Ford Transit MK2 custom van

[Mattblack]

Another one (finally) done...

This is my take on the Italeri MK2 Transit British Gas van. I've used a 1979/80 registration as I was going for the look of a van that was done in the mid 80's. The overall look is traditional custom van but the colour matched door handles, mirrors and headlamp surrounds are of that time. 

I won't bore you with the issues I had with the build, suffice to say they were mainly down to me, not the kit. It's a 'ten-yarder', but then so were a lot of the 1:1 back in the day...

The mods:

Roof spoiler is a narrowed Revell Oldsmobile 442 rear spoiler, tailgate window panelled in and Matchbox/AMT Model T van side window fitted, tailgate handle shaved and frenched number plate, number plate recces in vallance filled, frenched rear lights, flared rear arches are made from a Airfix 1932 Chrysler Imperial spare wheel cover and plastic sheet, portholes from the AMT 'Vantom' kit, kit front spoiler moulded in, narrowed grille from the Revell chopped '48 Ford coupe kit, piston gearknob made from spue, C.B. from the spares box, seats from the 'junkyard' (Ford EXP?)

The wheels and tyres are one piece resin items from ebay, as luck would have it they fitted neatly over the kit wheels. The low profile tyres are too modern for the era, but meh...

Paint is Rustoleum 'painters touch' Cherry Red rattle can, just because I had half a tin on the shelf. Not my best paint job by a long way, it won't be a paint I'll be using again in a hurry.

 

 

 

 

[Carmak]

Very cool custom van!! The "vibe" is right on man!

[Ulf]

Wow, you hit the nail on the head. 
I have a RHD Jago 32 on my mental build list and am looking at English builds from the 70's and 80's and your van looks like it came from one of the pages with scanned pictures and magazines from that era.

[espo]

The van craze was an interesting time, and seeing how it was done elsewhere is always interesting. The body modifications you mention look smoothly done and the paint looks great. The interior "carpeting" on the floor and ceiling has a good-looking finish and was the style. 

[ncbuckeye67]

I think it looks amazing! I love all the custom touches you've done.

[ChrisR]

Cool!

[Mattblack]

Thanks for the positive feedback.

The photos flatter it TBH, but I suppose overall I enjoyed doing a build as I would have done 'back in the day' if I had the patience and 'skills' (LOL).

[PappyD340]

Real nice van!