London Black Cab by Aoshima: WIP

[David G.]

Hello Everybody!

I finally finished the 1965 Ford Galaxie 500 XL. That means it's time to start another build, since it seems that my current MO is to have three builds going at once.

The kit is nicely but simply rendered. Though it has a decent amount of detail. This should be a rather quick build, my first build session yielded these results.

As near as I can tell, this kit represents the 1968 Austin FX-4 London Taxi.

 

 

Though the kit is cast in black styrene, I decided it would be better to paint it black. If nothing else, I want to hone my skills at doing a good black paintjob.

 

 

The interior is Tamiya Red-Brown for the seats and dark gray primer and flocking for the floor. 

 

 

The chassis plate is painted basic flat black and will receive some detail painting.

 

 

There is an unsightly gap at the top of the partition that divides the passenger and driver compartments. I trimmed some styrene stock to fill it in.

 

 

That's all for now.

As always, thanks for taking the time to look and please feel free to post any comments you may have.

David G.  

[Brizio]

Looks a great start! 

[Rattlecan Dan]

Nice work so far. I think black is most appropriate.

[David G.]

On 9/17/2024 at 5:15 AM, Brizio said:

Looks a great start! 

Thank you Fabrizio, I appreciate that.

 

9 hours ago, Rattlecan Dan said:

Nice work so far. I think black is most appropriate.

Thank you Dan. Yeah, as much as I like the burgundy wine color, something about it just doesn't seem right.

David G.

[Matt Bacon]

You could go with the scheme that has the lower half black, with burgundy above the belt/character line and a black or paint or vinyl roof above the upper chrome accent over the windows.... that really shows off the shapes...

best,

M.

[David G.]

21 hours ago, Matt Bacon said:

You could go with the scheme that has the lower half black, with burgundy above the belt/character line and a black or paint or vinyl roof above the upper chrome accent over the windows.... that really shows off the shapes...

best,

M.

Thanks Matt. That's a good suggestion but I think I'm going to keep with the traditional black on this one.

David G. 

[peteski]

Interesting. This looks like the same kit as the Revell (Germany) London Taxi.  I have that kit and will be following this build.

[customline]

 Gasser.

[TarheelRick]

33 minutes ago, customline said:

 Gasser.

You beat me to it. My thoughts exactly. Fuel-injected small block, 10.5's on the rear, would be so wicked with the black paint job.

[customline]

39 minutes ago, TarheelRick said:

You beat me to it. My thoughts exactly. Fuel-injected small block, 10.5's on the rear, would be so wicked with the black paint job.

....and flames ?

Edit: the FI SBC was exactly how I pictured it.

Edited September 20, 2024 by customline

[Kenmojr]

This is gonna be cool...

[David G.]

13 hours ago, customline said:

 Gasser.

Hmmm... I appreciate your suggestion Jim but I'm going to stick with a traditional build on this one.

 

12 hours ago, TarheelRick said:

You beat me to it. My thoughts exactly. Fuel-injected small block, 10.5's on the rear, would be so wicked with the black paint job.

Thanks Ricky, but that would be more work that I'd want to do for something I really don't want to have. It's a neat idea but it's not for me.

 

11 hours ago, customline said:

....and flames ?

Edit: the FI SBC was exactly how I pictured it.

Guys! Guys! C'mon!   

 

10 hours ago, Kenmojr said:

This is gonna be cool...

Thank you Ken.

Uh, wait... Are you cheering for the Taxi or the Gasser?!   

Again, thanks for the comments everybody but I'm going to build it OOB. (mostly)

Sorry do disappoint you all.  

David G. 

[customline]

Sorry, David, I couldn't help myself. After that posting I immediately searched for a London Taxi gasser just to see if there ever was one. Nope. But then I went straight down the gasser rabbit hole and spent the rest of the night there. ?

[slusher]

Real nice start and l will enjoy following this build my friend!

[David G.]

15 minutes ago, customline said:

Sorry, David, I couldn't help myself. After that posting I immediately searched for a London Taxi gasser just to see if there ever was one. Nope. But then I went straight down the gasser rabbit hole and spent the rest of the night there. ?

No worries Jim. I do enjoy your posts and the ensuing exchanges we have. 

I mean it is technically an Austin but that doesn't mean it has to be made into a Gasser.  

 

13 minutes ago, slusher said:

Real nice start and l will enjoy following this build my friend!

Thank you so much Carl. It's always a pleasure having you along for the adventure.

David G.

[customline]

11 minutes ago, David G. said:

No worries Jim. I do enjoy your posts and the ensuing exchanges we have. 

I mean it is technically an Austin but that doesn't mean it has to be made into a Gasser. 

It may be a cool kit bash if that Austin Gasser kit is easy enough to find....naaah. I've gotta stop. ?

[David G.]

10 minutes ago, customline said:

It may be a cool kit bash if that Austin Gasser kit is easy enough to find....naaah. I've gotta stop. ?

 

 

[peteski]

Some of us (like me) enjoy building, and seeing factory-stock models.

Not everything has to be ruined by chopping it into something entirely different.  I'm just kidding about the "ruined" part. I fully understand that some people enjoy modifying 1:1 and scale vehicles, and we can all co-exist.

[Randy D]

Look forward to seeing what you do with this one David!

 

Randy

[David G.]

22 hours ago, peteski said:

Some of us (like me) enjoy building, and seeing factory-stock models.

Not everything has to be ruined by chopping it into something entirely different.  I'm just kidding about the "ruined" part. I fully understand that some people enjoy modifying 1:1 and scale vehicles, and we can all co-exist.

I agree, on bot accounts Peter. 

 

19 hours ago, Randy D said:

Look forward to seeing what you do with this one David!

 

Randy

Thanks Randy, I am too.

David G.

[David G.]

Hello Everybody!

Here's the next update for the London Black Cab.

With some primer on the body, the initial sanding pass shows some sink marks.

 

 

And some parting lines with just a little flash here and there. Overall, the casting is in good shape. 

 

 

Some basic detail painting for the basic chassis plate.

 

Thanks for taking the time to look and please feel free to post any comments you may have.

David G.

[milo1303s]

On 9/19/2024 at 8:40 PM, TarheelRick said:

You beat me to it. My thoughts exactly. Fuel-injected small block, 10.5's on the rear, would be so wicked with the black paint job.

 

On 9/19/2024 at 9:18 PM, customline said:

....and flames ?

Edit: the FI SBC was exactly how I pictured it.

Check this one out !!!

https://maxpowermag.wordpress.com/tag/taxi/

Edited September 24, 2024 by milo1303s

[Steve H]

Hi David, nice gasser…er…. taxi, yes taxi! You guys crack me up. I must admit, Jim’s “gasser” post had me laughing out loud. Definitely a basic kit, but it looks like you are working your magic on it.

[David G.]

14 hours ago, milo1303s said:

 

Check this one out !!!

https://maxpowermag.wordpress.com/tag/taxi/

That is really cool, thanks for the link. But it's just not for me I'm afraid.

 

10 hours ago, Steve H said:

Hi David, nice gasser…er…. taxi, yes taxi! You guys crack me up. I must admit, Jim’s “gasser” post had me laughing out loud. Definitely a basic kit, but it looks like you are working your magic on it.

  Thanks for your kind comment Steve. This gasser thing just won't go away  

My plan is to build this as a companion to display with my Rolls.

 

I also have a Jag and a Rover in the stash. Once those are built, that will be about it for the "Great Automobiles of the United Kingdom" display.  

At least those that are offered in kit form.  

Thanks again,

David G.

[Bullybeef]

On 9/20/2024 at 11:47 AM, peteski said:

Some of us (like me) enjoy building, and seeing factory-stock models.

Not everything has to be ruined by chopping it into something entirely different.  I'm just kidding about the "ruined" part. I fully understand that some people enjoy modifying 1:1 and scale vehicles, and we can all co-exist.

No, no we cannot! ?kustom because stock sucks! Just kidding @peteski. There are some subjects that are not available stock  so custom is the only way.