Steve H

Thanks Jim! Your support, and sense of humour much appreciated. The shrug emoji is exactly what I did when I realized my error...like how could that happen!? Thank you Misha, and thanks for following along. Still going to try for some colour by end of next weekend. Fingers crossed...

Francis, when this whole COVID thing is done, I’m going to plan a trip to see my buddy Tony in Ottawa, then I am going to meet you at a model show in your ‘hood. I’ll bring a few builds for the show! Seriously, any compliment from you is an honour to receive. Your work is absolutely top shelf. Thanks for checking out the Prius, my daughter has gotten a bit of a kick out of the comments. I have told her about my new friend Francis from back East. I will make sure she sees your comment. Cheers my friend, and thanks for having a look. I like that you already know my style.... LOWWWWWW.

Thanks Francis! Small amount of progress, but it’s moving along now. When I get the body painted, that will give me motivation to get it finished for sure. Thanks for checking in. In the mean time, if you want a laugh, check out the Prius I built for my daughter in the under glass section. Cheers, Steve

Hi guys, well, slowly moving ahead, but with the weather turning should start getting more desk time. Suspension is close to complete, and I now have a rolling chassis. Wheels and tires not glued on yet, but they are complete, just need to glue on the rear disk brakes. Engine is now complete and JUST fits in the narrow front. I am using the kit radiator with the addition of an electric fan. Mostly just assembly now and final paint on body of course. Hoping to get some colour on the body by end of next weekend... I’m still wrestling with my two options for flocking, I will make that decision in the next day or two and then I can assemble the interior. The mesh will be used for the front grill, and MCG seat belt material. I made some very basic, (probably not totally accurate) seat belt retraction devices. Everything in the photos is just being test fit prior to glue, looks like everything is going to fit! Yay! Oh... the flat spot on top of the front tires... I missed my ride height by about half a millimeter, oops. I had to keep it low, so that required sanding Tires to fit. The good news is it won’t be seen after final assembly. Well, I guess you have all seen it now... shhhhh, don’t tell. as always, thanks for looking, comments welcome. Cheers, Steve

I’M HUNGRY !!!! Claude, your builds are awesome. That is one of the coolest Ford trucks I have ever seen, looks just right. That orange really does pop! Incredible detail throughout, lipstick cap and a balloon....??? That’s just brilliant. Thanks for sharing sir. Cheers, Steve

Hi Lee, very nice build. I like it in Red, looks just right. I bought one of these a few months back. I plan on building mine a bit custom. I’m thinking a blown hemi with tractor pull tires and other parts from the Orange Blossom Special kit. Kind of a real tractor pull vehicle. Cheers Steve

Thanks Michael.

Hi Adam, thanks for the kind words. I totally agree that builds with a personal connection are always great. I would love to see what you and your brother built for your dad. If you have a chance, please check out the builds I did for my dad and daughter. In the “under glass” section under model cars, “62 Impala, replica of my dads car”, and “Toyota Prius, cool for my 13 year old daughter???!!!” Cheers, Steve

Haha!! That’s awesome! Thanks for sharing the photo. I was in Europe last year, (pre- Covid) just after I had purchased the kit. I took many photos of the various Vespa’s I saw. I came home inspired and dove right in, so it would be ready for mom’s Christmas. Got a few ideas from the older ones, such as the rear view mirror mounted low on the faring. Seems a daft place to have it but many of them did. I think Pyro made a Vespa too. Not sure what rendition the Italeri re-release is based on. Cheers, Steve

Thank you all for the kind, and honest words. Phil, you’re absolutely spot on, sometimes it is fun, challenging, and rewarding to step out on a limb. This was definitely the case with this build. Steve

Hi David, thanks so much. To put a smile on someone’s face makes me feel good. We are from the same ‘hood!! I was actually born in Long Beach Ca. Cheers, Steve

Hi Gareth, thanks for the cruel honesty! The Prius, to be honest was, and is one of my least favourite cars. However it was fun to have a go at it. The most important thing was that my daughter loved it. Now, back to the 51 Anglia!!! Cheers, Steve

Hi David, thanks for the kind words. Body colour is Tamiya TS 59 light pearl red... yep, it’s pink! Cheers, Steve

Hi all, So........ I never much cared for the Prius. No disrespect to anyone that owns one. My daughter, (then 13) absolutely loved the Prius, she had the TV commercial song memorized. And, true story, she just sang it word for word a couple of weeks ago....she’s almost 20 now. Any-whoooo here goes. I wanted to build a model for my daughter, what to build? Hmmmmm, how the heck do you make a Prius “cool” for a 13 year old girl?! Way outside my comfort zone. The muscle car lover in me wanted a blown BBC poking out of the hood! And tubs!! This one was a stretch for me, but in the end, I was very pleased with the build. I hope you like it. So I diverted course from the BBC idea and opted for something “safer” for my daughter to drive. This is the Fujimi kit, not sure what year, maybe 2013?, beautiful kit by the way. I lowered the stance, and added wheels and tires from the AMT Chrysler 300C. The interior has a pink “leopard” print on the seats which were hand painted, and home made fuzzy dice. The wing and chrome exhaust tip are from the parts box. Decals are various from the decal box. Oh, and fake eyelashes above the headlights...of course. Windows are tinted with Tamiya smoke clear. Can’t remember the name of the colour but it is Tamiya paint. All in all, an extremely fun build that was wayyyyyyy out side my zone. What was I thinking?! I actually laughed several times during this build, (especially with the eyelashes) doesn’t get much better than that. Any way, hope it puts a smile on your face. Comments welcome, and thanks for looking. Cheers, Steve, Steve

Hi Patrick, thanks for sharing that. Sounds like good fun! Maybe Enzo was in one of those clubs... That puts a smile on my face. Cheers, Steve

Hi Gareth, that is a killer colour combo... whoa, say that fast 5 times. I would say perfect colours, beautiful work. The “satin black or body colour window trim” conversation didn’t get as heated as I would have thought. Some of these threads have me laughing out load. I love it. Cheers, Steve

Very nice Dennis. Chassis looks great, love the wheel choice, look forward to seeing it in colour. Cheers, Steve

Thanks guys. Yes, the family builds are fun and rewarding. My mom has it proudly displayed in her living room, and it had the desired effect...it reminded her of Italy. She loves it. My dad passed away a few years back, so I didn’t feel guilty about the connection to moms old boyfriend. Not to mention that was, hmmmmm... several years ago. Cheers, Steve

Hi Randy, I really like this. I have a similar project in my head for the same kit, maybe a bit more of a “pro touring” look for mine, not sure yet. This definitely gives me inspiration to start that build. I love the old square bodies as 2 wheel drive, and low. Very well done, love the colour choice too. Cheers, Steve

Hi Jim, I really like the way you did the chop, leaving the rear window, well played. Looks like it will be another sweet build. I have to agree with the others, it would look sweet channeled, but... it’s your build. Cheers, Steve

Hi all, First, this is my first “motorcycle” build. I am a car guy thru and thru. I built this for my mom for Christmas. Quick backstory, one of my mom’s fondest memories was riding side saddle, on the back of a Vespa, thru Italy With her boyfriend “Enzo”. No, it was not Enzo Ferrari !! That would make for a cool story though... I built a replica of my dads car a few years back (see in finished cars thread “62 impala, replica of my dads car”, ever since wanting to build something “cool” for my mom. VOILA!! A Vespa! So it’s the Italeri re-release of the 1/9 scale Vespa. Built mostly box stock. I added a scratch built rear view mirror, mounted low on the faring as they were back then. Built a “glove box”, added aluminum tubing for exhaust. The seat is wrapped in thinned real leather from a craft store, with thread for piping. Decals were sourced from internet images and printed. I never had a photo of the actual scooter. This was my interpretation of what it may have looked like, thus the Italian flags and “Enzo” decals. I just wanted to build something that would remind mom of one her favourite times, what could be better inspiration than that! One of the most rewarding builds I have done... which reminds me, need to post the Toyota Prius I built for my daughter... Thanks for looking, all comments welcome. Cheers, Steve

Hi Chris, really nice clean build. The mod tops are interesting. What I REALLY like though, is the use of the mod top decals on the interior, that looks awesome. Might need some of those decals. Thanks for sharing. Cheers, Steve

Hi Mark, that’s a beautiful build and excellent colour choice. Glad to know I’m not the only one that tends to rush a bit at the end, often causing those oops moments. You are likely the only one that will notice. Looks fantastic to me. Cheers, Steve

Hi Steve, and happy anniversary! As all the others have said, this is an amazing build. The details are just incredible and the overall look is “real”. As in, it really looks like a real car. I saw most of the WIP thread, but I realize, I need to go back for another look. Your builds are awesome top to bottom, but for me, your interiors are second to none. Thanks for sharing. Cheers, Steve

Hi guys, finally a small update on the Anglia. I don’t get much desk time in the summer, but fall is coming... Bodywork is complete, I will paint the inside of the body with interior colour, then begin final base and colour coats. The motor is almost complete, had some issues with pulleys and belts, but finally got that sorted. Not perfect, but believable, made the blower belt from masking tape. Will finish ignition wires this week I think... Interior door panels are done, including the power switches. My thoughts with this build has been a combination of retro and modern. In hindsight, I probably should have done modern interior door panels, however I am content with what I have. The rear 4 link is assembled also. I should get more desk time in the coming weeks, also have most of the “heavy lifting” done, so hoping it will start coming together a bit quicker.