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Aurora Cunningham roadster build

PostPosted: Fri Oct 27, 2017 8:35 pm
by VTECFOUR
Got this Aurora Cunningham roadster in pieces from a fellow GVSCC member.

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Must be pretty old as the main body's not one, but five pieces.

Cleaned up the previously glued panel joints and re-glued it together. The result is quite a good looking classic roadster.

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Not exactly great fitting seams so there'll be a bit of filing, sanding and filling on top. Will reinforce the seams underneath with epoxy to strengthen it.

Chassis-wise, I'll re-work this one constructed by another GVSCC member, Retro Racer44, who passed away almost a year ago.

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Will make it adjustable to fit the longer wheelbase, add side pans and do a general clean up.

Dan

Re: Aurora Cunningham roadster build

PostPosted: Fri Oct 27, 2017 9:06 pm
by dge467
Looking forward to your build. I converted one to a slot car years ago.

Re: Aurora Cunningham roadster build

PostPosted: Fri Oct 27, 2017 9:33 pm
by chappyman66
Oh yeah. Have wanted to do a stable of Cunningham cars but have to make do with resin, unless you can get one of these kits.

Very cool. Will be watching.

Re: Aurora Cunningham roadster build

PostPosted: Fri Oct 27, 2017 10:45 pm
by chris
Always loved this kit, grill is big enough to suck in low flying Cessna's! Had one sitting on a Revell chassis back in the late '60's.
Looking like its gonna be a great build.

Chris.

Re: Aurora Cunningham roadster build

PostPosted: Sat Oct 28, 2017 2:01 am
by bigman
:text-goodpost: VTECFOUR :text-bravo:
You did a great job cleaning your Cunningham roadster up. :text-bravo:
For as old as your body is it fits pretty darn good with all the pieces other then the belt line on the rear :clap:
I'm starting to like the older slot cars, some of them are not the cookie cuter models like cars you can buy off paybay were you could see more then ten of the same car and the same color cars. :auto-car: :auto-car: :auto-car: :auto-car: :auto-car: :auto-car: :auto-car:
Keep the pic's coming can't wait to see the finished unit. :auto-checkeredflag: :text-thankyouyellow:

bigman BIG Fan of the Cunningham Roadster :banana-dance:

Re: Aurora Cunningham roadster build

PostPosted: Sat Oct 28, 2017 4:37 am
by Audi1
That's an interesting one, for sure. Looking forward to seeing the progress. Good choice on the BWANC-1; nice motor, very drivable.

Allan

Re: Aurora Cunningham roadster build

PostPosted: Sat Oct 28, 2017 8:26 pm
by VTECFOUR
Worked on the chassis. Gave it a good deal of filing, sanding and scrubbing. Lastly, modified it for adjustable wheelbase.

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Added the body's rear valence that had to be cut off the kit's chassis, so that makes six pieces to form a main body.

Mocked the body on.

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Going for this stance with the wheels/tires tucked in.

Dan

Re: Aurora Cunningham roadster build

PostPosted: Sat Oct 28, 2017 11:44 pm
by TuscoTodd
That is shaping up nice!
:text-bravo:

Re: Aurora Cunningham roadster build

PostPosted: Sun Oct 29, 2017 12:22 pm
by munter
Nice build. I have that kit in my stash as well.
I did copy a bad resin version of that body and mostly built a car???
I lifted the front wheel arch profile a little on mine.
Then I became nervous that the car was a little over scale and it is still sitting in the "nearly finished" pile.

I like yours though and I have a feeling you will finish it.

Re: Aurora Cunningham roadster build

PostPosted: Sun Oct 29, 2017 5:40 pm
by VTECFOUR
Chassis's rolling.

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Added flexi .032 brass side pans. Tapered them as the inner body sills widen, back to front. Kept the BWA NC1 motor with 2.67:1 gearing (9t pinion, 24t crown). Tires are Paul Gage that fit Ninco Classics.

Adjusted front and rear wheel track to fit just within the thinned out wheel arch walls.

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Ready now for final body mounting, a single post at the front and back.

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Research shows the tires on the 1:1 cars are fully visible in the wheel arches but I like this tucked-in lowered stance.

Runs well with good driveability.

Onto finishing the body which is quite a hard plastic. Filing the rough seams is a chore never mind sanding.

Dan

Re: Aurora Cunningham roadster build

PostPosted: Sun Oct 29, 2017 6:55 pm
by JT Previa
Sleek and elegant body and chassis work!

JT

Re: Aurora Cunningham roadster build

PostPosted: Sun Oct 29, 2017 8:26 pm
by SuperSlab
Very nice work Dan. Nice tribute to Keith with the chassis work.

I suspect this will run uncommonly well for a classic car on the Targa

Alwyn

Re: Aurora Cunningham roadster build

PostPosted: Tue Oct 31, 2017 11:57 am
by VTECFOUR
@ munter - Funny, first time I saw the body semi-assembled, I had the same thought that it was larger scale than 1/32.

Body's close to ready for first coat of primer. Lots of seams filled and sanded. Glued in the dash and a filler strip to complete the surround.

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As the kit's full window frame and glass wasn't included, I'm going with a Brooklands screen from a Tamiya 1/24 Lotus 7. It doesn't look noticeably too large so I think the body is bigger than 1/32.

No matter, the car still works for me.

Dan

Re: Aurora Cunningham roadster build

PostPosted: Tue Oct 31, 2017 1:45 pm
by glasshorsevh
Really like this build. Great subject matter...

Val

Re: Aurora Cunningham roadster build

PostPosted: Tue Oct 31, 2017 2:45 pm
by VTECFOUR
First coat of Tamiya fine white primer sprayed.

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As usual, filing, sanding and contour mistakes are revealed.

More work before final white coats.

Dan