Hi Guy's just a small update - I'm afraid theres not much progress watching paint dry :
.
But first my thanks as usual for your response ...
Looking forward to seeing the Benson up and running Jason - looks like you will be ahead of me by a couple of weeks, you are so close to the end too.
Don 1966 - That's a very nice thing to say and I'm touched by your confidence :-[. I'm afraid though I don't see myself in quite the same way, just someone doing what he loves and passing it on to those who may gain some benefit and hopefully, by input from others, learn something myself.
Ozzie - Thanks for the tip - I have read of 'Frog' tape but have as yet to see any.
I should perhaps have made it a little clearer re masking that when masking something up like these parts I find it's fine to use conventional, household masking tape to mask
unpainted areas but where there are previously painted areas to mask then a much thinner, lower tack tape would be used. The
very best I have used for this purpose is what was called 'Betto' tape. This was a tan coloured tape, very thin and capable of being cut into extremely thin strips without disintegrating. It was replaced by a white coloured tape - still with the same name but nowhere as good as the tan stuff. A good alternative is 'Tamiya' tape. This yellow coloured tape can be cut similarly but doesn't quite have the strength as the original Betto. It's readily available at most model shops though and if bought in the 40mm wide roll as opposed to the narrower rolls in dispensers is very economical.
One little tip on masking that some may find useful. Instead of using news paper or similar to mask out areas from over spray consider using ordinary kitchen tinfoil. This is totally impervious to the solvents and is easilly wrapped around any shape with ease. Make sure you buy your own though
Whilst it was intended to edge the flywheel pit with 'bricks' as mentioned on the last post no real thought had been given as to what to make them from. After a fair bit of poking around under the bench for something suitable it occurred that perhaps they could be made from MDF board which is what was used for the 'stone' plinth. The edge of a piece of board was sanded to a suitable section on the two 'as seen' faces then cut off on the band saw. Treated gently as it easily snaps in thin sections the inner face was sanded smooth then the strips sealed using very thin cellulose 'Sanding Sealer'. This was then cut into brick sized lengths which were milled to length to give a good uniform fit in the rebate
Once dry fitted they were removed and all given a second coat of sealer before being painted and left ready to fit using PVA glue.
The first hint of a warm day and it was time for the top coat. All painting was done using aerosols. Priming including the plinth used about two and a half 300ml cans and the two topcoats just under two cans of the same size
Again, some masking utilised the parts themselves.. the bearings will be washed in cellulose thinner to remove the paint
Taken tonight, this is where patience will be sorely tried as though touch dry they need to harden off for at least a couple of days before reassembly. The keen eyed might note that 3-2-1 blocks truly are versatile
The base as finished and ready to fit those 'bricks' tomorrow
The plinth, three layers of 18mm MDF board is very solid, no glue just four screws hold the layers together. The grooves were cut using a hand saw against a straight edge. Pleased with the colour of the primer the surface will be oiled and left as is. The out rigger bearing plinth has yet to be made as it's thickness will need to be ascertained after the engine is securely bolted in position
Well another small step, but getting closer. The interim time has been spent on drawing out a new I/C engine but more on that later
Regards for now - Ramon