Lotus 49 1/20 Ebbro

Models in progress... including non-F1 models.

Topic author
SebLeung
F2 Champion
F2 Champion
Posts: 181
Joined: Fri Dec 29, 2017 6:14 am
Location: Toronto
Contact:
Status: Offline

Re: Lotus 49 1/20 Ebbro

Post by SebLeung »

Very brief update today

The wheels were the last major hurdle to overcome in making this kit. I wanted to do my best to recreate that brushed metal look so the chrome was stripped (as it was on almost all other chrome pieces in the kit), and rather than applying a base of gloss black as one usually would before applying Alclad polished aluminum, I applied semi-gloss black and used some #0000 steel wool and swirled the areas that would become silver. I then masked off the centres of the front wheels which would remain black (awful task to do, really wished they were 2-piece) I sprayed the polished aluminum on them. Here are the results:

Image

I'm pretty happy with how they turned out! The swirl effect is pretty good in real life, it looks a little uneven in the photo. Obviously not as good as a set of machined wheels, but I think I made the most of the kit ones.

All parts have been painted in the kit so I just need to assemble now. I'll be travelling on Friday though and might have limited time before I leave so either I'll have it done before Thursday or when I get back in mid Feb.
http://www.f1modelling.com
______________________________________________________________
PM me if you have an MFH 1/20 BT55 for sale (resin version, not metal)
User avatar

whatisdeletrazdoing
Midfield
Midfield
Posts: 467
Joined: Fri Jul 01, 2016 2:14 am
Favorite F1 Team or Driver: Super Aguri, Ligier, Minardi, Rial
Status: Offline
United States of America

Re: Lotus 49 1/20 Ebbro

Post by whatisdeletrazdoing »

They came out beautiful! What a clever idea. I've really enjoyed watching this build progress.
User avatar

Daveporschephile
F2
F2
Posts: 71
Joined: Thu Feb 04, 2016 9:47 am
Status: Offline

Re: Lotus 49 1/20 Ebbro

Post by Daveporschephile »

Looking very good and clever work on wheels.
User avatar

CelicaGT
F1 Test Driver
F1 Test Driver
Posts: 268
Joined: Wed Jun 24, 2009 12:50 am
Favorite F1 Team or Driver: Jim Clark
Contact:
Status: Offline
United States of America

Re: Lotus 49 1/20 Ebbro

Post by CelicaGT »

It looks great and from a distance I never would have thought your paint job was anything but perfect. The wheels look really nice as well.

Topic author
SebLeung
F2 Champion
F2 Champion
Posts: 181
Joined: Fri Dec 29, 2017 6:14 am
Location: Toronto
Contact:
Status: Offline

Re: Lotus 49 1/20 Ebbro

Post by SebLeung »

Thank you as usual for the thoughtful comments!

Onto the final update...

The kit gives you the ability to add ignition wires without modification, but fuel lines require some drilling to add. I used MFH 0.4mm clear piping.
Image

Miscellaneous pieces detailed - I'm still too lazy to replace moulded shocks with actual springs, but I think my technique is pretty passable. I painted the whole piece Alclad copper first, then masked off the middle to paint the rest aluminum. Then I simply hand painted the spring itself with Tamiya X-1. For the plumbing brackets/connectors I painted the areas with flat red acrylic, then cut a narrow strip of Aluminum tape to be the fastener.
Image

Here is the power unit nearing its final form. I'm very happy with how it turned out. The air funnels are the only kit parts I left chromed as they had no seams that needed sanding. I had to replace the little nub on each one with a metal wire pin in order to attach the fuel lines though.
Image
Image

The rest of the chassis taking shape - I just added some simple wiring behind the dashboard and a few rivets. I think the gear shifter turned out quite nice.
Image

Okay I'll just say this: every plastic kit I've done so far, I've vastly underestimated the final assembly stage. EVERY time it ends up being 8x messier or hectic than I expect. Previously glued things coming apart under slight pressure, things not quite fitting together like they should, etc etc. The front end of this kit was a NIGHTMARE to assemble. Everything from the front bulkhead to the suspension to the freaking radiator was just awful. The radiator in particular, as the supports are so thin. Everything was approximately a 90% fit. It was during this frustrating point that my hands started to get a bit clammy, and it was actually wearing away some of the Alclad metal paint lol...
Image

Mating the chassis with the power unit was also a terrifying point because there's a plastic clip from the rear bulkhead that slots into the engine, but with the amount of force required to insert it I was sure something on the model would give way. Thankfully everything went fine with this step.
Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

The rest of the assembly went okay, the double windshield was a little tricky to assemble with micro krystal klear, and my only other big frustration was inserting the wheels, as the plastic pins on the wheels wouldn't fit into the poly caps. I had to grind down the diameter of the pins in order to *very delicately* insert the wheels. There's no way the kit suspension could withstand the kind of force required to insert the wheels otherwise.

For the notorious front cowling, it turned out that *surprise, surprise*, I hadn't ground it down nearly enough initially. I was forced to take a dremel to the inside since 400 grit sandpaper was simply too slow. While initially the dremel seemed risky, there actually is quite a bit of material thickness so I wasn't worried about actually sanding through. There's still quite a massive gap but at least the bodywork overlaps now.
Image

I'm leaving for vacation today so I just really wanted to call this one done before leaving, when I get back I might try to grind the cowling down more and add the dzus fasteners as well. In the meantime I'll see everyone in the Completed Thread I create sometime later today!
Image
Image
http://www.f1modelling.com
______________________________________________________________
PM me if you have an MFH 1/20 BT55 for sale (resin version, not metal)
User avatar

aracefan
F2 Champion
F2 Champion
Posts: 128
Joined: Wed Sep 11, 2019 5:15 pm
Favorite F1 Team or Driver: McLaren
Status: Offline
United States of America

Re: Lotus 49 1/20 Ebbro

Post by aracefan »

Love it!!! That last pic . . . belongs in a museum. Thank you for sharing your build. Would love to try and do one but my skill level just isn't anywhere in the same galaxy as yours! :mrgreen:
Post Reply
  • Similar Topics
    Replies
    Views
    Last post