Nichimo Spirit FF - The first of a Kind

[silvertriple]

 

Received Sunday a set of Stickers for the Nichimo... Maybe this time I may do a box art (usually, I don't do that, but since the internal are not originals, it may be worth to do it this way   ).

Beside this, I unlocked an achievement this week-end : I received my first tip as designer on Thingiverse... And that was a good amount (probably more than what it takes in coffee to feed me while working on a project like the Spirit FF).  . I was shocked when I saw the paypal notification  

And I finally decided to do box art, but based on bright sliver rather (PS-41) rather than white (PS-1). I did the paint (simple this time) yesterday. And I can tell the bright silver was a good idea, as while backing the bright sliver with the white, I finished the PS-1 can (the last I have at home). I may need to raid my hobby shop soon to get supply...

The plan is a big reveal at a vintage event early June in Belley. The event duration is 2 days, and there might be some opportunity of night runs. I did not clean the fake spot lights, and will replace them by led enabled spot lights. 

I did create a specific led holder yesterday before going to bed, it is supposed to be the last part for this car (ok, maybe it won't be the last one, I don't know )

And I printed it this morning, just before going to the office...

Next steps:
- stickers (not my favorite stuff)
- spot lights, led holder and leds installation

[silvertriple]

I solved the Samurai shocks o-ring issue with some the 3mm red o-rings I raided in my son's Super(hot)Shot quicker than I thought, so there was plenty of time left to do something else...

Had a driver body and head sitting on my desk for a while. it was initially intended as a potential backup plan for the Hunter, and it was already painted. He was looking at me hopeful I would find him a car since months ... I think I painted it in May or June last year. I thought it was time to give him a wheel

Took my dremel to adapt his body to the upper chassis, and he now found a seat :-)

I procrastinated for the stickers and leds... I may need some time to enter the mood to deal with those...

[silvertriple]

After my workday, I put the stickers on the wing, the roof and the body shell....

I still need to take care of the leds and maybe I should change the battery connector (all my batteries are with XT60 connectors)...

[silvertriple]

As usual, LEDs connection takes time... But it's done. I did plan to change the battery connector, but the parcel with additional XT60 connector did not arrived as per plan. That will be for later.

Beside this, I may need to print some suspension cups in PLA: I have doubts on the Nylon printed SLS ones (Nylon maybe too flexible for this)...

[silvertriple]

I 'm not happy with the printed suspension cups and I will get new one printed: pivot balls pop out fare too easily. The ones printed in FDM don't resists, there is not enough material and no good orientation for that.

The vintage event is going to be this week-end and there is no way I'm getting parts printed on time... And I want to run this car
I decided to apply a sort of plan B...

I had this I used once on a motorbike to secure something...

And I made this:

This is the cleanest way I can think of as a solution :-)

[Iron Steel]

Hi, I just saw this post for the first time as I was looking for interest on the Spirit FF. I didn't read through everything but thought that was a heck lot of work for restoration and admire your engineering spirit (no pun intended). we have two Spirit FFs in our family back in the 80s. It's somewhere in our basement. I'm planning to clean them out of storage and put them up for sale/parts. Let me know if you or anyone would be interested.

[cdncon]

Great detailed and in depth article! Especially when we need the bottom chassis. We are also contemplating having it 3D printed for us although we do not have the exact measurements yet. if anyone has this... Nichimo part#  X1 or the info required to do this, it would be greatly appreciated too. Thanks, Ron. cdncon@bell.net 

Edited September 25, 2023 by cdncon
grammatic correction eh!

[silvertriple]

26 minutes ago, cdncon said:

Great detailed and in depth article! Especially when we need the bottom chassis. We are also contemplating having it 3D printed for us although we do not have the exact measurements yet. if anyone has this part/piece or the info required to do this, it would be greatly appreciated too. Thanks, Ron. cdncon@bell.net 

I made all the parts available on Thingiverse, Cults3D and Printable for this car. You just have to download the parts there, and get it printed (ideally, get it printed in Nylon PA12 MJF using a online printing service. JLCPCB in China maybe the lower cost you can find for this).

And if you like this, do not forget a contribution (even small is welcome : this and my other CAD projects are lot of work, test prints and coffee to feed my brain :-) )