'58 Ferrari Testa Rossa #22 Hiro/MFH

CrateCruncher · #1 08-05-2009, 02:46 PM

I started whittling on my Hiro Testa Rossa body a couple of weeks ago and began enjoying myself so much I couldn't stop. The plan is to build this one mostly stock but open the doors and add a scale hinge or two to the rear deck. If I get motivated I'll scratch build a wooden steering wheel to prove to myself it wasn't a lucky fluke. I found some really poor quality photo's of car #22 on the internet that must have been taken by a modeler because the shots are just what I need (woo-hoo!). I know it goes without saying but I encourage any and all suggestions, criticisms and additions as long as they are positive and friendly. Yes, Hiro's are difficult, yes they are expensive, yes they often have fit problems. This is a "no-whining zone" starting now.

CrateCruncher · #2 08-05-2009, 02:56 PM

Here is where I am so far on the body. I'm currently trial fitting the doors which were fabricated from .01" brass sheet. The original body was solid resin over a 1/4 inch thick and, because the interior is so visible I had to do something. So I carved everything out to give it a "empty beer can" look. That is so important to this car (and the Barchetta) that I felt it was worth the extra effort. The interior is now much roomier too - I hope my drivers appreciate that extra elbow room.

I also began test fitting the engine and drivetrain. It's just held together with rubber cement like everything else until I'm satisfied everything will assemble smoothly. I have to say the castings and body in this kit are quite smooth and only need a little cleanup. I have discovered what appears to be a major fit issue with the front engine mounts. When I work out a solution I'll add it to the WIP.

tuned.by.twenty · #3 08-05-2009, 02:56 PM

Good luck with this one, especially with the surgury it's about to undergo. I'll be watching for sure.

Edit: As I was typing the above you'd already posted your first progress pictures. Looks great so far!

ChillyB · #4 08-05-2009, 03:28 PM

I think you'll get quite a few of us watching this one. Who doesn't love a '58 Testa Rossa? Best of luck.

torinobradley · #5 08-06-2009, 01:18 PM

Looks like it's gonna be another awesome replica, my friend!!! I will follow this one.

Borjacho · #6 08-07-2009, 03:37 AM

This looks to be a promising work. I will follow it with great interest. You are right, MFH is expensive and complicated, but...

Your first step are very good focused. Follow this line and result will be great.

BorJacho

CrateCruncher · #7 08-07-2009, 05:25 PM

Well thanks to everyone for the show of support. Sometimes I spread myself a bit thin with projects and your interest helps to keep me focused.

I spent some time with the engine mounts and confirmed the front mounts were way off. Everything else fits so well I'm surprised this part was so outta whack

? Here's how I fixed it:

The mounting points in space needed to be 2.5 mm higher and 5mm further apart so I just sliced a section out of the part and glued it back together with JBWeld and a straight pin (45 degree angle worked perfect to make two corrections with only one cut). Everything fits great now, even the complicated exhaust through the fender openings. (Notice the exhaust manifolds are now on the correct sides. I had them installed backwards in my earlier post.

)

I'd be interested to hear from anyone else that has built this model or can confirm the error in this part from an unbuilt kit they have. It would be nice to know if this is a design problem or perhaps I just got the wrong parts in my kit. Hiro did several variations of the Testa Rossa so anything is possible.

Here I have the engine and some other components test fit in the engine compartment. The single Weber carb is installed to check for hood clearance issues. The white stuff I used to fill the windshield trench and reshape the gutter corners is white Milliput epoxy putty. This is the fine stuff, they also make a grey colored putty that is stronger but much harder to carve and sand in my opinion.

I opened up the side vents so all that hot air can escape! Also notice how I've ground out even more resin with my ball mill bit. The body is definately getting lighter! I use a pentel marker to highlight panel edges so I can easily see how thin they are through the inevitable cloud of resin dust while grinding. A simple wipe with alcohol removes it later.

Ferrari continued to develop the Testa Rossa for several years, drastically improving the breed with each successive generation. Here's a side by side comparison between the first and final iteration. Notice how the later cars pontoons were extended to conical shapes. I read somewhere that the Ferrari people discovered through windtunnel testing they could reduce induced wavefront friction best with this shape when transitioning to hypersonic speeds.

Heres another view of how the crazy exhaust fits. I'm pleasantly surprised how well everything fits together here. I expected a lot of bending and filing but it all fits pretty well..

More later.

tony126c2 · #8 08-08-2009, 02:55 AM

Great job! I love your detail! It will be my next project too . I have the 1:12 model by MG Plus Models but this one is less detailled than the MFH model. I have to replace the resin aft part by brass tubing so I can install the tank and spare wheel. I only got to find some good pictures/drawings/cutaway from the tubular chassis of the real car.

keep those pics coming!

Ton

CrateCruncher · #9 08-08-2009, 07:27 PM

Hi Tony,
Great to hear your putting together a 1/12 Testa Rossa project to follow up your awesome Autograph F40. By coincidence, a friend and I were just discussing the MG Testarossa kit. He mentioned he was planning to purchase the Autograph 250 GTO engine for it because it and the TR engine are almost identical. THAT would be an incredible project and you already know a lot about Uli's way: (soldering watch screws to photo-etch and that kind of thing).

Anyone that hasn't seen Autograph models should check it out. Here's a link to their site:
http://www.autographmodel.com/Englisch/Englisch.htm

quadzero · #10 08-08-2009, 07:31 PM

Very interesting project. Fantastic looking car and great wip.

klutz_100 · #11 08-09-2009, 12:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quadzero

Very interesting project. Fantastic looking car and great wip.

Yup, I'll second that motion

tony126c2 · #12 08-09-2009, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CrateCruncher

Hi Tony,
He mentioned he was planning to purchase the Autograph 250 GTO engine for it because it and the TR engine are almost identical. THAT would be an incredible project and you already know a lot about Uli's way: (soldering watch screws to photo-etch and that kind of thing).

That would be a great project indeed. The MG model engine is quite good but Uli´s is in a higher league!

CrateCruncher · #13 08-09-2009, 06:08 PM

Well since no one commented on how hilarious my Speed Racer Mach 5 comparison was I guess none of you were 6 year old gear heads in 1970. I thought the resemblence between the two cars was more than coincidence at any rate.

I got to working on the rear deck hinge today.

I got verything lined up and used 5 minute epoxy to set everything in place. Once I feel confident it will open properly I'll set it with JBWeld and level the brass with the resin body using Milliput grey for strength.

tony126c2 · #14 08-10-2009, 03:04 AM

Great solution for the hinges! I will definately "steal" it from you

torinobradley · #15 08-10-2009, 04:36 PM

Inspireing work!!!

My friend, you are inspiring me to break out one of my bad boy racers, albiet from the other side of the pond...
I got a couple of GT40s, a Cobra Daytona and 2 Grand Sports just itchin to be on the bench... But then again, there was a Model T out there kickin Ferraris in the '50s. I gotta find that article...

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