Airfix Four Stroke Engine

Post by **DikDolan** » Sun Jan 14, 2018 5:01 pm

Ayup folks.

After over a year of not feeling up to it, I've finally got up the nerve to start a new kit. Not much to show yet, but plastic is being mangled and glued n stuff

Airfix engine box by dik_dolan, on Flickr

A couple of work in progress pics.

This shows how out of alignment the mounting peg for the crank halves was. Required a judicious amount of filing and the tiniest smidgeon of brute force to get 'em straight.

Airfix engine p1 by dik_dolan, on Flickr

Here the crankshaft is assembled and painted in Alclad steel, the cases are just being test fitted- lots of seam lines to sort out before they get primer and glue.

Airfix engine p2 by dik_dolan, on Flickr

Bit more progress.

I forgot to mention that I'm using Ultimate/badger stynylrez primers, mostly used white so far.

Sprayed the inside of the bore in Alclad steel, and the outside of the barrel and fins in Vallejo Aluminium. The insides of the crankcases have just had a waft of Tamiya Yellow. Excuse the crappy pic and bits still covered in masking tape and blobs of blutack .... it's all still wet.

Airfix engine p3 by dik_dolan, on Flickr

I'm still undecided what colour to paint the outside of the crankcases and base. I'll probably just do 'em in some shade of green, and mark out the cut-out sections in red. We'll see. The base has a cut out section where an electric motor used to be fitted in the early versions of this kit. The motor is no longer supplied, so I'll have to block that off I think, but that's a long way down the list yet.

After not doing any modelling for over a year, I'm finding it very tricky. I'm all thumbs and lost any fine touch I might've had (hah I wish) with the airbrush. Ah well at least this is a cheapo crappy kit to get my mojo back with, so it doesn't matter that I'm making a dogs dinner of it so far. Onwards!

Post by **DrSprue** » Sun Jan 14, 2018 6:26 pm

Cool, love the Alclad steel look. Almost looks like metal. To me Dik, a dark green on the base would look great.

Post by **DikDolan** » Sun Jan 14, 2018 6:42 pm

Yeah love the alclads. The colour call out sheet says to use Humbrol Brunswick Green enamel, but I'll be using either a Tamiya or Vallejo paint. I'll have to sort thru my little stash of paints to see which is suitable. I have a few oil paints, so I could always give it a oil wash afterwards too. Lots of options, and no rush to decide yet.
I'm bad at making decisions. I'll put it off as long as I can=)

Post by **DrSprue** » Sun Jan 14, 2018 6:57 pm

DikDolan wrote: Sun Jan 14, 2018 6:42 pm Yeah love the alclads. The colour call out sheet says to use Humbrol Brunswick Green enamel, but I'll be using either a Tamiya or Vallejo paint. I'll have to sort thru my little stash of paints to see which is suitable. I have a few oil paints, so I could always give it a oil wash afterwards too. Lots of options, and no rush to decide yet.
I'm bad at making decisions. I'll put it off as long as I can=)

Your bad with decisions!! Man I think I take the cake with that one Dik.

I have not used Alcad yet but I see a few ISM guys that do and wow it comes out great like yours. I would like to put it on my naboo craft for that metal like look still but have not bought it yet. Need to do that soon.
Looks like a green Tamiya XF61, 67 or even 70 would look nice on that base. Of course the base probably would look a bit better with a semi-gloss look ... (haha see I cant make up my opinion as well lol)

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Sun Jan 14, 2018 7:04 pm

This is cool
I wonder how many high school kids have clue how an engine works

Post by **DrSprue** » Sun Jan 14, 2018 7:08 pm

Twokidsnosleep wrote: Sun Jan 14, 2018 7:04 pm This is cool
I wonder how many high school kids have clue how an engine works

I think thats why I loved that visible engine I made a while ago and why I like this one. What freaks me out is that when Dik gave me the link for the Airfix 4Stroke, I found out that Airfix also makes a jet engine one as well! Man they all seem like so much fun.

Post by **DikDolan** » Sun Jan 14, 2018 7:16 pm

I do have a jar of xf81 I think, but no idea what that would look like. Also got xf71. I could add a drop of black to darken them maybe. We'll see.

I remember making this kit as a young sprog and having to get my dad to fix it because I'd got the cam timing wrong. I had no clue... A few years later I got a job as an apprentice car mechanic. This kit probably played a part in that decision....well that and the fact my dad used to be a car technician.

Post by **DrSprue** » Sun Jan 14, 2018 7:22 pm

Well Dik like we all say on this site.. Make it for you! Its your choice of the base and engine and it will look great! Yanoo XF-81 looks perfect to me or anyone.

(Hmm cool my Dad owned a gas station here in the states.. so yea, lol...thats why its cool!)

Post by **DikDolan** » Sun Jan 14, 2018 7:28 pm

Heh thx Dr S. Yeah mate, it's not as if it's even a "real" model, and if I wanted it bright pink with gold spots, who's to say that's not right!=)

But yup it will be a green shade of some kind I think....

Post by **DikDolan** » Tue Jan 16, 2018 5:37 pm

Searching through my paint stash, I found some Tamiya X5 that I'd forgotten I had. I just tried a quick test on some card and it looked good to me, so here's a pic of the crankcases with a couple of coats of X5.

Airfix engine p4 colour test by dik_dolan, on Flickr

They need a couple more coats to get a more even colour, but so far I like it.
I'll wait for daylight before I decide if it's "right", my eyesight isn't what it used to be, and I'm a bit colour blind, so the more light the better...and waiting means I can put off making decisions which is always good=)

Post by **DrSprue** » Tue Jan 16, 2018 6:39 pm

Oh wow, that color looks great Dik. Yea I know what you mean about eyesight issues tho, but yea, it seems like a perfect choice!

Post by **Davethepitch** » Tue Jan 16, 2018 9:05 pm

I fancy this kit but I am not sure i want the hasle of alignment

Post by **DikDolan** » Tue Jan 16, 2018 9:46 pm

Dave, if you meant the crankshaft alignment, that's not too difficult mate.

Airfix engine crank pins by dik_dolan, on Flickr

All I did was file down the peaks on the square shaft so it had a bit more freedom to rotate, then when the TET softens the plastic, I gently twisted the 2 halves until they looked straight. They don't need to be perfect. The rounded section of the shaft is long enough to give the joint strength without relying on the square section being a tight fit.

The valve timing is easy. The timing gears have dots that you align, job jobbed. That's the part I messed up all those years ago=)

Post by **exmoor** » Tue Jan 16, 2018 10:03 pm

Looking great dik i see you havent lost your touch keep them comeing
love your work

Post by **DikDolan** » Tue Jan 16, 2018 10:08 pm

Thanks mate, but you wouldn't say that if you saw the state of my painting close up! My fingers have forgotten how to press then pull on the airbrush, or how to get nice even thin coats. Luckily this kit suits the more "industrial" quality finish=) It's a good kit to re-learn how to model I think.

Post by **exmoor** » Tue Jan 16, 2018 10:53 pm

Ha we all got them fingars its me flipping eyesigth i cant keep up with got about seven pairs one for each day of the week cause they alter so much the fun of older age

Post by **DikDolan** » Tue Jan 16, 2018 11:14 pm

I use the old "trombone" focus method=)

Post by **DikDolan** » Wed Jan 17, 2018 6:02 pm

Quick stupid question:
I've just given the cases and barrel a coat of Alclad Klear Kote Matte -my first time using it. It's gone on ok I think, but I'm having second (and third) thoughts. I know it's too early to tell, it's not even dry yet, but if I change my mind and want a glossier finish do I
A: sand it off then gloss? or
B: just give it a coat of aqua gloss over the matte?

This is my anxiety and indecision kicking in. I know I should C: wait and see if I like the new matte finish, but I like having an escape from my possible mistakes!

Edit to add pic

Airfix engine p5 matte by dik_dolan, on Flickr

Post by **DikDolan** » Thu Jan 18, 2018 4:51 pm

I got some good advice from Ross on another forum, to test paint a piece of scrap to check for paint reactions.
After glossing the test card and not seeing any obvious reactions this morning, I gave the cases a good waft of aqua gloss. The finish is now more of a satin shine. The paint looks thick and lumpy, like it's an old display model that's been painted over many times, which it has I guess=) It also has lumps and runs, like it has had a rough life.....also true!

Airfix engine p6 matte then gloss by dik_dolan, on Flickr

Post by **DrSprue** » Thu Jan 18, 2018 6:45 pm

Oh cool, it looks like a small engine block as well!

Post by **DikDolan** » Thu Jan 18, 2018 11:53 pm

I'm not happy with it.
Spent the last hour removing the paints with IPA and a small brush. I'll finish cleaning em off tomorrow then start again.

Practice makes.... well if not perfect, maybe less crappy=)

Post by **DrSprue** » Fri Jan 19, 2018 2:35 pm

Oh I hear you Dik, Ive got a few models here I wish I could do that too!

Post by **DikDolan** » Fri Jan 19, 2018 3:19 pm

Aye mate, I think we all have=)

At least with this one I decided early enough, before I'd glued the cases and barrel on etc, so it wasn't a big deal to remove my mistakes.
This is a re-learning experience for me, so it's all good. Trouble is, I now keep looking at the Vallejo aluminium paint on the fins and thinking it doesn't look right either.... I might try giving that an oil paint wash before I'm too committed, see if that helps it.

Post by **DikDolan** » Wed Jan 24, 2018 4:34 pm

Slowly making progress.

Got the crankcases pretty much ready (again), the base has had some paint (needs lots of runs sanding off) and the cylinder has had a black oil paint wash to mucky it up a bit.

Airfix engine p7 by dik_dolan, on Flickr

I've yet to decide if the barrel needs a coat of varnish to seal it all, and if so, matte or gloss? Initial thoughts are "matte", but I'd welcome any advise. I'd hate to make the same mistake I did with the crankcases.

Post by **DrSprue** » Wed Jan 24, 2018 5:14 pm

Yea its looking really nice Dik. That cylinder engine piece looks so real with the weathering! Yup a matte finish seems like a great call to me. Also as far as the barrel, we have to think of what that looks like with engine oil all over it as well.

I google this and looked at the images.."Four Stroke Engine Barrel" and man, take your pick of what it looks like! lol!

Post by **DikDolan** » Fri Jan 26, 2018 4:33 pm

Quick progress report.

Crankcase halves now glued, work started on the carb and cam/crank gears, and the case cover.

Airfix engine p8 by dik_dolan, on Flickr

Post by **DrSprue** » Fri Jan 26, 2018 5:13 pm

Oh cool! Love the red display edges! Those colors look great!

Post by **DikDolan** » Wed Jan 31, 2018 3:24 pm

Got the cylinder barrel nailed down onto the cases now, and the timing gears in place- note to my 12 year old self- Line up the dots, just like dad said!.

Airfix engine p11 by dik_dolan, on Flickr

The top of the piston has had some weathering. Mostly used Tamiya oil stain weathering powder, with a splosh of Ultimate dark dirt wash, and a few drops of Alclad weathering pigment fixer to stick it all down.

Airfix engine p10 by dik_dolan, on Flickr

Work on the cylinder head and valve gear is in progress. Here's where I'm at so far.

Airfix engine p9 by dik_dolan, on Flickr

It still need weathering and some detail touch up work.

YouTube · Post by **Kingdan** » Wed Jan 31, 2018 3:43 pm

Coming on a treat dik im liking the look of it

Dan

Post by **DrSprue** » Wed Jan 31, 2018 3:49 pm

Ohh my!! That is just awesome Dik! (man..I think it could possibly start with a bit of gasoline fuel.. ) haha!!!

Post by **DikDolan** » Wed Jan 31, 2018 3:57 pm

Cheers guys=)

Tony, you don't know how close I came to setting fire to it over the weekend... I had a small accident with something spilling on the timing cover and nearly melting it. I think it was either Tet or cellulose thinners. the paint started to bubble up so I put it under a tap of cold water and gently tried to rinse it off. The paint did slowly come off, but so did some of the plastic underneath. It's now tissue thin in places and really soft.

I'll take a pic in a minute to show the now very weathered look I had to give it to cover up the damage.... arghhhh. I wanted that bit clean and shiny too. Not any more.

Edit to add the pic.

Airfix engine p13 by dik_dolan, on Flickr
It's still usable, just not how I intended it

Post by **DrSprue** » Thu Feb 01, 2018 3:58 pm

Wow that was crazy (yup had an issue last year with my unfinished Naboo kit and spilled TET all over it...) man I know that feeling all too well too. But really Dik, I know its not what you had planned, but dude... that looks like a stamped piece of metal like from an aluminum mass produced stamping machine or something!! haha!!

Post by **exmoor** » Thu Feb 01, 2018 6:34 pm

thats looking great dik nice to see you back

Post by **DikDolan** » Thu Feb 01, 2018 7:07 pm

Cheers guys=)

Post by **DikDolan** » Fri Feb 02, 2018 8:42 pm

Sparky bits.

Airfix engine p14 by dik_dolan, on Flickr

Post by **DrSprue** » Fri Feb 02, 2018 8:55 pm

Cool! I gotta get that kit. It does look like fun.

Post by **DikDolan** » Fri Feb 02, 2018 9:00 pm

Yeah man, it's a great easy build, mostly=) Get it!

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Fri Feb 02, 2018 9:20 pm

Absolutely looks the business..great paint and weathering work

Post by **DikDolan** » Fri Feb 02, 2018 9:26 pm

Cheers=)
I must admit that lots of the weathering effect is just accidental. I suck at hairy stick painting, so a lot of it is uneven. Often it's just luck that it happens to look ok after I've waved me brush at it, but I'll take it=)

Post by **DrSprue** » Fri Feb 02, 2018 9:41 pm

DikDolan wrote: Fri Feb 02, 2018 9:26 pm Cheers=)
I must admit that lots of the weathering effect is just accidental. I suck at hairy stick painting, so a lot of it is uneven. Often it's just luck that it happens to look ok after I've waved me brush at it, but I'll take it=)

That does look like a coil tho Dik.. great weathering there bud. Cool sparkplug too. Well done for the hairy stick. Yea I know what you mean. Im trying to paint a little 1/72 figure here and its like, get out the magnifier and dont breathe!

Post by **DikDolan** » Fri Feb 02, 2018 9:57 pm

Thanks=) Good luck with the little guy!

Post by **DikDolan** » Tue Feb 06, 2018 6:28 pm

Not far off finishing this I think now. Waiting for some paint to fully harden before I can mask off a bit, and gloss coat a couple of bits, then the final assembly should only take a few hours. Got most of the engine itself now glued up- hence the elastic bands keeping the head down while it sets.

Airfix engine p16 by dik_dolan, on Flickr

Here's the view from a bit further out, showing a few of the bits I'm watching dry=)

Airfix engine p15 by dik_dolan, on Flickr

Post by **DrSprue** » Tue Feb 06, 2018 7:59 pm

Wow Dik. That would have been an awesome display when I was back in High school! In 5 minutes you could guess how an engine works. Great job.

Post by **DikDolan** » Thu Feb 08, 2018 5:45 pm

I think it's done.

Airfix engine p24 by dik_dolan, on Flickr

Airfix engine p25 by dik_dolan, on Flickr

Airfix engine p26 by dik_dolan, on Flickr

Airfix engine p27 by dik_dolan, on Flickr

Airfix engine p28 by dik_dolan, on Flickr

It's been a fun build (mostly!) and I think a perfect kit for my return (again) to kit mangling. Hard enough to stretch me a little, but nothing too fiddly to put me off and make me want to quit! No idea what the next project will be yet, but there will be a next project. I've enjoyed this, and I think it's helped me mentally, kept the dark fatherless person in the hole for a while.

Hope the photos are ok, I used offboard flash for the first time. Took me ages to work out how to even get it to work!=)

Thank you for the help and encouragement along the way!

Any questions or criticisms welcome.

Post by **Twokidsnosleep** » Thu Feb 08, 2018 6:27 pm

You have done a fantastic job...with everything!!!
Does the darn thing actually fire up??? Looks like it could run

I applaud the entire build

Post by **DrSprue** » Thu Feb 08, 2018 6:37 pm

I am truly blown away! Wow, just awesome Dik... just really awesome!

Post by **DikDolan** » Thu Feb 08, 2018 7:28 pm

Cheers guys=)

Post by **OneSmallStep1966** » Tue Apr 17, 2018 5:50 pm

What you’ve achieved here is fantastic, it looks absolutely brilliant

Post by **Kevthemodeller** » Wed Apr 18, 2018 6:45 am

Great build mate looks just like a real cut away engine

Do you know if it's actually a copy of an engine or just a mock up. With those side gears for the camshaft it looking a bit like a 1930s Jap engine.

Post by **DikDolan** » Wed Apr 18, 2018 10:32 am

Cheers guys=)

Kev, I'm pretty sure it's just a "generic 4 stroke engine" not really based on anything in particular, there's no mention of any particular manufacturer.