1:24 Large oil cooler

A large oil cooler 1:24, Yamamoto Model Parts

A free-standing cooler for engine oil in the larger version, in 1:24 scale. It completes the build of a car model with an element that boxed kits of production cars do not have, because it is fitted only as part of racing and tuning modifications. A smaller variant for builds with limited room exists in the line from the brand Yamamoto Model Parts as well.

What the accessory represents

An oil cooler takes heat away from the lubricating circuit. Under a long load, typically on a circuit, overheated oil loses viscosity and lubricates worse; an additional cooler keeps it at its working temperature. It is placed in the airflow, most often behind the lower part of the bumper or in a side vent, and runs to the engine through a pair of pressure hoses. A larger core means greater cooling capacity, but also greater demands on room and on the mounting, because the weight of a cooler full of oil is not negligible.

Fitting tips

On a part of this kind the hose outlets tend to be only suggested in the shape. If you want to add the lines, drill the holes for the tubing with a micro drill; in 1:24 scale you will be somewhere between four and eight tenths of a millimeter, according to the thickness of the tubing you use. Drill at low speed and with the part supported, as resin is hard and chips under pressure. The mounting is the second thing worth thinking through before you start gluing: a large cooler has a small seating surface, so reinforce the super glue joint with a pin of wire glued in place and sunk into a hole drilled in the plastic part of the kit. A bracket of photo-etched metal or of thin strip will then line it up. Wash the part and prime it before painting.

Who the accessory is for

• Builders of circuit and tuned car models in 1:24
• Modelers who add the runs of hoses and cables themselves
• Those interested in the larger variant of the cooler for roomy installations
• Modelers with experience of drilling into resin and plastic

This is an accessory to a model, not a kit in its own right. The part is supplied unpainted; glue, paints and tubing are not included in the package, unless stated otherwise.