Porsche 550 scale 1/43 ... superdetailed

[gulfclk]

I know, you don't see too many 1/43 scale built in here, but, I'm doing one and wanted to share it with all of you.

The finished car will be one with the drivers door open, the engine and booth lid will be opened and all the details will be added. As no engine, gearbox, ... are existing, I will need to make everything myself.

I already started the project about one month ago, but I did not have a lot of time to make lots of progress. I had to make 2 spraybooths for Sennake en Huudo (both on the forum as well) and the preparation of thisd project took some time as well.

I had to start somewhere, so I took a 550 kit from Vroom. The good thing about the kit is that the line of the car is right, the disadvantage is ... little to no details at all. So, after grinding the body, cutting away parts like rear view mirror, ..., I've put a first layer of primer and discovered the front bonnet panelline had to be redone. The curvature was not the same on the left and right of the car.

After the panel line, the silicone mould were done for all the parts (main body and wheels, seats, dashboard, ... and 2 sets of bodies were made.

Next step ... removing the door, engine and trunk lid and more material on the inside of the casted body. All these parts have been removed and I can now start to rework the wheel arches, front cowl and trunck finishing.

Next on the list is the fuel tank with the filler cap.

[jaykay640]

Looks like a good start. Nice to see a 43rd model being built.
Even though that little Spyder isn't full with parts to detail, it will be some serious project.
One thing though....do you know that Feeling43 is going to release a 550 in their new "basic" range this year? It won't be cheap but will surely come with all those details you're planing to scratch build.....
Not that i want to stop you in this project but it would be a whole different point to start from....:-)

[godfather23]

Superdetailing a 1/43rd model? You hae to be joking. I have problems with detailing a 1/24th model. It´s already too small for me. I sure like to see more of this ambitious project and wish you luck with the outcome!

Robert

[gulfclk]

Originally Posted by jaykay640

Looks like a good start. Nice to see a 43rd model being built.
Even though that little Spyder isn't full with parts to detail, it will be some serious project.
One thing though....do you know that Feeling43 is going to release a 550 in their new "basic" range this year? It won't be cheap but will surely come with all those details you're planing to scratch build.....
Not that i want to stop you in this project but it would be a whole different point to start from....:-)

I didn't know and I couldn't find any images on their website. Do you have any?
I was thinking about stopping because of this ... but I decided to go on.

When I checked the overall form of the car, I discovered that the rear wasn' correctly alligned to the front of the car.



So ... 2 possible solutions. Seperating the front and the rear and reposition of rework the parts. I opted for the second solution. Perhaps not the easiest one but like that, I don't cut the current structure and I had to rework the firewall anyway because it was too thick. So, after the firewall was reduced to the thickness of paper, the upper border of the cockpit has reworked so it was alligned with the rest.

The cockpit stiffening structure was made and shaped correctly and then connected to the dashboard. The door opening was leveled and straightened and the outer part of the drivers door is already made in aluminium.





Next steps ... finishing the doors and the front compartement.

[jaykay640]

There are no images yet. Only of the Bugatti and C-type.

According to an announcement made by dealers the "next release is the Porsche 550 Spyder.
They plan to release one new kit each two months, Others planned are: Cobra Daytona, Porsche 911, Porsche 718 RSK, Ferrari 512 BB '78. "

[Porsnatic]

Awsome build!...I will look for more progress. How do you did the mold for the casting? What items did you used?....

[gulfclk]

Originally Posted by Porsnatic

Awsome build!...I will look for more progress. How do you did the mold for the casting? What items did you used?....

The moulds were made from Vosschemie silicone rubber and the casting has been done with Altropol Multicast resin.

[gulfclk]

I’ve been busy on this little fellow in the last days, but as asual, working on this scale does not show a lot of progress. I’ve made the bottom and sides of the trunk. The trunk has a small border which has also been created using putty and milling the border away afterwards.

Next was the fuel tank. The base has been made from styrene sheet, the filler cap is from Renaissance. Their version is from a good quality and on scale for this car, so why bother trying to make something good when it already exists.



On the real steel fuel reservoir, some welding seems are present from the different fuel compartments in the tank. To simulate these, I’ve put some very thin lead tape on the top of the tank and used a tooth pick to ‘draw’ the lines into the material. I’m rather satisfied with the result, but changes are still possible if something better comes to my mind.

[Porsnatic]

Thanks for your quick responce to my email, but, are these makers from out of the United Stated? if example:Europe?

[gulfclk]

Originally Posted by Porsnatic

Thanks for your quick responce to my email, but, are these makers from out of the United Stated? if example:Europe?

They are from Germany I think, but they have a distribution net all over Europe.
For these purposes, any mould silicone can be used (even latex with a reïnforcement around its thin layer) and any casting resin, as long as it's very thin to poor and the potlife is long enough.

[CeeElle]

i love the 550. it's such a gorgeous car. i've never understood why no one makes a 1/24 or 1/20 version...

[davesans]

Excellent work 1/43 scale are so cool I hope one day to can tackel one of these.