Lola T-70 MkIII [FINISHED!]

Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Friday, April 29, 2022 4:22 PM

Thanks Lurch. I'd be afraid of losing any keys I might make for it.

This inset sets the angles for the mirror panels. It's made up of six pieces.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Friday, April 29, 2022 9:46 PM

I made the mounting brackets from aluminum. I've found in real life these things work best when they are firmly mounted to a rigid part of the car. They should be mounted as high and forward as possible, but not too close to the (semi-flexible Lexan in this case) windshield. As great as these are for rear and side views they do clip a bit of the top off what can be seen out the front. (You get used to it… Like having sun visors permanently down.) I cut deep grooves into the roll bar for strength, and a welded-in look.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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JohnnyK

Member since
March 2015
From: Close to Chicago

Posted by JohnnyK on Saturday, April 30, 2022 4:06 PM

You must have the patience of an angel.

Your comments and questions are always welcome.

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Sunday, May 1, 2022 12:52 PM

I don't think have a lot of patience. But I don't give up either. Sometimes that means walk away and come back later too.

Originally I made the mirror faces for the fender units out of chrome Mylar, but being as large as they are, I later thought they needed more depth...

So I made new ones from stainless steel while I was making the Wink panels. (Mylar is literally 1000 times easier to work with.) But the results are an improvement. Sometimes the reflection is hard for the camera to capture too.

The mirror housings are painted the same color as the body will be.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Sunday, May 1, 2022 4:46 PM

At least with stainless and aluminum tight tolerances can be held. The mirrors hold all these parts together by friction.

I added the pebble texture. And a decal I made too…

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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JohnnyK

Member since
March 2015
From: Close to Chicago

Posted by JohnnyK on Sunday, May 1, 2022 4:52 PM

All that I can say is that you have amazing modeling skills.

Your comments and questions are always welcome.

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Tuesday, May 3, 2022 7:47 PM

Thanks Johnny!

I machined these knobs to mount the Wink mirror to the brackets.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Greg

Member since
May 2013
From: Indiana, USA

Posted by Greg on Wednesday, May 4, 2022 9:23 AM

You provide one amazement after another. For me, today's happens to be the stainless steel mirrors. (and that's not meant to underplay or ignore all of your other great work)

Zowie, those are neat!

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Thursday, May 5, 2022 5:07 PM

FWIW, today is the three year anniversary of when I started this project.

I designed and 3D printed a license plate for it; even started painting it, but I didn't care for the way it looked mostly because it was too thick and had no back side detail.

So I made another one from scratch. I've used similar processes to this to make other plates.

I started with some 0.005 sheet brass. I cut this blank and drilled some holes.

And then I cut a plastic "rim" from .005 sheet plastic and attached it with clear gloss paint.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Thursday, May 5, 2022 6:51 PM

The same plastic was used to make the "raised" face with dropouts for the tags. All the tiny letters for the state and the main characters are individual pieces. There are two layers for the larger ones. They were arranged by hand with a scalpel and tweezers and held in place with clear gloss. (That's 25 pieces.)

That "assembly" was applied as a single piece to the brass. I know it looks a bit rough, but once I add the fillets to the letters and numbers it will look better.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Friday, May 6, 2022 9:46 AM

The backside was done with 11 more "backwards" pieces and drop-outs to create the stamped effect. It will be silver so I started building the color up in light coats to help hold the pieces in place.

Now that the characters have had the fillets added to them and a coat of primer, they are starting look presentable.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Friday, May 6, 2022 1:31 PM

The first color for the face was applied…

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Friday, May 6, 2022 9:11 PM

The license holder is made of brass too. I had to anneal it to get it to conform to the tight U-channel shape for the bottom section.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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mustang1989

Member since
March 2012
From: Corpus Christi, Tx

Posted by mustang1989 on Saturday, May 7, 2022 12:03 AM

Keep 'er comin'. Looking great.

Forum | Modelers Social Club Forum (proboards.com)

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Saturday, May 7, 2022 11:18 AM

I made the license plate light housing and added it to the holder.

Just loosely assembled…

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Saturday, May 7, 2022 1:26 PM

And the black is done... (I drilled the mounting holes through the plastic first.)

The top one is the one piece 3D printed plate; below it is the new, more in scale, (37 piece) one. Maybe only a subtle difference, but worth the effort to me.

A thin coat of clear and it's done. I'll add tags closer to the end of the whole project.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Friday, May 13, 2022 5:35 PM

I made gaskets for the water pump and installed it for the last time.

I made the belts from sheet styrene cut into strips then beveled into the shape of a V-belt. I semi formed them before cementing them to the pulleys. (I painted the insides and edges black first.)

Careful trimming of the ends created a net fit that was filled with the cement. Then I hand painted them black. The seams are in this shot, but not visible from any angle.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Saturday, May 14, 2022 5:53 PM

The (brass) winglets have been painted and the fasteners added.

Now they go in the slowly but continually growing collection of ready to install subassemblies.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Tuesday, May 17, 2022 6:42 PM

The rear spoiler has been painted too. Two pieces of sheet brass soldered together.

Yes it has a clear Lexan section in the middle.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Friday, May 20, 2022 10:26 AM

The kit wiper was reworked with a steel pin in the arm to allow the blade section to be pivoted and aligned with the windshield. A thin strip of styrene was added to make the wiper blade; it was shaped to fit the windshield too.

I made small bolt heads for the pivot point and to mount to the stem too…

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Sunday, May 22, 2022 10:43 AM

The carb linkages need to be made now.

First I made the levers for the carbs. This pair does one bank and each is made of two pieces of brass. Soldering them was fun, but drilling the holes for the synchronizing screws was even more fun.

The bellcrank was machined next.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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DUSTER

Member since
August 2007
From: back country of SO-CAL, at the birth place of Naval Aviation

Posted by DUSTER on Monday, May 23, 2022 1:44 AM

OK, It's offical, it's a WOW for sure.

Steve

Building the perfect model---just not quite yet Confused

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Monday, May 23, 2022 7:20 PM

The bracket that is the hub of this setup was made from brass and machined resin stock.

Aluminum hardware was machined to accept the stainless steel sheath for the throttle cable and to mount it to the manifold.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Tuesday, May 24, 2022 8:06 PM

I textured and painted the intake manifold. It's one of the few 3D parts I grew that were not cast in resin for the model. I also installed the 12 bolts and washers I machined to mount it to the heads, and the 16 bolts for the carbs.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Thursday, May 26, 2022 12:50 PM

I got a little ahead of myself when I was adding the manifold bolts and forgot to install the wire loom hold-down bracket. (It protects the loom and the linkage from rubbing or hanging up.) I made it from annealed brass. I pulled two bolts and installed it under them.

Now I'm back on track…

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Wednesday, June 8, 2022 5:48 PM

I've machined and installed the carb mounting nuts, washers and bolts to the top sides as well as a few other hardware parts. The linkages are set up on the carbs too.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Wednesday, June 15, 2022 10:36 AM

After missing the wire loom hold down, I thought it was prudent to machine the fuel line hardware for the carbs before moving forward. A dozen fittings later… I still have more to do and more parts to machine for this subassembly.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Friday, June 17, 2022 9:09 PM

I connected the throttle cable (more stainless…) to the bell crank and made the primary return spring. I made an eyelet for the spring to attach to the bell crank from stainless too.

Next I installed that subassembly to the manifold, along with the two right side main carb bodies, and added the linkage for the right bank. I also installed the ¼ inch synchronizing adjuster screws to the inboard side of the linkages and added a few other machined details to the carbs.

Build what you want and build it for yourself, the rest will follow... Mark D. Jones

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Scale-Master

Member since
October 2020

Posted by Scale-Master on Saturday, June 18, 2022 7:25 PM

The left bank of carbs has been installed and the linkages made and hooked up. Connecting them to the bell crank wasn't too hard, but getting the tiny keepers on the carb ends of them was a challenge.

I also added the fitting for the vacuum advance line.