1/12 Airfix Bentley Blower

[NoelSmith]

Scott the pin drill vice Casper is using is described in tool catalogues as an Archimedes Screw Drill. Proops, Shesto, Squires and Eileen's Emporium stock them in the UK. I would imagine Micro Mark in the USA probably has them listed too.

Casper, the wheels are looking good. I have used the method of cutting out a fraction of the spokes to keep the rim radially concentric and it works quite well as you are demonstrating.
Regarding the bonnet hinge, the way you are making it looks really good and effective. On my last two scratch builds I got away with using small scale piano hinges from dolls house suppliers.

[RangerNeil]

Don't know it it would work for you - but one of the fuselage halves on an AModel helicopter kit I built was badly warped similar to your bonnet. What I did was get a bowl of really hot water, soaked the warped half in it for a while then gradually reformed it back into shape by taking it out, working it a bit then re-soaking it, repeating the process as required. Took over an hour to do but when I finished the warped half was a fairly good fit (by AModel standards) against the other half.

[Casper]

Scott the pin drill vice Casper is using is described in tool catalogues as an Archimedes Screw Drill. Proops, Shesto, Squires and Eileen's Emporium stock them in the UK. I would imagine Micro Mark in the USA probably has them listed too.

Casper, the wheels are looking good. I have used the method of cutting out a fraction of the spokes to keep the rim radially concentric and it works quite well as you are demonstrating.
Regarding the bonnet hinge, the way you are making it looks really good and effective. On my last two scratch builds I got away with using small scale piano hinges from dolls house suppliers.

Hi Noel
It takes about the same time to do the rims this way as it would to have them in a jig but for me this way is easier, the inner rim spokes are central so will need to be drilled but I may still be able to do them without a jig will take a look later.
casp

[Casper]

Don't know it it would work for you - but one of the fuselage halves on an AModel helicopter kit I built was badly warped similar to your bonnet. What I did was get a bowl of really hot water, soaked the warped half in it for a while then gradually reformed it back into shape by taking it out, working it a bit then re-soaking it, repeating the process as required. Took over an hour to do but when I finished the warped half was a fairly good fit (by AModel standards) against the other half.

[Casper]

I managed to pull it back better using hot water but its not perfect Neil (plastic is hard) and I need a perfect fit along the whole length for it to work. Its fixing ok If I take my time with it but its very delicate. The two part swinging bonnet doesn't help and I don't really want to pull them apart and hinge them as well.

casp

[NoelSmith]

Regarding the wheels, the partially cut out method is good when doing straight replacements and works really well without a jig.
On one or two models where I needed to do other spoke patterns a jig had to be used and the drilling done beforehand using a dividing head. Difficult to do without this device to get all the angular spacings correct around a rim and hub.

[Casper]

I thought about using some sort of post set by the rim at an angle then turn the rim then drill at the correct angle but couldnt fina a long enough 0.5 drill so free handed. Think that's why I gave up in the end but a friend ended up printing some out, they looked just as effective as the brass rod but better.
This was a 1/8 scale Aston Martin Wheel built in a jig (unfinished outer rim)

[Casper]

Albion Alloys 0.5mm brass rods arrived yesterday and I had some time to myself today so finished up the outer rim.
I'm pleased with how the first side went, not brilliant by a long way but valuable lessons learned for the next. few bars high or low but hardly noticeable and a few odd angles but I know a better way to do them now so hopefully the next will be better.
The collets I've been using are too long so I cut them in half and used the shoulder end, I think next time I will use the other end so it sits in the slots better.
casp

[Twokidsnosleep]

Lovely
Looks like a flower petal in its symmetrical arrangement.
Will be helpful when I make mine

[BigWall]

Very nice! That has to take a lot of patience.

[Casper]

"Looks like a flower petal in its symmetrical arrangement"
It does was 4.30am when I went to bed

"Very nice! That has to take a lot of patience"
I find It relaxing once you get into a rhythm like scott said its hard to stop.

[Casper]

Made a start on the inner rim. This one is drilled through the centre of the rim. Not much room on the hub
Two holes very close together at each point marked with a silver line.


casp

[Casper]

the inner rim is easier to handle to be honest, more to get hold of
the collets only needed a small amount cut off the end and fit very well drilled through the centre, or there abouts


casp

[Casper]

O OH! lookie here, one of the wheels has decided to disassemble itself
must have been the stiff tyres and not enough glue. This is a good thing for me hopefully the wheels will come away without to much of an issue.
Its your fault scott now I have to do the five

macro shot

[Twokidsnosleep]

the inner rim is easier to handle to be honest, more to get hold of
the collets only needed a small amount cut off the end and fit very well drilled through the centre, or there abouts


casp

Did you flare the inner end of those spoke collars in the first picture??
They look absolutely fabulous, like a trumpet

You knew the plastic spokes were off scale and had to be re-laced.
It was the first thing I thought of when I bought that kit ages ago...gotta learn to wire spoked wheels.
“Twist my rubber arm” is the saying over here

[BigWall]

That's a bummer since you weren't planning on it but it'll look better in the long run.

[Twokidsnosleep]

That's a bummer since you weren't planning on it but it'll look better in the long run.

Yes he was...

[Twokidsnosleep]

O OH! lookie here, one of the wheels has decided to disassemble itself
must have been the stiff tyres and not enough glue. This is a good thing for me hopefully the wheels will come away without to much of an issue.
Its your fault scott now I have to do the five

macro shot

I believe the English call these “pants”

[Casper]

That's a bummer since you weren't planning on it but it'll look better in the long run.

Yes he was...

this thing has been on my bench (in a plastic tub) for a year and a half and looking over her now I wished I had done some things differently but as we all know knowledge comes with experience and its supposed to be fun right
still your fault though scott:lol:

[Casper]

O OH! lookie here, one of the wheels has decided to disassemble itself
must have been the stiff tyres and not enough glue. This is a good thing for me hopefully the wheels will come away without to much of an issue.
Its your fault scott now I have to do the five

macro shot

I believe the English call these “pants”

ei knackered in welsh

[Casper]

You have me looking at other things now scott
from the start wanted to do a wooden floor but opted for painting the plastic. I have been playing around with some strips of wood just for the rear flooring, what do you think. Its not finished, it will need sanding and weathering. Its too late to add a complete floor so it would be added over the top thinned down, well that's the idea. Hopefully the pattern remains after sanding, if not no harm done


dry fit

[Twokidsnosleep]

That's a bummer since you weren't planning on it but it'll look better in the long run.

Yes he was...

this thing has been on my bench (in a plastic tub) for a year and a half and looking over her now I wished I had done some things differently but as we all know knowledge comes with experience and its supposed to be fun right
still your fault though scott:lol:

Now I am not saying I did or I didn’t, but.....

[Casper]

casp

[Casper]

something else I wished I had done

[Casper]

[Twokidsnosleep]

I am not saying nothing, not a word. Nope
You do what you like.....



It would look really cool with brass wire lines

[Casper]

I am not saying nothing, not a word. Nope
You do what you like.....



It would look really cool with brass wire lines

[Casper]

bit more done on the wheel, Just the reverse side to do now (21 spokes)
not much room left


casp

[Twokidsnosleep]

Looking super clean
Great work

[Casper]

Looking super clean
Great work

thanks scott
last couple of spokes

now to try and get the two half's together and primed

casp

[digger303]

A Stirling result...Its not going to be out of place with the rest of the build and no one can argue with that. Huge amount of detailing.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Works of art my friend, works of art

[BigWall]

Extremely nice work! They're going to look great on the car.

[Casper]

thank you so much guys for your comments its much appreciated

Overall the first wheel came out ok, No major issues but lots of lessons learned and will make the next a little easier.
The wire sleeves on the thinner outer rim worked well but I think instead of cutting a notch for it to sit into I will drill a hole like the inner rim, it will hopefully help give a nice join for the two rims when finished. I tried poly glue to glue the rimes together an left it an hour and a half but it didn't take well because of the superglue so a quick scrape with a blade and used superglue and small clamps to hold together for an hour. Two small areas around the rim needed a small amount of filler then a coat of Tamiya primer (can) to see how they look.
I will give it a quick coat of matt or satin black tomorrow and fit the tyre. thanks for looking




bit of a clean up and Matt Black I think

casp

[Casper]

The first set of wheels (front) were attached by two BA nuts and bolts for each side and the rear wheel was pushed onto the metal axle rod.
I was hoping to remove the metal rod and replace with a threaded rod but its stuck solid


mark

[Casper]

four nuts to remove and the wheel should come away with the hub attached

[BigWall]

The wheel looks amazing!

[Casper]

The wheel looks amazing!

Thanks Joe

I managed to release the front left wheel but had a little damage to the hole the 1mm coach bolt went through that the wheel assembly pivots on, I think I have another axle part in the spares box but it may need some work because it came off the used kit



thankfully the drum came away from the wheel with no problems

[Casper]

The front left wheel came off ok after loosening the 1mm nuts but the drum is stuck solid I don't want to damage the wheel so will leave it attached for now, I have two spares that I may be able to use.

casp

[Casper]

Happy Easter to all
I made a start on the remaining four wheels. Rather than do a wheel at a time I'm going to do the four in small stages, I really don't fancy doing the same thing again and again and this way they will hopefully get done quicker and look the same, well that's the idea

so first the outer rim forward facing spokes are cut away roughly about a third of the wheel and the rim cleaned, 0.5mm pilot holes then drilled out with a 1mm drill ready to take a cut down sleeve. Then cut off the rest of the spokes and do the same to open up a 3rd of the wheel.
Next job is to clean up the hub, drill 0.5mm holes ready for spokes.


casp (mark)

[DRUMS01]

Hey Mark, those wheels are a labor of love and show it, very well; really good work on them!

Ben

[Casper]

Hey Mark, those wheels are a labor of love and show it, very well; really good work on them!

Ben

Thank you Ben Some Mark Knopfler and a good vintage Cider and the hours pass by with ease
a third of the outer spokes are in....I need something else to do wish I had an egg build

[BigWall]

Definitely a daunting task ahead but it'll look great!

[digger303]

Can see your in the groove and making easy work of it even though it will take some time.

[Casper]

Definitely a daunting task ahead but it'll look great!

[Casper]

Can see your in the groove and making easy work of it even though it will take some time.

Busy weekend so didn't get much done, I'm trying to keep it the same across the four wheels so it doesn't become so repetitive, I don't think I would finish them one at a time.
The car was sitting tilted on one side with no wheels so I knocked up a simple jig so I could work on her a little easier. I knocked off a side mirror and one of the headlamp grills moving it around the desk but its easy to glue back on. I also removed the steering wheel column so I can rework it, some super glue had dripped on the column and ruined the finish. It helps being out of the way so I can get to the engine and firewall.


casp

[digger303]

It's a very good jig, simple, intrusive and has a small footprint on the desk.

[Twokidsnosleep]

Absolutely love this build. You have absolutely transformed the kit
I was listening to Mark Knopfler on the weekend as well, definitely a favourite.
Let me find you a video I have never heard this song before...the bass line is killer

[Casper]

Ah "The Ragpicker's Dream" awesome album. The guy is a musical genius. I saw him with Dire straits in 1983 in Deeside ice rink. He did some tracks with Jimmy Nail, do you remember him
Give JJ Cale a listen mate

Looking at the car now after a long break there is so much I would have done differently but I have to be careful I don't end up with a pile of bits again I may have to cut the end off the spare front axle bar and pin and glue to the top of the broken one

[Casper]

Absolutely love this build. You have absolutely transformed the kit
I was listening to Mark Knopfler on the weekend as well, definitely a favourite.
Let me find you a video I have never heard this song before...the bass line is killer

headphones on and volume up high mate