Matt Bacon

Don’t be too harsh... depends which 1/25 Revell kit you mean... the drop head kit was tooled up by Revell UK when the E-type was launched, and is pretty well shaped and detailed. The coupe is an Aurora—>Monogram heritage kit and looks awful. I’m all for a new tool kit, but it’ll be interesting to compare the Revell 2021 convertible with the Revell(UK) 1962 version! best, M.

All the more so in “jam sandwich” trim! On the plus side, any that are still in action are probably well-cared-for, so maybe I can rationally fulfil a teenage dream by owning one these days... best, M.

The main issue seems to be brand licensing. The Maserati Indy was promised a few years back, then got kiboshed by Ferrari (which controlled the brand license at the time) and then got reissued this year now Ferrari is out of the picture. In the case of the BMC/BL/Rover Group brands the licensing is just hugely complicated with joint ownership split between BMW, British Motor Heritage, Tata and SAIC. The Triumph Herald’s been around relatively recently, so maybe the TR4 could be on the cards. Both the Escort and 3ltr GT have been released in new boxes, so Ford’s OK. Vauxhall became PSA which is now joining FIAT Chrysler to become Stellantis, so I suspect heritage brand licenses aren’t top of the corporate agenda! Looking at what Scalextric makes doesn’t help because they are a different toy category, but the Airfix Quickbuilds (which aren’t) suggest that the company has good relations with Ford, Mclaren, and the VW Group (which seems to be very amenable to toy company licenses, since the big Lego Technic flagships are a Porsche, a Bugatti, a Lamborghini and a Ducati...) Back on topic, we just need Airfix to shift so many of the reissues that they consider a proper new-tool 1/32 car! best, M.

Some more progress, and a milestone, today... Easy one first... the steering track rod. Look at the bolt and joint detail, though... Now for the side mounted "supplementary torque tubes" at the rear: On this last picture, you can see the brake inners. There is a slight "flat" on the axle which is where the actuation lever on the inner face fits. The lever comes downwards, because that lower end needs to be joined by a wire to the lever on the brake cross rod (see above) on each side. The rear axle is braced with a length of nickel silver wire between the two dimples in the backs of the axle clamps, over the slotted mounting on the diff. Amazingly, even this 3" piece of wire was still in the "possibly incomplete" kit box. If your geometry ends up like mine, the asymmetric wire is 20mm on the left side and 24mm on the right, with 2mm flat in the centre mounting. So here's the first milestone: This completes assembly of "Stage One: the chassis" And THIS completes assembly of "Stage 2: the radiator". It's two parts, front and back. You'll note an AA badge, not the "Spirit of Ecstacy" you might expect... Couldn't resist a trial: While I was at it, I though I'd check the sit on the wheels. My plan is to put a clear perspex rod support under that curved undertray in the middle to relieve the axles and kingpins of the weight of the white metal body. And now: "Stage 3: the engine"... The parts as moulded. Note lots of delicate detail, and representations of pretty much all the plumbing and ancillaries. Main assemblies under way. I've used epoxy on these to ensure resilience and fill any small seam gaps (though any gaps really are small... one of the cylinder banks was pretty much a perfect press fit, as you can see in the parts photo above.) Time to let them set... best, M.

The Jag has full engine detail. It’s probably the best kit of all of the “modern car” 1/32’s. Not quite up to the 70s vintage MG K3 Magnette, Vauxhall Prince Henry or Monty’s Humber, but very good all the same. best, M.

Excellent news: two of the hardest to find and most expensive at auction Airfix automotive “classic kits” are back: the Beach Buggy and Jaguar 420: https://www.airfix.com/uk-en/shop/new-for-2021/beach-buggy.html https://www.airfix.com/uk-en/shop/new-for- 2021/jaguar-420.html £12 rather than £120 for the Jag is a good deal... best, M.

Thanks, @GeeBee. @Bainford this is my first white metal kit. I have a few others from Finecast in my stash: a Bugatti 59 and 35, an ERA and a Jaguar SS100. Because I got this Rolls cheap on eBay, I thought it would be a good test bed to learn the techniques on before tackling any of the others! It’s also a significant automobile to have in the collection with no alternative in 1/24 but white metal... best, M.

At the risk of boring folks, I'm going to post a lot of in progress photos, in the hope of helping future builders who find this thread. The drawings and photo sheet in the box are helpful, but I'll post up pictures with the views I wish I'd had to help me ? So let's start with the interesting three-spring rear suspension: This is how the transmission brake and brake cross-rod are oriented. Front axle and suspension: Rear axle and differential: The detail and fit are very impressive. The seam between the two halves is mostly filled by the epoxy adhesive, which I've then trimmed off with a sharp knife, but there are a couple of places where I've used microballoons and superglue to finish off. I primed this so I could see any gaps and flash left after assembly. And now a lot of pictures of the completed back end. It took some time to figure out exactly how the Y-shaped torque tube piece fitted... especially since it was broken into two pieces in the box! That's it for now. I continue to be very impressed by the engineering. A lot of the time, after cleaning up the bits, they are a solid press fit together which can then be "set" by running superglue into the joint. best, M.

Jadlam Racing Models is trailing a new 1/8 Pocher Lotus 72D announced today in full JPS scheme for Fittipaldi's 1972 British GP car, priced at "only" £599... which is the same price as the 1/4 Ducati Panigale. With a bit of superdetailing you could probably give a $15K Amalgam model a run for its money (though they don't do a 72...)... The only other kit in the scale is an old Bandai/Entex, which goes for considerably more second hand. If you're into historic Formula One, or British and a certain age, there's probably no more iconic open wheel racing car... best, M.

Thanks, @peteski. It's here: And the image gallery is here: https://cmatthewbacon.smugmug.com/Hobbies/Car-Modelling/Models-Gallery-12/ best, M.

Thanks, chaps... I think, to borrow a phrase from elsewhere, "this is a marathon, not a sprint..." The fine detail is exquisite; the instructions, less so... Though maybe 45 years on from when this kit was first bought -- I inherited the original 1976 invoice -- the fashion for exploded diagrams has thoroughly triumphed over the detailed written words I have to mull over. Just one "reverse angle" diagram would help hugely, even though the sheet of built up model photos is better than nowt... best, M.

Were you trying to ge a “wet” coat? Zero base coats are meant to be flat... it’s the clear coat that gives you the gloss. For the base coat, just apply light coats 5 minutes apart until the colour density is even all over... I reckon on 3 being enough, usually. If you lay them down too thick, you end up with liquid solvent that can’t evaporate quickly from the surface, so it goes downwards to the primer. The Zero paint system isn’t actually that aggressive... you can use the 2K clear over decals with no problem... best, M.

All beautiful builds, and fantastic photography as others have said. Being a fan of the slightly quirky, I really love the Edsel, and for me the Camaro has real presence and the rich colour stands out amongst the icy pastel shades. I’d be proud of any of them, though, and I look forward to seeing what you come up with in ‘21... maybe one of those Hellers could come out of the stash? best, M.

A very nice selection resulting from a very productive year! For various reasons, the Heller Princess is my favourite — those little kits do scrub up well, don’t they? And the whole lot inspire me to pull some JDM kits off the shelf! best, M.

This is mine, for which @sjordan2 was combined cheerleader and reference library: The biggest and hardest to fix problem is the windshield. Not only is the top line wrong, but the cut out in the scuttle is the wrong shape... much too square. The only way to really get it right is to carve a master with the correct elliptical bottom edge and square cornered horizontal top line and plunge mould a vac replacement (or 3D print a clear part). Then you “just” have to part fill the scuttle cut out on the body and blend it all in, and fit the new windscreen between the two. That Maserati is frustrating: it’s a 50 year old example of what Bill @Ace-Garageguyoften says: it’s no harder to measure it and tool it right than wrong. I can only assume that Monogram had longer access to a real DB4 than a Maserati. Mind you, I’ll give them a pass on a 250GTO tooled only from pictures, but E-Type coupes must have been easily accessible. Revell UK got the convertible pretty bang on... best, M.

@sjordan2 Skip... it’s been on my saved search alerts on eBay for 5 years, and in that time has only appeared twice; both times, for whatever reason, in Australia... I’d love to get one (though the idea of plumbing that engine again, except to the next level of detail, is pretty scary!) If I ever do snag one, you’ll be the first to know. Mind you, I held out for the 1/16 Tipo 33 Stradale for equally as long before I finally got one... best, M.

My output for 2020... Rover 3500, Heller, 1/43 2004 Commemorative Corvette Le Mans, Revell, 1/25 1st Century Roman Centurion, ICM, 1/16 Chieftain Mk1, Airfix, 1/76 Porsche 930 Turbo (Le Mans), Fujimi, 1/24 Jaguar Mk.2, Tamiya, 1/24 Jaguar XJ-2 V12, Hasegawa, 1/24 Kawasaki Ninja H2R, Meng, 1/9 Lancia Beta Monte Monte Carlo Gr.4, Heller, 1/43 Mercedes McLaren SLR, Tamiya, 1/24 Citroen CX2400, Heller, 1/43 Renault Alpine A310, Heller, 1/43 Jaguar XJ-S, Heller, 1/43 What next, I wonder..? best, M.

Another little gem of a kit from Heller... best, M.

A very nicely shaped and detailed little kit: ... I did mention that they are little kits, didn't I? ? best, M.

A great and varied collection, Bruce. Nice to see a Bentley that isn't green! I think the Harley is my favorite, closely followed by the Renault Taxi... best, M.

Thanks, guys. These are done now... my last two for 2020: Better photos when I've given them a good clean... in the new year! Happy New Year to all of you... best, M.,

Excellent selection of beautifully finished cars and trucks. Hard to pick a favourite, but full marks for getting the Huayra to fit together so well and for the decals on the BMW and Alfa. I think for me the Unimog shades it, though. Those things have a presence all of their own! best, M.

IIRC the uGears web site has build videos for (some, many, all...) of the company’s kits. I know I watched the one for the “Morgan” I built... best, M.

And now for a bit of a change from the tiny Heller 80s cars: This was bought at a very reasonable price from the 'bay as "possibly incomplete". After a careful review of the contents against the instruction sheets, I was missing half an exhaust silencer, one hood panel, and a tiny door handle. Fortunately, the kit is still being sold by "SE Finecast" as it now is (this box was from the predecessor "Wills Finecast"), and the nice chaps there sold me the replacement bits I needed for another eminently reasonable sum. While I was taking the parts inventory, I separated the key stages into separate bags. This is bag No.1, which contains the chassis frame and transmission. The fine detail is very impressive, and beautifully moulded, with little in the way of seams or flash. As they say, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. The main chassis frames are in two halves. A bit of cleaning up and some 2-part epoxy, and here we go... I have a whole different set of tools, materials and techniques to get used to! I think I'm going to need some faster glue... Don't expect to see this finished any time soon; I may run some more traditional builds in parallel. If I can get it done in 2021, I'll be happy! best, M.

A quick size comparison: The Alfa is a lot smaller than the XJ-S! best, M.