MURAT - 131
(FIAT-131 Mirafiori)

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

Page 4 of 5


 
15 March 2013:
I made Autocad drawings for the front wheels to be poseable.


16 March 2013:
I had the parts cut from steel with laser.

 

I shaped the anti-roll bar to fit in place.


I glued metal washers (for mounting the wheels) on the strutd with CA glue, and bent the steering arms. Then I prepared the springs, put them on the struts and fixed with CA glue.


I installed the front system temporarily and made operational checks.


17 March 2013:
I prepared the other items on the floor panel and glued. To prevent silicone from gettting through the spaces between the items and the floor panel, I installed partitional styrene sheets. The shaft and the exhaust pipe are also glued to the floor panel so that silicone leakage is prevented.



I did the completing part of the exhaust pipe on the rear floor panel and put another partition sheet.


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

I manufactured a wheel, made a mold and produced a resin sample.

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.

19 March 2013:
I prepared the door inners from styrene sheet, as the master for the mold.


19 March 2013:
I prepared the silicone molds for the floor panels and cast resin parts.


I cut the supporting partitions on the exhaust pipe, driveshaft and rear axle lower arms, the parts now appear as eeparate items. To prevent breaking of the lower arms when removing from the mold, I placed brass wires in the mold befor pouring resin.


The two floor panel parts brought together.


31 March 2013:
I prepared the steering wheel column, took the mold and cast the part, then added the steering wheel that I have had cut by laser, then bent to shape.


02 April 2013:
I prepared the gauges on the computer, had a print, then assembled the dashboard.


I painted the floor panel flat and semi-gloss black. I applied dark blue flocking on the seats, then glued the seats on the floor panel.


03 April 2013:
I painted the body, then went on applying the flat black paint where required. I applied masking tape, painted flat black and when I removed the tapes... Disaster!
Though stayed on the body for a short time, traces of the masking had been left on the paint. I sanded the traces by rubbing with toothpaste.



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