Lola T-70 Mk III

[Scale-Master]

The carb linkages need to be made now.
First I made the levers for the carbs. This pair does one bank and each is made of two pieces of brass. Soldering them was fun, but drilling the holes for the synchronizing screws was even more fun.

The bellcrank was machined next.

[Scale-Master]

The bracket that is the hub of this setup was made from brass and machined resin stock.
Aluminum hardware was machined to accept the stainless steel sheath for the throttle cable and to mount it to the manifold.

[Scale-Master]

I textured and painted the intake manifold. It's one of the few 3D parts I grew that were not cast in resin for the model. I also installed the 12 bolts and washers I machined to mount it to the heads, and the 16 bolts for the carbs.

[Scale-Master]

I got a little ahead of myself when I was adding the manifold bolts and forgot to install the wire loom hold-down bracket. (It protects the loom and the linkage from rubbing or hanging up.) I made it from annealed brass. I pulled two bolts and installed it under them.

Now I'm back on track…

[Scale-Master]

I've machined and installed the carb mounting nuts, washers and bolts to the top sides as well as a few other hardware parts. The linkages are set up on the carbs too.

[Deathtrap]

That is absolutely stunning again. But that is also the benefit of working with such a large scale.

[Scale-Master]

After missing the wire loom hold down, I thought it was prudent to machine the fuel line hardware for the carbs before moving forward. A dozen fittings later… I still have more to do and more parts to machine for this subassembly.

[Scale-Master]

I connected the throttle cable (more stainless…) to the bell crank and made the primary return spring. I made an eyelet for the spring to attach to the bell crank from stainless too.

Next I installed that subassembly to the manifold, along with the two right side main carb bodies, and added the linkage for the right bank. I also installed the ¼ inch synchronizing adjuster screws to the inboard side of the linkages and added a few other machined details to the carbs.

[Scale-Master]

The left bank of carbs has been installed and the linkages made and hooked up. Connecting them to the bell crank wasn't too hard, but getting the tiny keepers on the carb ends of them was a challenge.
I also added the fitting for the vacuum advance line.

[Scale-Master]

I textured and finish painted the valve covers. These are also fully scratch-built items.

[Deathtrap]

You keep amazing me. The level of detail is great on its own, but the build quality is outstanding. The valve covers... not a seam line, scratch or any other flaw.
May I ask, how did you manage that?

Arno

[Scale-Master]

Thanks Arno!
Since they are made from scratch there shouldn't be any seams as I have control over all aspects of the making of the parts.

[Scale-Master]

After almost 38 months of working on this project, the body is finally getting painted. This is the base coat. It's a color I had custom mixed in DuPont ChromaSystem called Violent Blue. As many of you know, without the clear the color is very muted and appears darker.

[Scale-Master]

The clear is Valspar AC2100 two-part urethane. The hot weather today worked well in having it kick off faster than normal. What a difference the clear makes in the color… Almost like it got turned up to eleven.

[Deathtrap]

Wow. That is a deep colour. A bit like Alpine blue, but with a slight purple haze in it.