Fiat SB4 Eldridge (Mefistofele)
+11
pete s
Geezerman
Dave from Pleasanton
GaryDainton
harron68
A5h
webby
Mr Hirakawa
kpnuts
Johnag
Sam
15 posters
Skid's :: Works In Progress :: Race cars
Page 1 of 5
Page 1 of 5 • 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Fiat SB4 Eldridge (Mefistofele)
The Fiat 500 F2 may have been a disappointment in it's quality for me but it did at least inspire me into doing another 'oldie'.
When finished it will be the largest kit I have done so far.
The real car (a one of a kind) was built in 1923 by Sir Ernest Arthur Douglas Eldridge, (a British racing car driver) and utilised a Fiat, straight six, 21.7 litre, 316 bhp, A12 aero engine, dropped into a 1908 Fiat SB4 chassis.
With this combination, Sir Arthur broke the World Land Speed Record on 12th July 1924 with a speed of 146 mph at Arpajon, France.
The car was nicknamed 'Mefistofele' which literally translated mean 'infernal noise'.
Click for pronunciation.
This is the kit:
The model when finished:
Sprue shots:
Multi piece friction lever shockers:
The 400 pieces of the chain drive:
Which fortunately appear to go together 'en masse' with what looks like an ingenious system of overlapping and melting.
The instruction manual is a bit like 'War and Peace' but does appear to be a bit vague in places:
A box with myriads of bits and bobs:
Including all the exposed valve springs:
Plus what looked at first like a metal axle:
But turned out to be a very tightly wound 'bendy' spring:
That's all for now people, off to clear the bench as this one is going to take a lot of room.
I don't know how many detailed photos I can get of the car but I will be looking to put in extra details as usual.
Should be able to get started tomorrow.
When finished it will be the largest kit I have done so far.
The real car (a one of a kind) was built in 1923 by Sir Ernest Arthur Douglas Eldridge, (a British racing car driver) and utilised a Fiat, straight six, 21.7 litre, 316 bhp, A12 aero engine, dropped into a 1908 Fiat SB4 chassis.
With this combination, Sir Arthur broke the World Land Speed Record on 12th July 1924 with a speed of 146 mph at Arpajon, France.
The car was nicknamed 'Mefistofele' which literally translated mean 'infernal noise'.
Click for pronunciation.
This is the kit:
The model when finished:
Sprue shots:
Multi piece friction lever shockers:
The 400 pieces of the chain drive:
Which fortunately appear to go together 'en masse' with what looks like an ingenious system of overlapping and melting.
The instruction manual is a bit like 'War and Peace' but does appear to be a bit vague in places:
A box with myriads of bits and bobs:
Including all the exposed valve springs:
Plus what looked at first like a metal axle:
But turned out to be a very tightly wound 'bendy' spring:
That's all for now people, off to clear the bench as this one is going to take a lot of room.
I don't know how many detailed photos I can get of the car but I will be looking to put in extra details as usual.
Should be able to get started tomorrow.
_________________
Al.
Constructive criticism is always welcome.
“Success always demands a greater effort.” Winston Churchill
"Success is failure turned inside out" Unknown
Re: Fiat SB4 Eldridge (Mefistofele)
Insane detail! Hope it doesn't drive you the same. Mephistopheles is closer to the devil in this kit. Good luck on this one. Serious patience required here!
harron68- Advanced Member
- Posts : 3615
Join date : 2013-02-28
Age : 73
Location : MIDWEST
Re: Fiat SB4 Eldridge (Mefistofele)
LOL............. the devil is in the details Harron and it should be a demon build!!
_________________
Al.
Constructive criticism is always welcome.
“Success always demands a greater effort.” Winston Churchill
"Success is failure turned inside out" Unknown
Re: Fiat SB4 Eldridge (Mefistofele)
Awesome looking project, Al. I'll definitely watch this one closely. Love the old big scales.
RetiredMike- Advanced Member
- Posts : 3525
Join date : 2013-04-27
Age : 73
Location : Valparaiso, Indiana
Re: Fiat SB4 Eldridge (Mefistofele)
That is a beauty by the looks of it. Love the old "knee jerk" shocks, and the chain drive rear wheels. No doubt you will get a better fit on the chains than the box art. lol
Sam- Resident member
- Posts : 1956
Join date : 2013-02-23
Age : 57
Location : Back in Toledo, Oregon
Re: Fiat SB4 Eldridge (Mefistofele)
RetiredMike wrote:Awesome looking project, Al. I'll definitely watch this one closely. Love the old big scales.
I agree !!!
This looks awesome !!!
Geezerman- Advanced Member
- Posts : 3651
Join date : 2013-02-24
Age : 88
Location : Gulf coast of central Florids
Re: Fiat SB4 Eldridge (Mefistofele)
What john said !!!!!
Slightly bemused what a six part opera has to do with a Fiat racing car though lol
Slightly bemused what a six part opera has to do with a Fiat racing car though lol
Guest- Guest
Re: Fiat SB4 Eldridge (Mefistofele)
Awesome looking kit, I can't wait to see this one come together.
Guest- Guest
Re: Fiat SB4 Eldridge (Mefistofele)
Wow. That chain is a kit in itself.
Have you looked at any PE chains for motorcycle kits to see if you can find something that might look better or to fall back on if the kit chain goes south?
Have you looked at any PE chains for motorcycle kits to see if you can find something that might look better or to fall back on if the kit chain goes south?
Speed Racer 65- Intermediate Member
- Posts : 865
Join date : 2015-08-06
Location : Louisville KY
Re: Fiat SB4 Eldridge (Mefistofele)
I'm in...
Andy...
Andy...
_________________
Andy...
Life isn't about how to survive the storm, but how to dance in the rain...
Re: Fiat SB4 Eldridge (Mefistofele)
This kit got me drooling. Skid. I googled it and came across a couple.
$150 and $200 !
Too salty for me ! So, I'll be happy watching you go thru it !
$150 and $200 !
Too salty for me ! So, I'll be happy watching you go thru it !
Geezerman- Advanced Member
- Posts : 3651
Join date : 2013-02-24
Age : 88
Location : Gulf coast of central Florids
Re: Fiat SB4 Eldridge (Mefistofele)
Thanks guys. I'm really looking forward to this one. I considered doing it as a barn find but I think it's way to nice to do that to it. So it will be built 'fresh for it's record attempt'
I hadn't considered that Mitch but it's a good plan B. Thanks.
Clay, I 'ummed and 'arrred over the price for three years but took the plunge when one came up at a discounted price!!
Speed Racer 65 wrote:Wow. That chain is a kit in itself.
Have you looked at any PE chains for motorcycle kits to see if you can find something that might look better or to fall back on if the kit chain goes south?
I hadn't considered that Mitch but it's a good plan B. Thanks.
Geezerman wrote:This kit got me drooling. Skid. I googled it and came across a couple.
$150 and $200 !
Too salty for me ! So, I'll be happy watching you go thru it !
Clay, I 'ummed and 'arrred over the price for three years but took the plunge when one came up at a discounted price!!
_________________
Al.
Constructive criticism is always welcome.
“Success always demands a greater effort.” Winston Churchill
"Success is failure turned inside out" Unknown
Re: Fiat SB4 Eldridge (Mefistofele)
When Speedvision was still on the air, they used to have a show from Goodwood every year.I think it was called "The Festival of Speed". Anyway one year they had one of these cars or this car racing up the hill climb part of it. That Big engine was amazing to hear. I am like Clay I would love to build this kit, but will make do with watching Al work his magic.
Guest- Guest
Re: Fiat SB4 Eldridge (Mefistofele)
LOL at Buck.
Construction is under way. One noticeable thing is some very long sprue attachment points:
However, I'm pleased to say they come away quite easily with a couple of light passes with a scalpel. Just as well, as there are quite a few on the body panels.
Basic chassis assembled. All the parts are a press fit, fit well and true, which makes MEKing a breeze.
This photo will give you a better idea of the size of the beast:
The front axle halves screw together to allow for the steerable front wheels but I also glued it:
I then added the springs, which together with the rear hangers, attach just like the 1:1:
Steering left:
Construction is under way. One noticeable thing is some very long sprue attachment points:
However, I'm pleased to say they come away quite easily with a couple of light passes with a scalpel. Just as well, as there are quite a few on the body panels.
Basic chassis assembled. All the parts are a press fit, fit well and true, which makes MEKing a breeze.
This photo will give you a better idea of the size of the beast:
The front axle halves screw together to allow for the steerable front wheels but I also glued it:
I then added the springs, which together with the rear hangers, attach just like the 1:1:
Steering left:
_________________
Al.
Constructive criticism is always welcome.
“Success always demands a greater effort.” Winston Churchill
"Success is failure turned inside out" Unknown
Re: Fiat SB4 Eldridge (Mefistofele)
That is a big one Al. Looks like you get to build the steering box. I built couple of big kits as a kid and always tried to lubricate the gears in the gear box or window regulator assembly and usually what happened is what ever I used as a lube would make the glue break down and make the plastic brittle and the parts would break and fall apart and wouldn't take glue anymore. I remember using petroleum jelly and or vegetable oil. Dumb kid stuff.
Anyway. I am looking forward to watching this come together. I like all the moving parts.
Anyway. I am looking forward to watching this come together. I like all the moving parts.
Speed Racer 65- Intermediate Member
- Posts : 865
Join date : 2015-08-06
Location : Louisville KY
Re: Fiat SB4 Eldridge (Mefistofele)
Thanks for the heads up Mitch. Never thought about lubricating the steering box but I'll give that a miss now.
That's the great thing about reading and posting in other peoples threads, we all benefit sooner or later. I think it's called 'scratching backs'. LOL
That's the great thing about reading and posting in other peoples threads, we all benefit sooner or later. I think it's called 'scratching backs'. LOL
_________________
Al.
Constructive criticism is always welcome.
“Success always demands a greater effort.” Winston Churchill
"Success is failure turned inside out" Unknown
Re: Fiat SB4 Eldridge (Mefistofele)
You can buy lube especially for polycarb and ABS plastic ... just go to your local radio control stockist ... it doesn't weaken the plastic racks or gearboxes of the cars.
I may even have some knocking around in my RC box ... if there's some there and it's still ok i can pop it in the post if you want.
I may even have some knocking around in my RC box ... if there's some there and it's still ok i can pop it in the post if you want.
Guest- Guest
Re: Fiat SB4 Eldridge (Mefistofele)
Thanks for the offer Colin but I'm not big on working parts so I'll just lock everything up.
_________________
Al.
Constructive criticism is always welcome.
“Success always demands a greater effort.” Winston Churchill
"Success is failure turned inside out" Unknown
Geezerman- Advanced Member
- Posts : 3651
Join date : 2013-02-24
Age : 88
Location : Gulf coast of central Florids
Re: Fiat SB4 Eldridge (Mefistofele)
The friction shock absorbers go together in exactly the same way as the real deal:
The bottom mounting points are also the top of the clamp that holds the front axle in place but the 'pegs' were square and the holes in the shockers were round... and we all know that saying!!! So I had to remove them to make the pegs round!!
The bottom mounting points are also the top of the clamp that holds the front axle in place but the 'pegs' were square and the holes in the shockers were round... and we all know that saying!!! So I had to remove them to make the pegs round!!
_________________
Al.
Constructive criticism is always welcome.
“Success always demands a greater effort.” Winston Churchill
"Success is failure turned inside out" Unknown
Re: Fiat SB4 Eldridge (Mefistofele)
I am enjoying watching this one go together Al.
Speed Racer 65- Intermediate Member
- Posts : 865
Join date : 2015-08-06
Location : Louisville KY
Re: Fiat SB4 Eldridge (Mefistofele)
I've got this kit deffo one I'm following now.
kpnuts- Resident member
- Posts : 1676
Join date : 2015-01-29
Geezerman- Advanced Member
- Posts : 3651
Join date : 2013-02-24
Age : 88
Location : Gulf coast of central Florids
Re: Fiat SB4 Eldridge (Mefistofele)
Looking great Al. I have built several active models. When I built the Lindberg Big Red Rod it was recommended that you use petroleum Jelly as a lube in the steering box , transmission and Differential. I did and now after 8 years there are no problems at all with it. Just my personal experience. I know other modelers who use Corn Oil (cooking oil) they say a very light coat will help keep the moving parts from sticking together when glued.
Guest- Guest
Page 1 of 5 • 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Similar topics
» 4 x 4 Fiat
» Fiat 500..... My Way.
» Tamiya Fiat 500
» Protar 1/12 1927 Fiat 806
» Italari 1/12 Fiat Mefistofeles
» Fiat 500..... My Way.
» Tamiya Fiat 500
» Protar 1/12 1927 Fiat 806
» Italari 1/12 Fiat Mefistofeles
Skid's :: Works In Progress :: Race cars
Page 1 of 5
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum