So recently I installed a
Password: JDM triangulated strut tower bar into my 1:1 Civic. First impressions weren't that remarkable, but then I noticed that oversteer would come on more abruptly and surprise me, and when really pushing turn in was sharper and I had less problems with understeer. I still haven't raced it, so the jury is still out for me performance wise.
As far as how it looks, though, I love it. One of the coolest parts around, I think, and I've wanted one since PWJDM started making them. They're almost as cool as the CARBING parts with their built in master cylinder brace and the "Enjoy Motoring & Motor Spirits By" stickers, and cool. So of course, my 1:24 Civic needed one as well. The car is very inspired by all the cool parts I find on the PWJDM website, and I was very excited when they included a second little metal plaque for the bar, I'll mount it on the base that I display the model on. So perfect. I've always intended to have this part be on the model too, a real interesting piece to go along with my K20 and all the detail I want to attempt.
I spent Sunday afternoon watching Robocop and putting this together. First I measured the 1:1 part and make a quick little drawing on my notepad. Then I measured the space that the part will occupy on the model, and made a second little drawing with the revised measurements. The only difference was I was about two scale inches short between the strut towers! I'll admit I'm pretty proud of that. Then I drew up a template for the part on another sheet so that I could cut the bars to scale and glue them together. The next step was to take some styrene rod and shape it into a elliptical shape, the PWJDM bars are not made of round stock. First I scraped the rod with my hobby blade, then sanded them smooth. Once in the elliptical shape, I could cut them and place them on my template. I used a file with sharp edges to file into the end of the short bars so they would glue tightly to the main bar.
I then made the brackets/risers for the bar out of sheet styrene, cutting the base to shape and then cutting a trapezoidal shaped upright with the holes drilled in and wrapping it around the appropriate side of the base. It tool me three tries to make two, but I got it done. I then made the part between the two short bars that on the 1:1 bolts it to the firewall. This was simple, just three pieces of strip styrene and two triangular gussets.
Two make these three parts fit perfectly into the car, I used white glue to hold the two brackets/risers on the strut towers, while I glued the bar to the firewall with white glue. This allowed me to adjust it all until it fit properly and straight before cementing it all together. Once the cement set, I was able to pry it off and now I can prime it and paint it and put it aside until final installation.
So, small progress. This'll get one day!