Building the EJ 191
On this page you will find the full story of how I built a scale 1:20 formula one car.
20-12-2004: Today, I decided to buy a Tamiya model 1:20. To be exactly, it is the Jordan Grand Prix EJ 191, the car which competed in the 1991 FIA Formula One World Championship. It was also this car in which Michael Schumacher made his Grand Prix debut at the Belgian Grand Prix. It was the only time Michael drove this car, the next race he already was under contract by the Benetton F1 team. During the 1991 season, the teams main drivers were Bertrand Gachot and Andrea de Cesaris. Although the Tamiya kit is set up for one of these drivers, I decided to make the Schumacher version, completely with the exact sponsor logo's that were fitted on the car during the Spa weekend. This means I have to search the internet for the right decals............and I already have found them.
Nose cone and front wing
24-12-2004: After grinding and masking the nose cone and front wing parts I sprayed these parts in the right colour. I chose for Tamiya TS-20, a green metallic colour for the body of the car. I think it is really a good colour to match the 7-Up green the Jordan used to be in the 1991 season. One tip, use gloves when spraying paint on the small parts, or else your hands will have the same colour........
26-12-2004: Still busy painting the wing parts. I started to paint the black parts on the wing. I am using acrylic paint XF-1. It is a really thin paint which needs to be painted in multiple layers. To protect the green parts, I used Tamiya masking tape.......this tape in combination with the acrylic paint really sucks. There were several markings of black paint underneath the tape. Thank god the paint can be easily removed with water(if you don't wait to long). I also found out that in future for other parts I have to use some paste to mask the foundry markings on some parts. I grinded the parts carefully, but some holes where just to deep to completely remove them, so I have to put something in it to mask them.
28-12-2004: Today I assembled the left part of the front wing,
it really looks perfect. For the right part, I had to repaint the inside of
the wing end plate(again). For some reason, the black paint on this part won't
dry. Really strange, because it has the same amount of layers of paint as
the left wing end plate. As for now, I will leave it to dry untill next year.
Hopefully it will then be dry enough not to get any fingerprints on it.
Today, I also ordered a set of decals that will match the Michael Schumacher
debut car from Spa-Francorchamps 1991. I ordered it in Japan, hope I don't
have to wait very long, because it was out of stock. Click here
to see what I ordered.
30-12-2004: Couldn't wait untill next year, the paint seemed to be dry enough not getting any fingers on it. I assembled the nose and front wing completely. All I need now is some decals on it(they have to come from Japan) and some clear spray to finish the job.
17-01-2005: Today I recieved an e-mail in which I was told that my decals were sent to me. Could take between 7 and 45 days before they arrive from Japan.....
25-01-2005: Really amazing, a huge parcel from Japan arrived. It was a pity opening it, and what was in it??? My decals, exactly the ones I needed. Think I can make a start now completing the nose cone and front wing.
Bodywork
28-12-2004: Because I'll have to wait for a while before I can assemble the front wing and nose, I decided to start doing some work on the bodywork. I had to grind a lot on the inside of this part, because the surface was very very rough. I want it to have a very smooth surface, because this is one of the parts that can be removed after assembling the model, this means, you'll always be able to have a look on the inside, so it has to look perfect. For the colour of the inside, I use Tamiya TS-29 (it equals XF-18), I think spraying works a lot better for big surfaces. I just wonder why they didn't keep the numbering of spray and paint the same?
03-01-2005: Today I masked the bodywork completely and only
left over the parts that are supposed to be blue. Badly I found one of the
parts already glued to the bodywork a little bit loose, so I had to put some
glue between it again. (was it the paint again that somehow caused this failure?)
After glueing, the inside black paint job looks undamaged, so I could continue
masking the thing.
After masking it, I immediately sprayed on the blue colour(TS-44), so I can
leave it to dry for a few days. I am now thinking how to continue with the
bodywork, The green colour should be sprayed on, but the border between blue
and green comes very close, and continues on the monocoque. Maybe I'd better
assemble that first......
06-01-2005: I had to spray multiple layers of blue on the bodywork before it gave the result I wanted. I also had to re-spray some parts because somehow I got some airbubbles underneath the paint. How the came there???? I think the can of spray was not shaken enough. After the last layer, I polished some parts with cleaner I normally use for my street car, I must say, it really worked perfect. As for now, I stop with the bodywork and wait untill I finished the monocoque. After that, I can assemble the body and cockpit and than I can put on the green colour and white line as it is on both parts.
Engine (Ford V8) and rear suspension
08-01-2005: Today I started on the engine. It is picture number one from the manual, first time that I will follow the instructions of this book ;-) . I glued the 2 halfs together and sprayed it with a few layers of TS-29 semi gloss black. Before spraying, I filled the notches with putty to get a smooth surface. After it dried I painted the gearbox with X-10(gun metall), it is a real nice colour. As it is dry, I think I go and try to polish it, to give it a better effect. Maybe I find half an hour of time to do that.
11-01-2005: I found out that the idea to polish it with the
same cleaner as I used for the bodywork wasn't such a good idea. The X-10
paint just became fluid again and I had to start all over painting the gearbox.
Besides that, I also started to paint the engine-block itself. (X-16 flat
aluminium), this really gives a nice effect to the engine.
I also made a start with the cilinder head covers and other small parts assembled
on the engine in picture one. With grinding a very small part I accidentaly
broke it. I think it was a stabilizer. I tried to glue it, but it was too
small. I have to try and glue it together when it is mounted on the engine.
I've read stories of people having difficulties trying to colour the "Ford
Formula 1" logo on the cilinder head covers. I've painted them using
a matchstick. I dipped the stick into the aluminium paint, after that I pressed
it carefully on the logo, only the logo parts where painted because they are
a little bit higher than the rest of the head. For the second cover, the one
on the right side, I have to try it again. There was just too many paint on
the matchstick and the logo was hardly visible anymore. I had to clean up
the head and give it a new base of black. Tomorrow I will having another attempt
colouring the logo.
I found there were a few drops of gold and brown paint needed on cilinder
head and on the rear stabilizer. I didn't want to go and buy bottles of new
paint for those few drops, so I started searching. And there I found it, I
found some small cans of Revell paint, bought for over 10 years ago, and guess
what, brown and gold were still in good condition. So instead of the Tamiya
colours I used Revell 94 gold and Revell 85 brown. I think they're almost
the same as the Tamiya colours.
For now I will leave it to dry, maybe I can assemble the complete engine as
seen on picture one of the manual tomorrow.
17-01-2005: Assembled the cilinder covers on top of the engine. Also put on the small parts on the left and right side of the engine. I am quite satisfied with the result, but I am still thinking of covering the whole engine with a single layer of transparent paint. I don't know if it is really necessary because there are still many parts to put on it like airbox, suspension and drive shafts........so I will keep that in mind before I do anything stupid.
25-01-2005: Painted the drive shaft in the right colour. XF-56(metallic grey). I also made a start closing the notches on the aerodynamic flap mounted on the engine/gearbox. These are the flaps where the oil coolers are behind, I also started painting these in X-16.
26-01-2005: Assembled the drive shaft with the gearbox and mounted the first part of the rear-suspension
10-02-2005: Today I started painting the rear suspension. It is gonna be a hell of a job to do it right. All those different colours on those small surfaces. I decided to make the springs red in stead of the blue paint advised in the manual. I've seen some pictures of the car with red springs(could be that it has something to do with the set-up of the car and that both colours are possible). I already assembled the rear wishbones to the engine. I tried to fit both suspensions, but on the left side I am having some trouble fitting it. I think I have to grind the wishbone on that side a little bit. But first, paint it.
20-02-2005: Finished the springs and rear suspensions. Looks quite good. I now started with the air intake on top of the cilinders.
27-02-2005: Assembled the air intake and the final parts of the suspension. The result looks really good.
Cockpit
01-03-2005: Today I started with the cockpit parts. At first
I sprayed the chair in black. After that ik started painting the seat belts
in blue and aluminium grey for the metal parts. I think I will finish it wit
a red button on the belt to release the belt. After that I go and try to put
on the first decals, they have to be on the chair, and I can't reach them
after fitting the chair in the cockpit.
Besides that, I am still waiting for my carbon fiber decals. I now really
need them becaus I want to make the dashboard out of it..................how
long will I be patient???
10-03-05: I've almost completed the cockpit, only the steering wheel has to be fitted in. The paint on it is still drying. Putting the "momo" decall on it didn't work out very well. I had to remove it. The part was just too small. Besides that, it didn't fit between the buttons on the steering wheel, even not after I cut of the blank edges. I wonder how Tamiya has thought to do this. Well, it all doesn't matter, the cockpit looks great. Those few small decalls don't matter, besides that one of the decals on the seat belts also was screwed.
21-03-05: After spraying the monocoque black from the inside and putting on the decals with the team logo and the power-off sign, I decided to spray them with a layer of transparant paint TS-13, to give it a good effect. It looks like the decals don't work with the spray, before I continue, I have to check it out if there isn't anything better.
25-04-05: Still working on the monocoque. After painting the lower part with TS-44 and the air-intake and backside with TS-29, I wanted to give these layers some extra shine. I also sprayed these parts with TS-13, but then a disaster happened, the black paint mixed with the blue, so I had to mask everything again and than spray it again with black and blue. I now put the TS-13 on the both colours blue and black seperately, hopefully that works better. Only disadvantage is that there is a sharp border between black, blue and at the and green.
25-04-05: Still busy on the cockpit, colours look very nice. Now I am waiting on some new masking tape so I can finish the engine cover. Only problem is that the tape I need is sold out. Once I have finished the cover, I can add the white line between the blue and green of the car. I am still thinking what is best...puting the decal on it or paint it white.....