D,
I conjure up all sorts of crazy ways to make racing harnesses. I do buy the Tamiya 1/20 scale for my F1 builds, and I've tried some of the ones listed at Spot Models, but they're almost as much as the model kit that they're for.

what I've been doing when I don't have any harness kits left is to use medical cloth tape. Looks great, but frays quite easily, so use a super sharp blade to cut it. I do use scissors which work great. The issue is the buckles, and latches. I do buy those separately in quantity when I buy a kit. I've never had any luck bending wire to look anything like the buckles and latches I was trying to make. So many times I just used a extra fine tip silver marker and drew them on.

Joel

I'm still nervous to spray the body, but, I got some initial detail painting done on the chassis and in the engine bay.






Mocked up the front and rear suspensions. Only thing that looks like it is going to need some adjustment to fit properly is the panhard bar.



I've been sick with a migraine yesterday and most of today, hence the short replies and late post today.

Joel, congratulations on a beautifully (again) finish. I'm sorry I couldn't follow every single step of your build - I have a lot to get done at work after 2 months of not being able to. Contrasting with gray, that yellow looks awesome!



This actually it is a contest model, Joel, since you enlisted it in TCC second edition

Damian, the insides and undersides of the car are looking just fine now, the way they are coming together.

Gabriel

Gabriel,
No problems. Family, home, & work comes before our hobbies. I'm thrilled that you've be able to go back to work. Nothing like having an income once again.

As for the Lotus 99t build, thanks so much for your support throughout the build, as well as your thumbs up as she crossed the finish line. And yes, I'm entered in your contest, just slipped my mind as I was referring to what I use to deal with at IPMS contests. I've actually been to the facebook page a few times but never posted as yet. Will be posting my build this weekend for sure.

Joel

David,
Hope you're feeling better today. Migraines are really nasty stuff to deal with.

Love how the semi gloss Black came out, and the contrasting Aluminum heat shields really pop now.

I'm sure that the painting of the body will come out just fine.

Joel

So hopefully final body coat going on this morning... then decaling and mirrors with steering wheel to be installed. Maybe by Monday... pics to come.

I did finish decLing the destroyed body cowling and am thinking of finishing the extra set of wings and wheels to set aside for pit dio.

Hey is resurrecting an old build accepted in this group build? I’m thinking of rebuilding the Terry Labonte drag dio...

Thanks Damian, I get them every once in a while. I usually hibernate when I get them. I had to force myself to go to the LHS. LOL Seems to have passed as of this morning.

May try painting this afternoon. I plan to set the timer on my phone to force me to wait for the proper flash time between coats.

Repaint is done. Read the exploits and have a laugh in the Touring 2 thread.

Four more steps (2-5) and another page of instructions completed.
Engine in chassis, exhausts mounted, gearbox installed and stage 2 of chassis begun.




More details in build post under Pretty in Pink.

cheers
Michael

Damian,
The engine and chassis look great. Love the mix of colours on the engine and exhaust headers though it does look like it maybe a tight fit to get the pipes on, or that just the angle of the photo?

cheers
Michael

Hi guys,

lots of nice work going on! Work has been a bit hectic in the last few weeks so I haven't been able to follow exactly what's going on the progress of so many nice builds.

I went back a page and looked at D's Chevy - that looks super! really nice and clean work!

And, David and Michael, I just looked at your build blogs and commented there - both looking great.

This group build has been a real winner - so many great and varied projects.

Cheers
Nick

Thanks Michael! No pipes on this one, headers straight out under the floor pan! You did remind me to throw a touch of black paint inside the end of the headers though, thanks

Cheers, D

Michael,
the engine/transaxle installed in the chassis looks amazing. If I didn't know better, I'd swear that it's a picture from a real restoration.

Glad that you've beaten your migrane.

Joel

Nick,
Nice to see you back with us. Work does have a way of getting in the way of our hobbies. Now being retired has some smaller issues, but there's always a walk around

For what it's worth, I finally finished the Lotus 99t. The build post is on page 28 (yeah I know, a shameless plug for sure).

Joel

Michael. Your engine installed in that boxed chassis tube section look amazing, the white headers are a nice contrast.

Well now that the GB ribbon is secured i will start a second build, you guys didn't think i was going to let you have all the fun.

Below is a pic of the box top of the MPC 1973 Ford Mustang which i will turn into a Trans Am race car, i have already started the build by dechroming a bunch of parts in oven cleaner, i should have an update Monday of some very basic engine work. All comments welcome.

The constant level of activity here is seriously blowing me away guys!

Joel and Robert are firing up their second builds, Gabriel is well into his third build, and the quality of the work in progress is just outstanding!

Running update on builds

9 weeks in, 31 pages with almost 16,000 views and 800 posts
21 enlisted (plus 1, Jesper sign in please mate!)
15 builds in progress
6 completed builds

Szmann (Gabriel) - NASCAR - Chev Monte Carlo (Tony Stewart) - 1/25 AMT/ERTL kit - COMPLETED
Stickframe (Nick) - ENDURANCE - McLaren F1 GTR Longtail - 1/24 Aoshima kit - COMPLETED
Szmann (Gabriel) - NASCAR - Pontiac Grand Prix (Kyle Petty) - 1/24 Revell/Monogram kit - COMPLETED
rv1963 (Robert) - STRAIGHTLINE - '37 Chevy Gasser - 1/25 AMT kit- COMPLETED
jimb (Jim) - STRAIGHTLINE - '57 Ford Sedan Gasser - COMPLETED
Joel_W (Joel) - FORMULA 1 - Lotus 99T Honda (Ayrton Senna 1987) - 1/20 Tamiya kit - COMPLETED

Aussiereg (Damian) - STRAIGHTLINE - '55 Chev Pro Sportsman (Charles Carpenter) - 1/25 Revell kit - Engine detailing, rolling chassis assembly. Body decals finished and ready for clear
Joel_W (Joel) - ENDURANCE GT3 - Audi R8 LMS (2015) - 1/24 NuNu kit - Body prepped and primed
Joel_W (Joel) - INDY - enlisted - Lola T-8800 Newman Haas (Mario Andretti 1988) - 1/25 AMT kit
Dixon66 (David) - ENDURANCE GROUP 5 - Zakspeed Capri - 1/24 Tamiya kit - Decals on order, body in primer, underside and interior complete
Dixon66 (David) - TOURING GROUP 2 - 2006 Mustang GT- 1/25 Revell kit - Interior modifications, drivetrain assembly. Body repainted, underside detail painted
tinbanger (Richard) - GRAND PRIX - 1914 Mercedes Racer - 1/16 Lindberg kit - Engine and chassis started, major panel works under way, custom milled wheels/tyres and sheetmetal panels started
md72 (Mark) - INDY - Target Reynard (Jimmy Vasser) - 1/25 Revell kit - Parts Prep
Szmann (Gabriel) - FORMULA 1 - Tyrrell P34 (Monaco 1977 #4) - 1/20 Tamiya kit kit - Engine complete, chassis plate and outer shell paint/decals
Hwa-Rang (Jesper) - NASCAR - (TBA)
PasiAhopelto (Pasi) - NASCAR - enlisted - Olds 442 (Donnie Allison) - 1/25 Salvinos JR kit
forest1000 (David) - FORMULA 1 - enlisted - Williams Renault (Jaques Villeneuve) - 1/24 Revell/Monogram kit
Cosimodo (Michael) - ENDURANCE - 1971 Porsche 917/20 - 1/12 MFH kit - Steps 1-5 of 26 completed
bluebell914 (Patrick) - ENDURANCE - enlisted - Ferrari P4 or 512S
2002hummer (Darrell) - GRAND PRIX - Lotus Super Seven (Tamiya) - Engine assembled and painted
TacFireGuru (Mike) - NASCAR - enlisted - Chev Monte Carlo (Home Depot)
Lakota (Don) - ENDURANCE - Corvette C7.R - 1/25 Revell kit - Engine assembled, floor pan/chassis under way
RedwingNev (Neil) - GRAND PRIX - enlisted - Lotus 79 (1978 Mario Andretti?) - 1/20 Tamiya kit
heavyjagdpanzer (Bill) - STRAIGHTLINE - Blue Max Funny Car - 1/25 Revell kit - Rolling chassis completed, body painted
bmwh548 (Radu) - RALLY - '99 WRC Subaru Impreza - 1/24 Tamiya kit - Wheels and tyres
pnance26 (Patrick) - FORMULA 1 - Ferrari 312T - 1/12 Tamiya kit - Rolling chassis/engine/drivetrain complete, body painted and decals under way
bomber14 (Joe) - STOCK CAR - '60 Ford Starliner - AMT/ERTL kit - Rolling chassis/interior done, body paint under way
rv1963 (Robert) - TRANS-AM - '73 Mustang - 1/25 MPC kit- Parts prep

If anybody has changed or firmed up their proposed builds, or spotted anything wrong in the list, please let me know.

Cheers, D

Patrick, I think a project of that scope is deserving of a dedicated thread. It definitely fits the theme here, and worthy of linking updates in this thread, but we normally like to see unstarted or up to 25% complete builds. Do you think you will be able to finish it within the time frame of this Group Build (by the end of September)?

Cheers, D

Here's my 2nd GB build.

The FIA Racing Body had two classes in their Touring car series which I've always refered to as closed wheel Tin Tops, GT1 and GT2. these two classes completed with the prototype classes from sprint races to 24 hour hours, with LeMans as the big prize. The cars, which looked like what you saw in the various manufacture showrooms where anything but that. Fully developed from the ground up for racing, were out of the reach of most private teams even if they could afford them. So in 2005 the FIA created the GT3 class.

The GT3 cars were literally showroom cars in every sense of the word. Anyone with enough money could buy one, and then modify it to the very strict/limited rules and go racing. Well, to make a long story short, the GT3 class has become the most popular of the 3 classes by a wide margin, where almost all the factories with cars in the series have official factory or professional teams representing them. As a matter of fact, GT1 is gone, and GT2 is a mere shell of what it once was. Even IMSA has series for the GT3 cars here in States. What's more, there's now a GT4 category as well.

Needless to say, I'm a huge fan of GT3 racing. I'm also one of the oldest Auto Sim racers that I know online, and my favorite series to race both on and off line are GT3 cars. And one of my favorite GT3 cars to race is the Audi R8 LMS, which actually won it's class at the 2015 24 hrs of LeMans.

So when Nunu announced that they were making a model of this car, I just couldn't wait. Took what seemed like forever, but I finally got the kit. As with all the Nunu/Platz/Beemax kits, it's a semi curbside model with just the lower suspension, engine & transaxle included. Hence, the bonnet doesn't open up as there's no upper engine.



the instructions start with the chassis sub assemblies, but I much prefer to build, prepare, paint, and decal the body shell 1st. So I started on step 11.

After removing what just could be a World's record for sprue attachment points, as well as plently of alignment supports so that the shell didn't twist or warp out of shape during the molding and cooling process. I'd gladely spend the clean up time then have to figure out how to straighen a problematic shell. As usual, vents and intakes are on the thick side.

Here's a picture I borrowed from the Net as I forgot to take one while thinning the individual vent blades for the front wheel air vents.



and after I thinned it to a more scale appearence



I also opened up the Naca Ducts on the hood, as well as the intake ducts on the side of the front fenders.



I gave the shell a light wet sanding with 600 paper, and put it on my Tamiya paint stand.



Next came priming with my go to primer: Mr.Finisher Surfacer 1500 light gray thinned with Mr. Leveler #400





Joel

Robert,
Needless to say, I'm really looking forward to your build, as I was a super SCCA Trans AM fan back in those days.

Joel

First of I would like to thank Joel and Damian for taking the lead of this GB.
I have not been doing much in the modeling hobbies for the last while.
Reviewing all the posts on here I would like to congratulate all finished builders and the great ongoing builds.
Here is my Merc motor, I have added valve springs and rocker arms
4 per cylinder:-


Primed flat black and gloss top coat:-





I have made a oil tank and gauge for the cockpit from plastic stock and brass tube:-

Michael Mitchell, amazing engine! Robert Vaglio, Great Idea. I love that year model Mustang.

Richard,
No thanks needed. We're your humble staff and glad to help in any way we can.

Nice detailing on the engine. I've got a feeling it's going to be really special when it's done.

Joel

And here we are... at the finish line! One hose and one switch to install and official photos tomorrow.

But before I do anything, I want to thank Chris Smith for the wheels, and Paul Cadwell for the new body panels. Joel was a great encouragement and arcticwolf helped out alot with advice!

Damian, thanks for the invite and the welcome! Everyone else here who has said something positive kept me on the right track. I don't think I have ever worried a paint job like this one.

This group inspired me to get this done in less than 3 months. To me, that's an incredibly fast build for a 1/12th F1 car.

Like I said, official portraits tomorrow...







Thanks again, everyone!

Richard, lovely work on the old straight 4-banger! Exposed push rods and springs, classic stuff! As Joel said, absolutely no need to thank us mate, that's what we are here for.

Patrick, beautifully finished build. Knowing the hurdles you hit along the way, you have overcome them with no adverse impact on the end result. I can't wait to see the glamour shots, great work!

Cheers, D