forum.ww1aircraftmodels.com
Modelers Lounge => The World of Scale Models => Topic started by: IanB on January 01, 2024, 10:02:56 PM
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Happy New Year everyone!
I had a nostalgia trip just prior to Christmas and splashed out on some Airfix Napoleonic figures, and 3 Matchbox kits I had built as a teenager. I enjoyed building them then, and wanted to see what could be done to improve them so the Bugatti 59, Aston Martin Ulster, and SS100 Jaguar joined my already too large stash!
I built the Mercedes SSKL from the same range a couple of years ago, and this will follow a similar vein. I had thought initially that not too much would be required, but as usual, the more I looked into it, the more I felt needed modifying!
So this is what I have!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53435325264_b8366afa7f_z.jpg)
I'm sure most here will be familiar with the standard Matchbox fare of 2 different colour sprues, plus a "chrome" one, which will be stripped and painted.
The plan at the moment will include (at least) the following 3d printed parts:
Wheel rims/hubs (spoked as per the Merc with monofilament fishing line), engine sump and gearbox, folded hood, headlights, sidelights, and taillights, radiator cap, seats, and steering wheel.
I'll probably scratch build new exhausts too.
There may be more.....
The plastic is quite soft and is not easy to sand smoothly, but a start has been made on getting sub-assemblies together.
First the engine.
This is what we are given
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53430480812_9db4ff78e1_z.jpg)
The bonnet will be closed so I'm not worried about accuracy or detail for the top end, but the sump and gearbox are visible from the side. First job was to strip the "chrome". Easy enough, an hour or so in bleach did the job nicely.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53431557658_2a8bc1c86e_z.jpg)
This is what it's supposed to look like...
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53431835100_fbd663f742_z.jpg)
and this is what we get
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53431729589_086e21c8bf_z.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53431557603_a79e4022fc_z.jpg)
Hence the comment above that the sump and gearbox will be printed!
The sump has been cut off, and a new gearbox mounting plate made from .5mm sheet. The engine sits too high if built out of the box. The sump should be visible from the side, and should also extend below the gearbox mounting plate, so that has been corrected. The engine mounts on the chassis were also modified to remove the tree trunk look!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53431557863_a1a91b9dd6_z.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53430480857_5e23d16609_z.jpg)
The chassis frame has also been cleaned up - there are a lot of mould joint lines on this kit, so those were removed and the ejector pins likewise.
The bodywork appears quite good, but I have sanded off the moulded sidelights on the top of the front wings. They will be printed later. The scuttle has been added and work started on fitting the doors. Unfortunately, the door mouldings are slightly rounded which doesn't give a nice sharp edge, so they were sanded flat (and straight!) and they are a work in progress at the moment. Plastic strip has been added as needed to give a sharp edge and restore the lost plastic.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53431557763_72fe9a40fc_z.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53431729529_8c3d78c69b_z.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53431557643_eabdd1ed9d_z.jpg)
I taped the body to pull it tight against the mounts for the scuttle as it was drying.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53431557608_860d8fb35c_z.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53431557593_5f81261deb_z.jpg)
Other parts looked at so far:
The tonneau cover - useless!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53431729499_9c73a85349_z.jpg)
I have no idea why it has a wavy lower edge, but I will print a new one without the top cover. Only the hood frame cover will be on it, leaving the rear seating/baggage area exposed.
Radiator - seen in previous pics. I removed the front grille, then thinned the frame to allow a piece of wire mesh to be inserted. Thinning was done fairly easily with my new toy, a rechargeable drill (recharged using a phone style charging cable) which rotates at only around 400rpm. I also bought some routinh bits for it and it worked well!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53431404546_0f85cdf0a4_z.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53431835025_6487954e56_z.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53431557798_4e5c04377a_z.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53431404526_4a7791756c_z.jpg)
The fine tuning was done by paring with a scalpel blade. and the mesh was fitted.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53434866521_f8ce5fdc49_z.jpg)
A little off centre with the starter handle hole but I think it's close enough. The kit radiator will be fitted behind it, and the front side of that has already been covered with .5mm sheet. I'll drill a small hole for the starter crank access and once it's all painted black it should pass muster.
That's as far as I've got so far, and this will be taking second seat to my De Havilland pair over on the aircraft forum, but it's a fun build so I don't expect it to be sitting idle for too long!
Thanks for looking in!
Ian
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As we say in landscape painting, great start! I used to work in a restoration shop, so I'll watch this one with interest. And I love my rechargable mini tool, I got the one Sandy recommended in the drill-bit thread a few months ago and it's become one of my go-to tools.
Dutch
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I've only built two cars* and I have immense admiration for those who can nail the paint finish which "makes" a car model - the big thing that puts me off buying any Formula One kits - and I love the extra effort you're going to in the name of accuracy with correcting and adding detail. Great start Ian, I'm excited to follow along!
*two Airfix Aston Martins, albeit one was hacked into a Transformers robot!
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You are really doing some incredible work on this one. Should be outstanding when finished!!
RAGIII
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Thanks Dutch! It's a lot easier than the '72 MGB I restored myself over 20 years ago, but that had much more enjoyable results!
Zac, Rick, welcome! I'm not certain I can get the paint finish right, but we'll see how it goes!
Just a quick update. More work has been done on the door fitment, and I decided I needed to give everything a coat of gloss white to see what else needed doing. Chassis and chrome parts have also been painted gloss black.
Now some highly exiting pics of painted parts!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53449450435_6ea20a25f1_z.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53449353814_14f92a74f5_z.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53449353834_a1d8d67d89_z.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53449450405_bec8583176_z.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53449036956_4f1d2559e2_z.jpg)
The doors need some more work but overall, I'm happy with how it's coming on.
Bonnet panels have also been painted, but you don't need to see more white bits!
Thanks for looking in!
Ian
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Brilliant progress Ian. That radiator grill is just fabulous!
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Great progress, Ian.
Are you planning to upgrade the wheels in any way?
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Great progress, Ian.
Are you planning to upgrade the wheels in any way?
Yes, I will do the same as I did on the Merc SSKL. The rims and hubs will be 3d printed and spoked with monofilament.
Ian
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Brilliant progress Ian. That radiator grill is just fabulous!
I agree completely!
RAGIII
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Amazing work, can't wait to see the wheels...
Dutch
(who learned to drive standard on an MGB!)
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Brilliant progress Ian. That radiator grill is just fabulous!
I agree completely!
RAGIII
Me, too!
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Amazing work, can't wait to see the wheels...
Dutch
(who learned to drive standard on an MGB!)
I owned a '72 MGB Roadster for 10 years. Rebuild it with a new bodyshell and took it to France and Germany.
I loved that car! Sold it in 1997 to finance my flight training.
Ian
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Excellent work on this kit, lots of great details ;)
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Thanks for all the feedback folks, great to know this has a following here!
Hmm, nearly 2 weeks without an update. Sorry about that! I have been busy on it and have started the design work on some of the 3d replacement parts. Here's a catch-up of what's been done.
Firstly, adjustments to the bodywork. There was one area that needed quite a bit of fettling - the mudguards/running boards. The shape at both front and back was wrong, and detail underneath was missing.
This is how it should be, looking back towards the rear wheel. The rivet ends you can see are the fittings for the protective strips on top of the running boards by the doors. Note the join between the main running board and the rear wheel arch, plus the join all along the side of the chassis frame. This runs all along and up into the rear wheel arch but I have no pics of the wheel arch interior itself, so I had to guess at that.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53487396870_4d9b9b68f5_z.jpg)
Adjustments started with the addition of plastic strip after having first drastically thinned the whole running board underneath.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53487287089_d812517ac4_z.jpg)
and this is what I'm going with. Not perfect, but a whole lot better.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53487126133_e13a5d7038_z.jpg)
The other major issue here is that the cockpit floor is too high, being level with the bottom of the doors. I'm not going to bother with that!
An even more obvious error is the shape of the mudguards at the rear end
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53486076182_2da3739396_z.jpg)
I started with the left side. Still not there yet as it still has a horizontal edge to it inboard...
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53486984061_ccb3bfe901_z.jpg)
and the final look
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53487287264_4ec9da7744_z.jpg)
The front end was also slightly off, but nothing as major, just a slight reduction of the curve on the outer part.
Then on to the innards. The part provided is very thick around the back end and actually extends too far forwards, interfering with the doors. I decided to remove the sides and replace them with plastic sheet. Here's the part as supplied.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53487287134_825d403476_z.jpg)
and after the sides were removed with a razor saw
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53486983911_f758d514ed_z.jpg)
Obviously having removed such a thick piece of plastic it needed spacers adding. As it turned out, only to one side, but I found that out later...
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53486984096_f2c7e6d63d_z.jpg)
This kit only needed the spacers on the right side. After adding them to both, it was obvious that the left side sloped inwards drastically when fitted inside the body. If you plan on doing similar, check the fit!
This is part way through, the nearside still needs trimming back properly.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53487287294_2246cf3604_z.jpg)
I also added some stock strip to the rear edge to ensure a snug fit against the rear wall of the body and eliminate the gaps there.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53486984056_3bf8470077_z.jpg)
The last (that I've found so far!) of the major body issues is the large gap under the rear end where the fuel tank should be, when viewed from the side. Obviously that needed to be taken care of, so more plastic stock to the rescue.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53487397070_619b48fb22_z.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53487287284_ff1c4f8219_z.jpg)
and finished, with the interior in place.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53486076087_cf217a8cdc_z.jpg)
As I mentioned above, I have no idea whether that is correct or not, but it's a lot better than a big hole! I have sent an email to a Classic Jag restoration garage asking if they have pics, but to be honest I don't expect they have the time to answer, so I'm not holding my breath!
Finally for today, a little progress on the design of replacement parts. I don't use Fusion often enough for it to be stuck in my head properly, so each time is a bit of a relearning curve!
I have done the sump and seat bottoms, work has started on the gearbox too.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53486076097_a20e96f2de_z.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53487287184_997e5765af_z.jpg)
That seat drove me nuts! I finally got the curves for the top, but then couldn't thicken it without it extending through the sides. Then O couldn't get the sides to extend and match the curve of the top! I finally got it sorted. The main issue was that I had made the original drawing a rectangle so it kept trying to follow that all the way around. I changed the drawing slightly to get rid of the inner edge and eventually got it to work. So many ways to do the same thing, and I can't even get one sorted! Anyway, it's done now! I'll do a test print and check for the height, then depending on how visible it is I may reduce the seat thickness and add a more reasonable mounting frame underneath. We'll see....
That's about it for now, thanks for looking in!
Ian
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Wow - I did this kit almost 50 years ago, when I was a kid. I wasn't paying that much attention to the details back then ;D I will follow this thread and admire the work.
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Loving this thread, Ian. Beyond being a lifelong fan of old British cars, one of my favorite aspects of it is the fusion of new-tech and old... 3DP parts on an Eisenhower-era kit with eyeballed bits of plastic card and a lot of razor-saw work & filler. My kind of modeling!
Dutch
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Caught up!! This is very cool. Nice progress.
Steve
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Welcome aboard hsmed. I too built it as a kid and I was very pleased with it! I guess I just got more picky as I got older!
Thanks Dutch, I am very pleased that I took the plunge and started with the 3d designing and printing. It's a very steep learning curve and I'm by no means an expert. It can also be very frustrating sometimes, but as you will see below, the results are well worth it. I only use it when good old plastic mangling won't do the trick - it's an additional resource, not a replacement.
Glad you like it Steve!
I ran a test print last night of the parts designed so far. Mainly just to check sizes before investing more time adding to bits which may not fit.
I needn't have worried!
First the gearbox mount.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53492637693_e62834512e_z.jpg)
That looks useable as is. I originally designed it a little bigger (2mm!) but caught the error in time and this looks good so I'll build on that.
The seat base also looks good, thankfully!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53491592957_0e0a821fa5_z.jpg)
Slightly smaller than the oversized kit part, and the height (allowing for the floor being too high) looks good too.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53492485371_7c974e79ed_z.jpg)
I'm using the pocket on the door panel as a reference and that looks good when compared to photos of the real thing.
Finally, the sump. My favourite piece so far!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53491592967_cf154d6fe5_z.jpg)
I think I'll count that as a slight improvement!
Test fitted to the engine block it looks good size-wise too.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53492791969_1f80cf4e66_z.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53492906165_4c3b6f12e3_z.jpg)
I've since removed the lip on the engine which I had left in place, leaving only the mount for the oil filter.
I'm very pleased with how well the detail has printed on it too!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53492791959_a54cd18a56_z.jpg)
That's useable as is, I won't even reprint it.
A definite "result" there, and huge confidence builder for the next parts.
Thanks for looking in!
Ian
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Seeing your CAD and 3D printing work is truly inspirational. Amazing work!
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Thanks Zac, much appreciated! I'm glad you're enjoying it!
Just a quick update today as I fitted the sump.
Very happy with how it turned out, even though I cut corners with the oil filter and fitting. I used plastic tube and simply stuck a piece of brass rod in to represent the bolt fitment. I really can't be bothered to print it at this scale as it isn't highly visible and I have more important things to do!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53505626517_c409b46b6b_z.jpg)
Thanks for looking in, have a great weekend!
Ian
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Continuing to be a Masterpiece! Your printed and other Mods are really making a difference!
RAGIII
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Thanks Rick!
Just a small update, as I have been busy doing other bits and pieces this last week or so, but I think I've now finalised the shape of the seat base.
I tried modifying the original drawing but found it easier to save as a new file and go back to stage one. Note to self - keep a logical order and ensure all references are in place at the beginning!
It took a fraction of the time to redesign the whole thing and I'm much happier with the overall shape and size of it now.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53538635378_3d9341f658_z.jpg)
Kit part at top, version 1 in the middle, latest edition at the bottom.
Ian
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Any progress is good progress, Ian, it’s looking good. A longtime friend (and now, strangely, a cousin by marriage) is a classic car upholstery wizard, and routinely turns out work that looks like your Mk. II seat. But somehow most of the seats in the cars I’ve owned have ended up looking like the kit part...
Dutch
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Any progress is good progress, Ian, it’s looking good. A longtime friend (and now, strangely, a cousin by marriage) is a classic car upholstery wizard, and routinely turns out work that looks like your Mk. II seat. But somehow most of the seats in the cars I’ve owned have ended up looking like the kit part...
Dutch
Agreed!
RAGIII
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Wow, has it really been 3 weeks since my last update?
I haven't been idle, but have been doing a lot of playing around with the printed parts. Here's what's been going on chez moi.
Firstly, the seat, since that's where we left off.
Further tweaks and adjustments to shape and size of the base, mainly in shortening it slightly further, followed by designing the seatback. That of course led to numerous prints, tweaks and re-tweaks of the design until I was happy with it. Bear in mind I have no measurements, so all this is being done until it "looks right".
This is the early design, just to get the overall shape.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53575387017_c1bba014c5_w.jpg)
Adjustments were made - the back was shortened by raising the bottom edge, and the whole seatback was raised to sit higher on the base, maintaining the overall height of the seat. I widened the front edges to sit around the base better, redesigned the bracket holding the seatback in place, and positioned it a little further forward to eliminate gaps between the back and the base. Once I was sure the overall height was ok, I added a plane and cut the bottom off, adding brackets underneath instead - the height was assured because I just extended the brackets to the original base plane. Another plane was added, again cutting the base, but I didn't remove this part. I widened it slightly to give the base part that the squab was mounted on.
This is where I am now.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53576580254_0d4f772ee1_w.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53575387047_d98276c80a_w.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53576697260_cbbd9ef890_w.jpg)
A big improvement, but I'm still not sure why those prints aren't as crisp as they should be.
Next, the gearbox.
This is what I designed.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53576465768_8e8ff13f95_w.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53576580234_1e7be0baf0_w.jpg)
Upon printing it was obvious that I had made it too small.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53576580204_c3e3b06579_w.jpg)
Fortunately, Fusion has a scale function, so I enlarged it by 25% and reprinted.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53576580344_8f0f5d90f6_w.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53576697305_dd818a9257_w.jpg)
I may even enlarge it a tad more - again the problem is that I have no measurements to work with!
Finally, the wheels. I started with the wheels I designed for the SSKL Merc and resized them and the hubs. A couple of tweaks to ensure they fitted the tyres properly and they are ready for further detailing.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53576580304_cba54ed98f_w.jpg)
Another issue I've been having is that the upper side of all prints (the side facing the plate and between the supports) is blurred and shiny. I thought at first it was a cleaning issue, but I think I have part cured resin sitting on the top which won't wash off. I've only had this issue since switching to the Mars 4 Ultra and Saraya Tech Fast resin. You can clearly see the difference with the one on the right showing the upper surfaces.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53576697265_95369597e8_w.jpg)
I noticed I had the same issues with the Siraya Tech Exposure test piece.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53538775669_240247f0e7_w.jpg)
Notice the inlaid crosses on the far side have shiny residue in them which leaves them blurred at the edges. It also shows the same blotches on the surface.
In an effort to eliminate that, I did another print with the gearboxes mounted vertically. That led to failure of all the vertical parts! I noticed while trying to clean out the failed prints that the film seemed to have a ridge in it, so I emptied the resin vat to take a look.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53576580359_7a8b39a4e1_w.jpg)
I may have caused that while removing the failed prints, I'm not sure, but new film has been ordered along with Elegoo Rapid resin and I'll see if that makes any difference.
If anyone has experience of these issues and can offer advise, please speak up!
Meanwhile, there's more designing to be done!
Thanks for looking in,
Ian
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Evening all!
The film was received and I fitted it a couple of weeks back. Printing resumed with the same issues as before, but I got a couple of useable gearboxes and went with those (the uppers won't be visible anyway). I've emailed Siraya Tech on the issue and am awaiting their reply.
Progress then! I cut the UJ off one of the gearboxes to use at the back end of the driveshaft, then removed said driveshaft from the differential, shortened it, and refitted it all. A quick check to make sure I had the lengths right was satisfactory.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53619103924_e5beb6c0da_w.jpg)
Paint was then applied and the whole lot was fitted to the chassis.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53619103759_3840212aa2_w.jpg)
It even fits the body!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53618766901_26d791a5c7_w.jpg)
It's not perfect, but I can live with it. It looks right at least!
I still had issues with the seats as they just didn't look right.
The prints were ok, happy with that, but the height looked wrong.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53618766906_f798f60606_w.jpg)
Then I looked more closely at the top edge of the rear bodywork. Most pics I have seen have a folded hood there which hides the edge, but when I found one without it the problem was resolved - the bodywork is too high at the front! It should actually slope downwards slightly from front to rear. I overlaid the part I had made on the drawing and sure enough, it was about 1mm too high at the front.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53619103739_ea762f5129_w.jpg)
With that sanded down I could remove the legs from the seats and still have them at the correct height relative to the bodywork and transmission tunnel. Photos of the seats in place also confirmed that the seats basically sat flat on the floor with only very small runners. Another issue resolved!
Finally, I also found a pic of the rear end without mudguards, which confirmed that the bodywork within the wheel well was just an extension of the bodywork above it. In addition, this cutaway also confirmed the shape as seen in the photo - marked with red here.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53618974038_1d3cf69fd8_w.jpg)
The kit part is far too thick and does not align in plan view either at the sides or at the rear, plus it should have a curve at the rear and it is square.
This is what the kit gives us, with the interior insert in place.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53618766881_d99280cf0e_w.jpg)
Easiest solution: remove kit plastic and replace it!
One gone...
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53619209755_fcf1e1f072_w.jpg)
and both...
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53619103824_f20b5e64c1_w.jpg)
Not the easiest job, given the thickness of the plastic and the fact that it is so hard, but I used a microsaw and cut it into small pieces to remove it bit by bit.
I will replace the plastic with card to the correct vertical alignment and with the curve at the rear, which will also hide the interior insert which, after all, sits inside the bodywork!
That's the next job, but I am off to the US next Thursday for 6 days and have no more days off before then, so the next update will be after I get back.
Thanks for looking in!
Ian
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Very cool! Your problem solving is great and the Jag is starting to shape up.
Steve
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Very cool! Your problem solving is great and the Jag is staring to shape up.
Steve
I agree 100 percent! Your dedication to improving the kit and making it accurate are admirable.
RAGIII
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Just took a quick look in here to see much madness going on! This will be a massive improvement over the original kit.
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Wow an impressive amount of detail and work is going into this one! Looking really amazing :)
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Thanks all!
Just a quick update as I haven't been totally idle...
The inside of the rear wheel wells is now done. After a coat of flat white a little more fettling and sanding was needed but I'm now happy with it. I have no idea how accurate the fuel tank is as I have no photos. but at least the bodywork looks acceptable and fits with what I can see in pics and what I would expect to be there. ie the bodywork extends down to the chassis behind the running boards and mudguards with no change of profile.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53692369080_c4c73455aa.jpg)
I think that's an improvement over this:
](https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53486076087_cf217a8cdc.jpg)
I've also completed the first drafts of the brake drums.
Front
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53692365819_d6a482b3c6.jpg)
and Rear
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53692426824_95e5f6ae96.jpg)
and the wheel rims plus a jig
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53691133732_4a70c01b71.jpg)
That's it for now. I need to run a test print of those to check that everything fits and see what, if anything, needs adjusting. I do think I may have to design a replacement front cross member to fit everything onto, but I'll know for certain once I get the test printed.
I also need to design some friction shocks as there are none in the kit.
So much for OOB!
Ian
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Beautiful, Ian, this is top-notch modelling. The 3D stuff is just icing on the cake!
Dutch
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Amazing Detail Ian!
RAGIII
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Thanks for the comments Dutch and Rick, much appreciated!
Hi all!
I may have been quiet, but the printer has been working overtime as I tried to find the right settings.
Here are the brake drums..
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53725960878_d30f24df60.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53724847267_0e2af8bb2c.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53726188975_361505c5c8.jpg)
There was a little bit of distortion to the roundness where the supports were, but I think it's acceptable after a bit of sanding down.
Rims look good, but I foresee a lot of drilling....60 spokes on each of the 5 wheels!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53726188995_239aaffd71.jpg)
I have also completed the jig, adding a support to keep the hub at the right height, and guide markings around the edge which match every 4th spoke to help get the threading right without constant recounting.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53726092979_8ac77580a6.jpg)
The other task now completed, which took a while but has no visible outcome as yet, was to work out the spoke numbering so I can thread them correctly. Only final threading will show whether I have got that correct or not!
That's it for now,
Thanks for looking in!
Ian
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Every so often I come across a post here on the forum that has a higher "Wow!" factor than average... and this is definitely one of them. Amazing work, Ian, I'm really looking forward to seeing this project standing on all four rims!
Dutch
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A masterful piece of miniature engineering!
Steve
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Wow, thanks for the praise Dutch and Steve - very much appreciated!
A little more done this weekend....
Just to remind you what the kit brake "detail" is like....
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53735388602_47854d3aab.jpg)
Yes, well....
I had to remove the diff and front crossmember, not a difficult task, then clipped the plastic away before sanding it down to fit the new drums.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53735388612_29446f56b5.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53736746100_f8b494a779.jpg)
Then yesterday I gave them a coat of gloss black.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53735388607_c83789e95e.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53736318301_aa21cf80ec.jpg)
Annoyingly there are some striations showing, which I didn't see before painting. They won't come off now, so they'll have to stay as they are. I also reduced the size of the fittings on the front drums slightly as I think they are a tad oversized, but that won't help this build!
All in all, a big improvement and well worth the effort. I spent most of yesterday afternoon redrawing the seat backs, and I'm much happier with those now, although I may need to add some more there. More photo checking is required first to see if my reference is standard, or an over padded restoration!
Then on to the friction dampers and interior gearbox cover.
Thanks for looking in!
Ian
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Wow thats a huge upgrade! Looks amazing!
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Definitely more realistic. Do the drums stay black? If so the print pattern will be almost invisible - and then the wheels etc. go on.
Steve
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Every so often I come across a post here on the forum that has a higher "Wow!" factor than average... and this is definitely one of them. Amazing work, Ian, I'm really looking forward to seeing this project standing on all four rims!
Dutch
I can't say it any better than Dutch! Amazing wow factor!
RAGIII
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Thanks for the positive comments folks, much appreciated!
Apologies for the long delay between updates, but here is the latest news from the bench...
Blimey, is it really over a month since my last post?
I have been doing bits and pieces here and there, but nothing major until I sat down this weekend with a view to designing the front friction shocks. That unfortunately brought to light another error with the kit. The dampers on this car mount sideways, parallel to the front cross member. Unfortunately, there isn't enough room! I measured up and compared to plans I have, and came to the conclusion that the front of the chassis frame is slightly too wide, meaning the space between the springs and the crossmember is too narrow. Easily solved with a saw!
In the following pic you can see the moulded in engine mount between the chassis frames. I cut this out with a fine saw, cleaned up the cut edges, and reglued it. It's not a huge reduction in width, about 1mm, but enough (I hope!). The front bodywork was also cleaned up a little with a jeweller's file to trim it to size.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53813898842_4895447b58.jpg)
You can also see now how wide the springs are, compared to what they should be.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53815067368_0d2b339d26.jpg)
To correct the springs, I removed the front cross piece. This should be round anyway, not half-round, so 2 improvements in one there! A piece of 0.75mm plastic rod was glued on after recessing the front of the springs and the chassis rails slightly to accept it.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53815267550_3b0183b252.jpg)
After reattaching the springs, I placed the front cross member on top for a pic. One side is in the locating hole - you can clearly see how much narrower the chassis is now. Which of course means I now needed to design and print a new cross member!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53813898862_8c0e1347fd.jpg)
I did that this afternoon and it is printing as I type, along with the slightly tweaked seats and front brakes. When I test fitted the drums it was clear I had made the steering arms too short, so those were lengthened and angled down a little more. Along with previous adjustments reducing the size of the mountings, that should improve the space available for the friction dampers.
So now I need to test fit the bits that are printing now, then design the dampers.
Progress has also been made on the wheels. I spoked the rear half to check my spoke arrangement and it all looks good!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53814823211_a5162ea3ac.jpg)
I then gave it a coat of aluminium paint. along with the other hubs, as I wasn't sure I could reach under the outer part of the hub. I needn't have worried, it all covered nicely!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53814823206_0b92eb3371.jpg)
That wheel can now be finished off, and the other 4 done, but not today!
That's brought everything up to date, thanks for looking in!
Ian
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Really nice upgrades and problem solving.
Steve
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Amazing work on this one, Ian -
Wow regarding your self-made spoke wheels .....
Regards
Dave
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Thanks Steve and Dave, here's a little more to whet the appetite!
Right then, what have we been up to lately?
Let's start with finishing what I started earlier - brakes and attachments.
As mentioned, having narrowed the chassis at the front, I needed to design and print a new front crossmember. That took quite a few attempts as I tried to get something that both left enough space between chassis rail and crossmember for the friction dampers, and also put the wheels in the right position with the track correct. I played about with printing, adjusting, printing, adjusting, and so on until finally I had something I was happy with.
With the tweaked and reprinted brake drums fitted I'm satisfied that I have it about as good as I'll get it.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53839102054_e44f5c5c72.jpg)
and the track matches the rear too!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53839010448_ab5461aef0.jpg)
That's that job done then!
The seats have also gone through quite a few reincarnations as I try to get something approaching accurate.
Here's the progression so far from left to right, kit item in the left.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53837857897_029933f148.jpg)
It's close. I'm happy with the curve across the back, but I still think the seat back needs to be flatter at the edges. I'll come back to that later.
Wheels. I left you with a teaser of one half spoked wheel. I now have one fully spoked wheel. What a pain the front row was! Due to that, I adjusted the length of the pin at the front of the hub to make it easier to get the line around it and not keep slipping off. I've reprinted the hubs with this adjustment for the rest of the wheels.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53839035783_a507cbc946.jpg)
Once the wires were all set, I ran some thin CA on to the top off the hub. Once set I gently filed the top down flat. The knock-offs will (I hope) hide the mess.
Just a reminder of why it took so long...
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53839218270_24ab65c415.jpg)
I'm very pleased with that. Only 4 more to do!
So on to more palaver with the bodywork.
A dry fit of the front with the wheel fitted didn't look right. The wheel was too close to the edge of the bodywork. But the track was correct!
This is where it should be
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53839102114_eea80156ab.jpg)
I didn't have enough hands to photograph it, but the centre of the tyre was further out by the lowest part of the wing.
Or was it?
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53838752641_855d18e8e8.jpg)
Thanks, Matchbox! The outer edges of the wings should be parallel all the way to the final curve on the front. They aren't and angle inwards for the last 15mm or so.
Right then, old style adjustments were called for. Out with the sprue goo and plaster it on!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53839102104_48c8e9d1fd.jpg)
The top surface of the wings should also not curve down at the edges. Guess what, the left side does!
More sprue goo to raise the edge, a touch more at the front left to lower the bottom of the rounded part, and a copy of the plans cut out and glued to a piece of card to use as a template. Might as well get it all done!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53839102044_26ede64713.jpg)
You can see the slightly different shape either side, as I gently sanded the tops of the wings with a sanding stick laid flat across both. the areas of exposed plastic are clearly not equal.
Anyway, it should all look much better once done, which is the whole purpose!
Time for a beer and the footy I think!
Have a great weekend everyone!
Ian
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I am sooo enjoying this thread. Brilliant work, Ian, she's going to be a gem when finished.
Dutch
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I really don't have words!
RAGIII
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Thanks Dutch!
C'mon Rick, that's not like you! ;)
Right then. After multiple episodes of "prime, fill, sand, repeat" I think I've finally reached a state with the front wings that I'm happy with. They have been widened at the front 15mm to make them run straight all the way from front to back, and the curves on the front ends have been adjusted to be as equal as I can get them, with the apex in the right place relative to the wheels.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53870959568_69a8ba2376.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53871019008_3ba230fe40.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53870773381_049a2f2ff0.jpg)
Having just checked after the latest repaint, there's still a small area inside the right wing front that needs a little more smoothing off, but other than that it's OK.
I also primed the seats to get a better idea of how they looked and see if I needed to do any more work on the design.
I've found some pics of a car with seat backs that had a slight curve, so I think I'll go with these now.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53870713166_18e79ce5c7.jpg)
Certainly a big improvement over the kit seats!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53871061139_62f18dd5fd.jpg)
Onwards!
Thanks for looking in folks!
Ian
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Just catching up. Outstanding work!!
Steve
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Blimey, over 4 months have passed apparently!
Ooops!
In my defence, along with a loss of mojo, a lovely lady has entered my life and takes up a lot of what used to be my modelling time, although she fully supports my hobby, so that's a plus!
So what have I been doing ? The answer is, quite a lot of 3d designing, test printing, tweaking designs, reprinting, etc.
Most of this work has been in the front wing/suspension area. The kit has no braces for the front wings, or friction dampers, so those had to be done.
These are the braces:
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54183787037_d08ae6f9d0.jpg)
The trick here was to get the curve right! I started by looking a little more closely at the inner wings where they meet the chassis and realised that the moulded bodywork was too rounded at that point. Problem solved simply enough by attacking the inner wings with a scalpel blade and paring it back to a) give a sharper edge, and b) take the edge back to meet the chassis rails. Then a piece of solder was pressed into the wing to give me the correct shape. I took a photo of that against a pair of rulers. The pic was imported to Fusion as a canvas to give me a reference to work from.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54184943423_37b4d0320a.jpg)[/url]
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54184669601_8d2018c0cf.jpg)
The basic design...
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54184669606_e8144bf938.jpg)
That was printed to check the fit, adjusted as necessary, and detail added. I had to reduce the length by a couple of mm but the curve was good first time. This pic also shows how much I removed from the inner wings to take them back to the chassis rails and square them off.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54183787152_a98cded0f3.jpg)
The final version looks like this
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54184957004_d7c6f6a199.jpg)
One further issue I noted was that the kit moulded front springs are flat across the top instead of curving downwards. After measuring everything and realising that the springs are pretty close to the correct thickness and the axle is at the correct height, I decided to accept the kit springs as I don't want to get into issues with the ride height (it's correct as it is).
After printing the wing braces, the next item to tackle was the friction shocks.
Since I had no size references, I decided the best way to go was to cut a paper mock up, try it for size, adjust it, then take a pic against a ruler and import as a canvas in the same way as I did for the braces.
It was pretty small!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54184956889_5d8308a6bc.jpg)
The design was pretty straight forward.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54185114675_7a17e96166.jpg)
Printing revealed that the two legs are not the same length so that was adjusted, and they were reprinted.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54184956964_71d90f3fda.jpg)
There is also a small linkage between the front crossmember and the damper attached to the rear of the wing brace, so I decided to adjust the front crossmember and reprint it. I also adjusted the front brake drums slightly to lower the actuating arms and reprinted those too.
A test fit of the new front end parts was satisfactory!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54183787127_be6b432881.jpg)
While I was on a roll I decided to go ahead and print the steering linkages. I don't have any pics that show the fitting to the left brake drum so I had a best guess.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54184669336_4f9f708c37.jpg)
The connection to the steering box was deliberately made too long, that will be adjusted later, but the fit and angles are, I think, OK.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54183786992_9383931d81.jpg)
After that little lot, I looked at the steering wheel mounting and realised that the dashboard was wrong.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54183787122_a851b0cb92.jpg)
The moulded recess where the steering column mounts should not be there!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54185114615_1cdfb5175f.jpg)
So I snipped it out with a pair of snips. Bad move!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54184669426_b472a08273.jpg)
Oh well! Nothing for it then other than to design and print a replacement dashboard!
I managed to remove the part without damaging the bodywork, photographed it, and imported as a canvas to draw around.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54183786977_0c0d83518e.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54184669421_33d4b75909.jpg)
Some small tweaks were required to the left edge, and I enhanced the dial bevels a little, giving me this...
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54184669321_6bd06ae58c.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54184669311_7116e01672.jpg)
Sometimes it helps to be clumsy with the snips! I think that's a big improvement!
While in that area I decide to do the grab handle for the passenger.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54185114470_a53b512b91.jpg)
I seem to have forgotten to take a pic of the printed handle, but they have come out nicely!
I have since painted the new parts and will update soon. The next step will be to get some bodywork colour on the undersides of the wings and running boards before fitting the chassis and new parts.
Stay tuned, I promise to update again within 3 months!
Thanks for looking in!
Ian
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This build is getting out of control - in a very good way 👍 So interesting and inspiring to follow. I simply have to learn 3D-drawing....among many other techniques 😊
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There is a lot of madness on this thread, most of it involving 3D! Amazing stuff.....
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Nice work on the dash Ian (and everything else)
Paul
ps - If you could do something similar to your dash but about 1200 long I could use it in mine ;)
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The more I see, the more I feel I should learn CAD. Beautiful work Ian!
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Continuing to be Gobsmacked by your work on this one! No one will recognize this as the kit it started out as 8)
RAGIII
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Less than 2 months - I'm getting better!
Thanks to all for your patience and support!
Still, even after 2 months I don't have much to show. A trip home for Christmas and New Year and a busy work schedule combine to ensure that. However, I haven't been totally idle. Design has been completed on replacement door trim panels.
Since I removed the sides of the rear cockpit tub and replaced them with plastic card the kit panels wouldn't fit even if they had been accurate because the kit tub sides extend forward of the rear of the doors! I'm not sure why, but that's the way it is.
This is what I came up with. Photos show slightly different arrangements for fasteners, etc, so I decided on one I prefer and ran with it.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54290756499_161b24518d.jpg)
and after a quick disclosing coat of Tamiya white...
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54290945375_c437ff4946.jpg)
I think those will work! I now need to design a replacement for the gearbox tunnel as it should be higher at the front where the gearlever is mounted. I have already added the kit rear shelf parts and filled the gaps left by widening the tub, and that has also been painted white to see if any further work is required.
That will hopefully complete the interior parts needed (except the steering wheel) so I should be able to start getting some final paint colours on it soon!
Thanks for looking in!
Ian
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Yum....amazing.
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Thanks Allan!
As a special treat you now get an update LESS THAN 1 MONTH after the last one!
I didn't bother to design a new gearbox tunnel - it just didn't seem to be worth the effort. Especially when there's Milliput!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54311261847_ca3051e1ae.jpg)
Once cured, it was sanded to shape...
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54312144576_d4e62309f2.jpg)
I think that will work, and so much quicker than designing and printing it!
So on with the paint then!
First up was the BRG (Tamiya X5) on the underside/interior.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54311261822_a91e1f2742.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54312566570_6891039584.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54312144561_918bef9721.jpg)
A quick check of the fit and to make sure I didn't miss any areas that will show, and all looks good!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54312144591_5b2b117b6b.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54312566575_6a998ca022.jpg)
I made up some trim panels for the scuttle to match those on the doors thickness-wise, (so 0.5mm sheet) and then some Vallejo leather was "thrown" at it all (including the inside of the scuttle not included in the new panels).
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54312144636_73a7cd3849.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54312144661_2f76e68bbb.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54312387613_0e51ac1a63.jpg)
The side panels got a coat of satin clear, and I think the carpets need a little more texture, so I've ordered some flocking powder to try that.
I'm not too worried about a top-notch paint finish on the underside, but I did polish up the large flat areas a little to remove any irregularities.
That's it for now. Next up will be detail painting on the door trim panels and painting the upper body surfaces. I had originally thought about darkening the X5 a little, as I did on the 1:12 Bentley, but I'm glad I didn't as it seems quite dark enough and I'm very pleased with the colour. The dashboard is also coming along and has also received a coat of BRG with the instruments masked off. I plan on punching out masks for the inside and outside of the dials to paint the bezels, and we'll see if that works soon! Decals received for those too so it should start progressing fairly quickly now.
Except I still need to lace the wheels.....
See you soon, and thanks for looking in!
Ian
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All incredible!!
Steve
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Thanks Steve!
Dashboard finished. The large dials are a little small but they'll do.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54355823566_365a9e44d8.jpg)
and the exterior has been painted. First coats...
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54356047808_f459237883.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54354943292_99689f1f49.jpg)
and the final coats done
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54354943352_25bc75c981.jpg)
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54356025049_691f899b69.jpg)
That last shot was during the final polishing. It's not perfect, but I'm more than happy with the finish.
The interior was finished with flocking powder. Recommended by @81-er and duly ordered!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54354943262_569a7625db.jpg)
which was then fitted to the finished body.
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54356047788_ee689537cf.jpg)
That was when I remembered that I hadn't yet fitted the foot pedals or gear lever. Oh well, nothing like making life harder for yhourself!
and for some strange reason I thought it would be a good idea to fit the door trim panels, even though it will be weeks before they're needed.
b****r!
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54356025044_7c999fed87.jpg)
I guess that will need to be done again then!
So that's where it sits as of this afternoon. I may just leave it a while longer so I don't ruin the rest of the paintwork!
Thanks for looking in!
Ian
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You have broken down the parts, added amazing details, and Now it is beginning to look like an Automobile! Lovely work!
RAGIII