Jump to content

My take on the Porsche 917K


Recommended Posts

After 30 years pursuing other hobbies, I got into the 1/8 scale car models when I purchase the Pocher Lotus 72D. I really enjoyed the additional upgrades on the Lotus and I want to do the same thing with the Porsche 917K. I  decided to change the Steve McQueen Nr. 20 to the Siffert/Redman Spa 1970 winning car with the Nr. 24. Before I received the first package, I already started the project.

spacer.png

 

After downloading hundreds of pictures, I started with the left front suspensions and add nuts and bolt instead of the kit's provided Phillips screws. I scratch build the inside of hub carrier piece. I found on the internet a video series of a 917 restoration, that showed this side of the part. It is not 100% accurate but good enough without cutting the hub carrier apart.

spacer.png

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The next step is Stage 4. I filled off the dummy screw and added M1.2 nuts and bolts. The crosspiece got two upgrades. Instead of the FM screws, I glued in a brass tubing and painted it silver. They are a little recessed to simulate the right position of the headless hex bolts. The crosspiece plate got 4 hex screw dummies. On the other side of the disc, I painted the molded on hex head silver to match the bolts on the other side.

cardan.jpg

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I worked a little bit on the gearbox parts than came in the first package.

I added M1.2 bolts and nuts to the back part of the gearbox. There was not much of a lip and I might use fake nuts and bolts that are smaller, if I would do it again. The bigger holes will be filled with a glued in rod to make the M1.2 bolts work.

I also added a M1 nut that above the left hole for the muffler holder.

I filled off all the molded  on nuts, drilled holes and will add M0.8 nuts and bolts. Although the color of the gearbox seemed to be spot on, I scratched the pieces too much for just a touch up job.

gearboxback.jpg

 

The right gearbox had all the fasteners missing. The mounting bracket needed 4 bolts in the corners. Before final painting, I will remove the Phillips screw and patch the hole.

The side shifter needed a little bit more work. I had to add some plastic pieces and putty to give me some room to add 3 additional nuts and bolts.

I have to wait for the second package for the other side of the gearbox but that should be arriving soon.

gearboxr.jpg

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

I got the second box and finished the gearbox.  A lot of work went into drilling holes on the left gearbox side, 15 just for the circle. I also dirty up the starter. I could not find a picture where the starter was still snow white. I repainted the entire gear box brown and use a black wash. The pictures show the gearbox much darker/blacker than it acutely is. The muffler plate also got bolts and nuts and a Tamyia Panel Line treatment. I used 0.8mm and 1.2mm real bolts and nuts but had to paint them silver, since I could only find them in brass. Original pictures showed more bolts but the casting did not have the space to add them and there is a limit how much I want to change the casting.

gearbox1.jpg

gearbox2.jpg

gearbox4.jpg

I added a few half round styrene piece on the gearbox to give the added nuts and bolts on the rear gearbox cover a more convincing way to be attached.

gearbox3.jpg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I finished the 2 pack. I spend a lot of time on adding bolts and nuts on the different parts or painted them if the were part of the mold.

I also upgraded the 2 alternators with 3 cables and repainted it in aluminum. The cooling blades were painted gray to simulate that type of sheet metal they would have used. The fuel pump got the missing hook ups in the back according to pictures I found on the internet. I noticed, they were to indentations in the mold at that spot and I believe this hook up part was planed originally and never made it to the production line.

I used Tamiya Panel Line for the cylinders to give them a little bit more depth. I did not want to spent to much time on them, since they will not be really visible at the end.

motorleftside.jpg

filteralternator1.jpg

alternator1.jpg

The most time I spent on the fuel pump. I added a lot of screws, nuts and bolts and repainted every piece (except the yellow plates) to match my pictures I found on the internet. On the cover plate, the bolts were missing although the prototypical indentations where provided. The 2 Bosch plates where copied from an original fuel pump that I found on a sellers website. They are too small to read but I know they are there.

fuelpump1.jpg

The muffler holder plate was updated with nuts and bolts and got a Tamiya Panel Line treatment.

muffler1.jpg

 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I studied more pictures with the fuel pump. I realized, the red hex plug is just a plastic plug, used when the motor is out of the car. This is actually the connection to the fuel tanks. I had to remove the red piece and I made the first test fuel line, since the model does not come with the tubing.

Some 917 had rubber tubing some had breaded hoses. I just like the breaded hoses for there looks.

fuelline.jpg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 months later...

There was a delay in the next stage since the piece 'Upper Airflow Guide' was missing in the package. It took some time until it arrived and I was surprised, that it was sent from England.

I cut off all molded on pieces on the 'Air Cooling Chamber Top' and replaced them with printed nuts and bolts. Since the top looked to shiny, I hit it with Tamiya flat but the color reacted strange to the flat spray. I decided to simulate dirty fiberglass with deluded Vallejo Wood Grain and it looks in my eyes great.

I added two wires to the distributor bases. Some pictures show four but there was not enough room and even my thinnest wires were just too oversized.

motortop1.jpg

The oil hose seemed to me just too simplified and I upgraded to hook ups. I also switched to braided hoses. They used them later and to me it just looks much cooler.

motoroil1.jpg

On the engine block plates, I painted the molded on nuts and bolts, around the spark plugs I added some red color. I drilled out the spark plugs to add later thinner wires, which I would not be able to fit over the pins.

motorinjection.jpg

I am still try to figure out, how to make the two screw heads invisible, that hold the engine block in place. They are more obvious on the picture than looking at the model.

A lot of work went into attaching and painting the fake nuts and bolts and I might never see them again, but it just part of the fun.

 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Next step needed some work. The velocity stacks and throttle bodies got some paint and a fair amount of 3D printed bolts and nuts. Most of the time I spent carefully to cut off the molded on nuts, while preserving the factory paint.

The throttle linkage rods and parts are to thick but it would have taken to much time to make better ones. I drilled at least al the holes out and repainted them in a more pleasing color.

motorfan1.jpg

fuelpump2.jpg

The engine fan got the 4 missing nuts inside the fan and I added better looking nuts to the fan hub cap. A little paint helped to get it more 3D looking.

motorfan2.jpg

I spent good amount of prep work on the cylinders. I will replace all the provided screws for the mufflers with 1.4mm nuts and bolts. I had to cut off the pins and tap 2 out of 3 the wholes for the 1.4mm bolts. The 2 pieces are super glued together and I hope, it works. The nut driver is on order. Luckily on photos of the real thing, the bolts are the same color and I don't have to paint them.

bolts.jpg

motorbottom1.jpg

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not my idea. I saw it on another build of 1/8 model. Biggest Problem is to find those small nuts and bolts. Hobby shops sell them for around $1 per bolt. Luckily on ebay I found a source that had all sizes I needed for around $5 for package of 100.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...