ARNO FERRARI TIMOSSI RACER

S

Solyrus

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Aug 9, 2024
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OK, I finally made a start on my Arno Ferrari Hydroplane Racer.
This is a great subject matter, and in my favourite 1/8 scale, so measures out at around 79cm in length.


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The real boat was built to set up a world speed record on water, a record it still holds at just over 151 mph. Astounding speed over water!
To get the speed required some innovative engineering, first with the boat hull itself.
And then there was the engine.
Enzo Ferrari consented to donating the legendary Lampredi engine from the Ferrari 375 F1 car.
Designed and built by Aurelio Lampredi, the V12 was and remains one of Ferrari's greatest engines, bringing much more success in races than the perhaps better known Colombo engine (which was in the epic 250 GTO).
The Amati kit comes in two variants. One is the classic which requires the building of the hull using cross sections and double planking. The second versions, which I have, comes with the prebuilt hull in fibreglass already planked in mahogany.
being my first boat build I opted for the second version. Also, I wanted to spend more time on the other details.
The kit does not come with an engine, and the body shell is one fixed piece.
I have a 3D printed engine in 1/8 scale, so will cut open the body shell and install the built engine.
Sadly, no one makes a model of the Lampredi engine, so I am cheating a bit by installing the Colombo engine. But its a Ferrari engine, so thats all good :cool:
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The first step in the build was to reshape the top of the hull to ensure a good fit with the body shell.IMG_8696.jpeg
The hull as it comes prebuilt has several gaps between it and the body shell, so I buttressed the inside of the hull to raise sections of it and ensure no panel gaps when the body shell is installed. Fortunately, the edges of the hull are somewhat flexible os this was not too demanding...
 
Once I was satisfied with the fit of the body shell on the hull, I got to work on installing the brass pins.
Here I discovered that having a fibreglass hull, while great for saving time and effort with building the hull from scratch, actually has one key limitation.
The brass pins are simply too soft to hammer in on their own accord, so I had to mark and drill all the holes individually.
Even then it was a challenge as the drill bits supplied with the kit and just that bit (!) too big for the brass pins, so after having drilled the holes, I had to dip each pin in Ca glue and install into the holes.
Lots of effort and fuss but the end result is great.
Still loads more holes to drill and pins to install...
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I love this boat - great that you started a building log of this beauty
 
I notice the driver in the box art is named as Nando Dell'Orto - do you think he is related to Dell Orto carburettors - fitted to many italian motorcycles and Lambretta scooters then. I had a Tipo Rumi Sport scooter for a while back then - 125cc with twin Dell Orto's - a real fun machine.

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If your budget would stretch to it (mine wouldn't sadly) there was a 1/8 scale Pocher Ferrari Testarossa kit with a V-12 on board. There's one going on Ebay for around $500, but others are twice as much.
 
Alan Smith said:
If your budget would stretch to it (mine wouldn't sadly) there was a 1/8 scale Pocher Ferrari Testarossa kit with a V-12 on board. There's one going on Ebay for around $500, but others are twice as much.
Click to expand...
Alan, being a mainly Pocher guy I have or have had over 50 of the kits, including several Testarossas, and the Testarossa engine only kit. But that engine is not suited sizewise for the Arno Bodyshell, hence I went for the Colombo engine instead.
 
Water speed record in what class? Miss U.S., unlimited hydroplane based in Detroit set record at 162 MPH. My understanding is it was recently broken.
The owner, George Simon, won a tax case allowing U. S. Equipment Co. to deduct racing expenses from taxes, thus opening the door to promotion/advertising we see in many sports today.
Jim R
 
cuttyjimr said:
Water speed record in what class? Miss U.S., unlimited hydroplane based in Detroit set record at 162 MPH. My understanding is it was recently broken.
The owner, George Simon, won a tax case allowing U. S. Equipment Co. to deduct racing expenses from taxes, thus opening the door to promotion/advertising we see in many sports today.
Jim R
Click to expand...
Hi Jim,
It was the record in the 800kg class. I forgot to indicate that.
 
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