Jaguar XJ13: Transmission and drivetrain fit to monocoque

The transmission, unlike the engine, is pretty simple. But there are two outriggers that connect to the monocoque, and two motor mounts towards the front of the block that carry the radius rods for the rear suspension. 

So I assembled the transmission, rear suspension and rear of the monocoque far enough to verify that it all lines up. A good thing too as there was a fair bit of drilling, filing, grinding, sanding, bending and general bodging necessary to get it done.

 

I also test-fitted the rear body section, leading to more drilling etc.

The instructions will not be followed to the letter as there are a whole lot of bits that should go on after the engine mounts have been lined up and finalised, not before -- you couldn't possibly see what you are doing otherwise. Of course I may live to regret this rash decision.

Next will be finish up the drive train, including the exhaust system. then complete the forward half of the monocoque while testing body fit as I go..   

Stay tuned!

Jaguar XJ13: Engine, Part 3

The engine is complete, except for the exhaust manifolds that go on once the transmission and rear suspension is assembled. This represents the first four steps (of 25) in the MFH instruction manual. A whopping 327 grams, and there is a fair bit of metal to come.

The fuel injection alone involved a huge number of bits:

Pump body (4 pieces) and 12 banjo fittings = 16 bits

12 trumpets, butterflies, injectors, throttle bodies, intake tubes = 60 bits

8 bellcrank mechanisms, 2 throttle rod support support legs, 1 return spring, 1 support plate per side = 24 pieces

Throttle cable rotating bit (4 pieces), 3 push/pull links = 7 pieces

Cut-to-length bits: 5 pieces of brass rod, 0.5 mm diameter, and 12 fuel lines = 17 pieces

Total (assuming I haven't missed anything) = 124 pieces

Next up: transmission and rear suspension, starting with test fitting, filing and sanding, drilling sockets and shaping dowels, etc. Stay tuned!

Jaguar XJ13: Engine Part 2

Fresh off finishing my first Model Factory Hiro 1/12 kit, the Ferrari 156 Sharknose, in December 2020, I tackled assembly of MFH's Jaguar XJ13 engine block and cylinder heads, including the camshaft drives which are now hidden (click here for the post).

After posting, I completed the distributor and wiring, then it got shelved as I realised I was in over my head. Since then, I have completed four additional 1/12 kits, three from MFH (Alfa P2 in July 2022, Auto Union Type C in January 2023, Abarth 1000 in August 2024) and one from Italeri (Alfa Monza in January 2023). So with that added experience under my belt, it's time to tackle it again. 

And the first step was to build up the heat sink for the electronic ignition module, consisting of 17 photoetched bits on a 5.5 mm square platform. 

This required making a little jig out of box-section styrene tube and dredging each successive PE bit in a little pool of slow CA glue. 

Next will be the plumbing for the Lucas fuel injection pump. The wire provided is very stiff and I may need to substitute something a little more forgiving. Stay tuned! 

 

 

Nissan Sunny Hakotora: Complete (#9 for 2024)

I realise I didn't write up the initial building and planning on this. 

The Hakotora is a pedestrian Nissan Sunny pickup truck decked out to look like the classic Skyline, possibly with the addition of a widebody kit instead of the rubber fender lips. 

C1 Models made two Hakotora kits for the Hasegawa Sunny, one with the rubber fenders and the other a widebody kit with a complete front clip. (The Skyline kit is for show only; no Skylines were damaged in this project, although I was tempted until I came across the C1 Models transkit.)

As the Sunny had a four, the standard upgrade is to a twin-cam, 16V Nissan 4, but I chose to stuff in the six from one of the Fujimi assortment kits. This in turn entailed moving the radiator to the tailgate as I did with my Subaru Brat WRX. 

Other bits came from the boneyard and parts shelves. The fan and shroud is a nice photetched set from Detail Master, for instance. 

 

What's next? No idea. Stay tuned!

Nissan Sunny Hakotora: Overview

This Nissan Sunny Hakotora, an "El Skyline" if you will, is a resin wide-body kit from HiroBoy that converts a Hasegawa Nissan Sunny pickup, with its inoffensive 1200 cc pushrod motor, into a proper little road warrior. In the absence of the correct twincam 4-cylinder Nissan motor, I have gone a step further and added a Nissan 2-litre six to the mix. (The Hasegawa kit is curbside).  

This update follows on some cutting, such as the removal of the front clip, performed sometime ago but which I didn't document. The 6 is a tight fit and as with my WRX Brat, the radiator will be relocated to the tailgate.
 

Stay tuned! I've also got fat little Minilites or Japanese equivalents and a range of other bits & pieces from the parts bin.

Ferrari 312 F1: Complete (#8 for 2024)

I now have the complete podium for the 1967 Belgian GP:
First: Eagle T1G Weslake, driven by Dan Gurney (Car #36)
Second: BRM P83 H16, driven by Jackie Stewart (Car #14)
Third: Ferrari 312, driven by Chris Amon (Car #1). 

 

While Jim Clark managed a win with the H16 engine in a Lotus in 1966, these were the best results ever for the BRM and Eagle. Both cars had unreliable engines, with the H16 also being excessively heavy and bulky. Ferrari did better in other years; Denny Hulme took the championship that year in a Brabham-Repco with his boss Jack Brabham in second, while Amon was third overall. 

Model Factory Hiro doesn't make 1/43 kits anymore, although they do turn up on eBay now and then. They involve microscopic bits and lots of test fitting/filing/bodging, and you will need a desk lamp and 4X magnifier (at least). In other words, lots of fun! Boy I'm glad that's over with. 

So what's next? A bigger scale, for one! I've now built all the 1/43 kits in my stash, including the 1965 Rover 2000 TC from the Monte Carlo rallye (6th overall, 1st in class). 

 Stay tuned!

Ferrari 312 F1: Overview and first steps

Having completed the 1/43 kits of the Eagle and BRM cars that finished first and second at the 1967 Belgian GP, I figured it was time to build the Ferrari 312, driven to third place by Chris Amon at that same race, and thus complete the podium. Thankfully, this will also wrap up the last of the 1/43 kits in the stash. 

While the instructions begin with the cockpit and front monocoque components, I decided to build up the engine first. A very detailed unit and one doesn't want to lose any of the 12 machined intake trumpets. 

Moving on to the microscopic dashboard and cockpit, I ran into small but manageable issues typical of Model Factory Hiro kits. 

Finally I got brave and tackled the front of the monocoque, which had by then been painted (Tamiya TS-8, Italian Red). I've already smudged the paint so more care will be needed going forward.

The engine slides nicely in there and will get glued in another day. But first the various rear bulkhead bits will need to be trial fitted as the engine is not stressed. Up front the radiator and steering wheel are all that remains to be done at this stage. 

Stay tuned! I am trying to get this complete in time for a competition in just under two weeks.