Anglia105E

Harry . . . Sorry to hear that your Mother has passed away, and my Mother has also passed away peacefully during June this Summer. I found that my continued building of scale model cars and dioramas helped me a great deal during this difficult time, so I do understand. The 1:32 Airfix kits are mostly very good, and I am pleased to hear that you found the Alfa Romeo that you wanted. Your work in this small scale is truly inspiring for me . . . I shall keep coming back to read your posts, and study your photos ! David Watson ( England )

After dry sanding the body of the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud with 600 grit, there was a single coat of Halfords white primer applied, followed by wet sanding with 1200 grit. . . I have decided to go with Plastikote black primer from this point onwards, but at this stage it was important to fit the windscreen, which will only be glued in place once all the sanding, masking and painting is completed. The windscreen part is not the one supplied in the Minicraft kit, or the Revell kit. I am using the windscreen from a 1:24 Franklin Mint 1955 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I diecast model car. This seems to be the most accurately proportioned windscreen at my disposal. Several lengthy sessions of filing by hand were necessary to enlarge the opening of the body to allow the Franklin Mint screen to fit properly. While Minicraft and Revell expect you to insert the windscreen from the inside of the body, I am of the opinion that the screen should be inserted from outside the body, just as it would be on the real full size car. Over the next few days there will be further wet sanding of the body parts, including the boot lid and bonnet (hood) panels, and continued application of the Plastikote black primer, with more wet sanding with 2000 grit. The grey styrene parts in the Revell kit that need to be chromed will have a coat of black primer, followed by a coat of yacht varnish brushed on, and then Molotow Liquid Chrome will be airbrushed over the varnish from a 30 ml refill. The liquid chrome pen tends to leave the odd streak here and there, so I shall try airbrushing this time around. David

Nice idea Patrick, and I wasn't even aware that Aoshima produced an estate version of the Subaru Impreza . . . or is it a Legacy ? David

Well, having not posted on this topic since 31st March, so a 6 month break if you like, I am now back on track. Due to various distractions, which included the European tramcar build from the kit produced by Miniart of Kiev in Ukraine, also the JFK Love Field Airport garage diorama, as well as the Airfix Jaguar 420 and the Airfix Triumph Herald, followed by the Hasegawa Suzuki SJ413 Samurai . . . I am now fully committed to the next part of this Hooper & Co. diorama. Previously, I have built and painted seven 1:24 scale Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud I model cars. Only one of those cars came close to the level of model building that I am striving for. Now I have started to build the eighth Silver Cloud, and this one is going to be something special. To the best of my ability I am aiming to produce a professional standard model. This time I am following much more detailed and lengthy procedures with regard to the preparation of the body parts before painting, and indeed the paint finish has to be a true representation of what you would expect to see on the full size Rolls-Royce motor car from the 1950's. Already I have taken delivery of the two 400 ml aerosol cans of the custom mixed cellulose paints that are the chosen colours specific to this car, which is a 1958 Silver Cloud registration number VWX 1, and finished in Shell Grey (metallic) over Velvet Green . . . Currently, three different primers are undergoing tests, and these are white primer, grey primer and black primer. The kit that I am using is the 1:24 scale Revell Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II in black styrene. This model car will have pride of place in the Hooper & Co. showroom when it is completed. David

That is an absolutely beautiful build, Chang . . . The paint colours are simply wonderful, and what a combination of two-tone. Your photography and lighting really helps to show the true colours of this model Hudson. I particularly like Moebius kits, having built one 1953 Hudson Hornet, with one more still in the box. You must have enjoyed building this one of yours, and I know I did. The parts in Moebius kits usually fit together extremely well. David

Thanks . . . and here's what happens when they go rusty (near to the sea) . . . Not mine ! David

Oh I see, thank you . . . Presumably if the shore is eroding, as all shores do, the remains of old vehicles will be washed out to sea eventually . . . David

Thanks Bill . . . The Hasegawa kit for the Jimny is really nice to build, and of excellent quality. The following photo is of the full size vehicle, showing the wheels. David

Thanks David . . . Yes, there were pleasant memories attached to that Samurai, for sure. The bull bar was the hardest part of the build. David

Thanks Les . . . Wow ! Metallic Green and a V6 engine !! Why are the remains of the car buried, if you don't mind me asking ? David

Here are two recently completed builds. One is the 1:24 scale Hasegawa Suzuki Jimny, which I have built as a 1988 Suzuki SJ413 Samurai that I used to own as a 1:1 vehicle, and the second is a 1:32 scale Airfix Triumph Herald, built from a starter set kit. The Suzuki Samurai features 3D printed wheels and a scratch built wrap around bullbar. The paint finish is Halfords Honda Milano Red from rattle can, which was applied over Halfords White Primer, and the 3D printed wheels are rims from a Ford Crown Victoria Police car. The bullbar is made from metal wire and brass plate. Hoping you like these two ! David

Nicely done Ferrari, Michael and I have found Hasegawa kits to be of good quality. Having built their Suzuki Jimny, I might fancy building a Ferrari myself ! I agree that the 328 GTS is indeed a truly beautiful motor car. Your paint colour is just right, and the engine detail is excellent. The photography really works with the black background, and of course good lighting. You must be very proud of this build, and rightly so. David

Beautiful paint colour combination on that '56 Ford Crown Victoria there Pat . . . I really like most '50's American (and Canadian) motor cars. David

Well done Paddy . . . The 1:12 scale Airfix Bentley Blower is not an easy kit to build, but I see what you mean about the glass and paintwork. Welcome to MCM forums, where I am sure you will meet lots of interesting scale model builders like yourself. David (England)

The bearded male figure with the red baseball cap works really well for you, because he appears to be looking at the Suzuki in a realistic pose. Coincidentally, I have that dog figure myself ! . . . I have just ordered the Hasegawa Suzuki Jimny, which I shall build with optional standard wheels, as mine was a Suzuki Samurai 1988 and not a 1995 Jimny . . . Well done with the figure painting, which I know is not easy, and these figures bring the diorama to life. David

Many thanks Charles, and there are lots of these Hasegawa kits on Ebay, some of which are in UK so I shall probably order one. David

As usual Charles, there is so much going on in your diorama that it is always worth studying each and every detail. The whole thing just works ! Could I ask where you were able to source the Suzuki SJ413 Samurai kit ? Presumably this model is plastic and not a diecast ? I can't wait to see the next stage when you add figures to this fascinating diorama . . . David

Charles . . . I used to own a Suzuki SJ413 Samurai, so I can relate to this latest diorama of yours ! That is one gigantic pile of scrap metal . . . When I opened up your topic this morning I was expecting brilliance . . . and there it is, right there ! I am sure that you will find many ingenious ways of adding those touches of realistic detail that make each one of your dioramas the best. David

You have some very effective results there Charles . . . The puddles really work, and no CHASSIS . . . ! You have mastered the snow, and now you can say that you have also mastered mud . . . What next? Volcanoes, Jungle, Desert? I like how you can salvage a scale model kit that has parts missing, or maybe no longer has a useful purpose and give the model new life. Myself, and excuse me for mentioning this Charles, but the moderators have decided that my recent topic in WIP: Dioramas ' Washed and Ready to Go ' is actually " Borderline Politics ", so I shall have to delete the topic and forget the project. Luckily, I can continue with my Hooper & Co. dioramas WIP which has been running for 5 years now, and is still ongoing believe it or not ! David

Nicely done parking lot diorama, Steve . . . Without a doubt, your models will always photograph really well when they are in a realistic diorama setting. This is why I wanted to get into dioramas in the first place, in order to bring the scale model cars to life. Even small details are important, such as your cracks around the manhole cover, and any model builder who can produce realistic figures will be able to enhance the scene further still. Figures have to be done very carefully though, because as you know, if they are not of a high standard they appear ' toy ' like and not real. Brilliant . . . Well done ! David

This whole diorama is really good, Steve Tribbey . . . Exceptional work you have done on the pit gate hut and fencing, and I like the motorhome model itself. As another MCM member pointed out, your diorama setting tells a story, and it can do so almost without any explanation as to what is going on. Brilliant job, I say ! David

Well Charles, considering that you haven't worked with snow as part of a diorama before, the whole scene looks really good. All your photos are interesting ! David

That's a good old rusty Cummins you have there Pat . . . Looks like the engine needs a certain amount of restoration. If so, it's in the right place ! David

Sorry for the late response, Peter . . . I have been away on holiday for nearly 3 weeks. I am surprised that the Airfix Spares Team were not able to send you a replacement body shell for the Jaguar 420, and I hope your hot water fix is successful ! Good luck ! David

Thanks David, and the build is already in the ' Under Glass ' section as a completed build ! The Opalescent Silver Blue seems to suit this Jaguar really well. David W.