Return to the BUILD
“In this stage, you complete the UHF signal and power distribution unit, as well as fitting this part and the peripheral device to your model.”
This stage has a lot of assembly, screws, and little bits, so it is going to take longer to complete. That’s OK by me!
Contents
Parts
Materials: While the Support Struts metal, the rest of these parts are plastic.
Build
UHF Signal & Power Distribution Unit & Peripheral Device
Step 01
Press the two pins of the Peripheral Front into the matching posts of the Peripheral Body, as shown:
Press the pin of the Peripheral Monitor into this hole of the Peripheral Front, aligning the monitor as shown.
This pin was a tough little bugger to push in:
Retrieve your Power Distribution Unit Top (59E) from the previous stage. Fit the two posts on the bottom of this Peripheral assembly into these matching holes on the smooth side of the Power Distribution Unit Top, as shown.
There is a locating pin on the bottom of the Peripheral assembly, so it will only sit flush in the correct orientation:
Secure these together from below with two (2) AP screws:
Step 02
Retrieve your Power Distribution Upper Panel assembly from the previous stage. Fit this Power Distribution Unit Top assembly into the opening of the upper panel, facing this way as shown:
Secure the Power Distribution Unit Top down using four (4) IP screws:
Fit the Power Distribution Unit Cover to the front of this Power Distribution Unit Upper Panel assembly, aligning the three screw holes.
There is a locating pin on the back of the Power Distribution Unit Cover that will only align into front of the upper panel (not the lower one):
Back when we installed the Oscilloscope rack, I colored the heads of all the GP and KP screws with my Metallic Silver Sharpie to make them blend in better. I felt these reflective chrome heads were just too shiny and would stand out, so I did the same thing here:
Secure the Power Distribution Unit Cover to the upper panel assembly with three (3) GP screws:
Then, retrieve your completed Power Distribution Unit Lower Panel assembly from the previous stage. Secure the same Power Distribution Unit Cover to this lower panel assembly with three (3) more GP screws, as shown:
This is what our Power Distribution Unit assembly should look like at this point:
Step 03
Fit two Support Struts to one side of the Power Distribution Unit assembly, and secure into place with eight (8) KP screws, as shown.
The bent ends of the Support Struts should be at the bottom and flush with the edge of the silver box, NOT the front panel:
In the same way, fit the other two Support Struts to the opposite side of the Power Distribution Unit assembly, and secure into place with eight (8) more KP screws:
Here is another progress picture of the unit so far:
Step 04
Remove the Power Distribution Unit Knobs from the sprue with the eight (8) parts.
I recommend using sprue cutters or a sharp hobby knife here for cleaner cuts. Be sure to cut the knobs off at the correct point on the sprue:
These Power Distribution Unit Knobs are not all the same as the ‘buttons’ on the ends have subtly different lengths. There are four (4) long ‘A’ knobs (60E) and four (4) short ‘B’ knobs (60F):
On the real car, I believe these are actually fuse holders or indicator lamps, so they would actually all be the same length. I am going to install them per the instructions, but you can install them in any pattern you want:
Press the longer ‘button’ Power Distribution Unit Knobs ‘A’ (60E) into these round holes of the Power Distribution Unit Cover.
These knobs should be inserted by the long skinny end first:
Press the shorter ‘button’ Power Distribution Unit Knobs ‘B’ (60F) into the remaining round holes of the Power Distribution Unit Cover:
Remove the remaining Power Distribution Unit Knobs ‘C’ from the sprue with the six (6) parts. These ‘knobs’ have two pins on the back:
Press the Power Distribution Unit Knobs ‘C’ into the matching pairs of holes inside these slots of the Power Distribution Unit Cover.
On the real car, these are circuit breakers (see the image above). Like with the previous knobs, we can install these in any on/off pattern we want. I am going to use the settings of the real car at the time the picture was taken, not that it matters much here:
Just for fun, I used a toothpick to add a tiny line of Tamiya XF-2 Flat White acrylic paint to the Power Distribution Unit Knobs ‘C‘ to replicate the ON/OFF writing these circuit breakers would have. Unfortunately, I should have used something with a smaller tip. Still, it adds something to it:
Step 05
Retrieve your Power Control Unit assembly from Stage 58. Fit this Power Distribution Unit assembly over the two posts of the Power Control Unit base, as shown:
Secure the Power Distribution Unit Support Struts to the base with four (4) KP screws, as shown:
Further secure the Power Distribution Unit assembly to the base from below with two (2) AP screws:
Retrieve your Cargo Area Floor assembly from Stage 57. Fit this entire Power Distribution/Control assembly behind the rear jump seat, aligning the bottom posts into the matching circular recesses in the floor as shown:
Secure this assembly down to the floor with three (3) AP screws:
Thoughts
I love that they printed the details on the front of this panel; it looks really good (and accurate)! There was a lot to do in this stage, but I feel these are some of the best ones to build up.
Next Up
Stage 61 – Rear Left Interior Panel/Speaker Base/Speaker