WIP:Cory Mac's FRAM AirHog TF dragster

[Dean23]

This is coming along nicely. the frame looks great. Good job withthe cf, must of been tough to do that rear wing. So can you explain how you mae those fule lines, or is it a secret...lol. Keep the progress coming

[hakkfan]

No secrets here. The hardest part is finding the right material for the actual hose itself. The stuff I have been using is actually an elastic cord that I found at Michael's craft store. I take aluminum or brass K&S tubing, depending on the color of sleeve I need and drill it out inside making it big enough to accept the black cord. I've done it by hand in the past, on these I chucked the tubing into my lathe and at a slow speed fed into the tubing a drill bit the same size as the cord.

From there slide the sleeve over the cord and add some Detail Master hard line and a fitting and you're done.

Thanks guys.

ClayK

[Robi J]

Thanks Clay for sharing the infos !

Roberto

[sportracer02]

Hi,

fantastic job on this one.

Colour on the frame is so real, pattern of the CF-decals on the air intake is a masterpiece, just to mention a few things.

[hakkfan]

Progress has been slow lately on the AirHog. Too many steps backwards before going forwards!!

My original front wing was a loss. I messed up the main element when I built it and it was slowly losing it's curve, and starting to bow. With no real way to fix it, I decided it would be better to just make a new one. I did the center element different this time so hopefully the same thing won't happen.

Here's the new one ready for decals. The shape of the element is a lot more accurate than my first one too.





And here's the new one on the left compared to the warping original on the right.



The rear wing is now finally finished and ready to be installed. Once all the decals were on, I added Sakatsu drilled bolt heads to the endplates to hold the main element, and then tacked on some of PRO-TECH's PE nut and bolts for the two upper elements.





Rear slicks were lightly detailed to match some pics of the real CBR car. These are just about ready to go too.



The upper body panel had to be re-worked as well. I redid the decals, added a white underlay for the FRAM, and cleared it. Now all of the main body and front wing are ready for final decals and fasteners.



Kinda hard to see, but the upper inside flange on the body was covered in CF on both sides. I also added a bit of padding to the cage.

[Mr. Me.]

WOW! have no words to describe my feelings! GREAT!

[erb]

Amazing work a usual Clay. Really like those rear tires.

[Guiddy]

Simply amazing! What a great looking car and those machined parts!!!

[KevHw]

Looking at the majority of the photos I really can't help but think that this is a fully functional model. I keep thinking that these parts will actually move and work because the attention to detail and accuracy of build is so high. Nice one!

[hakkfan]

Alright, a good weekend of progress!

I started back in by re-doing the kit fuel lines. I made two branches out of the fuel tank from solder, and then mated them into a piece of aluminum tubing. All joints were covered with heatshrink tube, then wrapped with MCG hose clamps. I also made a new firewall and upper electronics tray. Both of these were cut from Evergreen black styrene, then I sprayed the CF pattern through some mesh with Alclad steel. Finally they were sealed and moutned to the chassis.







With those two panels in place, I added one more low in the frame right above the fuel line. Then I began the task Dave warned me about. Electronics! Timers, valves, data recorders, the list goes on and on. Following as much reference as I could, I did my best to duplicate the real set-up. Everything was scratchbuilt from sheet plastic and rod and wired up with a combination of DM wire, and Pro-Tech wire. I drew up the RacePak logos and decaled the main data recorder box.









Out back, I also finally finished up the rear brake lines. I used the smallest size braid Pro-Tech makes, and found some RB Motion detail nuts that made perfect fittings.



The front wing was also finished up. I added the remaining Slixx decals, more Pro-Tech PE nuts to the endplates, and a gurney flap from Evergreen black styrene.



Wheww! That's all for a while. Now it's back to the engine!!

[JimboCO]

Very inspiring. Thanks.

[CeeElle]

damn. that looks incredible.

what scale are you working in?

[hakkfan]

Originally Posted by CeeElle

damn. that looks incredible.

what scale are you working in?

Thanks, guys. I believe it's 1/24. Maybe 1/25. Somewhere in there.

[JimboCO]

How about those rear tires? Those can't be from the kit, right?! If they are, how did you deal with the whole"two part tire seam" thing?

Also, do you have any good reference pictures for how modern top fuel engines are plumbed? I'd tlike to take a crack at it but am a bit in the dark.

[hakkfan]

The rear slicks are solid resin available from Slixx.

More progress on the TF. I added a wheelie bar net to the back......



The engine is also gettting close to being finished. I added the inner blower hold down straps with buckles, the outer hold down straps, along with the spark plug shileds. Once I get through the fuel pump area, I'm home free!