Lancia D50 Grand Prix 1954 Test Car by CDW - Model Factory Hiro - 1:43 Scale

[Egilman]

Jewelers micro file set...

 

https://www.amazon.com/Micro-Mark-81845-12-piece-Micro-File/dp/B0058EDUM8/ref=asc_df_B0058EDUM8?mcid=71d1bde401673526aea980d2055a9046&hvocijid=16478961440123805471-B0058EDUM8-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16478961440123805471&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9033430&hvtargid=pla-2281435178298&psc=1

 

It's a start, but do your research, there are many mfgr's labeling their needle files as micro files... make sure of what your getting..

Edited January 17 by Egilman

[CDW]

2 hours ago, Egilman said:

Jewelers micro file set...

 

https://www.amazon.com/Micro-Mark-81845-12-piece-Micro-File/dp/B0058EDUM8/ref=asc_df_B0058EDUM8?mcid=71d1bde401673526aea980d2055a9046&hvocijid=16478961440123805471-B0058EDUM8-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16478961440123805471&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9033430&hvtargid=pla-2281435178298&psc=1

 

It's a start, but do your research, there are many mfgr's labeling their needle files as micro files... make sure of what your getting..

These look like they may have potential as well. Slightly different, thy look smaller which would be a good thing.

 

10-piece Riffler File Set – Micro-Mark

[Canute]

Make sure you have a file card. The softish metal can clog the teeth of these tiny files pretty quickly.

[druxey]

Watchmakers' escapement files are another possibility.

[CDW]

35 minutes ago, druxey said:

Watchmakers' escapement files are another possibility.

Thanks for that suggestion. I will definitely look for those. 

[CDW]

22 hours ago, Egilman said:

Jewelers micro file set...

 

https://www.amazon.com/Micro-Mark-81845-12-piece-Micro-File/dp/B0058EDUM8/ref=asc_df_B0058EDUM8?mcid=71d1bde401673526aea980d2055a9046&hvocijid=16478961440123805471-B0058EDUM8-&hvexpln=73&tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=721245378154&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16478961440123805471&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9033430&hvtargid=pla-2281435178298&psc=1

 

It's a start, but do your research, there are many mfgr's labeling their needle files as micro files... make sure of what your getting..

I am seeing exactly what you said in the last sentence. One of the pitfalls of shopping online, you don't really see it until you get it. 

[Egilman]

5 hours ago, CDW said:

I am seeing exactly what you said in the last sentence. One of the pitfalls of shopping online, you don't really see it until you get it. 

Yep there is so much stealing of others customers that it is getting very hard to find some items online, like microfiles... And certain other tools of the trade...

 

I still get my Micro-Mark catalogue in the mail, but seldom buy from them anymore, just about everything they have on specialty tools is sourced from somewhere else, low quality and almost twice as expensive as the original manufacturer... to me IMHO, they have become the Harbor Freight of online tool buying... Be very careful of what you order from them...

[CDW]

How does one determine whether a particular MFH kit is never going to be rereleased again? It has been said that one rerelease is all they do, but I see no way to know whether it will be released again or if it’s over. There are several MFH kits I want but the resale price on an out of production kit can often be twice the amount it would sell for new from MFH. If it was the last of the last, I could understand but on the other hand if it’s going to be rereleased I could wait.

[CDW]

Found these carbon fiber sanding sticks on Amazon. Much smaller than metal files, they may be just what I need for taking care of the mold lines of the white metal parts from the tiny 1:43 MFH kits. Along with the sanding sticks, they offer self-adhesive sandpaper in various grit from extra fine to coarse. The sandpaper is scheduled to arrive today.

Edited Sunday at 03:54 PM by CDW

[CDW]

 

The cylinder heads to timing chain/cam drive cover is a custom fit. As it’s cast, the cam covers would not fit without resurfacing the cover to cylinder heads first. The cam covers on the right sits on a resurfaced cylinder heads first. The left side must be resurfaced before installing the left cam covers. This seems to be typical of the kinds of fit issues one may find with a MFH kit.

 

 

Edited Sunday at 05:20 PM by CDW

[davec]

I just wanted to second Druxey's escapement file recommendation.  I bought a set on ebay for my model ships and they are one of my favorite and most frequently used tools.  I use them on my plastic models all the time - they can get into places that sanding sticks and regular jeweler's files can't reach.

[CDW]

15 minutes ago, davec said:

I just wanted to second Druxey's escapement file recommendation.  I bought a set on ebay for my model ships and they are one of my favorite and most frequently used tools.  I use them on my plastic models all the time - they can get into places that sanding sticks and regular jeweler's files can't reach.

Thanks! I’m going to check eBay. 

[Egilman]

1 hour ago, CDW said:

Thanks! I’m going to check eBay. 

Search the internet first your looking for names like 

Glardon-Vallorbe...

Corradi...

Esslinger

Grobet...

 

Ebay isn't the place to look brother...

The real deal.... (but pricey, but then you know as we all do, you get what you pay for)

 

EG

[davec]

Quality does sometimes come up on ebay.  I watched for a while before the Grobet set I wanted came up for auction. It wasn't cheap, but it was a lot less than buying new.

[Landlubber Mike]

On 1/10/2025 at 9:39 AM, CDW said:

Arriving at my house today 🙂

Known as "the Rolls Royce of motorcycles", this bike from 1926 set speed records of over 130mph. Lawrence of Arabia was killed in an accident while riding his Brough Superior SS100, according to an article in Wikipedia.

 

Just catching up with your log now Craig.  Funny, I was just messaging with Rob earlier about lusting after this kit.  I'm trying to stay strong with my New Year's resolution to not buy new kits, but this one looks awfully tempting.  

[Landlubber Mike]

4 hours ago, CDW said:

Found these carbon fiber sanding sticks on Amazon. Much smaller than metal files, they may be just what I need for taking care of the mold lines of the white metal parts from the tiny 1:43 MFH kits. Along with the sanding sticks, they offer self-adhesive sandpaper in various grit from extra fine to coarse. The sandpaper is scheduled to arrive today.

And wow, nice stash of MFH kits!!  I bought the 1/12 Corvette C.1 as well.  Hard to find a nicer looking car in my opinion.  I also have the Tyrrell P34 kit - got that one for under retail off a FB group.

[Egilman]

2 hours ago, Landlubber Mike said:

And wow, nice stash of MFH kits!!  I bought the 1/12 Corvette C.1 as well.  Hard to find a nicer looking car in my opinion.  I also have the Tyrrell P34 kit - got that one for under retail off a FB group.

Me, I'm lusting after the Ferrari 330p4 or 412p both were upgraded 330p3's the only difference was the 330p4 had a fuel injected engine rather than carbs and the 412p was the North American Team version, otherwise identical...

[DocRob]

On 1/19/2025 at 3:50 PM, CDW said:

Found these carbon fiber sanding sticks on Amazon. Much smaller than metal files, they may be just what I need for taking care of the mold lines of the white metal parts from the tiny 1:43 MFH kits

I like scraping away the molding lines with a sharp blade with MFH kits. Works often better than files do.

Cheers Rob

[CDW]

Here is the Lancia V-8 engine all assembled, before paint. It’s glued together with CA. I don’t trust my soldering skills with something this small and fragile. Don’t want to melt or otherwise destroy the delicate white metal parts.

Next I will be priming with etching primer but will wait until I have more parts ready for primer and get most of it done all at once. I am going to choose my least desirable airbrush for the etching primer. I have a feeling it will be hard on the chrome plating inside the paint cup.

 

 

 

 

Edited Tuesday at 08:19 PM by CDW
Cropped photos for a less cluttered view

[DocRob]

Good idea with the magnetic holder for the tiny engine. I have one as well, and will use it for my 1/43 Williams, when time comes.

Cheers Rob

[CDW]

I didn’t look closely enough on my first examination of my kit contents. It seems what I thought were the correct parts for my chassis construction were not correct and now I am certain three parts are missing. It will now be necessary to once again call upon MFH customer service to assist. I should have caught this problem on first look and not be calling on them again. My kit has parts included that are not part of the kit but are similar to the missing parts. Someone at the factory must have had a bad day when my kit was boxed up. I have learned a lesson in the level of care needed to correctly inventory the kit contents before starting a build.