Matt Bacon

A quick gallop down the final straight now (yeah, right...) I used real glass tinting film for the sunroof, and it worked pretty well. And before anybody comments, I know the wing mirrors aren't symmetrical -- apparently the design around the A-pillars means that the driver's side needs to be forward, while they look into the passenger side through the quarter light. Last glimpse of the interior details And together at last: The fit's OK, but there are no positive locations for anything, and getting the simple hinge mechanism for the headlight covers into the right place as you bring the body and chassis together is a barrel of laughs. Proper final pictures when the weather permits... All in all, an enjoyable build of a pretty good kit. bestest, M.

Thanks, Cliff..! On the home straight now: With a bit of luck, and some extra supplies I've just mail-ordered, it should be finished this week... bestest, M.

Mini, Beetle, 2CV, Golf (Rabbit to you guys)... these are serious big sellers in real life, and familiar to everyone in Europe. More to the point, they're held in real affection by millions. I don't think anyone really loves a Fiat 124 or Ford Anglia... The Saab, maybe. Of all the cars above, I reckon the BMW 2002 Neue Classe, new in time for the 50th anniversary in 2018, is by far the most likely Revell Germany release... bestest, M.

Body is making progress... None of the windows are fixed in place yet. I'll post a bit more detail next time, but I think it is possible to get the rear screen to open safely if you open up the slots for the pins on the hinges, so that the window can move backwards a bit once you've popped it slightly open, and then rotate above and over the rear edge of the sunroof. It has rails on each side and the louvres behind (and gravity) to hold it in the right place when closed, so it doesn't matter if the hinge is a bit sloppy. And I couldn't resist this: The rear louvres (just like the X framework over the engine) are the original black plastic, polished. I think one of the tricks with cars is to get as many different finishes as possible on the black bits, to give the impression of all the different materials used in real life... bestest, M

Thanks, chaps... this is it for the rolling chassis: If you look really closely, you might spot the teeny-tiny Jaguar heads on the wheel nuts. Or you might not. Looks like I need to check the tracking... either one front wheel is on loose, or the steering link came off one of the wheel carriers while I was putting the wheels in place -- a tight fit! Currently faffing about with the windows... bestest, M.

Thanks, Glenn! ...and now the chassis is coming together... ...with a bit of luck, the lid will be on this weekend. I've found a solution for the sun-roof, I think... bestest, M.

Can you find some solder the right diameter for the round bit at the front? Then roll the bit behind so that it flattens and flares out. Cut the outside edge to shape, and scribe the lines on it. Then add the turn indicator and sidelights from clear sprue. bestest, M.

And here we go... after much cursing and swearing, and a lengthy period holding stuff together because there's no clamp in the world the right shape... The chassis should come together pretty quickly now, I hope... bestest, M.

I think I've done as much plumbing round the engine as I can stand (and fit in...) The big insulated pipes are made from solder, wrapped in the embossed paper/foil from a cigarette packet. Whenever I see a fresh empty packet dropped somewhere, I always plunder it for modelling goodness before putting it in the bin and tut-tutting... See that tiny splash of red, buried deep in the guts of the thing, in the angle of the two insulated pipes? That's the distributor, properly wired with six plug leads, all going to the right places on the cylinder heads... At least I'll know it's there.... It's now a bit of a 3D puzzle. The instructions would have you add the firewall to the cockpit, but I can't see any reason why I can't complete the engine bay with four walls at this stage. The piping on the blue tank and coming out of the firewall are is new -- a combination of fuse wire, aluminium tube and rubbery jewellery elastic. The two insulated wires coming out of the right hand wall have to wrap around the back of the connector on top of the blue tank, so that corner has to get done first. I have no idea where to finish them off -- somewhere down in front of the engine. Equally, I'm not sure where the pipes from the front of the engine terminate, so they'll just get lost in the spaghetti junction of the firewall. The two insulated pipes coming over the left of the engine terminate in that black box on the wall -- that one I CAN see in my pictures. There's probably rather less than half the plumbing of the real thing, but it'll look busy enough I reckon... Time to try a test fit! Wish me luck! bestest, M.

...anyone on here built one up that they want to show me (ideally as a straight street version, not any kind of racer...)? Is the engine a reasonable starting point for detailing? How does the body fit together? What version is it -- round-arsed or with the sharp Kamm tail? Since I'd really like a 1:1, but can't afford one (yet), I have a hankering to add one to the scale garage instead... I DO have the definitive reference book to work from now, post-birthday... bestest, M.

I'd love to get one of these: http://www.bbrgti.com/product_details.php?id=11676 Serious sports car for less than £25K... bestest, M.

It's not just about what it looks like -- it's 100kg lighter, lower centre of gravity, shorter...all in all, they're trying to get it back to being a great to drive sports car, as opposed to the previous trend for steady bloating. I welcome that. And since it's always been an homage to classic British sports cars, I don't think there's anything wrong with putting a fair dose of F-type into the mix... bestest, M .

Well, it has been a while. Since the last bulletin, my wife's been ordained, we've moved house, my eldest has left for university at King's College, London...and my dedicated modelling shed has transformed into most of a garage: Anyway, on with the important stuff -- I'm back at the bench! The Jaguar has got some seats at last. Cockpit in various Vallejo tones of beige and sand. Home made belts with some spare Hobby Design brass buckles. The dash responds really well to some detail painting. Very eighties plastics, too... Brake disks painted with Humbrol Metalcote steel -- polished on the rotors, left matt grey on the callipers, and painted with Citadel Boltgun Metal in the centres. I could drill them, or draw tiny dots for holes, but given that they completely disappear inside those alloy wheels, I'm not going to bother. Cockpit all together. I'm still slowly working on cabling and piping the engine, and I'm getting to the point where the engine bay needs to come together around the engine and frame, so I can start on the plumbing that attaches to the walls... Progress won't be quick (still many other demands on my time) but at least I'm making some headway, and it feels good! bestest, M.

I think if I was Frank Stephenson I'd have asked them to take the McLaren name and logo off it... it's kind of cool in an art deco movie prop way, as Bill says, but it's really not a McLaren design, is it? bestest, M.

Naaaahhhh... that's not a Mustang II. THIS is a Mustang II: ...and it's really not ugly... ;-P I think the hood air-scoop is essential to the look, and on this one the rear wing/fins actually make a significant contribution to the aerodynamics... bestest, M.

Aston DB5 (without the secret agent extras...) Bentley Continental S1 BMW 507: Bugatti Atlantique And just to prove it's not only old-timers that I like: The Huayra... bestest, M.

...that's not to say I don't like it -- I'd have one (or at least a Aoshima kit of one) like a shot. It's just a bit "generic supercar", when you can usually rely on Lamborghini to do something bonkers and excessive... As for the Mercedes -- hell, yeah! A pocket (well, a bit slimmer, anyway) SLS they can make a profit on? That's got to be a good thing. And the Lagonda is seriously elegant, but would I have it over a Rapide? Not so sure... It kinda reminds me of a Phaeton -- crazy expensive, but so refined it's barely noticeable that it is, which goes against the traditions of its two main markets in a big way. If Ford was still making the Granada/Scorpio, you could have told me that shape was the 2015 model, and I'd have believed you... bestest, M.

I think the Lambo looks cool but not very Lambo-ish... The back-end is an "homage" to the end of the CX-75 that AGG didn't show us: The middle bit looks rather GTRish, to my eye and the front borrows a lot from just down the road: All in all, I think it looks a lot like one of the family of concepts Lotus brought to the Paris show in 2010... bestest, M.

Lovely build. I assume it's the 1/24, not 1/35? bestest, M.

Where's the "Piranha Spy car" from, then? And that 1/125 scale "Blue Devil Destroyer" must be pretty sizeable, eh? I'll have to lay in a Space:1999 Eagle Transporter as well... bestest, M.

Anyone got any suggestions on how to lay down a transparent, even, non-distorting coat of a clear colour? I'm finally getting back to the workbench (I hope) with the Jaguar XJ220. The XJ220 has a well-smoked sunroof, and in theory should also have blue-green tinted windows. I've done a few "smoked" windows notably these: ...but you can't really see clearly through them, and it doesn't really matter since you can see in through the main cabin windows, and all they are concealing is the "boot", really. The other times I've used the clear colours it's been on small parts like lights, or the odd cabin window on a helicopter, where the optical quality is a lot less noticeable. The sunroof on the Jag is one of the main ways to view the cabin, and obviously if all the other windows are green-tinted, I need them to be as optically "clean" as possible as well. I've got Tamiya clear colours, and could try tinted Klear. The problem is whenever I've tried airbrushing either, I get a slightly "frosted" look. Has anyone got any top tips for a foolproof way of tinting clear parts that leaves them as transparent as unpainted plastic...? Any and all suggestions much appreciated. bestest, M

Lucky man -- I was hanging my nose over a 1972 MkIII in my home town only yesterday, but I REALLY don't have £10K spare... bestest, M.

Thanks, guys! I'm not doing 1/43 -- it's an area I know nothing about, and it can be what Douglas Adams called an SEP. Harry -- do you know if the Life-like 1/32 RRs you mention are the same as the Pyro ones listed? I have a feeling that Life-like and Pyro were related somehow. And MPC are often Airfix reboxes, aren't they? Skip -- 1/16 XJ-S, eh? I've never even heard of that one! bestest, M.

...I'm not covering dedicated race cars like the T-70 (well, actually, I am a bit, with Lotuses and Jags, but...). It's not my normal build theme, and if I open THAT door, someone will want the Group C cars, and then it's only a small step to the F1 cars and an argument over which ones are built in the UK (the clue... almost all of them!). If someone wants to start a "Great British Race Cars Kit Inventory" then they are more than welcome... bestest, M.

Hi, all... this is something I got started on Britmodeller, where a bunch of locals contributed to it. I thought some of you guys might find it useful, and feel free to add to it as well. I'll try and keep both lists up to date with all new information. NB: This is NOT a "wish list" thread -- just kits that you KNOW exist, please! Aston Martin: DB5 "James Bond" (original issue), 1/24, Airfix DB5 "Spy Car", 1/25, Aurora DB6, 1/24, Airfix (modified James Bond tooling) DB5 1/24, Airfix (Doyusha kerbside plastic) DB5 James Bond (with some spy gadgets and resin James Bond and Oddjob figures), 1/24, Doyusha DB5 street version, 1/24, Doyusha (Kerbside and quite simplified) DB4, 1/24, Monogram (working doors etc, old kit, shapes a bit off) DBR1, 1/24, Profil24 (resin) DBR, 1/24, Merit DP214, 1/24, Profil24 (resin) Ulster, 1/32, Matchbox (gem of a kit) International, 1/32, Pyro Le Mans, Pyro 1/32 DB5, 1/32, Airfix (pretty terrible) DBS (1970s), 1/24, Airtrax (resin, Finland) DBS, 1/24, Tamiya DBR9, 1/32, Airfix Austin 7 Chummy, 1/24, SE Finecast 7 Ulster, 1/24, SE Finecast 7 (BMW Dixi), 1/24, Heller (reboxed by Revell)(rather different from an Austin 7 in some areas, but a starting point) A40 "Gasser", 1/25, Revell Maxi, 1/32, Airfix London Taxi, Imai, 1/24 (also reboxed by Revell) Bentley 4.5L Blower, 1/32, Airfix 4.5L Blower, 1/24, Heller 4.5L Blower, 1/24, Union (not the same as Heller) 4.5L Blower, 1/12, Airfix Competition Speed Six, 1/32, Pyro Continental R (52-55), 1/24, Airtrax (resin, Finland) Bond Bug, 1/32, Airfix Dennis A/V Ambulance, 1/16, Frog 1914 Fire Engine, 1/32, Airfix 1914 Fire Engine, 1/16, Entex Ford Anglia (59-66), 1/24, Airtrax (resin, Finland) Anglia (dragster), 1/25, Revell Lotus Cortina, 1/32, Airfix Cortina Estate, 1/24, Airtrax (resin, Finland) Consul, 1/32, revell Consul Cortina Mk.1, 1/16, Frog Zodiac, 1/32, Airfix Escort Mk 1, 1/32, Airfix Escort Mk. 2, Esci, 1/24 (Zakspeed, Rally Rothmans, clear-bodied 1800) (also Himbrol and Revell Rally reboxes) Capri, 1/32, Airfix Capri Mk1, 1/24, Doyusha (ageing ex motorised kit) Capri II, 1/24, Monogram Escort XR3, 1/25, Revell Sierra XR4i, 1/24, Tamiya Transit Mk.2, Esci, 1/24 (rare and expensive to find) Healey Sprite, Gunze, 1/24 (Hi-tech and standard boxing) Sprite Mk1, 1/32, Airfix Sprite, 1/32, Monogram Sprite Mk2, 1/32, Lindberg (very basic. Maybe same as Monogram) 100/6, 1/25, Revell (also released by Matchbox and ?AMT?) Austin Healey, 1/32, Revell (also sold under Advent label in USA) Austin-Healey 3000, 1/32, Aurora Healey 3000 Mk 2, 1/24, K&R Replicas Healey 3000 Mk3, 1/24, K&R Replicas Humber Cabriolet 1940s (Staff Car), 1/32, Airfix ("Monty's Humber") Jaguar 'E" Type, 1/32, Airfix E Type Convertible, 1/24, Airfix (ex Heller, with factory hardtop) (also "racing" boxing) E-Type Convertible, 1/24, Airfix Hi-Tech (Gunze Sangyo Hi Tech kit with white metal engine and etched parts) E Type Coupe, 1/24, Heller E-Type OTS, 1/24, Heller (convertible) E-Type Lightweight, 1/24, Profil24 (resin) E-Type Lightweight Lindner-Knocker, 1/24, SMTS (resin/metal) XK-E ,1/25, Revell, (open top, with factory hard-top) Jaguar E-type Coupe, 1/24,Monogram (shape not very good) E-type, 1/16, Frog (motorized kit) Jaguar E-Type Coupe, 1/8, Monogram (fantastic kit, expensive and hard to find) XK120, 1/24, Revell (also metal body version) XK120, 1/32, Gowland and Gowland (also issued by Merit) XK120 Coupe, 1/24, K&R Replicas (white metal kit) (also Monthlery version) C-Type, 1/24, K&R Replicas (white metal kit) (various versions from different events) D-Type, 1/24, K&R Replicas (white metal kit) (various versions, including long-nose) D-Type long-nose, 1/24, Fisher Model and Pattern (1955) XK140, 1/32, Lindberg SS100, 1/24, SE Finecast SS100, 1/16, Entex (also Gakken and Minicraft) SS100, 1/32, Matchbox SS100, 1/32, Tomy (later Hasegawa, detailed kit with metal, plastic and etch parts) Mk 2, 1/24, Tamiya 420, 1/32, Airfix Mark X/420G, 1/24, Airtrax (resin, Finland) XJ220, 1/24, Tamiya XJ220, 1/24, Italeri (also reboxed as Heller) XJ220, 1/25, AMT XKSS, 1/24, Revell D-Type, 1/24, Lindberg [hard to find, but not rare, can be bought for around the £10 mark, a very basic kit though] D-Type, 1/24, Strombecker XJ13, 1/24, K&R Replicas (white metal kit) XJ6, 1/24, K&R Replicas (white metal kit) Daimler Sovereign, 1/24, K&R Replicas (white metal kit) XJ-S, 1/24, Hasegawa (TWR, Targa, Coupe, TWR racing) XJ-S, 1/25, Revell (New Avengers, Gambit) XJ-S, 1/25, Revell (snap kit version of above) XKR GT, 1/32 Airfix (Scalextric-derived) Land Rover: Mk2 SWB Station Wagon, 1/25, Monogram Mk III LWB, 1/24, Esci (in both "Safari" station wagon and FFR Paratrop armed open top. Reissued by Italeri) Mk III?, 1/12, Airfix ( Sean the Sheep set) Defender 110, 1/35, Hobby Boss (military series) 109 MkIII SAS "Pink Panther", 1/35, Tamiya WMIK & Snatch, 1/48, Airfix [both can be civilianised] LWB soft top and hard top, 1/76, Airfix and JB Range Rover Mk1, 1/24, Esci (Standard, Dakar Rally and Police) Range Rover Mk 2, 1/24, Aoshima (Standard, “Tuner”) reboxed by Revell Lanchester 1907, 1/32, Airfix Lotus Super Seven, 1/24, Tamiya XI, 1/24, Profil24 Elan S3, 1/24, Gunze (Hi-tech and standard boxings) Elite, 1/24, Profil24 (resin) Elite, 1/24, Airfix (ex Japanese kit, rally version) Europa, 1/24, Tamiya Europa Special, 1/12, Nichimo Esprit Series 1, 1/16, Bandai/Hales Esprit S1, 1/24, Gunze (also Airfix rebox) Esprit Sport 300, 1/24, Monogram Esprit Turbo, 1/24, Monogram Caterham Super Seven (BDR, BDR Cycle Fender, JPE), 1/12, Tamiya MG 1100 Saloon, 1/24, Airtrax (resin, Finland) 1100, 1/32, Airfix MGA 1600, 1/32, Monogram (reboxed by Lindberg?) MGA twin-cam, 1/24, Strombecker MGB, Aoshima 1/24 (street and competition forms, metal and rubber bumper versions) MGB, Airfix 1/24 (rebox of Aoshima) MGB roadster, 1/24, SE Finecast (metal kit, and expensive) (also rubber bumper version) MGB GT Coupe, 1/24, SE Finecast (also rubber bumper version) MGB GT V8, 1/24, SE Finecast MGB, 1/32, Revell (also sold under Advent label in USA) MGA Coupe, 1/24, SE Finecast MGA 1500/1600, 1/24, SE Finecast, TC, 1/24, Monogram (also metal body kit) (also reissued by Revell) TC, 1/24, SE Finecast TC Sports, 1/32, Matchbox TC, 1/16, Gakken (Academy/Minicraft reboxes) TC, 1/32, Revell K3 Magnette, 1/32, Airfix K3 Magnette, 1/24, SE Finecast Autokit 'M' SE , 1/24, SE Finecast Autokit TD, 1/24, SE Finecast Autokit TF, 1/24, SE Finecast Autokit Metro 6R4, 1/24, Profil24 Mini Mini-Minor, 1/32, Airfix Austin, 1/24, Tamiya Morris, 1/24, Tamiya Cooper, 1/24, Tamiya (rally version) Cooper Mk1, 1/24, Revell Cooper, 1/24, Revell (1964 Monte Carlo rally) Cooper, 1/24, Imai Innocenti, 1/24, Imai Cooper, 1/24, Fujimi (several versions: "Old Mini Cooper", "Union Jack version", racing version, 1/3i w/Minilites) Cooper, 1/12, Tamiya (“Rover Mini Cooper”) Morgan 4/4, 1/24, Tamiya Plus 8, 1/16, LS 3-Wheeler 1935, 1/16, Minicraft Morris Cowley 1923, 1/32, Airfix Cowley 1926 (Bullnose), 1/32, Airfix Cowley "roadster", 1/32, MPC 1100 Mk.1, 1/16, Frog Minor, 1/24, Airtrax (resin, Finland) Minor Traveller, box scale (about 1:38), Revell Marina, 1/32, Airfix Rolls Royce Phantom Mk1, 1/32, Matchbox Phantom II Continental, 1/16, Revell Phantom II Henley Roadster, 1/24 scale Monogram Silver Cloud, 1/24, Minicraft Phantom II, 1/24, Italeri Sedanca Coupe, 1/32, Pyro 1905, 1/32, Airfix 1911, 1/32, Airfix 1909 Silver Ghost, 1/32, Pyro Silver Ghost Touring Car 1/32 scale, Revell Town Car, 1/32, Pyro Rover P5, 1/32, Revell Sunbeam Alpine, 1/32, Revell (also sold under Advent label in USA) Tiger, 1/32, Aurora Rapier, 1/32, Airfix Tiger, AMT, 1/25 Triumph Herald, 1/32, Airfix TR2, 1/24, Gunze (hi-tech and standard boxings) TR3/3a, 1/24, Gunze (hi-tech and standard boxings) TR3, 1/32, Aurora TR3, 1/32, Lindberg (maybe same as Aurora. Very basic) TR3a, 1/24, Minicraft TR4a, 1/32, Airfix TR4, 1/32, Revell (also sold under Advent label in USA) TR4/5, 1/24, Airtrax (resin, Finland) TR6, 1/24, Airtrax (resin, Finland) TRS, 1/24, Airtrax (resin, Finland) GT6, 1/24, Pyro (reissued by Lindberg) Spitfire, 1/32?, Aurora TR7, 1/25, revell (New Avengers, Purdy) TR7, 1/24, Airfix (Rally, ex- Gunze) Vauxhall Prince Henry, 1/32, Airfix (gem of a kit) Cresta, 1/32, Revell Victor Estate, 1/16, Frog Vauxhall Victor 2000 Estate, 1/32, Airfix Viva, 1/32, Airfix bestest, M. (if anyone else want to chip in below, I'll copy paste additions into this list)