Lola T-70 Mk III

[ScaleMaster]

Thanks Gary! I know I'm into the thousands of fabricated parts, but no clue to an actual number. Don't have an hour count either, but often I spent more time per day than I did working at my real job.


Time to install the main electrical wiring and a bunch of scratch-built subassemblies. I had already made the wires with ends and the brass guide clips. I installed the fuel pump, regulator & filters and ran the oil lines to the engine. The battery & hold down and the dipstick were installed too. I also added a half dozen more suspension parts/fasteners and the exhaust. This is still dry assembled and not everything is connected, just making sure all the lines are the correct length and that there are no interference issues. It's getting packed pretty tightly…

[ScaleMaster]

Today's project was to make and install the rear brake lines. These are brackets for the hard lines out to the soft lines. Fabricated from sheet brass.

I made the Tee and the clamp and bent the lines today, but I had machined the fittings when I was making the front brake lines.

I had to tear down the right rear suspension and pull the right side header off to install the lines. Sure made installing the lines a lot easier… The soft lines are vinyl tubing.

[ScaleMaster]

Grounding strap for the engine to chassis. Will it be seen when it's in installed? Maybe. Doesn't matter.

[ScaleMaster]

Another dozen and a half nuts, bolts and washers were machined and installed for the rear suspension. The rear section of the clutch line was added and the battery has been grounded. It's barely visible…

[ScaleMaster]

Back to the doors… I installed the gas struts and made the mounting hardware. I think they are done.

[ScaleMaster]

The exhaust system and rear tray are installed. The dashboard assembly is installed. Getting closer to begin mounting some of the body panels to the tub…

[ScaleMaster]

Another significant step forward, the last section of the body has had the paint cut and polished. The insides are painted as well. Once that is dry it will get some wax. (It's quite the dust magnet right now.)

[ScaleMaster]

Several people have pointed out the risks of using the kit supplied air duct hose as it has a propensity for melting plastic over time. While I was already aware of this issue, (the ones in this kit melted some of the parts well before I started building it), and have been lucky in the past, I decided I have too much invested to take that risk even with the precautions taken on this car. I also was not keen on the color of them. So I pulled them off and fabricated new ones from wire and white glue.

I wound the wire around the proper sized bolt for the diameter I wanted.

After the glue dried I made connectors with shrink tubing.

I painted them with orange R/C car (Lexan) paint and gave them a wash of Tamiya Smoke with Flat Base mixed in to it.

Plenty of flex to route them where they need to go and a direct retrofit to boot.

[JunkGTZ]

So that I understand your process, you wrapped the bolt with the wire, coated it with white glue, then unscrewed the bolt out of the spring, added the shrink tubing endings, and paint? I suppose the white glue retains some flexibility. Does it hold up over time? It's a great technique. Can't wait for the unveiling!

[ScaleMaster]

Close, I unscrewed it before applying the glue.
Yes the they stay quite flexible and since they are not going to be moved once in place they will old up fine.

[MODEL A MODEL]

You could pour or inject more glue into the tube? Reinforcing the wall thickness?

[ScaleMaster]

You could, but if you wanted to have an end open that would make them look too thick. And it's not needed, at least on this project.

[ScaleMaster]

The radiator is installed and the cooling system has been plumbed . I'll install the stone guard and petcock later due to them being somewhat fragile.

[Roger Zimmermann]

Nice! It's hard to build something when paint is already applied. I could not to it that way...

[ScaleMaster]

I didn't really have a choice to build it otherwise. I too would prefer to have the painted body go on last and at this point it is just sitting on the tub. But soon it will have to be attached to run and connect the elements from the interior to the underhood areas. Hopefully my measuring and engineering will work as I planned.