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Post by geezerman on Oct 26, 2013 10:29:00 GMT -6
Putting the rear together was a bit dicey, But the front went together really well. Here is the front geometry. Nice workable steering. I have got the plug wires on the engine, and added an oil pump (whether it's correct or not  )  |
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Post by geezerman on Oct 27, 2013 5:31:28 GMT -6
Regarding the spokes, The old fool was too clever for his own good this time. I only finished the one wheel for the rear so I could get the back done. I have 3 to finish painting and assemble. I had glossed over the instructions noting it was suggested to heat up the tires before assembling over the rims. Evidently, Minicraft was going old school by requiring use of a tire iron for this job. Wheels are not solid, but they are quite stiff. By weakening the spokes, I had broken a couple in my attempt to horse the tire over the flange on the rim. I'll have to take this into account for the remaining ones. Anyway, I have made some progress. The front end went together nicely. Mounting the engine was a bit tricky getting all of the mounting points in alignment. I think I ended up a tad off, but it looks good.  I hadn't even taken the body out of the bag up to this point, but i got it out with the floorboard to see how it would look.  Now, don't wet yourselves over this bit of news. Waiting for glue to dry, I painted on the license plate. Two of my initials and my birth date (July,1935) are on it !!!!  |
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Post by geezerman on Oct 27, 2013 11:15:09 GMT -6
Seems to be a lot of interest in this in my forums. I feel like I'm giving it a review as I go. Opening the body bag I discover noticeable heat sink from every bulkhead and brace on the underside. Giving them a thin coat of Bondo. Almost wishing I hadn't jumped into this scale.....I'm liking it !!!  |
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Post by bob29579 on Oct 27, 2013 12:20:10 GMT -6
It is a lot easier on the eyes, isn't it ? Coming along nicely.
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Post by geezerman on Oct 28, 2013 9:04:44 GMT -6
I have de-chromed the luggage rack on mine and will try to paint it like wood. Like, chromed with wood grain ? Another peeve of mine is letting the thickness of plastic show on fender edges and openings. Here, I have already thinned the forward one that's on the cowl sides.  |
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Post by geezerman on Oct 29, 2013 11:03:23 GMT -6
Got the remaining 3 wheels mounted with no trouble. I shaved the edges of the flange and it's circumference, and heated the tires in hot water, and they went on just fine. Mocked up here.   |
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Post by bob29579 on Oct 29, 2013 14:21:51 GMT -6
Looking good. Does it come with a spare wheel ? I thought I read you broke one of them....
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Post by geezerman on Oct 29, 2013 15:28:20 GMT -6
Yeah, Bob.
The spare is on the back. They include a gaudy chrome disc to cover it, but I'm going to try to eliminate that.
I broke a couple of spokes on the first wheel. but I fixed them. It's the wheel on the back that will mostly be covered by the shroud that's the rear portion of the body
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Post by geezerman on Nov 1, 2013 9:51:38 GMT -6
I added brake lines to the front wheels this morning. (hope the Morgan had hydraulics. Mine does, now.) I made a new spare tire and license holder bracket. I am eliminating the kit's gaudy chromed disc. I didn't do all that spoke work to be having it hid behind THAT !  |
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Post by bob29579 on Nov 1, 2013 11:25:23 GMT -6
Looks good. What are the line fittings to the wheel ? Aluminum tube maybe ?
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Post by geezerman on Nov 1, 2013 11:46:17 GMT -6
Looks good. What are the line fittings to the wheel ? Aluminum tube maybe ? The brake lines ? Small black wire with smaller ( really small) wire wound around next to the rim. |
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Post by geezerman on Nov 2, 2013 13:27:19 GMT -6
Running out of things to do while waiting to paint the body. Mounted the taillights on one of the SIL's used guitar strings, drilling out the ends, and turned down a piece of red sprue to make new lenses. Chromed blobs were the worst castings in the whole kit.  |
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Post by geezerman on Nov 4, 2013 8:06:49 GMT -6
I have replaced some rivets around the cockpit that got hurt during the body cleanup. Ready for the (hopefully) final color coat of color.  |
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Post by geezerman on Nov 5, 2013 11:24:45 GMT -6
It's almost there, folks. Assembling with the final details.
Brings up my occasional rant. Mold and die makers go to such extremes to make exquisite parts, but take no effort to locate sprue attachments where they will not disfigure the parts yet remain compatible with manufacturing procedures. You'd think some one in those model companys would recognize that !
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Post by geezerman on Nov 6, 2013 16:47:20 GMT -6
Mega close to finishing up. As long as I have been giving a running account of this assembly, I'll confess I did a little cheating today. I am so able to cheat with a clear conscience ' I missed the location of the front end somehow, and the rear lower fender mount didn't match up. The bottom bracket comes out as part of the frame casting and is flexible forward some, but not that much. I extended it with a piece of aluminum tubing. The front of the fender slips down in a hole on the upper A arm.  |
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