mrmike

Actually Brian, Tamiya recommends using their brand TS-9 British Green or X-5 Green.

Thank you guys! I just love these British sports cars. While America has hot rod shops galore, the UK has sports car manufacturers in abundance. I have muscle cars galore on my shelves (Mustangs, Corvettes, Mopars, and pickup trucks), but I have always admired the British sports cars prior to the 1975. I would like to see more early British sports cars from Tamiya.

This is my newest project and one that I just had to build! This is the Tamiya Morgan 4/4 and what a kit this is! As typical of Tamiya, this kit does not represent a specific model year, so it could be anywhere from 1955 to 2018. The Morgan 4/4 is still built in pretty much the same way as it was when the first 4/4 was introduced in 1935 as Morgan's first 4 wheel automobile. Even the 3-wheeler is still produced today using a modern S and S Harley motorcycle engine. The 4/4 is still produced today in very small numbers using mostly the same technology from the mid-'30s. No computers, exotic suspension pieces, or carbon fiber whatever. It is basically the same car today as it was back then. The body is molded in green plastic, but there is a join line in the rear of the body by the spare tire. I'll check the body over for mold lines and such, primer it and paint it with Tamiya TS-9 British Green with a black interior. And, the wire wheels are just exquisite! Beautifully molded and plated in shiny chrome. You just don't see molding like this on many kits today. So far, the engine has been assembled and the chassis is partially assembled. The sprues are molded in semi-gloss black plastic which will save me a lot of paint work since the Tamiya TS-29 or X-18 paint matches the plastic. FWIW, this kit is very expensive online with Amazon wanting $430 plus shipping! I was looking around for this kit online until it was offered to me by a fellow Club member, Scott who wanted me to build the kit and to have fun with it! Thank you Scott!

The Story McNally stops at a small restuarant for lunch and starts thinking about this case. He sits at a table and starts writing in a small notebook about the facts he has gathered. He wonders about the opposition from DCI Ashenbell and Scotland Yard. Ashenbell wants to solve this case on his own and anything the Boston PI offers him maybe a waste of time. DC Campbell seems to be following orders from DCI Ashenbell, but she truly seems to want to help McNally. Crumbelt seems to have been a blockage to whomever wanted to import drugs to the States. It was clearly stated in his notebook that McNally found. Colin Spencer's arrest might be on the right track, but Ashenbell seems to be basing the entire case on just Spencer alone and McNally thinks there are others involved. The other two names listed in Crumbelt's notebook are the one's heading this case. They had Crumbelt killed because he objected to being used to smuggle drugs into the US using his company. As much as DC Campbell was guiding his investigation, he owes her an apology for getting mad at her and dumping her off at her car early this afternoon. After lunch, he gets into his rental car and drives around London trying to get back to his Hotel. He does get back to his Hotel in mid afternoon and he decides to take a walk still thinking about this case. He expected a lack of cooperation from Scotland Yard and all he got was DC Campbell following orders to what seems to be an impeding of his investigation. The Build I finally got the interior finished up this morning. The gauge decals got a coating of Tamiya X-22 Clear as a lens over them. I touched up the ends of the dash with some Testors #1166 Flat Brown since there is nothing covering the ends of the dash. McNally will return...

Thank you John Shoe! The name of the paint I used is called Polly Scale and they are usually for railroad modeling. I got about twenty plus bottles of Polly Scale paints from a friend who was getting out of models and into sketching. My wife bought his entire lot of paints (Polly Scale, Model Master, Testors) as a surprise for me several years ago. This is the first time I have used the Polly Scale paint and this color, CSX Blue, is a direct match for Opalescent Dark Blue. Thank you John Tee! My plan right now is to use the unmodified kit decals for the registration plates. I haven't gone looking for British license plates yet, but it is on my list of things to do.

The Story McNally and DC Campbell interview the people whose names were taken from David Crumbelt's computer. McNally had suspected that these people were already interviewed by Scotland Yard and his suspicions were correct. The last person interviewed had inadvertently spilled the beans about previously being interviewed. As they drive down the road, DC Campbell say there is one last name on the list and this person lives inland about two hours from London. That was the final straw! McNally swerves the rental car onto a side street and stops. He says to DC Campbell, "These people have already been interviewed, haven't they?" Ashley says, "I don't know what you are talking about." He replies, "Don't lie to me! Scotland Yard has already talked to them and I am on a wild goose chase, aren't I?" Ashley sighs and says, "Yes, they already have been interviewed." McNally starts the car and drives away from the curb. DC Campbell asks, "Where are we going?" "Back to your car at the Hotel," he says. "Why," she asks? "I need time to be alone to think and I can't do it with you around. Go back to Headquarters. I need to think." The Build I started work on the interior with some detailing and I still have a ways to go. The dash is partially done and I need to finish detailing it with more decals and my Molotow Liquid Chrome pen. McNally will return...

The Story After DCI Ashenbell and DC Campbell leave McNally's suite, he sits down and reads the notebook again. He notes three names written by Crumbelt...Colin Spencer who's already in custody, Dane Parker, and Frank Duncan. Colin has lawyered up and won't talk to anyone. Dane Parker and Frank Duncan are the two unknowns and he needs to find out more about the two criminals. He doubts DCI Ashenbell would be willing to run the two remaining names for him. The following morning, McNally gets up from bed, cleans up and shaves his face. He gets dressed for another day of detecting. He puts on his shoulder holster and checks the action and magazine on his SIG P227, and they are ready. The loaded SIG is put into his shoulder holster as well as his many permits are in his jacket pocket. As he is getting ready, there's a knock on the door. McNally looks into the peephole on the door and sees Detective Constable Ashley Campbell. He opens the door to her and she walks into the suite announcing that she got several names off of Crumbelt's computer for them to interview and that they should be going. He suspects that he is being lead around this investigation, but he doesn't show his anger. He decides to let this play out to see where it is going. The Build I cleaned up the painted Jaguar body and it is ready for clear coat. I have been struggling with the Detail Master Battery Hardware Set that I bought last year. There has to be an easy way to assemble these clamps and wires. McNally will return...

Thanks Matt!

To me, the Mk. 10 doesn't have any appeal at all. Over sized and ungainly looking, even if it is a Jag. Having followed some sport cars from overseas, I have known what an E-Type is (an XKE). I'm sure that there are those who have no idea about what an E-Type, D-Type, Peugeot, Jensen, or Morgan is. They would probably talk about Ferrari, Lamborghini, or Aston Martin instead, if they know what those are. I vaguely remember hearing about "The Great Train Robbery" some years ago. I wasn't aware that the movie "Robbery" was loosely based on it.

Those look like Radirs wheels and they should be in the Revell '64 Ford Fairlane Street Machine kit.

I have heard the same about the metal parts for the Jaguar as they can be difficult to install. Whitewalls? IMHO, the white stripe tires look better than a wide whitewall tire, but I am going for a blackwall tire on my build. I have seen 'Brannigan' several times over the years since it's release in 1975. I never heard of 'Robbery' and it seems to be an interesting movie. I may have to rent it somewhere and watch it.

I agree, Walter! The Mk. II styling has a cultured look that only a Jaguar can carry. The same goes for the XKE. The sexy styling is unmatched by anyone!

The Story McNally enters his suite at the Hotel and locks the door behind him. He pulls out the notebook from his jacket pocket, sits down at a table and starts reading through it. The notebook chronicles Crumbelt's interactions with a drug dealer who wants to ship drugs from London to Boston by keeping Crumbelt's failing business in Boston alive. The notebook lists meetings with various people including Metro Police who deemed the actions of the unknown drug dealer not severe enough to warrent any action at this time. The recent terrorist bombing in London may have pulled resources from this case to investigate the bombing instead. McNally's cellphone rings and it is DC Campbell demanding to know where McNally is. He tells her that he is at his Hotel suite and has been there since he returned in mid afternoon. She says she is coming over with DCI Ashenbell to talk with him and that he should remain at his suite. The call ends with McNally taking an empty plastic bag and wrapping the notebook and placing it outside on the ledge of the Hotel under a weight and away from the window. Twenty minutes go by and there's a knock on the door. McNally opens the door and invites Campbell and Ashenbell inside to talk. DCI Ashenbell demands to know of McNally's actions since midafternoon. McNally lies to the DCI about his whereabouts during the afternoon and early evening. He tells DCI Ashenbell that if he is interferring with Scotland Yard's case, to send him home with the caveat of him contacting the US State Department and filing a complaint against them for a lack of cooperation. Ashenbell stares at McNally, snorts, and leaves the suite with DC Campbell right behind him. McNally waits five minutes and then retrieves the notebook from the ledge before it starts to rain. From now on, he'll keep it locked up in the room safe. The Build The engine has been installed in the chassis. I have started work on the interior by installing the seats, center console, and the floor mats. McNally will return...

The Story McNally decides to check out Crumbelt Enterprises on his own, so he drives past the business and notices the Constable standing in front of the storefront, guarding the business. McNally drives about a 1/4 mile up the street and parks his rental and walks back towards an alley behind the business. He checks for CCTV cameras and sees none. At the back door, he picks the locks and opens the door to a back room filled with inventory and a nearby kitchenette with a coffee maker and a hotplate. He turns on his "headlight" and looks for an office and finds one. The search for clues begins as he searches the desk and the middle drawer does not pull out all the way. A sharp tug on the drawer pulls it out and he finds a slightly crumpled notebook in the back of the drawer with names and addresses, and notations detailing an attempt to smuggle cocaine into the US, specifically the Boston area where Crumbelt has a failing business there. McNally puts the small notebook into his coat pocket when he hears the front door being unlocked and the Constable walking in with his flashlight on. McNally shuts off his "headlight" and hides under the desk while the Constable searches the business and finds what he was looking for...a bathroom. When the Constable is finished, he walks past the office without shining his flashlight inside, goes out the front door and locks it without turning on the alarm. Apparently, he doesn't know how to set it. McNally returns to searching the office and not finding anything else. He leaves the business through the back door, locking it behind him and walking back to the rental car and back to his Hotel to look through the notebook that he found. The Build I fired up my paintbooth and airbrush for a littlepainting session this afternoon. I painted the hood and body with Polly Scale CSX Blue. When it has gassed out, I'll coat it with Tamiya TS-13 Gloss Clear. Before turning in last night, I cut out a set of floor mats. I painted them with Polly Scale Grimy Black and when the paint dried, I coated them with watered down white glue and sprinkled a mixture of white and black embossing powder. McNally will return...

Thank you Marty!

I have seen pictures of a Jag with steel wheels and the car does not look as elegant like it does with wire wheels. Maybe that's just me. It's a good thing I only paid $5 for the Rolls Royce kit as it is a badly molded kit. Someday, I will have to study the body and decide just how to go about fixing the front fenders. In the mean time, I have the Jaguar to work on and then the Morgan 4/4.

The Toys R Us store here in Nashua, NH had maybe one or two kits that where related to a movie brand at one time, but that was all they had. They never seemed to have had anything that was really model related. I only went there because my grandson loves Legos, until recently when his interest started changing.

Thank you Carl! They are great looking wheels and I knew I had to put them on this Chevy pickup!

Thank you Tony, Mike, and Mike! Actually, no I wasn't tempted to! Sorry!

Yes they are! I just picked up the Tamiya Morgan 4/4 and the wire wheels in that kit are just as beautiful! No apology is needed. You were asked a question and you answered it. No problem! Check the pictures below of my Rolls Royce. The mis-alignment is rather bad along with mold lines and a rubbery-like plastic. I'll deal with this some other time.

The Story McNally returns to his Hotel and has supper in the Dining Room consisting of a small steak, mashed potatoes, and a mixture of vegtables with a cold Budweiser. He signs his dinner check for his room and goes up to his suite. He calls Stateside to Boston Police Dept. Homicide and Lt. Det. Adam Troy. He asks Adam if he could do him a favor and check out Crumbelt Enterprises in Cambridge for him. He's looking for an address book or any computer files might give him a clue. Adam says he'll check it out for him since Scotland Yard never called BPD Homicide to check the business. He'll call McNally on his cellphone later with his results. He then calls Charlotte "Charlie" Rothmann and updates her on the case. He tells her of his frustration with Scotland Yard and how he is being "guided" not only through London, but his investigation as well. Charlie says she might be able to get the State Department involved if she has to. McNally replies that he doesn't want to involve the State Department right now, but he may have to later, if needed. For now, he'll try to stay out of Scotland Yard's way and try to find some clues on his on and if possible, without them looking over his shoulder. The Build I have been thinking about my color choices lately. I want this build to be more factory stock than not. On the Jag's body, I decided to use Polly Scale CSX Blue, a flat paint, but it is the shade of blue I want without the metallic. This will be gloss cleared when dry. For the floor mats, I'm using Polly Scale Grimy Black, a very dark grey and then a mixture of white and black embossing powder to give the mats some texture. McNally will return...

Thank you David! That piece of red carpeting is to be cut up using the masks in the instructions and they fit the interior in a specific manner. I didn't use mine since I was using a different color for the interior and the red would have clashed with the blue-grey that I chose. I have the Minicraft '62 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II for a TV/Movie Car build, but the mold mis-alignment on the front fenders has put that build on the back burner until I can figure out how to correct it. I wanted to build the Rolls-Royce from the 1963 American TV show Burke's Law starring the late Gene Barry.

David, I wish you good luck on your conversion! After a careful look, I found faint mold lines along the roof and the front fender tops of my body. They were removed rather quickly with some 600 grit sandpaper. Definitely a great kit!

After looking at the interior floor pan/chassis, I need to make some floor mats! I found a tutorial on Italian Horses website. Alex Kustov has an excellent web site with a tutorial section. http://italianhorses.net/Tutorials/Floormats/fmats.htm

The Story The next morning McNally is up and dressed when he hears a knock on his door. He opens the door to Detective Constable Ashley Campbell of Scotland Yard. She is to guide him around London while he conducts his investigation. She sees the SIG Sauer P227 hanging under his left arm in a shoulder holster and she asks to see his permits, which gives to her for viewing. He offers his Federal Firearm permit, Massachusetts Firearm permit, and the temporary permit from Scotland Yard. DC Campbell looks them over and hands them back to the Boston PI and says that they are good. After grabbing a coffee from the dining room, they get into McNally's rented Vauxhall Astra and head over to Jonathan Crumbelt's flat. The Metro cops have already searched the flat and it is a mess, but this doesn't stop McNally from looking around, through, and under everything. He finds a set of car keys in the kitchenette drawer and goes down to the back of the apartment building to a separate buildings that were turned into garages. He unlocks the assigned garage door and finds a Jaguar Mk. II Saloon inside. He searches the interior and the trunk and finds nothing of interest. He closes up the Jag and the garage doors and pockets the keys. He informs DC Campbell that he wants to search Crumbelt's business, Crumbelt Enterprise, to which the Detective tells him no. Metro Police and Scotland Yard are still searching the business and it is off-limits to him. With no clues to find here at Crumbelt's flat or in his car, McNally will call it a day and he sends DC Campbell back to Scotland Yard. The Build I did some painting this afternoon of the interior parts. The chassis was flocked with embossing powder and painted with Tamiya AS-25 Dark Ghost Grey and I finished the 3.8 Liter Jaguar engine. McNally will return...