microwheel

I wish my son took a interest in model building. Tried to get him started in it a while ago, but he just didn't seem to have a passion for it. It's great that your daughter does.

You got some great scratch building talent. Love how this is coming along.

This is looking so cool.

Nice detail. The paint turned out beautiful.

Clean build. Love the color.

Turned out nice.

Followed your build on this. It really turned out good.

Looks good, really like the they way the paint came out.

Actually Skip, The back of the boot board rest on two angle brackets that are welded on the back wall of the boot area (on the back side of where the seat area is) You can see them in this pic:

Hi Guys, Just a little info update. Progress pics in the next few days... As for the look of the mini and the color, the pics below will show you the look I'm after. For the exterior, I will be going with a Surf Blue color look. To get the color close, Using a conversion chart from British Mania's web site.. They have a ditzler color code for Surf Blue, which is, Turquoise Blue - code number: 12628. Now because it would cost me too much to have the local auto shop to mix up the color for me, I will be using Model Masters Turquoise mixed with a little bit of testers light blue, I figure a ratio around 8:1 to get close to the right color. Also the ditzler color code for Old English While, lists as Cream White color code number: 8177. I think I can mix this using Model Masters classic white mixed with a little bit of light ivory (not sure of the ratio yet. I'll play with it and let you know) to get the color close. The mini guys in the British car club think my ideas on the color mixing should work. Neither of them have paint for the mini in this color, so I have to do it this way. Here is a pic of a 1:1 mini in the color I'm going for. To get the interior two tone color I want.. I will be using, model masters flat Light Grey and testors sky blue over-coated with model masters semi-gloss clear coat. Here is a pic of a 1:1 mini interior, done in the colors I'm going for. Other than it will most likely be a LH drive car instead of a RH drive. As for progress on Mini Mouse, I only got a little bit to share from the past few days. Got the boot floor cover made and the brackets for it to rest on, as well as the boot lid cable brackets. here is a few pics of the work. More to come later this week I hope, as I get things done.

All the info I have on the Mini Cooper, even the ones in our British Car club, show the spare wheel well and battery box with a slightly raised package shelf that rested on supports over the spare wheel and battery box. There wasnt any difference between the MK1 S and the base mini when it came to where the spare and battery were located And both were optioned with or without the package shelf. Yup im building the Mini Cooper, and yes you are correct that the Cooper S MK1 was optioned with the duel tanks. And thanks alot for sending the resin spare. The twin tanks were available as a option on the 1963 Mini S and above, but not all Mini S had the duel tanks, at least here in the US.

Oh I'm sure you have the modeling skills Byron. But I know what you mean. Unlike years ago when models were a lot cheaper, I cant afford to buy more than one kit, so I have to be a lot more careful with what I do to models these days. And of course that means having to build a lot slower because of it. LOL

Thanks Guys, just a quick update. Cleaned up the trunk area and got a initial coat of primer on all the worked on areas of the trunk. Here is just a few pics. Still got to work on the package shelf braces and make the shelf, as well as the hinges and a few other odds and ends. The pic with the tire in it, is just for giving you a idea of the look.. It is one of the kit tires and not the final spare. More to come as progress continues...........

Next it was time to make the gas tank. Mini's have these in the trunk, and In some refference pics, some mini's even show two, But mine is going with the single LH tank. as seen in this reference pic. I scratch made the gas tank out of evergreen sheet plastic, and filled any gaps with a combo of CA glue and baking soda. A hole was drilled in the side and a small piece of plastic was added to the back of the hole to simulate the gas gauge sending unit. And this is the result. Here is the tank in a first coat of primer. . Here are a couple of shots of how the tank will look in the car. The pics also give a idea of how the trunk area over all will look, once I finish up a few odds and ends with it. I still have a few more things to do for the trunk yet before I have the trunk area done, such as making the trunk hinges and the tie cables and mounts, but at least I feel like I made a little progress the past few days. More to come as I get it done so stay tuned.

Hi Guys, Thanks for looking. Still haven't made a decision yet on final paint color, but I will soon. Got some more work done on Mini Mouse the past few days. First fill in a few push pin marks for the trunk floor area, also added a strip of evergreen plastic to the rear edge where the chassis meets the body because there would have been a gap there that would have been seen from the inside of the trunk area. In this pic you can see how the gap was taken care of. Next I added thick evergreen plastic strips to the bottom of the interior pan where the back seat would rest against to extend that area down where it would meet the trunk floor area, then added some thin evergreen strips to the seat backing area to give that area the ribbed look it was supposed to have. Next I cut open the trunk and added a lip around the opening for the trunk lid to sit against, using evergreen round rod and sanded down to give it as close to the proper look as I could get. Then I test fitted the interior tub and chassis to the body to make sure the trunk area was going to look right. Next I worked on the trunk lid to take care of any gaps and to make sure it fit flush with the body when sitting against the lip. You can see the results in this pic.. Still got a little cleanup to do, but not bad. Continued with next post................

Well hope all is going good with your trip Fred. Ya need to hurry back to your work bench so you can get some work done on your latest project. I'm looking forward to seeing more of it.

More pics of completed LH side door jams Once again the door taped into place with scotch tape to show the fit. Next it's time to work on the trunk and clean up the mold lines around the front fender, and a little bit of body work clean up. So stay tuned, lol.

Posting update for the RH side of Mini Mouse. Got the RH interior door panel made, and upholstery area scribed out. Got the RH side Door cut out and with just a little gap filling it fits as good as the LH side. Got All the RH door jams made using the same process as the LH side. Here is a pic of the LH door panel before the upholstery lines were scribed in. the scribber in the pic is the tool I used for scribing the lines. The side without the red mark on it is a dull point tip that works great for scribing lines without cutting. In the pic you can also see most of the equipment I have been using to do the work I have been doing on Mini Mouse so far. Next pic is the door panel with the lines scribed in it. Both door panels in primer The LH door cut out and gaps filled. Then taped into place to check for fit. Both door side jams completed with door panels inserted to check for fit. Completed LH body side door jams. Continued on in following post......

Update with pics on Mini Mouse coming sometime tomarrow.. Got the RH doorjams and door panel done.

Nice mock up so far. I like where your going with this.

Cant wait to see where you go with this one.

Hey there Fred, I like the stance of your Bee, and I like the engine and detail. Reminds me of a modern street machine look. Kind of a new take on the old muscle car street rod look from back in the early to mid 70's. This has been the frist chance I've had to check out your progress in a few days, but glad I did. By the way, I love the color choice as well.

Hi Fred, I enjoyed our talk as well and look forward to more in the near future. Hope your trip is going well. As for scribing the panel lines, I have a set of hobby scribing tools where one has a slightly blunt tip on it. I use that one to scribe lines without scoring it all the way through. I used a scale ruler that has MM on it to measure the original pattern lines and then marked them on my base panel. Then using the same ruler as a straight edge guide, I ran my scribe tool along it with just a little pressure so as not to scribe the lines too deep. I tested the process several times on a few pieces of scrap sheet plastic, to make sure I had it the way I wanted it, that way I knew how it was gonna work before I did the actual panel. That way I didn't have to worry too much about messing up and having to make a new panel. when I get time, I'll take a pic or two of the scribe tool I use so you get a idea, or at least include the tool in a future process shot. You can get them at hobby lobby. At least I'm pretty sure that's where I got mine. Not Yet Glenn, but I'll post when I do. I also plan to open and hinge the trunk area when I get that far. That's the plan right now anyways lol. But you know how plans are.. they change sometimes..

Hi Glenn, I'm getting ready to start on the passenger side sometime today or tomorrow. The car is going to be a LHD US version. I've seen lots of builds done RHD and want to be a little different.

Thanks, yup,but model building is my get sane again time lol. Our daughter graduated this past year and is off getting ready to start college this next month. She's going into the medical field like my wife. She got a ton of scholarships, so there is very little financial add that she needs. Our son, even with all his issues, has the potential to do just as well. My wife and I always tell the kids that they didn't ask for the problems that they have, and to never let their issues hold them back. Both their birth parents were drug and alcohol abusers, and they neglected and abused both kids. As did their birth grand parents, whom they lived with for a while. when they were little, and were also heavy drinkers.