine. Most of the outstanding detailing will be added on the other side, but there's a small section here which will eventually provide a mounting point for a closing panel:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby557_zps75c6256e.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby557_zps75c6256e.jpg.html)

So, what's next? Well, I still have to do some more work at the back of the engine around the oil filter housing and on the top - the fan shroud covers most of the block, but there are a few bits which poke through. The cam-drive boxes also need to be revisited; maybe even re-made. Then there's the fan and shroud to think about, the distributor, inlet manifolds, throttle linkage, etc, etc...so no shortage of things to do! I'll probably leave most of these parts for later - it's probably more important to get on with the gearbox so the whole lot can be mounted into the chassis...just in case I find something doesn't fit.

Have a good week!

SB

Someone needs to get it together and do a news or you tube special on this guy. My god, next to the French guy that done the 312 P.B., this is outstanding.

Looking great as usual SB! What are your plans for the fan shroud? Fiberglass?

ianc

Amazing!Fantastic!Gorgeous work!Piece of art!Pretty cool!

Incredible!!! Amazing work!!! Tubular Chassis and body Build as a real car!!! Congratulations!

I've just gotten on to this thread
I honestly don't know what to say
My head hurts just looking at it

I will give you an " unbelievable " but I have no words worthy in my vocabulary for this build so that will have to do :)

That engine is just insane!!

Hello everyone,

Thank you for the compliments, guys - much appreciated. I spend so much time surrounded by my modelling, reference books, etc, that it's easy to forget that people are finding this thread 'new' all the time. Sorry that there's a lot to catch up with!

Plans for the fan shroud, Ian? Yes, Plan A is to make a pattern, lay-up over it with fibreglass, trim it out and fit it in place. I'd like to avoid a heavy lump of styrene and greenstuff with a fibreglass skin (as on the 908) as I'm trying to keep the weight down - hopefully I can use blue foam again instead. Whatever I do it'll have to be painted, as I don't want anything to be visible underneath it.

So, let the insanity continue...

A small job to start with - at the back of the engine there's an oval turret which has some sort of oil return fitting attached. I need to do more research to check how this fits into the overall piping scheme! I took the overall measurements from the reference drawings and started making the basic turret section:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby558_zps8fa548c1.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby558_zps8fa548c1.jpg.html)

It's basically two short 3mm lengths of 5/16" tube glued back-to back, with small pieces of styrene added to fill-out the sides, and a length of strip wrapped around the outside to tie it all together. The notch on the front end was reinforced with a piece of angle-section, and will eventually have some hex-nut detailing. The next step was to add some more box-section to the top of the engine - this will be built on later:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby559_zps7e5567c8.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby559_zps7e5567c8.jpg.html)

The backing plate for the turret has been trimmed away, and it's been pinned in place. I'll return to this area of the engine later.

Next, I wanted to work out what I was doing with the cam-drive boxes. The first step was to make two 0.75mm thick plates - these would give me a mounting flange for the cam-drives:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby560_zps912d255d.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby560_zps912d255d.jpg.html)

The cam-drive boxes were made some time ago, but not completed. Each one has two recesses on the front surface which must be aligned with the boss detailing on the front of the engine, creating space for the hex-nuts. I filed out two channels on each of the pieces, then cut the front plates to match. These plates tidy everything up, but I'll probably add a little greenstuff later to plug the gaps.

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby561_zpsed6f8fdf.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby561_zpsed6f8fdf.jpg.html)

On the right, you can see where I've added some extra detailing to the top and bottom. This is some 2mm half-round, with 2mm punched discs added to the front face. The final step (for now) was to add some 1mm square strip in between to create another set of webs:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby563_zps927f8d3f.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby563_zps927f8d3f.jpg.html)

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby564_zps851d35f5.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby564_zps851d35f5.jpg.html)

So, it turns out there was no need to re-make these parts! I'll have to pin it all together, then can start thinking about adding some spacers to the cylinder barrels to set everything at the correct width. I'll have to have a mammoth hex-but detailing session at some point, too. With Easter approaching (and hopefully three or four days of productive modelling) it might be time to start planning the gearbox...

SB

absolutely stunning work SB
John

Incredible work, your showing us SB.

Mark

Not a big update tonight - I'm just about to put the engine on hold for a while as I start work on the gearbox. Yes, there's still plenty to do on the engine, but none of it is what I would call 'structural' - I can use what I've done already and make sure that everything fits in place, first!

So, the last bit on the engine (for now) is the oil filter housing - this is a well-used part on Porsche race engines, being found on all sorts of cars - 908, 917, 935, etc. I glued some half-round sections onto a length of tube to get the shape of the filter housing, then made a simple base-plate from 0.75mm sheet, with a spigot to locate the filter:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby565_zpsaf63a041.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby565_zpsaf63a041.jpg.html)

Extra detailing was added to the base-plate - eventually there'll be a large oil pipe connecting to the socket at the bottom, for example:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby566_zpsdb0fc1f8.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby566_zpsdb0fc1f8.jpg.html)

I still need to add some hex nuts, etc, and fill a few gaps with greenstuff, but you get the idea. I tidied-up the top of the engine by adding a thin sheet of styrene beneath the turret structure described last week.

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby567_zps360f1a5c.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby567_zps360f1a5c.jpg.html)

Now to start on the gearbox! I did some very basic drawings for this months ago to get a feel for the overall size; I transferred the profile onto thin card and attached it to front of the engine:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby568_zpscf9c650f.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby568_zpscf9c650f.jpg.html)

Time to dig the chassis out and see how it fits:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby569_zpsf89c7fa3.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby569_zpsf89c7fa3.jpg.html)

The front end of the gearbox pokes right through into the back of the cockpit, and will eventually hang from the hoop structure behind the driver. I made a quick dummy-plate to attach to the back of the engine - later there will be two triangular mountings hanging beneath the main frame tubes for this to pick-up on.

As shown, the engine and 'box is in just about the right position - everything fits where it's supposed to, but there's room for a little adjustment if required. I need to make sure the gearbox doesn't 'grow' as I build it - I'm going to do some better detail drawings first, and I've been pulling together reference photos, etc, to help. I'll probably do it in a modular style, similar to how I built the engine - slow, but hopefully safe!

I doubt whether there'll be much to show by the weekend, so the next significant update will probably be over Easter. Porsche make their return to top-level sportscar racing at Silverstone on Easter Sunday, so there's no prizes for guessing what I'll be watching that afternoon!

Have a good week,

SB

Hello Everyone,

As you'll soon see, I've been making good progress since the last post - especially over the Easter break. We started racing with the FF2000's again this last weekend, so I've had a few days away from the modelling - but thought I should get everything up-to-date.

So, the gearbox. For the 935-78 the gearbox was similar in style to the regular Porsche unit of the time, but was re-designed to raise the level of the output flanges - effectively, it was fitted upside-down.

The first step was to make two thick rings - these would form the flywheel / clutch section of the gearbox. Originally I was going to make these by forming layers of strip into a foam block - similar to how I did the wheel rims. However, a 1.5V battery was actually the right size for the internal diameter, so I just wrapped the strip around this instead:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby570_zps27c87931.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby570_zps27c87931.jpg.html)

Each ring is four layers of 0.5mm styrene, and keeps its shape when removed from the battery former. Between the rings I added styrene discs of various diameters - some to create the external webbing detail, others to allow me to lock all the pieces together internally:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby571_zpsec37b4a3.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby571_zpsec37b4a3.jpg.html)

Remember that the gearbox is critical to supporting the whole weight of the powertrain, so it needs to be strong and have a good connection with the engine. The sections slowly come together to create a basic bell-housing structure:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby572_zps69614ca3.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby572_zps69614ca3.jpg.html)

So far, very little of this is actually glued together; there's a few pins to keep the pieces in alignment while I'm working, but I'm reluctant to glue it too soon! At some point I'll be offering it up to the engine and will check that it hasn't become twisted.

The next challenge was the removable sideplate from the diff-housing. I didn't have to make this quite so early in the build, but it was a tricky little piece and could be a problem if it didn't work properly. So, cut a suitable 0.75mm styrene disc and offer it up to the reference photo:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby573_zps3d124b71.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby573_zps3d124b71.jpg.html)

As you can see, lots of webbing detailing on the inside and a bunch of oddly-spaced bolt-holes around the outside...plus that awkward little notch at the 9-o'clock position. So, with the bolt positions marked I could start nibbling away the outer edge:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby574_zps08ddc564.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby574_zps08ddc564.jpg.html)

Eventually I got the outer edge into shape, and before I cut out the centre I used it as a template to make a second similar disc - more thickness was required!:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby575_zps6c0672af.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby575_zps6c0672af.jpg.html)

I could now start adding the webbing detail to the disc I cut from the centre of the first piece - these are all 0.75mm x 0.75mm strip:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby576_zps7a3f809a.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby576_zps7a3f809a.jpg.html)

...and after all the smaller pieces were added, it looked like this:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby577_zps877f2725.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby577_zps877f2725.jpg.html)

By this point I think there's about 78 individual pieces of styrene gone into this part. The 9-o'clock notch was actually quite easy - I just glued a small piece of shaped styrene inside the outer edge, then filed away the outside. Am I pleased with it? Absolutely!

The next stage was to build the internal structure for the diff-housing section. This started as two pairs of box-section elements, with some 0.75mm strip between them as spacers:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby578_zpsc70b80f3.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby578_zpsc70b80f3.jpg.html)

Rather than adding the web-detailing which runs down the spine of the gearbox as external detailing, I wanted to have it as an integral part of the structure. So, I used the 0.75mm gap between the boxes to slot in two pieces of 0.75mm styrene sheet - in time, these will be shaped to match the web profile.

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby579_zps580024c7.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby579_zps580024c7.jpg.html)

You can also see how I've added smaller box-elements into the bellhousing section that I can plug the diff-housing into. Again, very little of this is glued-together right now - it's a bit of a Chinese Puzzle when it all comes apart!

To give me somewhere to fit the sideplate I put together the stepped-pyramid structure you can see below. This is all 1/8" x 1/4" box. I've also cut away part of the bellhousing on the left of the photo - this will all make sense shortly:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby580_zps80c51607.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby580_zps80c51607.jpg.html)

More styrene discs are added to get the correct width across the diff-housing, and as a base for the sideplate. The curved panel will eventually be glued-down to create the top surface of the gearbox.

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby581_zpsa7e2ca5b.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby581_zpsa7e2ca5b.jpg.html)

The other side of the gearbox is similar-but-different, so I made another stepped structure and curved plate:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby582_zpsa1ea8784.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby582_zpsa1ea8784.jpg.html)

The sideplate will drop into place as shown:

http://i604.photobucket.com/albums/tt121/ScratchBuilt917/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby583_zps981953b1.jpg (http://s604.photobucket.com/user/ScratchBuilt917/media/Scratchbuilt%20Porsche%20Moby%20Dick/moby583_zps981953b1.jpg.html)

...and that's it for tonight. Still a long way to go, of course, but I'm confident it will work. Hopefully by the weekend I'll be a little further along...

All the best,

SB

Everything to dream!! Thanks for these class!

As usual a fantastic piece of art you made here SB.
I always enjoy this, seeing everything come together so smoothly.
I always admire you scratchbuilders in how you put every day things to use in your modeling arts.
Keep up the great work and I'll just keep on admiring it.

Mark