1:12 1932 Cadillac V-16 frame and engine

[Roger Zimmermann]

Those two little curves around the brake booster gave me some trouble to have the end of tube at the right position. I did not bend the tube; I cut slices and silver soldered the cuts. The space between the tube and the frame is really tight. As the engine has limited movements (especially mine!), it should not be a problem here.
There is one support at the front of each muffler and one at the rear. I’m attaching a front support from a real frame because with so many rods and all parts the same color, it will be difficult to understand. There is one vertical plate, attached at the transversal’s tubes for the brakes and one rod limiting the transversal movements from the muffler. Some rubber grommets are used to limit the noise transmission to the frame.
The rear muffler’s support is from a different construction; this is a bracket attached to the third cross member, also with rubber grommets. As the threaded holes I did on the cross member are not at the right place, I had to improvise with the shape of the brackets. The next challenge will be the outlet tubes: if I’m replicating the tubes from the real frame, they will come in conflict with the rear axel’s rods at the end of its travel. I will also have to improvise and shape the tubes to clear the rods.

[Roger Zimmermann]

During my search for exhaust tube's pictures, I found a supplier offering those for the V-16 cars. At first, I was unsure if they were for this type of cars unless I saw that I was making an error with the tubes orientation: what I saw in front was indeed the outlet. The curves I saw are indeed necessary to clear the rear axle's rods.
Therefore, the frame I measured in Germany may have some interference with the home made exhaust system.
There were many slices cut through the tube to get the proper alignment. Sometimes, one or the other curve was exaggerated, I had to do other slices, open slightly the tube and insert some brass.
Finally, I was satisfied with the LH tube. I added the tuning chamber as it's called by Cadillac. Was that system efficient?
Another surprising fact: the mufflers are supported at the front and at the rear with small rubber grommets. However, at the cross member in front of the tank and at the last one, the tubes are attached directly to the corresponding brackets, without provision for thermal expansion...

[MODEL A MODEL]

The "Tuning Chamber", was that used to adjust back pressure, or to affect the resonance, sound, of the exhaust?

[Roger Zimmermann]

It seems that this system was used during 1932 to 1934 on some models (V-8, V-12 and V-16). Probably it was a method to get the exhaust note "right".

[Roger Zimmermann]

As the exhaust is more or less finished (I should do the exhaust tips, but it's too early), I continued with the front brakes: I added the guide and retainer for the cable at the frame and the retainer and anchor for the cable at the wheels. I also added the rods on which the cables will be silver soldered.
As I'm still missing the case for the cable, I began the radiator. It's a huge construction with plenty stamped parts encasing the radiator core and the tanks. I will have plenty to do, especially with the honeycomb. I don't know how I will do it; the previous method with paper will not be possible here. As my working pace is rather slow, it will be for next year.

[MODEL A MODEL]

Merry Christmas Roger!

[markus68]

Merry christmas to everyone. Markus

[Roger Zimmermann]

Thanks Don and Markus!
Happy New Year to all people here!
Recently, I began the radiator as I mentioned in my last post. I'm attaching a picture from the real thing: the more or les honeycomb. I had an idea to replicate it, but my solution is a failure: to have a rother crisp element, when I squeeze both tool's halves, I'm just getting tiny elements cut from the tool. Of course, I don't try to press the 0.1mm brass at once, but I'm doing 2 or 3 teeth each time. It takes an awful long time to do one band, but this is not the issue.
How would you replicate that radiator core? It's about 45mm (1.77") wide and 55 mm (2.16") tall.
My idea was to soft sold the bands on a plate, one assembly for each side. Obviously my grandiose plan is kaput!

[MODEL A MODEL]

Wow! You are always going that step further!

I have researched radiator cores and I have some untested ideas.

[MODEL A MODEL]

Have you looked at the video of how these things are made? I think somewhere I posted the 2-part video, and in my Bugatti thread there is the second part of the videos, posted by Buck, which shows all the strips held in a frame, and then the whole being dipped into a shallow tray of molten solder.

I tried to modify a pair of gears to create a Half-Hexagon, zigzag strip, and tried Brass, Copper, and paper(s). The paper actually, did work the easiest, the Copper didn't want to separate from the forming wheels/gears. Both the Copper and Brass were also prone to tearing.

So? -what if you used Paper, temporarily gluing them down, on edge, with a water-soluble glue, and then bonded them to each other with a glue or resin of your choice? Later to dissolve the water-based glue away? Rubber cement could also be used instead of a water based one. -A water-based glue might wick up into the paper and compromise a later adhesive. Perhaps a sprayable adhesive, or a "Sticky Backed" material, like shelf paper might work. For aligning your strips.

You could go the compromise and use wire screen mesh, often done, rarely attractive.

Or?

Or you could cut your zigzag into acrylic sheet and bond strips together like you did so amazingly on your Continental build.

[MODEL A MODEL]

Your forming tool probably wants to put too many folds in at once? I tried using a rubber eraser to push in just one area at a time, but the ribbon fights that too. How about "inching" along? Step by step. Fold a short segment, one side of the tooling in a relative fixed place and using not the entirety of the other side right away, but advancing it in increments across the face of the other? A rocking motion? Maybe?

[MODEL A MODEL]

Sorry, I reread your post and of course missed the part where you state that your only doing a few "teeth" at a time.

Sorry.

So your feeding your Brass crocodile from the open "mouth" end and crimp, open, advance towards the sliding pivot, (good idea), and chomp, chomp, chomp!

[MODEL A MODEL]

Happy New Year! to you and yours!

[Roger Zimmermann]

Ah! Now a moderator is checking the messages...My answer to Don is gone!

[MODEL A MODEL]

You're teasing me. ()

My apologies for going on and on, I have been laid up for almost two weeks with a sprained foot, and then an over-worked knee. A bit of cabin fever.

Your work is always inspiring, and I am your "biggest fan from Long Beach"

signed: YBFFLB