MFH 1/24 Porsche 917K Gulf

[hobbyfella]

Good day everyone! I’ve been tinkering off and on for the last couple months but haven’t dove into a serious build until now. It’s almost been too hot to even work in the shop during the afternoon and evening hours, and with no AC it’s not really worth sitting there trying to build while sweating. 
 

This is a Model Factory Hiro 1/24 Porsche 917K, Gulf livery. I’ve been wanting to build this kit for a long time, so here we go. 
 

There are 100’s of white metal parts in this kit, many of them being the chassis and tube frame which feels like looking at a snakes nest in the box. Some bending into shape and re working the parts is required, drilling out every single hole is also required. It’s pain staking work, but once it starts coming together you can start to see the payoff. 



This is hours and hours of cleaning. MFH kits need a lot of cleaning up. 
 

I put all the parts in a magnetic tumbler, after three rounds using progressively smaller mm stainless steel media rods, the parts come out polished and clean. The major flash still needs clean up but the tumbler definitely saves multiple hours of sanding and prep. After usually just two washes they come out pretty clean and ready to go. 

 

 

Edited September 5, 2022 by hobbyfella

[hobbyfella]

After all the polishing, hand sanding and drilling out all the holes, this is where I’m at. Half the engine wires are done. I use Tamiya metal primer from the can on the raw metal followed by Splash Paints primer on everything. Then paint every part with an assortment of Alclad metal colors, and lightly weather. 

Edited September 5, 2022 by hobbyfella

[hobbyfella]

And this is where I’m at! I feel like 1000 holes drilled. 

Edited September 5, 2022 by hobbyfella

[hobbyfella]

Test fitting along the way is required on these kits, many many times  

Edited September 5, 2022 by hobbyfella

[hobbyfella]

[Pierre Rivard]

Really good stuff. These MFH kits seem to require a lot of expertise to pull together. Thanks for sharing.

[Gramps46]

Thank you for sharing your build and insight.

[hobbyfella]

Thanks fellas! BTW, Pierre, congrats on the Corvette Grand Sport! Fantastic build! I was inspired by your work up so I picked up  two of the kits, two sets of PE and two sets of decals, got half way through the chassis and had to walk away. 
 

I managed to get the majority of the wiring done, and what a job! Two distributors, 12 wires each, and 12 wires for the injectors. So 36 wires on this tiny thing where there’s very little room, and no room for mistakes. I broke several bits and had to dig them out or push them through using another bit. Steady and slow…

[hobbyfella]

And a toothpick for comparison. I’m ready to move on to the next phase of the build, but I’m still on instruction 1. 

[Pierre Rivard]

Wow, that toothpick is huge...ha ha!

[hobbyfella]

Complete catastrophe!!!! Ahhhahahah!!!

I put the bulkhead/firewall on backwards! 
What in the literal Chuck!!!???

MFH instructions only show you an exploded picture of what “should be” the way to put the kit together. However, you have to skip ahead and plan for every part in every direction. 
 

My mistake was I didn’t recognize the four small holes on the US driver side, instead I put them on the UK driver side. You can see in picture #1 vs the picture below. 
 

So…. Thank goodness Bobs makes “de superglue” lol. A heavy soak, unscrew, re sand, re prime, re paint, re screw. This may be better though, now it looks weathered and race driven. I guess that’s where the build is taking me…

[hobbyfella]

Who can resist a little mock up?

can you even imagine driving this cart with that friggin engine behind you? Put on your ear muffs!!!

[2whl]

4 hours ago, hobbyfella said:

 

MFH instructions only show you an exploded picture of what “should be” the way to put the kit together. However, you have to skip ahead and plan for every part in every direction. 

I've learned that about MFH kits.  You have to pre-assemble them to the very last step to make sure you've done everything you need to to before it gets assembled.

 

I'll be following along since I have a 1/12th version of the 917 in my stash.

[Brudda]

Great job! My model friend Phil said that model factory hiro is a very expensive scratch build model. In other words it takes a lot to build the simplest model factory hiro kit. Keep going and cannot wait to see more. 

[Brudda]

On 9/5/2022 at 1:24 PM, hobbyfella said:

Complete catastrophe!!!! Ahhhahahah!!!

I put the bulkhead/firewall on backwards! 
What in the literal Chuck!!!???

MFH instructions only show you an exploded picture of what “should be” the way to put the kit together. However, you have to skip ahead and plan for every part in every direction. 
 

My mistake was I didn’t recognize the four small holes on the US driver side, instead I put them on the UK driver side. You can see in picture #1 vs the picture below. 
 

So…. Thank goodness Bobs makes “de superglue” lol. A heavy soak, unscrew, re sand, re prime, re paint, re screw. This may be better though, now it looks weathered and race driven. I guess that’s where the build is taking me…

Great fix. Yes you have to really look at the vague instructions and still it’s vague . I have put together 3 mfh kits and I know the challenge you are up against. If you never built a mfh kit, you do not understand the complexity of the kit. Just to even finish one is a miracle in itself. Great job….

[absmiami]

Remember to post some shots of the engine exhaust set up -

its really cool ! And accurate !