London Black Cab by Aoshima: WIP

[customline]

 I've got to think it has to do with the combination of the primer not performing well and maybe the first coat was too wet. I think maybe an extra coat of the Tamiya light primer might help with this possibly. I hate to build up too much primer but it might be necessary to give the color coat a better barrier. Gotta try something.

[David G.]

18 hours ago, customline said:

 I've got to think it has to do with the combination of the primer not performing well and maybe the first coat was too wet. I think maybe an extra coat of the Tamiya light primer might help with this possibly. I hate to build up too much primer but it might be necessary to give the color coat a better barrier. Gotta try something.

Yeah, I just get a bad paintjob on occasion. Now I have some more things to be mindful of when painting to help prevent the bad paintjobs from landing on me.

I'll get it fixed, as I say:

"There ain't nuthin to it but the work to do it."

I'm just a little annoyed by the extra work it'll take.

Thanks,

-D-

[David G.]

Hello Everybody!

This must be "Clean up one's own mess week." At least it seems to be for me anyway. In addition to having to correct the paint issues I caused on this build and fixing the kink in the PCV hose, I've been having trouble getting a good chrome paintjob done on the Futura bumpers. 

But that's a story for another time. Hopefully soon.

Based on suggestions provided by other trusted builders, I've fixed the kink in the PCV return hose. I cut an new length of tubing and inserted a soft length of insulated wire to help the tubing hold its shape. The engine bay is now done!

 

 

After allowing the paint to cure following the second coat, I've started sanding out the roughness that remained. It looks like everything will be fine, there'll just be a little extra work to get it there. I also found a bit of sink mark on the hood to fill that I seem to have missed.

 

 

I also started knocking together some door cards, as the model didn't come with any of its own. I'm not sure how much detail I'll add or if I'll even use them, but there they are.

 

That's what I accomplished in this build session, let's see what I can get done in the next one.

As always, thanks for taking the time to look and please feel free to comment.

David G.

 

Edited October 22, 2024 by David G.
typo

[Bullybeef]

@David G. the engine bay looks proper sorted now, amazing how adding a few small details can change the look of such a small area. Glad you have the paint sorted now, I’m sure the next spray session will be favourable. 

[David G.]

On 10/22/2024 at 4:55 AM, Bullybeef said:

@David G. the engine bay looks proper sorted now, amazing how adding a few small details can change the look of such a small area. Glad you have the paint sorted now, I’m sure the next spray session will be favourable. 

Thank you so much Bil. I'm sure all will go well with the paint.

David G.

[David G.]

Hello Everybody!

Usually, when posting my WIPs I assemble the postings together in project focused groups: bumpers, grilles and trim, interior, engine, etc. Even though work on those groups may occur over weeks in separate build sessions.  Doing this helps me to keep the project on track and I think it makes for a more cohesive, easy to follow build thread.

With the London Cab however, I find myself thinking more in terms of build sessions rather than build sections. Maybe because it's such a simple kit, my mind is approaching... conceptualizing this project differently.

Anyway, if my post content seems different than it usually does, that's why.

On with the show!

After walking down through the grits in a color-sanding session, I gave it another coat of black. This one worked out rather well with only a few minor trouble spots. 

 

 

I still have some flaws in the hood ...or bonnet, given the car's pedigree. These are due to not sufficiently smoothing the putty I used to level the sink marks. I should be able to get this sorted in the next pass.

 

 

The last thing I accomplished in this session was bringing the door cards one step closer to completion. I added some masking tape that I hope will simulate leather door panels after I apply some paint. I also fabricated some door pulls and handles from paper clips and straight pins. There doesn't have to be a lot of detail because most of this won't be readily visible through the windows once the car is assembled. But I feel that there should be something there to look at other than the inside of the plastic car body.

 

That's all for this session.

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

David G.

Edited October 27, 2024 by David G.
typo

[customline]

The kit had no interior?  ?

[Bullybeef]

@David G. all your hard work  for that black finish almost, almost makes me want to try another black paint job! Looks great keep it going. 

[David G.]

21 hours ago, customline said:

The kit had no interior?  ?

It does, just no door cards.

21 hours ago, Bullybeef said:

@David G. all your hard work  for that black finish almost, almost makes me want to try another black paint job! Looks great keep it going. 

Thank you Bil. You should, I wanted to do this one as practice for an upcoming build I have planned; a '59 Cadillac hearse.

Thanks again,

David G.

[slusher]

Good idea David , that will look good through the windows!

[David G.]

4 hours ago, slusher said:

Good idea David , that will look good through the windows!

Thanks Carl, it should be better than the bare plastic.

David G.

[David G.]

Hello Everybody!

Here's what I accomplished in the most recent build session.

I have the detail on the dashboard pretty much completed.

 

 

I got the door panels knocked into shape. These are just meant to suggest that there is something on the inside of the cab other than unfinished, partially painted plastic. They'll be difficult to see after the model is assembled so I'm not going to spend too much time on them.

 

 

Putting some of the final details on the interior plate before assembly.

 

 

For the grille, I've sprayed a coat of flat clear and started the blackwash process with some Tamiya Panel Line Accent Color, black.

 

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

David G.

[Bullybeef]

It’s all in the fine details, looks great @David G.

[Anglia105E]

That was a good idea of yours to feed a length of insulated wire through the radiator coolant hose, which made me think of my carbide generator piping on the Model T . . .

I agree that you do want some sort of basic interior door cards, even if the detail would not be seen once the taxi cab is assembled.

Well done with the black paint finish on this body . . . Black does seem to be the most challenging paint colour to get right.

These Aoshima models are of nice quality, and they have a different way of assembling the kit to Tamiya, for example.

David W.

[BK9300]

I like your interior work - the kit’s molded dash detail looks simple, but your detail painting sure enhances it!  What have you used for your gauge ‘lens covers’ ?

[David G.]

21 hours ago, Bullybeef said:

It’s all in the fine details, looks great @David G.

Thanks Bil, I do enjoy the detail work. I think it's where the art comes into the build. The detail work is the difference between building a model and just putting a kit together.

 

21 hours ago, Anglia105E said:

That was a good idea of yours to feed a length of insulated wire through the radiator coolant hose, which made me think of my carbide generator piping on the Model T . . .

I agree that you do want some sort of basic interior door cards, even if the detail would not be seen once the taxi cab is assembled.

Well done with the black paint finish on this body . . . Black does seem to be the most challenging paint colour to get right.

These Aoshima models are of nice quality, and they have a different way of assembling the kit to Tamiya, for example.

David W.

Thank you David. Yes, the paint is going to be the standout challenge of this kit. The rest of it is simple but it has enough detail to be a satisfying build.

 

17 hours ago, BK9300 said:

I like your interior work - the kit’s molded dash detail looks simple, but your detail painting sure enhances it!  What have you used for your gauge ‘lens covers’ ?

Thank you Brian. The lenses are just several layers of Tamiya X-22 Clear. I dab it in thickly with a brush, let it dry, then hit it again. I do this until it gets to where I want it, usually about three or four applications.

Thank you all again for your comments and questions.

=D-

[David G.]

Hello Everybody!

It's time for the next update.

At the end of the previous building session I placed the bumpers in the stripping solution to remove their chrome. They weren't really that bad but they did gave some parting lines and flash that I wouldn't be able to easily correct without damaging the chrome. In this session I removed the bumpers from the Purple Pond and cleaned them up. The next step, after they dry is to spray some primer on them and start smoothing out the flaws.

 

 

Most of this build session was spent smoothing out the flaws in the paint.

 

 

I use 3M polishing cloths by Zona Tool Co. that go from 30 micron grit down to 1 micron in six steps. On the body, I've just finished the second step; 15 micron.

 

 

The hood has been taken down to the 1 micron grit and after washing the dust and water spots from it, is ready for the next coat of black paint. 

 

As always, thanks for taking a look and please feel free to comment.

David G.

[stitchdup]

Very nice work, theres more time and care gone into the model than the real thing gets

[David G.]

4 minutes ago, stitchdup said:

Very nice work, theres more time and care gone into the model than the real thing gets

Thank you kindly Les. I was under the impression that London cabbies took great pride in their jobs and their cabs.

=D-

[stitchdup]

1 minute ago, David G. said:

Thank you kindly Les. I was under the impression that London cabbies took great pride in their jobs and their cabs.

=D-

i was meaning at the factory, the drivers do take care of them. 3/4 million miles isn't unusual with these engines

[David G.]

16 minutes ago, stitchdup said:

i was meaning at the factory, the drivers do take care of them. 3/4 million miles isn't unusual with these engines

Ah, I'm glad not to be disappointed about the cabbies. 

=D-

[David G.]

Hello Everybody!

In my last build session for the London Black Cab I was planning to assemble the interior when I discovered that the steering column had gone missing. I know I had it. I know I painted it. I just couldn't find it. After looking for it for the better part of a week, I'm about ready to admit to myself that I've lost it. 

A steering column shouldn't be too difficult fabricate a replacement for, I already have a part from the parts-box lined up. I guess if I had to lose something, I'm glad it was something I could easily replicate.

 

 

I did some washes on the door panels to "leather" them up a little. They probably didn't need to have this done as much as I needed to do it, given how unlikely they are to be noticed once the model is assembled. But there they are.

 

 

After a couple more blackwashes the radiator grille is just about where I want it to be. It's still a bit shiny for my liking so I think I'll give another shot of clear to knock back the shine a little more.

 

 

I managed to get a good paintjob on the body! I'll let this cure and have a look to see what my next step will be. Most likely just a polish and clear coat.

 

As always, thanks for having a look and please feel free to post any comments you may have.

David G.

[customline]

I get it, David.  There are some things we don't yet understand about why model car parts sometimes vanish.  There is a theory that those parts have actually traveled into another dimension through some sort of vortex, or wormhole.  Usually, they turn up days or even weeks later but mostly after it's replacement has been glued in place. Just a theory ?

[David G.]

36 minutes ago, customline said:

I get it, David.  There are some things we don't yet understand about why model car parts sometimes vanish.  There is a theory that those parts have actually traveled into another dimension through some sort of vortex, or wormhole.  Usually, they turn up days or even weeks later but mostly after it's replacement has been glued in place. Just a theory ?

 

It does seem to be the case that once the part is replaced, the one that was originally lost returns to gloat smugly.

Also:

I like to think that everything we've ever lost throughout the course of our lives is waiting for us in there Heaven when we die. 

Something to look forward to!

=D-

[stitchdup]

46 minutes ago, David G. said:

 

It does seem to be the case that once the part is replaced, the one that was originally lost returns to gloat smugly.

Also:

I like to think that everything we've ever lost throughout the course of our lives is waiting for us in there Heaven when we die. 

Something to look forward to!

=D-

not sure what i can build with 17 pe seat buckles but i'll start losing more varied parts to safe