Airfix Bentley

[Ian from Doncaster]

I have been building this model for many months now.  It is a re box of a kit I always wanted as a child in the 70's but never had.

This kit sells for UK£100 - about the same as a WNW Gotha but unfortunately that is where the similarities end.  The Airfix kit is badly molded, with excessive flash and seams on EVERY component, and ejector pin marks in too many places.  The spoked wheels were a nightmare.  Also for this money, I would have expected better quality such as mesh for the grille and light protectors - I built these using a cheap plastic sieve.  The bonnet/hood straps in the kit were solid rubber castings, that were impossible to clean up.  Again I replaced these bits with home made components - thin fake leather cut into strips and metalwork made from plasticard and brass tube.

Then there are the so called chrome parts.  These are regular styrene sprues coated with a hard thick chrome effect.  This had to be scraped off in most cases, as the sprue nibs needed touching up.  Also the chrome effect exaggerated the poor molding.  Eventually I lost patience and assembled some parts as they were - it was not practicable to tidy up any more.

From a distance the kit looks fine, just don't zoom in too much!  As soon as I decided this was finished, I opened my next WNW kit, and what a difference!

Still, I now have the model I always wanted, even if it isn't all I thought it would be.

[coyotemagic]

Well, Ian, you certainly made a silk purse of the old beast!  I even zoomed as much as my computer would allow and she still looks gorgeous.  If you hadn't pointed out the flaws, I probably would have ordered one on the merits of your extraordinary results.  Outstanding work, mate!  Heartfelt congratulations on fulfilling your childhood dream in such fine fashion, in spite of the kit.
Cheers,
Bud

[Ian from Doncaster]

Thanks Bud, it isn't too bad but not as good as I would have liked.  I never got to the point of trashing the kit, but from a normal eye view it looks OK.

I was happy to do that bit of scratchbuilding, even if that is relatively crude.  I would still recommend the kit, but not at the full price - if you can pick up an unbuilt second hand box, go for it.  I saw some outstanding builds of this model during my online research, but the levels I saw were beyond my skills and resources.

I wonder if WNW would ever consider WWI accessories such as vehicles etc?

[Des]

From where I am sitting the model looks great Ian, you have done a superb job regardless of the issues along the way, congratulations on ending up with an excellent model of the Bentley you have wanted for so long.

Des.

[IvotB]

Thesame here: model looks great on the pictures, I wanted one too in the 70's, I'm still tempted to buy one, but I'm only reading disappointed reviews. Your version however looks very appealing to me!

So it's a nostalgic project, especially for those of us who desired this kit in the 70's. At that time I remember building an Airfix Mercedes, Bugatti, T-Ford, Dion Bouton etc., in quite a different scale. Bits and pieces of those kits are still somewhere in the attic.

Tonight my WNW Bristol Fighter arrived after 3 weeks of shipping and a nice bonus from dutch customs and 21% VAT. So on top of the USD 99,-- there were 37,77 USD to be paid to customs. Hannants is selling it at GBP 99,99, which is USD 159,--  without shipment so direct ordering is cheaper in the Netherlands still.

regards,
Ivo

[GAJouette]

  Ian,
Wow now that's one outstanding  change of pace modeling my old friend. Surprisingly enough not in 1/72 scale though.
Highest Regards,
Gregory Jouette

[Rob Hart]

That is a fine model of one of Mr. Bentley's racing 'trucks'. It is a great subject and a pity the kit is so rough. I would imagine cleaning up those wheels would be trying experience. Perhaps Airfix will retool it. Isn't this a fairly large scale kit, 1/12th or something?

[Ian from Doncaster]

Thanks folks

Yes it is a big kit, which is why the quality is somewhat disappointing.  Still, this wasn't an exercise in modelling accuracy, more something I want on my shelf.

[kornbeef]

Nicely executed Ian. I had this when it first came out, I've always loved the old Bentley, had one as our wedding car, only the 3 litre though. The kit was considered quite outstanding at the time but even then was a flash horror. I was tempted to get the rerelease but the price... killed that idea.

Airfix like Tamiya seem to be pushing some of these old  kits out with no or little updating and expecting to charge top dollar for them. Another I had that I wanted to replace was the Tamiya JPS  Lotus 72 but it's a horrendous price. (My Mum stomped on my original  because my room was such a mess *I called it organised chaos, she saw it differently *)

 

[IanB]

Nice job Ian.
 I have one in my stash that I've had since the 70's and put aside because I didn't have the referances I needed to "do it properly" - I now have those and it's high on my to-do list...maybe next year...I plan on using brass mesh available for ship model netting to do the stone guards on the rad, lights and fuel tank....we'll see if it works..

Ian

[Ian from Doncaster]

Thanks

Ian, use the mesh, it will be a great improvement over the kit parts!

[Tony Haycock]

This is a model on my wish list, even more since I had the pleasure of driving it's smaller sister, a 1924 3 litre for three weeks as part of the UK Bentley Drivers Club tour of New Zealand at the beginning of the year. What really puts me off it is the wheels, the moulded plastic spokes just don't look right.

Still, if I find one at the right price...

[Nigel Jackson]

I've never been into cars, but what a beautiful job you have done on a notoriously difficult model Ian. Well done!

Best wishes
Nigel

[Ernie]

Lovely job, Ian, despite the troubles.  Classic auto.  Not so much as a kit.

Cheers,
Ernie

[Ian from Doncaster]

Thanks again - yes Tony, the wheel spokes are awful - hidden in my case with a thick coat of paint!