First step was to address the blocks. And I decided that I wanted to re-shape the top covers to match the originals. For anyone interested, there is a great site in the UK that is one of the top parts-suppliers. Fiennes Engineering. They, along with Ristes and AJ Glew are the varsity in Ghost parts production. But Fiennes has the best pictures on their Web site. Want to know what things look like? www.fiennes.co.uk.
Here is what the top covers should look like. Compared to the rectangular covers that come with the kit, the originals are more rounded and are relieved for the center plugs (over the center of the cylinder... more on that later). The car in the kit is from a series that had both plugs over the valve. But some series allowed plugs over the center of the cylinder, so the magneto plug was in a more advantageous position to start two flame fronts....
This shows the actual cover.
I took the kit covers (shown in the photo below) and re-shaped them and re-drilled. The filler will get sanded to create the rounded shape and I plan on using the original 'bolts' to hold the covers down. Unless I decide to go totally nuts and put in 12BA studs. The Jury is out on that. See later.... I hate 12BA nuts, BTW. Did I mention, more on that later?
With the top covers addressed, it was time to add some extra holes to the blocks for the core plugs. These are the brass plugs that were used to remove the sand from the casting and were 'filled' by RR with brass plugs and aluminum washers. Even in 1/6th scale, these will add a bit of extra twinkle and will be made from 3/16 brass hex, which is exactly the right scale.
Here ^^^ are the blocks after some surgery. First, holes are being filled that were part of the original covers. The epoxy is drying. Several more holes have been drilled for the core plugs. Also, sharp edges from the milling are being relieved and smoothed. More work to do. Also sparking plugs holes to be drilled. But I won't be putting in 'center' plugs, instead, I'll be putting in the correct Brass plugs that blanked off the holes when the plugs were over the valves.
Note that I also fitted the cylinder bores to the blocks at this stage, though Armortek would suggest otherwise. I want to get the blocks done as a unit... and painted. Knowing that I can put them together later... I wanted to change the 'bolts' to studs and nuts. Originals were 7/16 BSF which are 8BA in 1/6th scale.
Next on the hit parade for the blocks are to improve the tappet covers and put in aluminum spacers to add some dimension.
With those little items done... it was time to move on to the sump. Where the real insanity begins...
Cheers,
RPR
P.S. While I was working on this, I was thinking about an exchange I had with a European Ghost Owner... who had rejected owning an Armortek kit because he was all antsy-in-his-pantsy and bent-out-of-shape that some of the things I am doing to the kit... were not that way from the factory. My response was, in short, pound sand. Kian and Mark make magnificent kits. But there are two kinds of buyers, I have seen. One type is the person who wants to get it together and running as rapidly as possible and builds a magnificent kit, often for RC, that is the envy of any miniatures enthusiast. The other is the kind of person who looks at an Armortek kit as a blank canvas. An amazing starting point for adding one's own modifications and touches that would be so un-economical in a production kit as to be insane. But that is what we live for... Dave Dibb, Jeff, Myself and others... look at our Armortek kits as the starting point... Not the end. Anyway, the insanity that is about to unfold in this build, I think, is going to reflect the latter kind of owner/enthusiast! Hope you guys will enjoy...
