geetee66

Got the wheels on. Needed to drill out the centres as the push-fit was really tight and I like to epoxy wheels on, anyway. Don't need 'em to roll. added valve stems to each wheel while I was at it.

Gradual gluing around the roof join, got it on. There's a tiny gap but you can't really see it. I decided to make a bare bulb from a blob of epoxy and a bit of thin wire. (During this vans long life, the tail light broke and was met with a Gallic shrug of indifference.)

Added some interior junk today and began the tricky process of getting the roof on. Not as easy as you'd imagine.

You're right! just after I started weathering it, I began to wonder how it would look, done up as a 70's passion wagon. Velour interior, porthole windows, sun roof, mirrored walls, a mini-bar and a sound system. Exterior would be all flake and kandy with panels and endless lines. The corrugated body would be a complete nightmare to mask, though.. maybe fit a midship V8 and turn it into a drag-van...?

Sacre bleu! some local garçons have tagged the van! Zut alors!

Getting the body panels into place..

Thanks Tom I just finished rubbing the salt off under some running water. The effect will be softened in places with pastels and weathering powders.

Also got the engine built and installed..

Next, apply the table salt and let it dry. then hit it with the colour coat. Only lightly. This is an old weathered van, after all..

Then, using a toothbrush and a cocktail stick, I flicked a variety of reds, black and buff onto the brown. Before paint, I made some rust holes in the wheel arch and formed dents with files.

Then hit it with a dark brown, with spots of red and black, from rattle cans. This gave some irregular spotty patches.

This is the Heller kit. Picked it up cheap, as an antidote to the ultra-shiny lowriders I've been building recently. I began by giving everything grey primer. Then pre-shaded edges and recesses with Matt black.

You knocked it outta the park! Really great finish. You did this old kit real justice ??

Thanks man yeah, I wanted to try and keep it sophisticated without looking like a fairground ride. I kept thinking I should add this or that, but I'm pleased that I stopped when I did.

Thanks for the collective thumbs-up, guys. I'm glad you approve. ?

Curbside, so no engine in this one

Some more pics...

This is the Model King re-pop. I don't know how the latest re-issue compares, but this was a nice easy build, with no major fit issues. I wanted to represent a Watson style paint job. And it was good airbrush practice. The foil was quite time consuming, but worth the effort, I think. anyway, I hope you like it.. feel free to give it a critique if you like

Thanks for following the progress, everyone. It's now Under Glass ?

Got most of the foil done couldn't resist doing a mockup to see how it all looks

Thanks Espo yes, the upholstery decals are from Scale Motorsports. I was going to use nail decals for zebra stripes, but they weren't quite right. Luckily these were the correct colour ?

Got the interior done today. parts box steering wheel had the same two tone divisions as the original. Which was lucky. Added a dash mounted mirror, and the foiled dash was given a coat of matt clear. carpets added using ds tape and embossing powder

? that sums it up nicely, Tom. Cheers!

You're right mate. The decals are good and went down well, but like you say, don't keep mucking about with them once they're on. Let the decal solution do the work. Come back later to get the bubbles out and they'll be easier to deal with.

I had to rethink the seat fabric. The zebra decals weren't big enough to do the job. Then I remembered some decals in my stash, from Scale Motorsport. Perfect match to the exterior and they look kinda period correct.