Mark,
Damn fine work! I didn't notice you putting in pistons and working plugs into the motor

This really is some fine work in ANY scale.....

Chris

Thanks for the link, I have been there many times. I went back and looked at my pictures and sure enough, the dipstick I modeled was from a 1941 vehicle. I didn't notice that when I made the dipstick. I have already have a plan in place to correct it to the proper style and started making the pieces. Thanks again for letting me know.
Like I said before, I am just looking at pictures as I go to build a part. I don't have a particular year in mind for this build, I don't really know the differences between the years, just detailing what I can.

I realize that restoring one is expensive, but I hope to one day do just that. I would love to have the real thing.

Thanks Chris, I may be crazy, but not that crazy.

Here’s a quick update on what I have been doing since the last post.

I received some feedback from Jeepman about the dipstick tube. I was made aware that the one I originally modeled (on the left) was from an early MA, not a MB. Sure enough, I went back and found the photo I built it from and it definitely was not an MB part. I re-made the dipstick tube (on the right) and I am much happier with it now. It never really was happy with the first one and it just didn’t look right. I probably would have found my mistake as I completed more of the engine, but I am happy to have that fixed.



After fixing that up, I started looking at the battery. DML only molded part of the battery and the bottom part is totally incorrect. I cut the top off the molded battery and made up a new bottom for it out of sheet styrene. I then masked off the areas that would stay smooth and put a coat of Mr. Surfacer on it. Then I took an old brush and dappled the Mr. Surfacer to get the rough texture the battery should have. I removed the masking tape before everything dried. I then printed out the lettering in the correct size for the “Willard” markings onto self-stick labels. Then I cut out each letter and stuck it to the new battery. After getting all the letters applied (both sides), I then coated the letters 3 times with CA, letting it dry between coats. I am hoping the letters will really stand out under a coat of paint.
I then proceeded to make the battery tray and hold down. I had to remove the mounting post from the fender for the kit battery. I also added the brace that goes to the top of the fender. The whole mount is pinned and removable so I can access the screw that holds the tub to the frame underneath it. I still have to add the battery cables, but those will come later.





Another thing I noticed a while ago when looking at the intake/exhaust manifold is that I put the spark plug openings in the wrong place on the head (top). I have been debating whether or not to fix it as no one would probably ever notice, but it finally drove me crazy enough that I had to make a second head with the openings in the right place (bottom). Now I can let that get out of my mind and continue on with something else.



I guess that is it for now, thanks for looking and please let me know if you notice anything that doesn’t look right.

Simply incredible......!

Mark,I do not know how far you want to detail your cylinder head but I noticed your head bolts are evenly spaced in your pictures.They are not.To see what I mean go to ww2jeeps.com .They have pictures almost identical to your shots of the real heads.If you look closely at the center and bottom rows of bolt holes you will notice some are offset compared to the top row.I wish I had half your scratchbuilding talent,Your battery and battery tray are fantastic.Your work has convinced me to get one of these and have a go at it.

Thank you Jeepman, I just looked at the site and now I see what you are talking about. I have the site bookmarked now for future use. It will be easy to fix those and make them right. Good luck with your build, please post pictures here as you go. As far as the scratchbuilding talent goes, give it a try, start with something simple. I kind of dove in head first and forced myself to do it and was pleasantly surprised with the results.

simply inredible how you bring out even the smallest details!

keep the pic coming!

Alright, I got sick of building the engine, so I decided to go another direction. Let me know what you think.










Alright, I am just kidding.
I have been wanting to do that since I started this, but just haven’t felt like digging the hemi out of my display case.

Here is what I have been working on since the last update.

I built the intake and exhaust manifolds, including the heater controls. The carb comes from a kit of a Ford Flathead engine. I know it isn’t the correct carb, I just couldn’t wrap my mind around how to make the correct carb, so I took the easy way out. I modified the flathead carb to look more like the jeep carb. I also built the water pump and the fan. The pulleys come from a 1/8 scale car kit that I have extra parts for. The pulleys and the carb are the only parts of the engine that are not scratch built.



I also made the oil pump (gray piece on the side of the engine block) and the fuel pump.



This is how the whole engine is looking now.











It doesn’t feel like it but I am getting there!!! I still need to make the generator, fuel, oil and air filters and the brackets to hold them all. Then I can dig into the body mods.

Thanks for looking.

Mark,
You know that someone, somewhere, has added a big chrome engine to a jeep!
Dan

I didn’t realize how long it’s been since I last posted. I have been working on my jeep, although not constantly. I had a few things come up and had some company for a week during the time since my last update.

Well, it’s been 8 months since I purchased my kit and started working on it. I decided that I was going to scratch build an engine and got started with this:



Well, after staring at a lot of pictures, rebuilding parts over and over, and many frustrations, I am finally at the point that I can say the basic engine is finished except for the painting, wiring, plumbing and final small details that I can’t install until it is put together for the final time.

I still have to make a couple of accessories that attach to the firewall, but the engine itself is done. The only pieces not scratchbuilt are the basic carburetor (it has been modified though), transfer case (modified), the 3 pulleys (all modified) and the water intake to the top of the engine (which will be modified for the final assembly). I don’t have any idea how many hours I have into it – way to many!

Here are the pictures.























I am relieved to be for the most part done with this portion of the build. I am looking forward to working on other parts of the jeep.

Any and all criticism is welcomed, it is not too late to change anything yet.

Thanks for looking.

Your engine is looking great! Don't forget to run the belt(s) and wires and other misc. lines and linkages

Impressive work Mark!
Wish that I could do this type of modeling.
Dan

you are a very sick man...LOL but I love it... a stunning work of art Mark, seriously though very beautiful !!!!!!!!!.... Ok so when can we see update sets for thos of us who have this kit ?

Thanks. Let me just say, don't hold your breath waiting for one from me. I am pretty sure it will be a while before I build something like that again. I still have plenty to do on the rest of the jeep.

chuckles... can't blame a guy for asking.... especialy with such beautiful craftsmenship!!

I don't blame you at all for asking, it never hurts and who knows when you might get the answer you are hoping for. Thanks again for the compliment.

WOW...What a project is going on here. Bought this kit last weekend on a show and started browsing around for some insiration, tips&tricks and so on....Then you stumble into something like this!!

Bookmarked this thread immediately...thanks a lot for sharing.

Grtz, John.

Good luck with yours, make sure to post some pics along the way. I have an update to post, just haven't had the time to get everything around to do it - hopefully soon.

Here’s a quick update. It doesn’t look like much, but it was a lot of work making some of these parts.

I finished up most of the details that go on the firewall, the fuel filter, air cleaner and the oil can + bracket. I also corrected the headlights and small blackout marker lights, radiator and voltage regulator. Here are the major components:






Here are the major components on the firewall. The horn is from the kit, just modified a little.










Here are the updated lights, now on hinged brackets instead of mounting to the radiator shroud.






The radiator shroud has been separated from the radiator, an overflow tube added and the brace from the radiator to the firewall has been created.




That’s all the updates for now, more to come later.
Thanks for looking.

Thank You for making one impressive model!
Dan

I'm really impressed!

That's an outstanding job indeed!

I think I'll use your model pics as a reference for my 1/35 Willis

Thanks a lot for sharing

Hi Mark. Fantastic work on the engine. Im amazed at your skill as well as how clean it all looks. Looking forward to more.

your grade of detailing is pretty impressive ...

even the hinges of the frontlight-brackets looks 1by1 with the real thing!

might it be possible you have a original willys in your garage?

keep us posted with your progress!

thomas

Thank you for the kind words everyone. I am not using anything special to make the parts, just ordinary hand tools, a dremel and a drill. It just takes time trying to make them look "right".




Thanks Thomas, I wish I had an original in my garage, I would love one. I am doing all this from pictures I found on the web and from ones I have taken at museums and airshows.