Zenrat's Flying Circus

[PR19_Kit]

Yes indeed, but the Imp engine was derived from a Coventry-Climax racing engine, and I don't think 'maintenance' was included in their dictionary. 

[jcf]

Yes indeed, but the Imp engine was derived from a Coventry-Climax racing engine, and I don't think 'maintenance' was included in their dictionary. 

At least they moved away from the grinding bit. 

[PR19_Kit]

Yes indeed, but the Imp engine was derived from a Coventry-Climax racing engine, and I don't think 'maintenance' was included in their dictionary. 

At least they moved away from the grinding bit. 

Good thing too. At one stage, when I had two road cars and the drag racing Imp, I had a tray with maybe 120-140 different sized shims, all in different compartments! 

[zenrat]

When I do the valve clearances on my DOHC Triumph triple I just find out what I need and then go to the bike shop and buy them.
It was much easier on my old Triumph pushrod single.  The rocker arms were on eccentric shafts so I just loosened a locknut and then rotated the shaft until the clearance was correct.  I didn't even have to remove the vale inspection caps as they had usually vibrated loose by themselves and vanished somewhere down the road.

Anyhoo, I got the wheels on the Bug.
Cannonball Bug WIP 28-11-2018 01 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
I used a lego jig when scratch building the suspension.  Worked a treat and I had all four wheels on the ground.
I then, to show what a big car this is, dropped in a 427ci Ford Cammer engine I had sitting the bench.  This is not a small engine but it's dwarfed by the Bugatti.
Cannonball Bug WIP 28-11-2018 02 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
Because everything on this is bigger it looks like a normal sized car in 1/20 scale.  I want to show just how massive it is so i've dug out a 1/24 figure to stand next to it.  He's in primer ATM.
The wheels and tyres are from this...

...but i'm claiming them to be super single truck wheels and tyres.  They were the only ones I had which were large enough (normal sized 1/25 wheels looked ridiculously small)  apart from the kit ones which were too narrow and some "donk" wheels which are ridiculous.

[PR19_Kit]

Jeepers! 

You could get two Cammers in there, maybe even three!!!

[zenrat]

The V24 Super-Cammer!

[NARSES2]

I have absolutely no idea what any of you are talking about 

Nice looking car model though 

[PR19_Kit]

I have absolutely no idea what any of you are talking about 

We car guys have a language all our own. 

[NARSES2]

I have absolutely no idea what any of you are talking about 

We car guys have a language all our own. 

True.

You talking of Imps reminded me of a mate who had one when they'd just come out (may have been a mate's older brother ?). He was pulled over by a copper who demanded to see what was in the "boot". Mate went to open the "bonnet" when said copper uttered "you taking the piss" and walked round the back. Mate opened the boot and the copper was suitably enough embarrased to see the engine that he told them to "move along and stop wasting his time" 

[PR19_Kit]

You talking of Imps reminded me of a mate who had one when they'd just come out (may have been a mate's older brother ?). He was pulled over by a copper who demanded to see what was in the "boot". Mate went to open the "bonnet" when said copper uttered "you taking the piss" and walked round the back. Mate opened the boot and the copper was suitably enough embarrased to see the engine that he told them to "move along and stop wasting his time" 

Hehehe, love it! 

The second year we ran the drag race Imp we were thrashed by the Mini guys who we'd thrashed the previous year, who'd all switched to Imps. One of them had his previous year's Mini drive train grafted into the FRONT of his Imp, as well as the Imp engine in the back!! 

[zenrat]

Didn't start work until 12 today so I got some bench time in before I left (nothing tonight - we stay open until six now until xmas).
All on the Bug.  I built drive shafts (I have a bag of 1/25 resin universal joints from www.thepartsbox.com - excellent for this purpose), radiator, coolant hose and PE seat belts.  And I painted drive shafts (super glue - gotta love it) and extractors.
Deadline for the build off is local midnight Sat/Sun.  I am now feeling more optimistic about meeting that deadline although it is possible I could still f**k something up.
For once i've made a list of jobs to do to complete it which should ensure I don't forget something important.
The figure I dug out has some cracks or splits which i've had to fill.  I think they are caused by the plastic shrinking as it cools.  The figure is moulded in one piece and so is rather larger than is usually seen for a single injection moulded item.

[PR19_Kit]

Wowee, there's some lovely stuff in that Parts Box shop! I could spend a few hours going through there, and probably will! 

Why can't we have a place like that in the UK?

[zenrat]

It's a great place and it's run by a really nice couple to boot.  Their stash of car kits has to be seen to be believed.

[zenrat]

So, the Bug is done...
Bugatti Royale 021 by Fred Maillardet, on Flickr
...enough to photograph for the Model Car Magazine forum.  I still need to tidy some stuff up but that can be done in its own sweet time now - I made the deadline.
Tomorrow I tidy my bench.  It's covered with a detritus of styrene offcuts and shavings, bits of wire and paperclip and all the other stuff that results from heavy duty scratchbuilding.
And then I can get on with other stuff.  The Geebeeski is waiting for paint (on order) but I can get on with the Drag Taxi and the Kraz and the Sea Witch and Miss Begotten and some of the other builds i've started and put aside.
Or, I could start a new one...

[jcf]