In Progress: Revell Porsche 993 (Aircooled Group Build)

[rod_k2]

Sorry for the noobish question,but it's that I just can't stay quiet...

Is this kit rare?! And if it is,wich version is more common? Italieri or Revell's?

[DasWiesel]

This thread could get very interesting again!

[CifeNet]

I can see how great models come out... Spend 90% of the time preparing and 10% of actual painting! I am addicted to see more! Good progress so far and keep up the good work.

[godfather23]

Another interesting build from you... And you always seem to manage to start models I always wanted to do. Well, I sit back and try to learn as much as possible... - Now I just need to get one of these kits -

[MPWR]

Originally Posted by CifeNet

I can see how great models come out... Spend 90% of the time preparing and 10% of actual painting!

Absolutely spot on correct. At least that's my philosophy anyway- and fortunately it tends to work for me.

zak78- I didn't worry alot about matching them up. It's geometricly impossible to view them both at the same time, so as long as they looked close I figured they'd be fine. Obviously having them grossly different wouldn't work, but I spent more effort trying to get them to look right (properly rouded, no flat spots, and seam invisible where it should be blended). However the seams do in fact disappear at the same points.

rod_k2- Can't say which is less common, but both versions are rare enough that I've never managed to come across either. But that doesn't at all mean that they're not out there- really I just gave up looking a few years back.

The late summer weather here has been predictably unpredictable. Occasional perfect beautiful days puctuated with days or weeks of heat and humidity. I'm getting paint work done, but of course progress is being split between the 993 and 850. Both are moving forward, but neither fast. Ironicly now, the longer I wait the more consistently good the weather gets. So they will both get done, it's only a matter of when....

The 993 will be CobraColors pearl black. Here's what it looks like with the first mist coats on.



Again, the same technique as on the 850 is used here. As soon as the first bit of color is applied, any texture, flaws and details in the primer are suddenly much easier to see (and address). Fortunately, the 993 has a (relatively) simple body of mostly convex curves. There are few inside corners and no Pininfarina style NACA intakes here- which just makes the bodywork easier. There was little on this body that needed attention when painting started.

The paint has no real gloss of it's own- it has a matte finish and will definately require a clearcoat. But the curves atop the headlight nacelles are already reflecting light. I can only guess (and hope) that this is from the metallic elements lying flat and planar on a smooth surface- and indication that I've done stuff right here. But only time and clearcoat will tell!

Time for some more then.



Here the paint is a bit deeper, but still not opaque. The reflectivity here is being carried nicely on all the upper surfaces. So far so good....

Done.



Really, there is close to a week between the first pic above and these. But the color application is finished, and the body is ready for clearcoat. The color is applied here only deep enough to be truely opaque, and no deeper. Acrylic laquers tend to have very high opacity, and only a very thin layer is needed- so the color here is really more of a film of tint atop the primer than a 'layer' of paint. Applying the color intentionally thin like this means that there's less chance of the paint itself developing texture, puddles, drips and so on. But it means that the quality of the surface is dependant on a good primer surface. And of course it will need a significant layer of clearcoat- obviously to add shine and depth, but also to protect the paint.



Meanwhile, about that engine fan....

911's are known for their tight and tidy engine installations. It's always amazed me that Porsche has been able to find room to install a turbo system around some of them. As such, 911 engines by their nature are difficult to see, and turbo engines even more so. The 993 turbo engine is covered from below by an aero tray, and above by a large intercooler- so there's almost nothing that can be seen.



(I guess there must be an engine in there somewhere. It'd be fun to change the plugs though, wouldn't it? )

Never the less, Italeri very gamely included a decent little attempt at an engine facade (and an intercooler to hide it under).





Really about all that can possibly be seen of the real engine are the airconditioning compressor, the coil pack (maybe), the accessory drive pulleys, and of course that iconic intake fan common to all Porsche aircooled boxers. The 993 is of course the very last of the aircooled 911's- so it seems fitting to give this detail some attention. Italeri's attempt is good (other than the fact it has ten blades! ). But I like mine better.



The mysterious machined part is of course the core for the fan itself. The Slots in it were cut to accept 0.010" styrene strip, which were then shaped to fit into the turned shroud.



The engine gets built into the back end of the chassis- so starting the detail work for real has to wait until the chassis is clearcoated and ready for further steps. But I'll certainly have more pics then.

Thanks for watchin'.

[stryfe101]

man, that fan is really going to jazz that engine bay up a bit! great work on it, I think i'm going to try my hand at dremel machining to see if I can come up with something better than the molded part on the Fujimi em kits....thier attempt at a fan looks worse than the wrong bladed Revell part! Excellent work so far, and I like the color too. Looking forward to seeing more.

Gray

[godfather23]

I´m really liking everything I see. And thanks again for showing us you achieve these nice paint jobs of yours. About the fan: This is a little crazy to machine this part if only 1/4 of it can be seen...Fantastic, I love it.

[zak78]

Fantastic fan! I hope we'll be able to see some of it after the installation of that picnic table, I mean intercooler

[drunken monkey]

Originally Posted by godfather23

This is a little crazy to machine this part if only 1/4 of it can be seen...

yeah, but aftewards, if he mounts it correctly, he can pick up the model and blow on the fan and watch it spin!

[Martin S]

So you found the Holy Grail among 911-kits !
Its looking very good so far. The fan blades are just sick..
Are the kit wheels no good, or why are you looking for 996 wheels?

[Scuderia.]

Nice progress so far. Are you going to weather the visible part of the engine or leave it pretty clean?

[drunken monkey]

My biggest question is, are you going to try and make the varioram intake for the top of the engine?

[robrex]

That fan looks sensational!

[MidMazar]

Every part you make you should make a double so i can buy it. I still haven't touched my f40 lights you made me, can't wait to though. Once again, this should be a nice build.

[mike@af]

Nice work on the cooling fan Andy. That helical piece is very nice. How did you cut it?