PatW

I'm looking to build a Baja Bug/Beetle and need some long shocks, that's two on each corner! I have plenty of alloy and plastic tubing for the telescopic effect, but I can't find any springs, I used to use pen springs but don't see any anymore.

I use self adhesive bright aluminium plumbers tape.

Nice one! One of my favourite kits.

This is a taster of the final Manx in my stash..................Yes it's see through Metalic Purple!! New thread on this Manx on here soon!

Thanks Joe, still never seen one until now! I've taken various images and either enlarged or reduced, although not yet printed those 'Woody' decals but have printed other images and used as decals see below.................. I've looked at the Uschi decals on a site but they are very expensive at £15 a sheet + £7 postage! I was also looking a coffee sticks/stirers as the 'wood'.

Having seen the Thames van here in the UK in the 50's and the car versions (Anglia, Prefect), this is a design long overdue! Why didn't Ford do this? Well I suppose at that time both cars and vans were built just to get from A to B and be basic workhorses, holidays re: woodies weren't thought about here. Looks good the 4 pot side valve engine with a 3 speed manual box is just what they had, the suspension and short chassis/body didn't lean towards fast driving, especially on very twisty country roads. 12-15 Horsepower roughly 1 litre engines were common with a top speed (of course nobody spoke about that) of around 45 miles per hour! I look forward to rest of this build, what a good idea though!

I've tried to access the above forum to see the photo's, but end up on the home page.

Wicked Ron!

Thanks to all of you who took the time to take some great photo's. Being in the UK we only have one major show in November each year and it's mainly Military, so I don't go. It's so good to see so many cars, vans, bikes and trucks. Thanks.

I've built both the Mini WRC and the Fiesta WRC. Good builds, no problems, nice finish, even with all those small decals!

Thanks Francis, yes it's a vehicle that I've always wanted but never been able to afford, so I'm using AMT to live the dream!

Super Celica, well done. I hope your looking at more rally cars to build.

Thanks Jon, yes it's certainly different for a road car. I'd seen a similar method in World Sportscars, to release air trapped under the wheelarches at high speed.

On seeing these pics my youngest son asked me to move the cars front to back so here they are.............

Thanks guys, yes a lowrider beach buggy, only for the road of course! I've added pics of my MK18 Beach Buggy Club in the Diorama section, but here's just one pic anyway! Mainly Manx's, one Empi, one Gypsy, one Airfix Bugle 1/32, one Flintstone and one Scale Equipment single seater, all air-cooled VDub!

Thanks guys, it's the basic diorama out of the Manx box, but I've added a large card parking area, just left the vertical part of the original display, covering the base up to the building etc., using a white gel pen for marking out the bays.

I've just put this together. I haven't built a diorama for ages so apologies for it's basic appearance. There are mainly AMT Manx's, plus the little orange 1960-70's Airfix Bugle Buggy in 1/32nd and a Scale Equipment Ltd Single seat desert racer in Resin, one Flintstone 4X4, and one Gypsy! All air-cooled.

Cheers guys. I've been out to Hobbycraft today to get supplies (plus the diorama bits in the kit) to show my seven built up Manx's an Empi and a 1/32 Airfix buggy. My new club is the MK18 (My zip code) Beach Buggy Club!!

Cheers RAMBENNA. I'm doing a lot of thinking to how I can build up my metalflake clear purple Manx special issue kit, to ace this one!!

Thanks guys, yes I bought a few sets of those Centrelines. You have to buy a pack of 4 at 20 inch and a pack of 4 21inch, so to get the 'Bigs & Littles'. Another feature was the engine, the fan painted with orange clear and the pulleys covered with mesh as our road laws don't allow working parts like that uncovered.

Well I'm overwhelmed with your reactions, thanks guys! I have a see through purple one on the shelf, that has three piece real alloy Centrelines from Teds Modelling Marketplace already in the box! These are the purchase off ebay including the seats used in this one..............

I've just finished this build. I lowered it as far as it would go but it wasn't low enough so having sourced 21 & 20 inch Pegasus Centrelines I cut out the tops of the wings for further drop. (Suitable for USA Autocrossing) I made my own decals in the same theme, DC & Vans Shoes, Rockstar energy drink etc. Wired the mill and modded the exhaust. The seats came from a batch I bought on ebay here in the UK of thought to be 1960's AMT or Monogram made.Five different pairs of seats came yesterday at around 99p per pair. then put a few gauges on the dash.... I had already cast a plaster surfboard using a fridge magnet from OZ when we were there in 2003. I also had to use some alloy tubing as the rollover bar was badly twisted from the box........... Also adding to it decal from my recent printing................ Now to the shelves for the next build!

From ebay here in the UK some custom seats. I'm told they are from AMT or Monogram from the 1960's! Each pair was on a separate auction...... Now the decision? Which pair to use in a custom Manx (my 8th Manx)?

I love seeing the American style of 30's rods, but due to our petrol being around £6 a gallon I would never be able to afford to run one! Today the exchange would be $8.79 per gallon!

The BBC are talking to an actor to host a new motoring show. The pictures on this thread earlier are presenters of a long gone gardening show not good prospects for a fast driving show!