In Progress: Revell Porsche 993 (Aircooled Group Build)

[MPWR]

And here finally is the other one:

<AF Tribute Build, Part 2>

One of the greatest things about this forum is the trading community. Take a look through the good traders thread and it's obvious what a terrific resource this community is. I've traded parts and decals with more people in more places than I can easily remember. Often I send out little bits of machined aluminum in thanks for help someone's given me- and often people insist they simply won't take anything in return. People's helpfulness and generousity here are stunning- and it's an honor and pleasure to be part of it.

As a case in point, late last year I finished and posted a Fujimi 964. I enjoyed the build alot, but I lamented in the thread that when I bought it on Ebay years ago I had thought and hoped I was getting a 993. It turned out that a 993 (non GT2) in 1/24 was harder to come by than I had realized at that time, and since then I still had never managed to find one. But not long after my 964 post, another member here (who wants to remain unnamed) PMed me and told me he had one to spare that he really wasn't going to get to building, if I could give it a good home. Cheers again- I'm doing my best to give it that home.

The Revell 993 (Italeri rebox) is a decent kit, but it could best be described as a good starting point for a build. There are some points however where it definitely needs some help. As another case in point, I posted a request in the classified thread for some headlight parts. It didn't take more than a day or so for two people to respond and offer me a set. And I thought I was going to have to go through Tamiya. Thanks guys!

So for everyone who have offered or already provided me with help on this build (so far that's ScaleCentral, johanthemodeler, ddtham, klutz_100, and of course the very generous Sir_not_appearing_in_this_film), and everyone else I've traded with before- thanks guys. Hope you enjoy.

On to the build then.


Once again, this build starts with bodywork and alot of primer.



The big challenge on this body is the nose. It's molded as a separate part from the rest of the body, and it was split off along the panel lines.



The 993 of course has very even (German car!) yet rather prominent panel lines- and a glued up seam just wasn't going to represent this well. So the nose was glued on, and the adjacent surfaces vigourously worked over with sanding sticks to even them out. The seam lines then had to be carefully engraved in with a PE scraper/saw. (The little grey spots under the headlights and at the Porsche badge are small guidance holes I drilled. Later they will help me locate the headlight washers and Porsche shield decal.)



No small amount of work, especially as the geometry of the lines below the headlights is rather complicated.



Here it's starting to look pretty good- but there's a bit of a pit at the T corner by the right headlight. This had to be filled with CA, reprimed and rescribed.

The side skirts were next.



Revell provides this detail as separate parts to be glued onto the lower edges of the sides. In studying pics of full scale 993s, I noticed that the rear edge of this seam blends ito the wheel arch- on the car it's not actually a seperate part at all. So back to fill, sand, prime, inspect, and repeat.







Took a little work, but finally they blended nicely with the wheel arches.

And the last major issue was the wing mirrors.



The mirror pod stalks didn't really fit against the body. This is definately the sort of thing you want to catch before painting.



Each stalk had it's mounting pin removed, and was drilled out to accept a length of brass rod. The angle of the stalk mounting pads were corrected by filing them to shape, and new corresponding holes were drilled downwards in the doors for the rods to fit into.



Done, now they just need primer.





Here it all is ready for paint. I've been kind of working on this one in parallel with the 850- and so of course it got caught in the same painting weather holdup as the 850. But meanwhile there is other stuff to be working on....



Anyone want to guess what this will be?

Thanks for watchin'!

[klutz_100]

Originally Posted by MPWR

Anyone want to guess what this will be?

A grater for Parmesan cheese? A roller for straightening out spaghetti?

[auw12]

That's spectacular Andy!! I always like the 993 and had never seen a 1/24 kit of it! Could you please show the box?

And those are great bodyworks you've done there! As well as the mechanical part, that's quite sweet!!!!

[white97ex]

It has definitely found a proper home and will be treated like a king I'm sure!

[Ferrari TR]

I'm trying to guess if it was something...

Now I'm going to have to look and see if my vert is the same type.

[gionc]

Originally Posted by klutz_100

A grater for Parmesan cheese? A roller for straightening out spaghetti?

Yep: it's a tool to roll out some great 1/24 pasta: I'll try to set some 1/24 tomatos Andy, and some bonsai's basil: remember to keep your 1/24 wine and beers buddy.

[drunken monkey]

I've got both versions of this kit; revell and italeri.
I'll post pictures of the boxes when I get home tonight.
I've a couple of these in progress as well and it's come to my attention that the engine in the 993 turbo is pretty much the same as found in the 964, with much of the newer engine being internal modifications. The only real departure is the turbo set-up and how the exhausts cross over to the opposite side.
In short, an enthusiast kit's turbo engine block is a good starting point for those wanting to do a more detailed kit...

Did you manage to source a set of Tamiya 996 Carrera wheels?
These, I'm afraid, are even harder to come by than the 993 Turbo kit it seems.

as for that pic:
it took me a while at first but Holy Hell!
I thought it was a drill/lathe bit at first but all I can say is wow.
Y'know, I'm expecting you to machine proper sized 993 Turbo wheels now; if only because I would like a set.

edit:
for those that are interested.

[Porsche Carrera]

I'm always curious what this kit looks like when finished. Are you planning to use teh Tamiya GT2 headlights? Btw, if you need a set of the Tamiya 996 rims, I have some that I'm willing to part with. Goodluck with this build.

[ddtham]

I would certainly be following this one!

[stryfe101]

Originally Posted by MPWR

Anyone want to guess what this will be?

I'm going to guess its the beginnings of the engine fan? I've been in Porsche mode for the last few months so I think thats what that part will become.

Great work so far, I'm a Porsche fan thru and thru so I'll be watching this one.

Gray

[MPWR]

Originally Posted by stryfe101

I'm going to guess its the beginnings of the engine fan?

Got it! It's the hub for the cooling fan. (Someone else suggested it was 6th gear for a Getrag box. ) I'll try to post some pics of the fan and housing soon as I get the chance. I figured it would take another Porsche fan to get it.

Porsche Carrera- I do have a set of the GT2 lenses and reflectors for this one, and they make a terrific difference. Oh, and you of course have a PM.

drunken monkey- Looks like I found a source for the 996 wheels! Unfortunately, the complex curved facets put machining a set of these into the realm of CNC equipment. I'd been considering other options, including machining a set of Alpina style wheels- but I've been really wanting the Tamiya 996 wheels. I guess it's my factory stock fetish.

[BVC500]

Originally Posted by MPWR

drunken monkey- Looks like I found a source for the 996 wheels! Unfortunately, the complex curved facets put machining a set of these into the realm of CNC equipment. I'd been considering other options, including machining a set of Alpina style wheels- but I've been really wanting the Tamiya 996 wheels. I guess it's my factory stock fetish.

Did you find a source for the 996 wheels? If not, I have a spare set of wheels and tires. I was saving them for my 2nd boxster, but boxster's stock wheels will suffice. So, if you need them, PM me your address.

[zak78]

Did you measure where the sideskirt would fully blend with the body, to make them even from side to side, or did you just eyeball it really well? Spots like that always look a little challenging to me, since I'm afraid of making them asymmetrical by mistake.

[auw12]

Thank you DM but I cannot see your pics... that's a pity...

[bigfrit]

Very good starting point, my sir!

I would like to point out that you'd better trim the window rubbers on this little sportscar...

Also, the rear looks very 964-ish, shouldn't the lateral curve on the rear be curved a bit inwards instead of outwards?