How To : Scratch Built Turbos

In the progress thread on my 1:12 Skyline (http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=260169), A few of you asked about how the Turbos were made, so here you are :

http://www.spc.org.uk/tips/turbo/turbo001.jpg

Some Aluminium Bars

http://www.spc.org.uk/tips/turbo/turbo002.jpg

http://www.spc.org.uk/tips/turbo/turbo003.jpg

The bars were turned on the lathe to form 3 seperate pieces as shown above. The Air Intake Funnel, Air Intake Turbine and the Exhaust Turbine.

http://www.spc.org.uk/tips/turbo/turbo004.jpg

These were then parted off (cut off) giving these bits (below)

http://www.spc.org.uk/tips/turbo/turbo005.jpg

A small shaft was created as the main shaft within the turbo.
A section of aluminium tubing is also used, you'll see why later.

http://www.spc.org.uk/tips/turbo/turbo006.jpg

The larger housing is super glued on to the main body (which is also the funnel).

http://www.spc.org.uk/tips/turbo/turbo007.jpg

The exhaust housing (smaller but thicker) is glued to the back end (not shown glued yet in this photo)

http://www.spc.org.uk/tips/turbo/turbo008.jpg

You should have the main section together now. so insert the shaft and also glue.

http://www.spc.org.uk/tips/turbo/turbo009.jpg

Take the tubing and shape to fit on the larger housing to form the output to the intercooler etc.

I use superglue again to fix these togther and lightly sand to get a nice smooth shape.

http://www.spc.org.uk/tips/turbo/turbo010.jpg

It could do with the internal turbine being added sometime but that's for another day, you may also want to add so tubing for the exhaust inlet. which I have not done yet.

But hopefully as you can see it is a vast improvement on the plastic parts supplied.

OK so you don't all have access to a Lathe but it can be done in a drill chuck etc or made from tubing and beads for 1:24 models

BTW, the photos are all black and white as I was suffering white balance problems and getting weird colour refections.

I hope this "How To" will be of some help.

I will update this once the whole this is complete.

Thanks

Speechless!

i can understand if u dont want to make a whole upgrade kit for the skyline you are making, but if u made 1/24th sized turbos and teamed up with SAS or something, u could make a lot of money

Top-notch work! Those look fantastic

Slick work! I'm impressed.

Very thorough and well explained and the turbo's came out a million times better than the originals. They look perfect!

i can understand if u dont want to make a whole upgrade kit for the skyline you are making, but if u made 1/24th sized turbos and teamed up with SAS or something, u could make a lot of money

I agree. Many people here would buy turbos. Great how-to but I realize that alot of people here dont have a lathe so it is very tough to scratchbuild turbos. But overall nice how-to.

damnnn thats nice, bt like stephen posted, not everyone has a lathe :(

wow, amazing!

all i can say is "wow"

Amazing!!!

I need a lathe...

incredible.. but I'm sure only 2 or 3 people max can do that..

all i can do is drool awsome job

wow that looks so amazing....

:eek7: ...You are truely a Wickid Dude...I dont no what to say...you leave me speachless with everything you do...always so clean, so perfect.. Hands down to Hiro.

so simple.


may just have to have a play at work and see how easy it is to replicate.

as usual steve you never cease to amaze with you skill on the lathe.....
i could make some but my lathe is a bit big. the smallest thing i can turn on it are 1 1/4" ram tubes for my mini....
but i can hope and try
very useful how-to
laters, WIDE

Amazing work Steve. It looks great!

:eek2: :eek2: :eek2: :eek2: :eek2:

THATS INSANE MAN!!!!

please send to:

holy freekin sh!t!
6200 waterchase Dr.
Tampa, FL 33511

Very impressive!

Thats amazing!!! Pretty soon we'll be seeing scratch built rims from you eh!?:wink: