Ferrari 599 Hamann

[MidMazar]

Originally Posted by jano11

I wouldn't say that.

Yes Sir!!

[360spider]

Ramon is back - with a vengeance! I would say that I'm amazed with the result from any other builder - but not you, my friend. Great start - you are certainly in a class of your own - hats off to you! I wanted to do a similar mod for 599, even acquired few Revell and Fujimi kits, and know I don't have to figure out engine transplant, because you will :-) Waiting for the next installment!

[countach79]

that's some fine work your doing there!!

[Entau]

excellent!! clear & detailed progress

[rx7king]

I love the long introduction for this WIP, entertaining read. I think a lot of us can find your step by step usefull in other projects the detail is nice. even though few of us have a lathe.

Great Start

[agamo]

Thank you, Tham, ravan17, Bill, CifeNet, COZMO6476, Max, Mark, Stuart, Robert, rollin80s, Alex, Jason, Entau and Justin for your very nice comments, they are really appreciated!!

Originally Posted by Veyron

Hobby Design has 20" Hamann rims available now and they are very nice.
The rears have a bit wider lip too.

Yeah, I discovered them several months after I made the Fujimi’s, and since I want to make a true replica, I immediately bought them and will replace the Fujimi’s with the same treatment.

Originally Posted by jano11

Excellent choice of subject with great modifications. I will certainly follow it!
I posted my 1/24th scale 21" Hamann wheels in here already last year in July. Now it's too late as you did already go through all the work to make your own 21" wheels.
Keep it up.

The adaptation of the “Hobby Design” wheels is already done but not yet posted, stay tuned, it was a lot of fun…

Originally Posted by rsxse240

Simply inspiring. I REALLY need to get a lathe/mill.
I think the front end is still a bit to high in comparison to the 1:1, but that may just be my perception. also I think the tires have to much sidewall which may be making me think the suspension is off.

Thanks Ken, yes, it was also my perception, but I measured and I got the same distance between the wheel arch and the tire, for the front and rear wheels, I think, as you say, it is a matter of the tire sidewall size (I used the original Fujimi’s) and the shape of the body that gives that impression, anyway, those wheels were latter replaced for the correct Hamann wheels, and everything looks better, as you’ll see latter.

And well, lets get to work…

Now, one of my favorite parts, the engine; the 599 is equipped with the F140C, a fabulous V12 with 5,999 cm3 which delivers 620 HP @ 7,600 RPM, this motor is a derivation of the Enzo engine, lighter and more powerful than its antecessor the 575M.

The Revell kit provides the engine; the level of detail is a little simplified, may be because most of it is covered and it has some errors that need to be corrected, as the air intake boxes that resemble those seen on previous models as the 612, 550 or even the 456, the 599 has new ones so they have to be modified…

The union of the air intake manifold with the monoblock is located in the wrong place in the middle of the cast aluminum duct, instead of the base of it, so this has to be corrected at least on the first duct; the rest won’t be visible once the plenum chambers are assembled, so, to correct this, a plastic tube is bent and cut to shape and a joint is added made of thin plastic sheet.
The covers of the induction plenum chambers have a wrong and very light engraving, so it is removed, new covers will be made latter.
The engraving of the air intake boxes was removed too and the shape was already corrected.
The monoblock halves are glued to verify the assembly of the intake manifold ducts…



The intake manifolds are molded in one piece with the induction plenum chambers and the air ducts, which are far from realistic, so, to improve detail, everything, will be separated, starting with the intake manifold ducts, to do this, perforations were drilled and then cut with photoetched saws…


Once separated, the shape of every duct is corrected according to the first one…


The monoblock also requires some corrections, the inner walls of the cylinder heads lay vertically against the engine and they should fall at an angle, parallel to the exterior walls, it is strange that the front cover of the engine does reflect this correctly, but the engine doesn’t.
So, new inner cylinder head walls are cut to size…



Flanges are added to the intake manifold, these are made out of thin plastic sheet cut to shape…


At this point and before doing anything else on the engine, it is necessary to determine the position of the engine and the way it will be fixed to the Fujimi chassis, so, two engine supports are added at the front and one for the transmission…


Some circles cut out of plastic sheet to complement the engine chain cover and alternator…



The engine bay covers from the Revell kit are fixed temporary to the body and then the body is assembled to the chassis to verify the position of the engine and make any corrections, apparently everything is Ok.
The modifications and detailing of the engine cover will be made latter…



Back to the engine…
The throttle valve housing is removed from the original part and replaced with plastic tube machined to the right size, four small plastic rods were added to simulate the fixing bolts …


The servos for the throttle valve system, made from plastic sheet…


Here the left induction plenum chamber assembly, showing the poor detail of the molded throttle valve body, against the scratch built one; the shape of the air intake boxes was already modified…


A plastic tube is used to assemble the throttle body to the intake plenum chamber, using this tube will allow to turn and modify the position of the air intake and ducts once the engine bay cover is assembled to the body, two plastic rods where added to the intake plenum chambers, for the vacuum lines…


The finished throttle bodies with their servos…


The molded clamps in the air ducts are eliminated and replaced for more accurate ones made out of thin plastic stripes and wire…


Plastic stripes are added to the air intake boxes to make them correct…


Air flow sensors are replicated with plastic sheet and added to the air ducts…


As mentioned before, the incorrect and poor engraving of the intake plenum chambers was eliminated, so, new covers are made with very thin plastic sheet, photoetched Ferrari badges and tiny chromed metal stripes, everything is glued together and painted to a flat red finish and latter the engraved surface is sanded to show the metal finish…



The modifications to the induction system are finished and the process go back to the engine, now it is time to work on the cylinder head covers that need minor corrections, first, the form of the molded ignition coils have to be corrected to an almost hexagonal shape and perforations are made for the fixing bolts and the variator solenoid valves.
The heat shields are bent a little to avoid interferences with the exhaust manifolds and require corrections to the perforations for the oxygen sensors and the secondary air valves…


The exhaust manifolds require perforations for the oxygen sensors and the addition of a plastic rod at the end to assemble the exhaust pipes...


The exhaust pipes that connect the exhaust manifold to the catalytic converters are made with 2 mm solder, which is very soft and bendable; at the ends, plastic flanges are added; to determine the form of these pipes the position of the catalytic converters is required (see next step)…


The center tunnel in the Fujimi chassis has the catalytic converter and exhaust pipes molded in, so it has to be entirely removed and replaced with the corresponding Revell parts, special attention to the shape of the Revell heat shield is required to avoid interference with the interior floor…



All the required corrections are done, so it is time to start assembling and detailing the engine:
At the top of the engine is added the cover of the hydraulic tensor of the timing chain, the bolt heads are from “Model Car Garage”; to detail the alternator, the position bracket is perforated and a bolt is added, an small plastic circle is added to detail the alternator pulley, since only the upper part of this section will be visible, the upper part of the band is removed and replaced with a little strip of masking tape painted flat black…


A close-up of the hydraulic tensor cover…


Wring for the alternator is added, the head covers are glued in place and bolts are made out of aluminum wire…



The variator control solenoid valves are made with wires of several diameters, the clamp is made out of tin sheet, to have an idea of the size of this parts, in the image, the square in the cutting mat measures 10 X 10 mm…


The variator valves added to the cylinder head covers…


“Detail Master” 0.016” Ignition wires added…


The coolant return pipe is made with wire, to make the “T” connector, another piece of wire is soldered in the middle, at the ends, plastic rods with photoetched nuts are added…




The oxygen sensors are replicated with brass hex nuts and wires of several diameters…



The secondary air valves are machined out of aluminum rod and the pipes are made with solder…


The plastic flanges for the intake manifold made in previous steps are added, as well as the exhaust manifolds and the coolant return hose…


MFH heat shield is added before installing the oxygen sensors and secondary air valves, then the Intake plenum chambers are glued in place…



The air intake ducts are painted semi-gloss black, waiting only for metal clamps and the wiring harnesses for the throttle valve servos and flow sensors…


Before installing the air intake ducts, the position of the engine bay covers has to be determined, so, a little work on the body is required, to do this, the windshield is mounted as well as the cover where the windshield wipers are assembled…


And well that’s it for today, in the next installment, I’ll finish the adaptation of the engine bay covers and the engine detailing…

And as I said before, any comment, advice, correction or suggestion is always welcome.

[countach79]

Insane!!

[Entau]

WOW.... i'm so enjoying the progress

[360spider]

You are making it look easy! Stunning work.

[star21]

All it needs to do now is start up! Absolutely stunning work.

[godfather23]

Simply intimidating. No more engine detailling for me! Promised!


Robert

[KevHw]

Wow!

[rx7king]

Originally Posted by godfather23

Simply intimidating. No more engine detailling for me! Promised!


Robert

Intimidating indeed! fun to watch

[klutz_100]

Go Ramon, Go!

As always, a pleasure to watch and learn from your work

[F1Tommy]

Superb work. Your attention to detail is amazing. Can't wait to see it next month at the Ferrari Expo!!!


Tom Tanner/Scale Designs/Ferrari Expo 2010 model/photo contest-Chicago April 24th 2010