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the.x.man
New Zealand
877 Posts |
 Posted - 03/19/2011 : 17:34:34
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An email I received from a friend today:
Louis Chenot has spent the past ten years building this incredibly detailed 1932 SJ Duesenberg LaGrande dual-cowl phaeton. Not only does it look good, but the engine runs, the lights work, the top mechanism functions and the transmission and driveline are complete. Lou started his research on this project over fifty years ago with the purchase of a book and through the following years collected many drawings and studied a number of Duesenbergs while they were being restored, taking photos and recording dimensions.
The model is 35 inches long and weighs about 60 pounds!
Engine and transmission - see it running on Youtube
Inside the straight eight engine are all the correct parts custom machined to scale from steel, cast iron and aluminum. Here we see the block and crankshaft at the top. Arrayed below the block are the cast iron cylinder sleeves, pistons, wrist pins and assembled connecting rods
Even though there would be no way to tell once it is all assembled, the cylinder head shows that Lou didn't cheat. The engine has 4 valves per cylinder--32 total--just like the real one.
Here is the head (before painting) with the camshafts in place--there are 16 lobes on each shaft. (The apparent curve of the upper shaft is caused by the camera's wide angle lens.)
The gears inside the differential will never be seen by anyone, but Lou cut them as actual hypoid gears like the real one rather than machining simpler bevel gears.
This is the dashboard and interior with the body primed but not yet painted. Note the detailed instruments and engine-turned finish on the dash.
The complicated convertible top mechanism is shown in the lowered position before the canvas top material was installed.
Louis Chenot (Left) and Joe Martin (Right) inspect progress on the chassis and engine at the NAMES show in Detroit in 2007.
Lou was presented with a special Lifetime Achievement award by the Joe Martin Foundation for Exceptional Craftsmanship in 2009. The model was nearing completion but the engine had not yet run. Now that the engine runs and the model is completed, Lou has been selected as the foundation's "Metalworking Craftsman of the Year." The award includes an engraved award medallion and a check for $2000.00. Lou is the 15th person to receive this coveted annual award. Because it is likely that this could well be the finest running model car ever built in this small a scale, Lou's award this year will be presented as the "Craftsman of the Decade." More can be seen on this car and some of Lou's other projects at the Craftsmanship Museum.
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The only substitute for cubic inches is more cubic inches!
~ Max Balchowsky |
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ioannis
Greece
494 Posts |
Posted - 03/20/2011 : 03:13:06
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Thanks Jono for showing us this masterpiece!
Just think if this was a "JJ" project :-) |
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batigol
Italy
40 Posts |
Posted - 03/20/2011 : 14:13:58
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Oh my God !!
Absolutely wonderfull !
02.03.2008 DIO ESISTE E TIFA VIOLA....GRAZIE RAGAZZI
18.05.2008 LA CONFERMA.............
http://www.modelfactory.it
A chi mi chiede se sono il migliore e rispondo di si, passo da presuntuoso, se rispondo di no sono bugiardo !!
Bruce Lee
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christian
Austria
443 Posts |
Posted - 03/20/2011 : 15:16:33
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speechless
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benzinapura
Portugal
51 Posts |
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914joe
USA
206 Posts |
Posted - 04/10/2011 : 05:29:51
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Wow!!!! I'd love to someday make a working VW or Porsche motor. Here's a pic of a scratch VW motor I found:
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1/6 scale 1932 SJ Duesenberg by Louis Chenot
