ICM Model A and Monogram As build comparison

[stitchdup]

The best way in my mind to compare the icm kit with the monograms is to build them at the same time. The way I see it this will allow me to swap parts between them as I build so if theres any combinations you would like to see I'll add pics if it can be done without permanent gluing. The icm kit will be going fenderless with a printed dropped axle and cowl steering on steel rims using icm opel tyres on the rear and tamiya tyres from the old toyota on the front as they look like tractor tyres. The monogram coupe will be getting the chevy engine option and cabriolet top. With it I am going to try the icm fenders so I can lose the spare wheel wells from the fenders, but this may not work due to differences between the grilles. I liked the look of the model a they built on faster so will be going for a 70s resto rod look. The pick up is just to try icm parts on for fit and might only get sub assemblies built at this time but if the icm chassis works i might try that at another time.

[stitchdup]

So on opening the boxes both are pretty full but obviously the icm has more parts and being a modern kit is much neater laid out but we dont really care about that do we? lol.

The icm sprues were bagged but i removed that when it arrived

monogram

icm

Next up is the instructions. Its two differing styles but the icm wins for detail however for appearance and trivia I'm going to call it a tie

monogram

icm

I see a decent improvement from icm's instructions since the opel was done. Much clearer where they needed to be

[stitchdup]

First i forgot to include the icm decal sheet earlier so here it is.

And on with the fun stuff. I've decided to build both in the icm kit order so first up is the chassis. Up to this point the chassis for the icm is 18 parts, but i've left off the bumper mounts and steering box. I will try the icm steering and axle under the monogram once I get to the interiors as some parts need the cowl to fit. To get the monogram to this point i opened the box.

and yes the icm chassis fits the monogram 30 but it does not fit the 29 pick up fenders

some trimming of the mongram fenders needed for the icm chassis to fit

next up is the engines

[LennyB]

I’m not familiar with the ICM kit, what scale is it?

[stitchdup]

  On 5/12/2024 at 12:45 PM, LennyB said:

I’m not familiar with the ICM kit, what scale is it?

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its 1/24

[espo]

Going to enjoy following your grand experiment here. 

[Kenmojr]

This is gonna be a very interesting thread. Look forward to your updates...

[RSchnell]

Will be following this with interest. Thanks for taking the time to take pics & post them!

[Zippi]

Nice little project going on.  

[stitchdup]

And we're onto the engines. I'm finding some of the icm parts are needlessly complicated. For example the starter is 4 parts when it really could have been one or two parts. The icm also has individual spark plugs to be added which are barely noticable on the sprue attachment. But theres a lot of parts like this coming up in the next few steps on the icm kit so progress is going to slow down once the rest of the icm engine is done and I'll need to paint the chassis before moving ahead. Anyways, I've assembled both 4 pots to a roughly similar state but there are still 12 parts to go on the icm while the monogram only has 2 remaining. If i remember I'll get a pic of one of the upcoming sprues before I remove more parts.

I should also point out every part of the icm so far had required mold lines fixed, and some of the attachment points are again in dumb places but theres not been any distorted parts yet. On the opel i've found many larger parts were slightly off and the chassis needed a lot of massaging to just sit level.

The paint is a tamya army green with a couple drops of semi gloss black. Once it gets some satin clear it should hopefully approximate the ford engine colour.

Both engines will fit both chassis

Edited May 15, 2024 by stitchdup

[MeatMan]

Interesting experiment!

[stitchdup]

I'm at the stuck stage. I'm having difficulty deciding the best way to paint 2 sprues of mostly tiny parts. Anybody got any advice?

[Ulf]

  On 5/19/2024 at 9:01 PM, stitchdup said:

I'm at the stuck stage. I'm having difficulty deciding the best way to paint 2 sprues of mostly tiny parts. Anybody got any advice?

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I cut, prep, build, wash, prime, paint and detail. 
For me, the priority is: well built with prepped parts before separately painted parts. I learned to build like that when I built tanks.

[bill-e-boy]

  On 5/20/2024 at 10:51 AM, Ulf said:

I cut, prep, build, wash, prime, paint and detail. 
For me, the priority is: well built with prepped parts before separately painted parts

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I agree with Ulf. Prep, prep and a bit more prep before paint. It why it takes me so long to build kits

[bill-e-boy]

I am liking the subject and will follow along with your build up. A couple of the guys in the club have built ICM kits and speak highly of them. 

[stitchdup]

Well this should start moving again soon thanks to these. my x2 readers just weren't up to the job

[mchook]

Any updates? I'm loving this thread.

[stitchdup]

  On 6/5/2024 at 1:27 AM, mchook said:

Any updates? I'm loving this thread.

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not just yet, i was away for a car show and delayed waiting for stronger glasses but they're here now.

[Bugatti Fan]

Shetland is quite a ferry crossing from the Orkneys !

[stitchdup]

Well, this is still delayed. I'm waiting on tamiya paints to get restocked at the local shop. I used duplicolour on the chassis and some of the finer detail was lost so since there is a lot of nicely detailed parts i'll wait for tamiya.

[stavanzer]

  On 6/24/2024 at 9:47 AM, stitchdup said:

Well, this is still delayed. I'm waiting on tamiya paints to get restocked at the local shop. I used duplicolour on the chassis and some of the finer detail was lost so since there is a lot of nicely detailed parts i'll wait for tamiya.

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Fair Enough.

It is just my tastes, but the ICM looks overdone. I like the engraved Detail, but the 4 part starter is emblematic of the Laser Scan, 3D Print print ethos. The kit looks almost Rococo in it's design, but then they go and make frankly stupid choices that betray their Military Model roots. Who designs kits of cars with a separate Radiator and Shell, as one piece anymore? Especially since the two parts are always different colours. It is a worse issue on the Brass Era Model T Fords, but Still dumb here too.

Keep up the Good Work though, Les. I enjoy seeing the parts compared.

[stitchdup]

  On 7/11/2024 at 5:11 AM, stavanzer said:

Fair Enough.

It is just my tastes, but the ICM looks overdone. I like the engraved Detail, but the 4 part starter is emblematic of the Laser Scan, 3D Print print ethos. The kit looks almost Rococo in it's design, but then they go and make frankly stupid choices that betray their Military Model roots. Who designs kits of cars with a separate Radiator and Shell, as one piece anymore? Especially since the two parts are always different colours. It is a worse issue on the Brass Era Model T Fords, but Still dumb here too.

Keep up the Good Work though, Les. I enjoy seeing the parts compared.

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i feel like this should be a 1/12 kit. some of it would make more sense then

[Straightliner59]

I think that little four-banger is a gem! Thanks for sharing this, Les. Good work!

[Mr. Metallic]

Sorry I'm late to the party. Did anything further happen with this @stitchdup ?

[stitchdup]

  On 10/16/2024 at 8:56 PM, Mr. Metallic said:

Sorry I'm late to the party. Did anything further happen with this @stitchdup ?

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i paused it when i couldn't get more tamiya black paint. my only other option is duplicolour and i think i would lose too much detail with it. the kit has a lot of fine detail and i want to save as much as possible. i helped the shop with an order about a month ago so hopefully it will be back on the bench soon. i have printed some cragar 4 banger speed parts for it too