2009 GB - WIP: Fujimi 1/20 248F1 Brazilian GP Massa

[vekkuli]

I think It's coming along nicely

[CBartholomew4677]

Rear wing is next. Then it'll be on hold for a bit until I manage to make detailed brakes for it and figure out
how to mate them with kit's uprights and wheels.

The Ferrari is looking great!! I can't see what you're saying about "test bed". You may try picking up a set of detailed brakes from Racing Miniatures, you can find them in the "For Sale" section here. I have some sets and they are very cool, I recommend them.
Cheers,
Chris

[lezdep]

Managed to realign some suspension parts and glue on rear wing. Alignment is far from perfect, but I don't
think I could do much better with lack of attention to it on earlier steps. I will eventually do my own detailed
brakes for 248F1 and F2007, just don't know when I will get the time to machine masters. Beside brakes and
uprights, only engine hoses, brake cylinders and wheels are left to do. Mirrors will be glued on last.

[PanAmNut]

Coming along nicely ......... looks great !

Cheers,

-elh-

[specialstages]

Reaallly nice Sergey! Can't wait to see it finished.

[lezdep]

Thanks. But don't hold your breath. No time to machine masters for brake detailing at the moment.

Reaallly nice Sergey! Can't wait to see it finished.

Hey, another member from GTA. Why don't you introduce yourself in our GTA sub forum.
Apparently there are many F1 modelers in GTA. I wonder why isn't this fact reflected
at modeling contests, like Group25' one.

[lezdep]

To answer question about my issues with alignment I will say following.
Most of my issues came from the fact that I modified the kit to convert
it to open version. Number of other alignment issues came from my lack
of attention to alignment during some assemblies. Here are the areas
I could identify for others to pay close attention to:

1. Separate exhaust outlets and rear crash structure.
I separated crash structure from exhaust outlets, because I believe it's easier
to build kit this way. However when I glued outlets back to rest of engine cover
it became a bit deformed and good fit to the main shell was lost.

2. Gearbox
Make sure it seats well on the floor.

3. Rear suspension arms
Pay close attention to alignment when they are glued on. Kind of a normal procedure
I guess. But I neglected it and had to correct later.

4. Rear wing elements and rear wing supports.
I've glued on rear crush structure and then tried to attach rear wing. That didn't
work well. It was hard to assemble all elements at the same time and my alignment
was a bit off. Also rear wing central supports were too long. I had to separate
crash structure, shorten central supports and assemble wing in stages. First, 2 top
wing plains and end plats were glued together. Then I worked on support's length, so
wing can seat well on them and be aligned with it's lower plane supports. Next I glued
wing to crash structure, while keeping it square and inserting central supports in the
process. Finally I glued crash structure with attached rear wing back to it's lower part
and walls of central channel of diffuser, keeping close eye on it's alignment to the floor
and main shell.

Sorry for such a long post. Hope it will be helpful to other builders of this kit.

[lezdep]

All these long months I've been working on brakes for this model. Machining masters, making and re-making molds 3 times,
machining new axles. There are more details to come, but here are pictures of current status. Idea is to make wheels removable.
I decided to use uprights and internal shafts from kit and machine my own axles, which could go over shafts and be removable.
I have not solved an issue of how to hold axles to shaft tightly. They fit a bit loose. Original brake rotors have rubber rings inside
which would hold them well on shafts. I don't have those and hoping to find some kind of gel to improve friction. Don't want to glue
axles shut. Alternatively I could just display model with wheels off.

On the image left assembly is mock up of rear brakes and uprights, right assembly is mock up of front brakes and uprights.
In the middle are components spread out. Rotors, hub faces and calipers are resin. Axles are machined from aluminum, upright
and internal shaft are plastic. High resolution images are in F248's album - http://picasaweb.google.com/lezdep/F248WIP#



I plan to insert small pieces of 0.3mm wire to simulate bolts holding rotors to hubs. Also need to paint simulated nuts at the top of
axles into proper colors for right and left as per real car.

[chaparral2k]

Nice!

[lezdep]

I finally got around to install the brakes. Plan to make axles/nuts simulation parts removable worked. And I can display car with wheels on or off.
There is big room for improvement in my resin casting. Machining parts would produce much nicer result, but way too labor intensive for me.







After I put wheels on I understood where complains about Fujimi tires come from. Looks like I will need 2 sets of Icon's modern slick tires
for 2 Fujimi kits and one set of wet inters for S27 MP4/25 China GP version. S27 didn't bother.



Below is picture illustrating approach I come up with to attach hats to rotors keeping proper alignment. Used 2 thin wires in a cross pattern.



There is still some work left for this kit. But end isn't too far now. Hopefully I will finish it by 2nd anniversary Being a long journey.