Alfa Engine Preview

[xken]

Andy,

Most great photographs are accomplished that way. Are those the cast metal covers that you made? If so who's or what alloy did you use to cast?

Looking forward to seeing the build pictures when you post; it is always interesting to see how others approach the build process.

Also how does April 2 look for a trip down to visit you and the museum? ;';;';

Ken

[Andym]

Good morning Ken. Those metal covers are an alloy with a LOT of sterling silver in them and they were cast by Marvin Meit at Model Motorcars . In 2007 I picked up the last set he ever made and have been saving them specifically for this build. I poked and chipped and sanded them to rough them up a bit so they looked right sitting on an engine block. The nice part about them is that as they age they get this beautiful patina.

I'll check on April 2nd and let you know if that can work. I'm free but need to check with the bike's owner to make sure he can make the HD available for photos that day. I also need to check with Terri to find out if I'm allowed to have a play date that day.

Andy.

[xken]

Andy,

I have used the "pot metal" that Micromark sells for casting , try it sometime you will not need to distress, comes out of the mold that way. I did test casts using a silicone mold on the cylinders for the 1/16th scale Mercedes engine for the Fokker D VII. Will have to post an image of it sometime.

Yes I know about play dates with the boss, this weekend I am helping her at a local craft show peddeling her wares. All I am is grunt labor.

Keep me posted.

Ken

[Andym]

I've never had much success with casting Ken. I have trouble holding the motlen metal in my hands long enough for it to cool and usually end up dropping it all over the floor.

Am I doing something wrong?

[Dougritt]

FANTASTIC looking image Andy...looks better than 1:1 ! I can't wait to see more. The v covers are amazing!

[xken]

Andy, yes I had the same problem holding the molten metal to and then I got a small steel ladle and I don't drop the hot metal on the floor any more and it is easier to hit the filler hole in the mold.

Ken

[xken]

Andy, here is my one and only attempt at casting metal. Again using the metal from MicroMark in a silicone mold which was made to pressure cast resin . As you can see the resin parts are crisper and cleaner using the pressure pot than the gravity cast metal. The voids in the metal can be corrected by the addition of air vents. This was just a quick experiment on my part since I already had the silicone molds for the engine done.

Also no attempt was made to clean or finish the metal casting , this is how it came out of the mold.




Just FYI for those who may wish to try their own metal casting .

Ken

[Andym]

Now you're tempting me to get into casting ! If I could add a reliable casting system and an English Wheel to my metal shop, there's nothing I couldn't make in scale!

[Andym]

FANTASTIC looking image Andy...looks better than 1:1 ! I can't wait to see more. The v covers are amazing!

Thanks Doug. I can't wait to see more myself! I just wanna get this thing done. I checked my records and found out that I started this project 2 years, 3 weeks and 2 days ago. That's the longest i've ever spent on any build!

Taking Alfa and new engine to competition on Sunday so have to have it done tomorrow night at the latest. Will post pictures ASAP.

Andy.

[xken]

Andy, here is your one stop shop for resin casting ! Make sure to look at adding metallic powders to resin . Enjoy!

Model Making, Rubber Molds and Casts, High Quality Reproductions

Here is English Wheel at Harbor Freight

English Wheel

Ken