MURAT - 131
(FIAT-131 Mirafiori)

Scale : 1/24
Started: 07 August 2011
Finished: 05 April 2013

Page 3 of 5


 
01 March 2013:
I made use of the Italeri Abarth kit for the floor panel. I had to shorten a bit, both at the front end and the firewall heights. I also cut off the rearmost part.


02 March 2013:
I made the spare wheel housing by simple pressing of heated styrene sheet. I made the boot floor panel also from styrene and glued the spare wheel housing in place. Then I made a fitting check.


 
02 March 2013:
The parcel shelf of the Italeri kit was different from how it should be, so I had to make a separate part to correct the angled profile.




First, I had to shape the bulge to hide the fuel filler pipe. I carved the edge of some wooden block and shaped the styrene part by heating and pressing.  Next step was to make the pressing at the center. I made the female part from styrene sheet and the smaller male part from galvanized steel.



After positioning the panel on the female die, I applied pressure on the male, heated by a soldering gun. The central pressing was now done.

 
After glueing of the parcel shelf on the base, I made a fit-check with the body.



I covered the engine bay gap with styrene sheet, so that I would be able to glue the embossings of the engine, gearbox etc.



09 March 2013:
I prepared the rear axle and glued on the rear part of the floor panel, with a fitting check.


10 March 2013:
I manufactured a wheel, made a mold and produced a resin sample.


11 March 2013:
For the rear suspension, I wound a piece of wire over plastic tubing, applied CA glue to fill between the wire and pipe, then wrapped the whole with teflon band to guarantee no gaps in between. Then I glued them inside the rear wheel well.


12 March 2013:
Since the embossings on the floor panel were not realistic, I shaved them off.


Shaving the material proved to leave too thin material, so I cut them off and filled the gaps with styrene sheets.


13 March 2013:
I prepared new parts (at least more authentic than before) and glued under the floor panel.


I prepared the rearmost exhaust pipe and the silencer, then glued on the rear floor panel.








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