Post by gloobombking on Sept 5, 2021 19:12:22 GMT -6
I am sure most of you geezers my age remember or built the Renwal Visible V8 model kit. A few years ago Revell reissued this model without the electrics and only included a hand crank. The kit is ok except there are some flaws. The camshaft in the Revell kit has a bow in it. Every single one I have looked at have this flaw. It can be fixed with some time and hot water but if you have an original Renwal part, use it.
Years ago in my youth I attempted this kit and failed horribly. I tried again when I was a little older and got it to work----kinda. In my old age (Now) I built the Revell version just to get a feel of the old kit again and started an old original Renwal and plan to make some improvements.
The latest Revell version with the hand crank and deleted electrics.
This time, I made sure my basic engine block is straight and square. I then spent extra time making sure the crankshaft went together straight as I could make it.
The instructions call for placing the one piece connecting rod on the journals when you assemble the crankshaft. I always felt this made making the shaft straight as possible almost impossible. I sanded each piece with sandpaper on a piece of glass to make sure the parts were flat. Then spent extra time assembling the crankshaft and making it straight WITHOUT attaching the connecting rods. I will show you later how I fixed that assembly. I polished the journals and and saddles and lubed them with some glycerin. The crank is straight and spins nicely.
Here is the way I modified the rods. I filed the molded in rod bolt nibs away as shown. Modified rod on left, original on right.
I then placed them in my vice and drilled them to accept a 2-56 tap and then cut the big end in half. I am using nylon 2-56 cap screws.
Now I can bore the large end to fit the crank, polish the journal and bolt together like a 1:1 engine. I am using parts from an original Renwal and the newer Revell. If you try this, the original parts are much more useable than the newer pieces. The revell plastic is very brittle and breaks easily. As you might guess, this is rather time consuming so this thread will take a while. Please ask questions and let me hear comments. I would hope one of you readers will give this kit a go, it is a lot of fun.
Years ago in my youth I attempted this kit and failed horribly. I tried again when I was a little older and got it to work----kinda. In my old age (Now) I built the Revell version just to get a feel of the old kit again and started an old original Renwal and plan to make some improvements.
The latest Revell version with the hand crank and deleted electrics.
This time, I made sure my basic engine block is straight and square. I then spent extra time making sure the crankshaft went together straight as I could make it.
The instructions call for placing the one piece connecting rod on the journals when you assemble the crankshaft. I always felt this made making the shaft straight as possible almost impossible. I sanded each piece with sandpaper on a piece of glass to make sure the parts were flat. Then spent extra time assembling the crankshaft and making it straight WITHOUT attaching the connecting rods. I will show you later how I fixed that assembly. I polished the journals and and saddles and lubed them with some glycerin. The crank is straight and spins nicely.
Here is the way I modified the rods. I filed the molded in rod bolt nibs away as shown. Modified rod on left, original on right.
I then placed them in my vice and drilled them to accept a 2-56 tap and then cut the big end in half. I am using nylon 2-56 cap screws.
Now I can bore the large end to fit the crank, polish the journal and bolt together like a 1:1 engine. I am using parts from an original Renwal and the newer Revell. If you try this, the original parts are much more useable than the newer pieces. The revell plastic is very brittle and breaks easily. As you might guess, this is rather time consuming so this thread will take a while. Please ask questions and let me hear comments. I would hope one of you readers will give this kit a go, it is a lot of fun.
