Dave's 1951 XK120 Jag Roadster - FINISHED - 1/24th scale

[SawdustDave]

COCKPIT PROGRESS....

 

The powder blue base coat has been applied to the body..... now allowing several days to cure out before next coats then finished sanding with 1000 grit then shooting with clear coat.
Meanwhile.... Spent the last couple of days creating the cockpit module.
This photo taken this morning with the first dry fitting of the roughly shaped steering wheel and the dash board I created with computer graphics.
Hope to have the door panels created today.

 

 

[SawdustDave]

CREATING THE ENGINE .....

Before I shoot it with a primer, here's a shot of the development of the engine....

With a high-temperature, high-strength aluminum allow cylinder head, hemispherical combustion chambers, inclined valves and twin side-draft SU carburetors, the duel overhead-cam 3.4 L straight-6 XK was highly advanced for a mass-produced unit of the time. Using 80 octane fuel a standard 8:1 compression ratio developed 160 bhp. 
First a photo of the real thing....

 

The alternator seen laying beside the engine is ready to mount.  
The five bladed fan was created from a piece of scrap aluminum.

 

[SawdustDave]

SU CARBS....

 

The twin side vent SU carbs were a real challenge.  Efforts to create them in wood didn't work out so well, so I turned to brass tubes and silver solder. 

Note, however, that the air filter is wood..

SECOND..... Exhaust manifold:

After a couple of failed attempts at carving the exhaust manifold, I have experimented with a piece of 2mm fuel line from an old line trimmer. 

So far the results look very promising, although the line I used was very old and brittle.

I have ordered a pack from Amazon.... 4 sizes.

Edited November 13, 2018 by SawdustDave

[lmagna]

Years ago in a 1/24th Chevy Chaparral semi scratch build I was able to take copper wire and made pretty good, (At least I thought they were) exhaust manifolds.

[SawdustDave]

Thanks for your input Lou.  Looks like the 2mm fuel line is a perfect scale, and very flexible, plus easy to join very small segments.  Can’t wait for the new line to arrive.

[SawdustDave]

Exhaust Manifold Progress....

Don't we love it when a solid plan comes together and actually works?

Shopping at Lowe's for 2mm fuel line, I came across some 2.4mm trimmer line.  BINGO!

Right size.... flexable.... responds to heat.... can be knife cut into precise segments.... joints can be glued with CA and seams "welded" with heat.
All I need is a jig.....

Jig was just too simple, and worked like a charm.

The rest was a simple matter of joining and blending.....

 

Pretty close to perfect....

 

Edited November 13, 2018 by SawdustDave
insert photo

[lmagna]

Definitely a win!

[mtaylor]

39 minutes ago, SawdustDave said:

Exhaust Manifold Progress....

Don't we love it when a solid plan comes together and actually works?

 

Channeling Hannibal of the A-Team are you?    Ok, I'll be serious now. That is neat work with non-traditional materials.  

[SawdustDave]

Thanks Lou.

Mark, you know me well my friend.  “Traditional” definitely not in my wheel house.

Dave

[usedtosail]

You are just traditionally outside the box. Really nice work on those manifolds.

[SawdustDave]

After mounting the painted manifold to the engine block it just didn't look right.... realized there was no joint plate for sealing the collector pipes to the headers.  I remember because I had to replace the gaskets on my own Jag years ago.
Easy fix.... I cut the lower pipes and mounted blocks to simulate the exhaust joint plates.  Good to go....

[SawdustDave]

Getting closer to installing the engine...... first we need a radiator - right?

Used a piece of the faux wood vinyl I love to use for very small detailed carvings to create this with a small cut out of window screen to simulate the texture.  Wish I had something smaller, but decided it will work since the area will hardly be visable once installed.

Turning now to creating a little battery and mounting box......

[SawdustDave]

Thinking ahead....
Tried to polish up a test spot of the Krylon Metallic Brilliant Silver spray paint.... very bad results.
A few small accessory parts will eventually be created which will need to have a chrome finish.... bumpers, tail lights, grill, windshield frames, to name a few.
Did not like what I read about some of the special chrome painting projects, but, if necessary,  was prepared to give it a go.
Then the thought.... 
The big cap used to cover the nozzle of the can has a beautiful chrome finish..... falsely representing what the paint will look like.
I decided that the parts will be so small, I believe I can create them by cutting up the can lid into shapes and applying a little heat as necessary.

Hmmmmm
If this fails, I have no choice but try Alclad, which I have never used, but may have to go there.
FORGET ALL THAT!
A modeling pro (close friend) just told me about "Molotow".... available at Hayes Hobby House.
I will have it before the day is over..... Oh Yea!

Edited November 15, 2018 by SawdustDave

[SawdustDave]

Engine Ready to Install....
Headers, carbs, battery, fan, alternator, etc all mounted..... ready to be fitted after I mount the radiator.
Dyno test results........ 4.2 hp

Edited November 15, 2018 by SawdustDave

[nikbud]

To get a chrome effect have you tried "Bare Metal Foil" ? I've used it on a few 1/24 scale cars and it works a teat. IIRC you can get it in bright or dull chrome and aluminium and copper.

[xken]

Great build and when you get to the interior, if you want real leather and detail hardware check out www.Modelmotorcars.com they even have .5mm and 1mm chromed acorn nuts and other goodies that you may be interested in.

Keep up the great work!

Ken

[xken]

Here are some reference photos of the 1962 XKE I restored. Let me know if you need any other details of the engine. Ken

 

 

 

 

 

[mtaylor]

Sweet restoration, Ken.   One can almost hear the growl of that engine.

[lmagna]

Those side draft carbs bring back some, (not so) fond memories!

 

With all the above suggestions I am probably wasting your time But years ago in my poorer days I think I did pretty well with contact glue and household tinfoil with the shiny side out. You need to be VERY careful not to wrinkle the foil and to rub it down with a soft cloth but when applied with that in mind it makes some pretty nice "Chrome". You can even make it look a little shinier by painting over it with Johnsons Acrylic floor wax. Almost makes it look wet shiny.

[SawdustDave]

Ken my friend....  I must tell you, although I will never come close to your amazing skills, I have come to look at everything I do with you in mind.  As you know, your Connie log is my primary "go to" resource for my own attempt to build her.
As for your Jag restoration..... mind blowingly awesome!
I will meet you half way for an opportunity to take her for a spin.  Let's say Austin.... next June.
Great to hear from you mate.
Thanks for sharing your Jag.

 

Dave

[SawdustDave]

CHROME.....
nikbud.... "To get a chrome effect have you tried "Bare Metal Foil" ? I've used it on a few 1/24 scale cars and it works a teat. IIRC you can get it in bright or dull chrome and aluminium and copper."

 

Yes I did give it a shot, as well as Ken's suggestion of kitchen aluminum foil.....

Here's a shot of the testing of the Molotow Liquid Chrome I purchased yesterday evening.... 
The foil seen in this comparison is the product you referred to.

You make the call.

[lmagna]

The focus is a little off for me, (Or it is entirely possible my eyes are giving out at last) Dave, but if light reflection is an indicator then the one on the left seems to be the better deal.

 

Here is another possibility:

https://shop.bestreviews.com/products/12x78chrome-mirror-silver-vinyl-wrap-sticker-decal-film-sheetself-adhesive?cid=1478216846&aid=56672288785&eid=&tid=pla-293946777986&ul=9033346&mt=&n=g&d=c&dm=&dt&sn&adid=282858957008&k=&p=&pc=&ap=1o3&gclid=CjwKCAiA8rnfBRB3EiwAhrhBGiD5WMn9ph-s9OE2w2_Vy0ARDKf7jhVd1qftC-_2MWZMUsyPx6cI6RoCHhUQAvD_BwE

 

It appears you can also pick this stuff up at your local hardware store but it seemed like it was more expensive. Either way it should be a lifetime supply!

Edited November 16, 2018 by lmagna

[nikbud]

If I am seeing the photo right then the molotow stuff seems much brighter. I remembered the chrome foil as being much shinier than in your photo, have you got the brushed version or the bright version? I'll see if I can dig out an old model I used it on. I think I used it on a pink cadillac…..

[SawdustDave]

Thanks Lou....

Sorry bout the camera focus.  I was mainly trying to get the light reflection to show up.... which it did.

Looks like we have a winner at this point.

The decal sheet you suggested looks great and I’ll keep an eye out for it.

Nikbud.... my camera angle didn’t catch the foil’s shine very well, but, by comparison, it wasn’t even close.  Keep in mind, this was a simple test on a scrap that had been painted silver.  

The liquid chrome will look even deeper when applied over gloss black enamel paint.

 

You guys are great.

 

Dave

 

 

Edited November 16, 2018 by SawdustDave

[nikbud]

Hi Dave

Just read up about the Molotow chrome, it looks great, are you going to use the markers or airbrushing it?

[SawdustDave]

Marker will work great for me since the parts are so small.

[SawdustDave]

Progress.... Several things going on right now.  

First this shot of the engine installed....

Note the spark plug wires running to the distributor .....

Next, developing the front end for mounting the wheels. 
Since we're not building a pine wood derby car here,  I'm using brass tubing to create a mounting that will allow the front wheels to be turned by turning the steering wheel.

I'm sure I will not be able to create a Rack and Pinion steering system, but I have a fair idea how to emulate the mechanism.
Worth a try..... 

[SawdustDave]

Since the body paint was applied only three days ago, I can't handle it for another four days before I begin to polish it out with 1,000 grit and begin shooting it with clear coat spray.
So I began creating the many accessories .... bumpers, mirrors, turn signals, tail lights, etc)
The Molotow pin is amazing!

[SawdustDave]

The winged knock off hubs......

So tiny, just holding them while carving was kinda testy.... band aid on my finger as evidence.

Edited November 23, 2018 by SawdustDave

[mtaylor]

Looking at the pictures of the last couple days, it's really hard to remember this started as a solid block of wood.   Impressive.