Anglia105E

What you are doing here Shaun is truly wonderful..... and posting these fascinating photos is the best way to record your progress during the build. All this experience with how to overcome problems and get things right is going to be so valuable to you when you tackle each build in the future. This Alfa is a wonder in itself, and I keep coming back to look again at your work in progress. As you say, this building of scale model cars is so relaxing, and so rewarding too. David

Morgan chassis and engine looking good MIchael, and good thinking on your part to line up the fuel filler neck because if you wait until the instructions tell you to fit the part...... it will not line up! ( I seem to remember I used a cocktail stick through the hole and made adjustments before the glue set ). The Triumph TR3A sports car kit that Minicraft produced is very basic, so just imagine if Tamiya had produced the TR3A.... David

What an outstanding job you have done here Steve...... this interior detail on your Pontiac Firebird is up there withe best I have seen on this forum. Until someone pointed it out, I had not noticed the key in the ignition.... now that's DETAIL for you ! David

You don't see many of these kits built Hugh, and very few for sale also...... your build is very nicely done, and that is the perfect paint finish for this car. Beautiful gold decals and congratulations on your patience with them..... Well done! David

Yes David, I have an Italeri 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II and I converted this one from a soft top to a hard top. Also, I converted the bonnet to a four panel opening bonnet to display the engine. This build was most rewarding and it was my first Italeri kit. Paintwork for this Phantom is brush painted gloss black and brush painted gloss magnolia, with pale blue upholstery for the interior. Here is a photo of the completed build. I would say if you get the chance to buy one and build it, then you will not be disappointed. If you miss out on the one at your local model shop there are loads for sale on Ebay, and many of them are quite cheap too. The Phantom II has pride of place alongside a 1929 Franklin Mint Phantom I and a 1938 Danbury Mint Phantom III ( both diecast models ). The Fujimi version of the FX4 is probably better than the Revell one, but I much prefer the FX3 if I can come up with something clever. The Heller Talbot Lago Record Cabriolet kit arrived today and I shall start on that build once the 1955 Jaguar MK I is completed. David

Also, Steve, this very nice resin TR6 if you have a lot of money..... £119.54 is around US $: 168.44 https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/LUCKY-STEP-COLLECTIBLES-002A-TRIUMPH-TR6-resin-model-road-car-green-1-18th-scale/222828658486?hash=item33e19f7f36:g:ZFQAAOSw4DJYfOIn David

Here is a link Steve to 1:18 scale diecast TR6's on Ebay in UK...... https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Triumph-Tr6-Diecast-1-18-Scale-Model-by-Ertl-Britains-Collectibles/1323109571 David

Hi Steve... that is a very nice TR6 you have there, and lovely condition for 1972. I see you have owned the car for around 27 years, that is something to be proud of indeed. At one time I used to work in the parts department for a leading Triumph, Rover, Jaguar dealership in England, which was during 1976 - 1977 so there were relatively new Triumph TR6's and Jaguar E-Types in the showrooms and in the workshops. I got to know every part of most Triumphs including TR4A, TR5, TR6, TR7, Dolomite Sprint, Stag V8, Spitfire and also the 2.5 PI as used by the Police. As far as I know, there isn't a kit for the TR6 but I am aware of the Minicraft TR3 of which I have two, and Gunze Sangyo did a TR2 I believe. I do make regular searches for kits in 1:24 scale especially, particularly Rolls-Royce motor cars, but also Morgans, Jaguars, Morris, Triumph and Austin. The one kit that I cannot find in this scale is the Austin FX3 London Taxi, which is the older shape body. There are plenty of Austin FX4 London Taxis about, both in Revell plastic kit form and also the Welly diecast version. Later this month I am starting a conversion build from a Tamiya 1936 Toyoda kit that I have to see if I can produce an FX3 taxi. The Lindberg kit pictured below shows that the GT6 could be converted to a Triumph Spitfire, but the front end is quite different from your TR6, so I don't think it could be done. The Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud kits that I have used for my five builds are only from Minicraft and Revell, because no other company had a license to produce them. David

It is quite possible that the Revell kit and the Heller kit are one and the same. I did consider building the Airfix 1:12 scale Bentley blower, which is a hugely challenging build I hear, but at £100.00 it was too expensive for me and I do prefer 1:24 scale in any case. David

The 1:24 scale Revell kit of the Bentley blower is probably better than the Heller kit, although I shouldn't assume that as I haven't built either of them. Like you Bill, I keep looking at the idea of building the Bentley for my diorama, which is 1958, but the Bentley is a race car so maybe it would not fit properly into the diorama setting. My diorama building is a Rolls-Royce, Daimler, Bentley coachbuilders so perhaps the race car could have been on display in one of the two showrooms. David

Yes Steve, the reason I ask is that I have recently completed the build of a Tamiya Morgan 4/4, and I am half way through building the Tamiya Jaguar MK II, which were the first two Tamiya builds for me. Previously my builds included Revell, Minicraft, Italeri and Emhar, but I have discovered the sheer quality of Tamiya kits in 1:24 scale. The way the parts fit together is so good that you could almost do without glue or any adhesive. The finished product when photographed can easily pass for a real car in the right lighting. Both the Morgan and the Jaguar tend to be expensive if purchased on Ebay, and they don't come up for sale very often. I am shortly about to build my first Heller kit and don't know what to expect, so it will be interesting to see how Heller compares with Revell and Tamiya. David

Really nice build you have there Steve, and that is some top notch black paint job. It is all about the smell..... I understand that. Do you find the Revell kit of the Volkswagen Beetle to be as good as the Tamiya kit ? ( just curious ). David

On the subject of smoke Eric, this is just one of two ideas that I've been turning over in my mind, the other being rain. Tried searching for an effective way of depicting rainfall using real water of course. The smoke effect is more for the photography than when the diorama is in an exhibition situation. The experiments continue. Fascinated by the perspective concept that I have managed to achieve with the background acrylic painting, but once again this only works to the full extent in photographs, not so much to the eye of the viewer when standing to one side of the exhibit. Next vehicle to join the Hooper & Co setting will be the 1955 Jaguar MK I and this will be closely followed by the 1946 - 1953 Talbot Lago Record Cabriolet. Thanks for your continued attention Eric and how are the Duesenbergs going? David

David.... Oh I see, and I think I can visualise how you will display your models, with the diorama being much wider than it is deep. Andy seems to be a good contact for resin kits and I am happy with the prices which are usually around £20.00 or not much more per item. I thought I was going to have to order a Tamiya Lotus Super 7 as the donor kit for the wheels but Andy included wheels, bumpers and dashboard with the body for the Anglia. Actually, the Ford Anglia is 1959 onwards so it will not be part of my diorama which is 1958, whereas the Morris Minor Traveller can be a 1957 so that is fine. Currently building the Tamiya Jaguar MK II and converting this model to a 1955 as a MK I. Also ordered a Heller Talbot Lago Record Cabriolet which is 1946 - 1953. The only kit that I cannot obtain in 1:24 scale is an Austin FX3 London Taxi, so I am having to use the 1958 Austin FX4 London Taxi, for which the Revell kit is slight out of scale, and this forced me to use a Welly diecast version of the taxi. When I get round to it I intend to attempt a conversion of the Tamiya 1936 Toyoda to an FX3 Taxi, as it seems to be a similar body shape..... could be tricky though! Here is a photo of the Hooper & Co building in A2 size, which I purchased from the Denver Public Library Archives in Colorado USA, and taken between 1950 and 1952, because the signwriting says H.M. The King as compared with my diorama building which says H.M. The Queen. David

You will enjoy building this Morgan 4/4 Michael, it is very rewarding. I have three Tamiya Morgans now, one of which I built from a new kit and two are built kits that were cheaper because they have bits broken or missing. One of these was £4.99 which is US $ 6.99 only. Not many kits come up for sale and they are usually asking silly prices. The quality of this kit from Tamiya is excellent but it seems to me that you have to choose if you want the roof in the raised or lowered position, due to the way the windscreen is attached. The Morgan sits well alongside my MGTC, two Triumph TR3A's. and a Jaguar XK120 ( MG is Franklin Mint, TR3A's are Minicraft and Jaguar is Bburago ). David

Janne..... those gold decals on the black body of this car look really good, and the highly detailed interior for this build is very high quality workmanship on your part. I have ordered an Aoshima Mitsubishi Pajero SWB kit from an Ebay seller in Italy, which I am waiting to receive around end of April. This will be my first experience with an Aoshima kit and if the specification of the Mitsubishi kit is anything like your Volvo kit, then I will be happy. David ( UK )

David..... I see that your diorama is 5 feet x 1.5 feet which is quite large, my diorama being 3 feet x 2 feet x 2 feet. Yes, the Morris Minor Traveller resin body kit is from Andy of Modelkars in Halifax and I also have a Ford Anglia 105E resin body kit from him. I did find Andy very helpful and although the finish of the Morris body is quite rough, the Anglia body is a much better casting. The hardest part of the Morris build was scratch building a chassis and I used an interior from a donor kit which was the Tamiya Morris Mini Cooper ( non-racing version ). Andy is currently preparing an interior and a chassis for a 100E that will fit my 105E body. David W.

Liking the colour.... when I saw ' Caramel Toffee ' my first thought was YUK, but actually it works! Nice build this one, Dale.... well done. I do like the Foose Impala and also the Foose Cadillac. David

I think, based upon what you are saying Bill, I have every intention of acquiring a Talbot Lago Record Cabriolet for my diorama scene, as it all makes sense when you put it like that. It is such a nice looking motor car from that period and there are plenty of kits available for a very reasonable price. I must compliment you on your detailed knowledge of Talbot cars and the company history..... many thanks indeed ! David

I didn't realise the Heller kits use a lot of clear parts, which as you say Mike means you have to mask off areas to paint other areas of the same part! Now that I have built many kits by Revell, Tamiya, Italeri, Emhar, Minicraft and my first Aoshima kit is arriving soon, I thought I should at least have a go at a Heller kit. The Hispano-Suiza K6 was one of the first kits that I cast my eye over with the intention of purchasing and I keep coming back to the Talbot Lago GP and also the Talbot Lago Record Cabriolet. Although the Cabriolet would fit into my 1950's diorama, I'm not sure if there would have been such a motor car on the roads of London, I may be wrong. David

Hello David Mitchell and thanks for your response. I agree that the only way to display model cars most effectively is to place them into a diorama, where everything looks as real as possible. For me, the idea of putting a completed build into a plastic box on a shelf, or just on a shelf, or inside a glass cabinet (with glass shelves) is not the most interesting way to display the model that is your pride and joy. Your gas station mk2 diorama sounds intriguing..... have you posted any photos yet? Yes, I did have a look at the Seuthe smoke generators and I might try them out at some stage. Some comments on diorama forums suggested there may be issues with them, so I set about improvising at this early stage. The lighting used in the previous photos of the Hooper & Co diorama was a single 100 watt daylight bulb, which is one of three daylight bulbs that I use. For the next series of test shots I shall be using a mini projector, more smoke and a different vehicle...... David

Thanks very much Matt for the info on the historic festival, and Donington is closer to where I live than Mallory Park is, being just South of Nottingham. More than the attraction of classic cars is the nostalgia attached to the small friendly circuit that is Mallory Park. The Donington event does look interesting, mind you, and at £25 entrance fee for Saturday or Sunday it is also good value for money. David

I see there are quite a few 1:24 scale kits on Ebay for the 1950's Alfas, Vanwall, Connaught, Maserati , Ferrari and Talbot Lago. Nearly put in an offer on a Talbot Lago at one point but stopped myself, to remind me that it is British motor cars of the period that I need, and mostly Rolls-Royce ( so not race cars ). Some reports seem to suggest that Heller kits are difficult to assemble, as compared with the likes of Tamiya, Revell and Italeri. David

Making smoke..... Here we go, generating real smoke for this diorama. Having attached a thin plastic tube to the rear of the Bentley 'S' Type, then inserting a 2 inch length of incense stick, I coated the incense stick with lubricating oil. The tip of the incense stick was ignited and a plastic propagator lid placed over the model car to build up an accumulated amount of smoke. Once the composition was set up and the camera was ready, the plastic lid was removed and the smoke released for the photography. This idea does need some fine tuning and later there will be more vehicles and...... MORE smoke ! The general idea is to create the appearance of exhaust smoke on a busy London street during the 1950's. David

We might have called it a ' power bulge ' here in the UK during the '70's....... I agree totally that you would not wish to glue the hood down, after all your good work over the past few weeks; then the option of leaving the hood off is not ideal either, so maybe it is the power blister ? There is no fourth option is there Eric ? Perhaps once it becomes a cream white power blister rather than a green blister, all will be well...... David