1:18 Turbochargers Set (Big Size)

Turbochargers in the enlarged form, 1:18 scale

An accessory for an engine bay, not a kit of a car or of a whole engine. The name describes the form as big, which with turbochargers refers to the bulkier housings fitted to heavily boosted engines. In a large scale a part like this takes up a great deal of room under an open hood and draws attention at once.

What a turbocharger does on an engine

The exhaust gases spin the turbine wheel, which through a common shaft drives the compressor that compresses the intake air. Visually this gives rise to a pair of snail-shaped housings joined by a narrow center, to which the oil and often the water cooling run. The larger the unit, the sharper the difference between the hot and the cold side, and it is exactly this contrast that makes the result believable.

Painting and fitting

The hot side can take a gray with a warm undertone and fine graphite rubs, the cold side a lighter aluminum with a smoother surface. Bring out the center with a dark line and a hint of an oil trace at the flanges. The supply lines can be suggested with thin wire or with tubing from stripped insulation. Before you reach for glue, try the seating dry and check that the hood still closes over the turbocharger.

Who the set is for

• Builders of modified cars with an open engine bay
• Modelers who put an engine assembly together part by part
• Makers of garage and workshop scenes
• Collectors finishing details off on completed models