Building the New 1/8th Scale TDR 427 Roadster Kit

Daytonatim · #1 (**permalink**) 12-24-2010, 02:38 PM

Hello, I am kind of new here. I have posted up a few questions, over the past 6 or 8 months, while researching this model and have viewed a lot of the threads too. This forum has been a lot of help in my research in developing the computer model for my TDR 427 Roadster and this week I have started to actually build it. So I thought it only fitting to post up the build here on this forum.

I am one of 4 guys that have been trying to bring some high tech tools to the modeling community and increase the number of kits available in the large scale modeling world. This is our first full kit, up until now we have mostly been bringing new engines, suspensions, frames, and tires/wheels to the modelers, but now we are putting the final touches on our first kit.

This buildup is kind of a trial run, I will be seeing how things go together and how best to finish out the parts. This kit will be a combination of rapid prototyped parts, resin parts, fiberglass parts, and alluminum sheet metal parts.

We have been working on this kit for about 10 months now, and it is all about to come together!!

Well, I have blabbed enough for now. Let me see if I can post up some pictures of where I am at right now.

Here are some pictures of the computer model that is used to generate the rapid prototyped parts.

The frame is made to accept two 9/32 K&S brass rods. These rods are epoxied up and inserted into the frame. This assures that the frame stays straight and strong for many years to come.

The rapid prototyped frame is made of nylon powder that has been fused together with a laser. It results in a part that is very light, very very tough (you could bend the frame in half and it would not break!!), but it is also very pourous. These pours need to be filled to allow you to finish the part out to a smooth finish. Here I have applied two coats of something called Ceramicoat. It is used to fill the pours in ceramics, so I figured it might work on these rapid prototyped parts.

Ozgur_Tan · #2 (**permalink**) 12-28-2010, 06:16 AM

cool project
as a mechanical engineer, i'll follow your threat
i'm just finished my scratch built cobra289 (1:1 scale, link)
and
used wings3d, rhinoceros3d, 3d optical scan, cnc router, cnc milling etc.

i would like to built 1:2 scale mini cobra289 powered by european ford 1700cc v4 and c3 automatic transmission

peace,
ozgur

Buzz · #3 (**permalink**) 12-28-2010, 08:25 AM

This is an awesome modelling project - I've seen some pics on another site. Very interesting. Keep posting the updates.

EDIT: The footboxes and trunk floor I believe were actually fabricated out of fiberglass on the original Cobras. Not sure if that makes any difference to the development process for your model or not.

marcalan · #4 (**permalink**) 12-28-2010, 02:52 PM

Awesome, looking forward to following this thread

ZOERA-SC7XX · #5 (**permalink**) 12-28-2010, 05:37 PM

Great framework and details. What about the body? Is it built yet?

ACademic · #6 (**permalink**) 12-28-2010, 08:38 PM

Daytonatim has skills.

Daytonatim · #7 (**permalink**) 12-30-2010, 06:52 PM

Thanks for the compliments.

This really is a work of passion. I have been interested in these cars for more than 30 years now. I actually built a scratch built Daytona Coupe back about 10 years ago, hence the screen name. She is still on the road down in the Tampa area. A friend of mine has her now, I traded him the Daytona for a 1986 ASC Mclarean. I am 6' 3" tall and I just do not fit in the Daytona so I traded it for a convertible

I have been working on finishing out the frame these last few days. I hope to get some pics posted up soon, maybe tomorrow.

The pics posted up above, of the painted frame and the aluminum interior, are actually pics of an early prototype. The material we printed the frame out of, though great for detail and smoothness, was unacceptable due to strength issues.

Yes, we have the plug done for the body and our fiberglass expert is pulling the molds off of it as I type. We hope to have the first body layed up in early January.

Well thanks again for the compliments

Daytonatim · #8 (**permalink**) 12-30-2010, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ozgur_Tan

cool project
as an mechanical engineer, i'll follow your threat
i'm just finished my scratch built cobra289 (1:1 scale, link)
and
used wings3d, rhinoceros3d, 3d optical scan, cnc router, cnc milling etc.

i would like to built 1:2 scale mini cobra289 powered by european ford 1700cc v4 and c3 automatic transmission

peace,
ozgur

Hey Ozgur. I looked at your thread and I really like what you did with the 289 roadster. The way the flat airdam and wheel flares work with the traditional body lines really puts a more modern look on here.

You say you used scanned data, you did not happen to scan a stock 289 roadster body did you?

Ozgur_Tan · #9 (**permalink**) 12-30-2010, 07:34 PM

Hi Tim,

I wish to scan original 289 but not available.
so, I scan 1:12 gmp model as reference.
I've used ATOS optical 3D scanner (link).

Thank you for your kind words about my project.
Second car has got 60mm stretched body from center axis and smaller fender flares.

I'm member of this forum since 1999, but i don't remember some posts about your coupe.

Peace,
Ozgur

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daytonatim

Hey Ozgur. I looked at your thread and I really like what you did with the 289 roadster. The way the flat airdam and wheel flares work with the traditional body lines really puts a more modern look on here.

You say you used scanned data, you did not happen to scan a stock 289 roadster body did you?

Daytonatim · #10 (**permalink**) 12-31-2010, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ozgur_Tan

I'm member of this forum since 1999, but i don't remember some posts about your coupe.

Peace,
Ozgur

Hey Ozgur, I built the car from 1995 thru 1999. I never posted up any pictures or did any threads on it. I am not even sure I knew such places as this existed on the internet at that time. Besides I was working about 60 hours a week at the time, regular job and coupe project. I did not have any spare time to do any surfing back then.

I too scanned a model in to get the body formers made, just like you. I used the Sanyo Gunzie (spelling????) 1.24th scale model to scan in.

I will have to get some pictures up on Fotki so I can post a couple here.

If anybody is interested I still have the fiberglass molds for the Daytona and would really like to get rid of them, they are taking up valuable space and I am too old and fat to build another one....lol

Tim

Daytonatim · #11 (**permalink**) 12-31-2010, 12:09 PM

Well I have made a little progress on the chassis over the past few days. The Ceramcoat worked like a charm in helping me to seal up the pores of the parts. 2 coats of Ceramcoat (with a quick 15 min of sanding between coats), a heavy coat of primer, about 2hours of wet sanding with 250 grit sandpaper, and the final primer coat and she is ready for final color coat.

I think I will hold off on the color coat for a while though. This is a prototype test mule to see how things fit and work together and it is way too early to assume that this is the final assembly of these parts.

Well here are some pics to show the progress.

ROSS WEAVER · #12 (**permalink**) 01-01-2011, 11:09 AM

Any idea on when you plan to sell the kits?

Daytonatim · #13 (**permalink**) 01-02-2011, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ROSS WEAVER

Any idea on when you plan to sell the kits?

Right now, what you are seeing is the final shakedown of the kit. We are looking for any problem areas that need addressed. We hope to have the kit for sale in the Spring of this year.

decooney · #14 (**permalink**) 01-02-2011, 04:51 PM

Very Cool, Nice work. Keep the photos coming...

You've probably already seen this one...., maybe not... and not to steal your thunder, it would be awesome if you guys could take yours to the next level like this guy did and make it run. Would love to hear a mini FE 427 V8 in yours !!!

More Creative Inspiration:

Then add one of these to it next !!!!

289fia_cobra · #15 (**permalink**) 01-03-2011, 07:45 AM

Daytonatim, this is a great kit you're making. I'll be keeping an eye on this thread. It's a lot more interesting than the Revell model I have sitting on my shelf that I've yet to start on... I'm in the midst of my winter upgrade project on the full size thing so there's been no time to tackle the model. Great work you're doing though.

Daytonatim · #16 (**permalink**) 01-04-2011, 06:27 PM

Hey 289FIA, is that the 1:16th scale model?

If it is, I borrowed the frame of that kit from a friend of mine hoping to get some ideas of how to model the chassis. I looked at it for about 10 seconds before I figured out that ......well........lets just say they took a lot of liberties with the chassis design

If my back was in better shape I would probably be working on a 1:1 scale Cobra too.......My days of bending over the hood of a car are long gone now though. Thats alright though......my wife would bet mad if I dragged a full size frame into the living room to sand on while watching the basketball game.

289fia_cobra · #17 (**permalink**) 01-04-2011, 10:51 PM

It's a the smaller 1/24 scale kit from Revell.

Daytonatim · #18 (**permalink**) 01-07-2011, 07:20 PM

Well, I decided to go ahead and paint the chassis. I figured that with it being black it should be easy to touch up the paint if I have to.

Truth is, I hate doing work knowing I will have to undo it later. If I bolted on the suspension with the chassis in primer I would have to unbolt everything to paint the chassis, so I figured I would take the chance.

I also got the coil over shocks ready to go too. The shocks are made to be "functional" so you can adjust them to get the perfect stance. The lower shock half is made to accept a small piece of 9/32" K&S brass tube and the upper shock half is made to accept a piece of 1/8" K&S aluminum tube. The aluminum tube will give the look of the chromed steel of the shock shaft. The brass tube acts as a sliding guide for the 1/8" tube. The spring was obtained from McMaster Carr

Well, I hope to get the front suspension bolted on this weekend. If I do, I will be sure to get some pics up.

Here are a few Pics.

Daytonatim · #19 (**permalink**) 01-24-2011, 05:11 PM

Hey, I have a question that maybe someone here can help me with.

Where are the correct locations for the coil and the oil filter for the 427 Street cars?

Daytonatim · #20 (**permalink**) 02-20-2011, 07:41 AM

Well, it has been a few weeks since my last post. Been busy getting more parts finalized for the final kit. The old saying sure is right "The devil is in the details"!!

I did get a little bit of work done on the roadster though. I am pushing trying to get the chassis ready for the body.....which should arrive some time next week.

This will be the first time the body will meet up with the chassis....except for in computer in the form of computer models!!

The body was created way out in Kansas and will be made of fiberglass and the chassis is being developed in West Virginia. So getting the two together and working out the fit up of the chassis parts and the body will be a major step in this kits final completion.

Well, here are a few pics of the chassis as it is now. The engine is a prototype that we just put together for PR purposes. I just ordered the final engine and it should be here next week. So tha will be the next step, finishing out the final engine.