Yesterday I “married” the monocoque with radiator pods.

To put everything in right position I fitted the undertray. To fix the radiator pods I used the 2k glue instead of classic cyano.

I also made a dry fitting with the engine to check one critical point: the turbos with intercooler

Another detail mounted is the secondary Ecu on the undertray .... I have slightly set it back so as to leave space for the future tie rod that run from rocker covers to the floor of undertray between the Ecu and intercooler

While everything is fixed, I work on side bulkheads that are in front of the radiators inlet.
These bulkheads until mid-season were white.

There is an anecdote about this particular.
At the beginning of the championship they were white color, but then they were painted in black (if I well remember) from Hungarian GP) as Steve Nichols could not like to see these only 2 white pieces when the bodyshell was off.

Even these pieces presented small missing details: The Dsuz fastener and the Allen screws.

The fastener (which serves to keep the body or bodyshell in place) is correct in shape but missing a detail.
The bayonet screw is flat with fastener when the body is mounted, when removed the screw is external.
I drilled with a 0.5, I added a rivet ... I think now a little bit better.
Another addition: the Allen screws that secure this panel; I used the usual PE kit from the Top studio and a final coat with panel line to dark them.

The next macro-group to be completed will be the gearbox.
To go ahead with it I have to mount the side bulkheads embedded between the arms.
These bulkheads also need some extras: I added the Dsuz fastener and the 3 bolts that fix the bulkhead to the flat bottom.

I then worked on the rear axle group and brake ducts.
The real photo shows that on the brake ducts there is a dust cover fixed with 2 steel plates and rivets. To reach a better final view a iadd some insulating tape and rubber o-ring to simulate the dust cover.

My good friend Riccardo noticed to me an inaccuracy: the gray cable of the transponder was of too large section compared to the white one.
I opened 4 LAN cables (between normal and cross) and I found the gray cable of the right size (in addition to many others in different and useful colors). I rewired everything and added the Top Studio heat shrink and plug.

The plug connects to a wiring that comes from the "window" in the front section of the monocoque where are located the master cylinders and relative hydraulic pipes. I have also added wiring and plug here.

I then reproduced the brackets that fix the front wing to the nose cone with aluminum 0.5. To shape them I used the same bracket as a template.

I then worked on steering wheel. This element is not always the same: it changes from race to race, chassis, driver etc.
The steering wheel that Ayrton used in the Suzuka race is: black with no seam lines on the crown and without the “Personal” logo.
The one with “Personal” logo and seam line is of other frames. There is also a wheel with a straight upper part (it was mostly used by Prost)

I wanted to increase the sense of suede a little: masked, matt clear transparent and sprayed from far to recreate the rough surface
Other characteristic elements: the quick release to release it; I bored the hub and inserted an M5 washer painted in steel.
Other elements that are missing and that I will add: the plug for the "boost" and "radio" buttons which will then connect in plug located at the bottom of the dashboard.

I then started the definitive positioning of the internal and side wiring to the cockpit.
Here too there are differences between the various frames.
The "early frames" provided by the aluminum cable clamps .... on the opposite the "late frames" present in plastic or black metal (I presume plastic) ... the 05 chassis at Motegi has them black, but it is to understand if they are really 30 years ago placed or remodeled in more recent times.
I recreated the aluminum strips and sliced and heated the heat shrink tubing.
Following the photos, I laid the wiring for the dashboard controls and for the Showa ECU on the left side of the cockpit.
The throttle cable has been laid on the right side.

Another extra pipe is the hydraulic pipe of the rear brake system: between photos and technical diagrams on Haynes book (especially those relating to the bathtube and the tank) and my own deductions,I have come to unravel the mystery of the passage of this hydraulic pipe.

The tube starts from the master cylinders, runs right down the leg tunnel, passes under the seat ...... exits the seat, passes between the monocoque and the fuel tank and comes out of a passage hole in the rear area of the monocoque (symmetrically opposite to the linkage gearbox)

I then reassembled the seat (previously redone) with the belts that did not require particular modifications ..... only note: The "BOSS" logos in Motegi are black. In Suzuka and in the championship they were white.
Another note, the 2 different fixing positions of the belts. Ayrton had them high ... Prost being lower height placed them at the bottom.

The work being done on this is simply stunning.... all credit to your skills....

Regards

Alan

Before finally assembling the gearbox, I redid the three-way joint of the rear calipers, I added the 90-degree jointfor the main line fixed to the arms and which connects to the next T-fitting under the oil engine filler/oil vapor tank.

The hose that coming from the master cylinder was then connected to this fitting.

I then reproduced with my own best the reinforcement bars that are connected between the rear suspension castle and the bracket on the rear of the rocker cover (These bars were completely absent)

After the happy marriage between engine and gearbox, it was then the turn of the undertray .... it went up without particular worries and nasty surprises.

Another missing that is quite visible and quite macroscopic: the reinforcement bracket that start from the front of the rocker covers and gone diagonally on the undertray between the intercooler and the turbo ducts.
I reproduced them with my best.
The wire of the upper temperature sensor of the exhaust manifolds was painted and finally fixed to the bracket.

The last pipe of the right intercooler bypass was also tied to the right tie rod.

The intercooler ducts are then mounted not before having fixed the brackets that hold and maintain the position of the corrugated hoses.

Another missing in “version A” of my Mp4: the rivets that fix the additional heat shields in the area of the IHI turbos.

Other wiring that I was missing: the cable of the tail light (for rain).

I then arrived at the happy moment of the decals: Hercules, the white Marlboro on the monocoque and all the thermometers was now placed in position

Finally mounted the rear wing.

Remarkable work, truly stunning.

Mark

"Versione B"

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This is a big honor for me. Thank yoy very much