Bugatti Fan

Some machine tools really come into their own when attempting to either scratch build or do some serious conversion work. I have a couple of Emco Lathes, a Compact 8 like Jo has and a little Unimat 4 plus a small Clarke Metalworker Milling Machine and a small Toggle Press for forming louvers. All have proved to be a good investment. 3D printing is becoming very popular as a means of using computer aided design for downloading a program for making parts and there is nothing wrong with that approach if it works ok for the end user. The downside however is being limited to using just the one material that can be used for modelling by that method and generally overall strength is not an issue with any of the parts made. Using conventional machines does not limit one, so a variety of materials like metal, wood and plastics can all be machined and the modeller gets 'a feel' in working different materials on those machines.

This is going to be a fascinating build to follow. I can see why you opted for 1/12th instead of 1/8th looking at the Bentley model placed on the top and side elevation drawings. This vehicle has hints of the huge Mercedes 6 wheeler that Adolf Hitler used as a staff car. I wonder if that is where the film maker got the idea for this car from? in your last post you mentioned that you use Inventor for your 3D Cad work. Referring back to your Bentley build you appeared to have been using Fusion that is also an Autodesk product. Are they both the same thing but renamed?

Thanks for that wheel suggestion Trevor.

Kurt, was it Amazon Prime you got automatically subscribed to? They set it up in such a way that you have to opt out of of it, and you have to look carefully to find out where you can on it. Sharp practice unfortunately. It should be made illegal ! They will auto enlist you for Prime every time you use them, so it is important not to forget to opt out each time.

Les, I bought the Mk2 Lotus Cortina body from Andy Swindlehurst at Telford a couple of years back. The shape wasn't too bad but the roof was a bit concave in the middle, but managed to sort it out. Lots of rubbing down though due to the 3D Print layering. I am pretty well on with all the scratch built parts for it already. Thanks very much for your generous offer of those parts but at the stage where I will not be needing anything more for my build. Unless you have a set of deep steel wheels with hub caps like Ford used to fit on the Mk1 and Mk2 Lotus Cortinas in 1/24th scale. I am looking at odd sets of wheels in my spares box to convert otherwise.

When using Amazon do not leave your card details on their site. You can remove your card details off their site immediately each time after you have placed your order. Another scam. My son had some money stolen from his account. Like many, he had his account details stored on his mobile (cell) phone. Don't know how they did it, but the scammer must have found out enough info to enable them to ask for a replacement SIM card. Once they got it my son's phone was disabled as a result. I believe that the scam is named 'SIM Swap'. He spotted it quickly so stopped his card with the bank. The scammer was trying to use it on Amazon too, but my son found out the scammer's email address from them and a postal address where they wanted the parcel to go to. He found out the physical location of that address on Google Earth and downloaded a photo of where they were operating from that was above a shop somewhere in London. The Metropolitan Police fraud squad has been given the details, so the scammers will be getting a surprise visit sometime soon I guess. Identity fraud...How many times do we throw out stuff in the trash with our name and address on it? An ID fraudsters gold mine to set up false accounts in your name. You would not know about it until weeks later when a fraudulent credit card had been used and you receive a statement from the credit card company. Treat any Emails or phone calls purporting to be your bank or any others that look suspicious that look like warnings or saying there is a problem no matter what as scams. Do not open emails out of curiosity. Delete them. Hang up on suspicious phone calls without getting into a conversation. You can always check with any legitimate organisation by making contact later.

Pity they don't allow straight sales on here with a disclaimer as a number of other sites do. What did I receive today? H.G.Wells Invisible Kit !

Sometimes you really have to look at some of those built up and painted models done decades before from often unsophisticated clunky old kits and ask yourself, 'Is it really worth all the bother?' I gave up being a masochist trying to make silk purses from old kit sow's ears long ago. Ironically though, I am still a bit of a masochist in some respects. I recently picked up a 3D printed body shell for a Mark 2 Lotus Cortina to make a model of the car I used to own back in the seventies. I am using (on recommendation) an Italeri (ex Esci) Ford Escort No 2 Rally car kit as a donor kit for the underpinnings and whatever else I can use from it etc. (Don't ask!). Had to extend the kit wheelbase to fit, so lots of fiddling about to do this, plus extensive other bits of scratch building involved. Ah well, God loves a trier I have heard said !

Your crazed windshield. Try rubbing it right back with wet and dry abrasive papers to get under the crazing, that hopefully can be polished out afterwards. Try a car paint restoring polish or even toothpaste for this on it. It may be too far gone to do this, but worth a try if the crazing is just on the surface. As for using brake fluid to strip paint from models, been there and got the tee shirt like some earlier posters. It's quite evil stuff health wise if not carefully used and best avoided if possible.

Go for it !

A nice 'Street is Neat' model !

Lovely conversion of that old Bentley kit Jo. I followed Sca!e Motorcars forum like Richard. A pity it has gone. It had some wonderful scratch built models on there in larger scales. It got very clunky the last few times I accessed it before it stopped working altogether. So much brilliant info and build threads lost forever it would seem.

Nice project, this one. The 53 Studebaker, an American car that looks very European in styling like some of the other Studes from that era.

The post by Chris about the lawyer's name being mis spelt reminded me of the old days when books, journals, newspapers and magazines were proof read properly. Occasionally there would be a deliberate spelling error made by a journalist that would twist the meaning of a word for pure amusement for the readers that the proof reader would invariably spot but would let go.

Nice 'off the wall project' converting this kit to a C cab. Should look great when finished. The original cab body is reminiscent of the old Eldon Milk Truck kit I built years ago. Even the 'Milk' decal is similar in style to the Eldon kit decal.

Tried to access the Scale Motorcars Forum after a long hiatus, and it appears to have now gone altogether as my search engine drew a blank on this one. Anyone know what happened to it! There was some pretty advanced stuff on there for anyone into scratch building. It appeared to be really struggling last time I tried to access it, and was really frustrating to load. If so, it is a pity as it complemented this site as it was more aimed at large scale scratch built model car enthusiasts.

Neat ! Both the pics you and Alan placed are interesting.

Brilliant conversion/ kit bash Kit. You really do have a bit of a whacky sense of humour making a chauffeur driven town car from a FORD? Normally you associate those sorts of cars with the likes of Rolls Royce, Deusenberg, Hispano Suiza, Packard etc. I like to see 'off the wall' builds like this one. Neat!

Agreed Bill The internet and social media are brilliant places for people to demonstrate their illiteracy.

What a blast from the past. Model Car Science, a cool magazine from way back. The themed build based on an advert in the magazine was quite an inspired idea. Would make a nice display in the International Model Car Builders Museum !

That's a cool scale model ride you built there Ken, and looks good in bright yellow !

A very nice model build. Belkits have made a good kit and Doug has made a really good job of it with his detailing.

Nice to see a classic 1950's road cum racing machine modelled. Impressive detailing.

At least the targeted ads in paper magazines don't keep popping up in front of what you are trying to read !

I think that I will get my Cyberdyne Systems 100 to dig out some of my old pre internet copies of Scale Modelling magazines to browse through along with a nice glass of Talisker Whisky !