Rolls Royce Silver Cloud II Drophead Coupe

[Perspect Scale Modelworks]

After reading Tomy124's post asking for ideas on making convertible boots, I was motivated to start a project I've been thinking about for a very long time (as if I don't have way too much on my plate already).

I don't post WIPs very often because I can be an extremely slow builder, and many times when I get into a groove, I fail to stop and take pictures. Hopefully this will help me stay focused and get it done.

This is the kit I built many years ago.

 This is what I'm aiming for:

And this is where I am so far:

It was a bit painful cutting her up, but hopefully it will be worth it. My hesitation has been how to make the boot, so we'll see what happens.

[Geno]

Now thats gonna be sweet.💯😎

[Anglia105E]

This is an interesting project of yours Gene . . . I have built around ten of these Silver Clouds, but never have I chopped the roof off any of them ! Mine are all standard steel saloon body hard tops. These were built from Minicraft, Revell and Entex kits . . . I am looking forward to seeing your drophead version of the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II . . .

Good luck !

David W.

[Big Messer]

Looks like the front door should be longer and the wheelbase shorter. Pretty common. When doing a conversion like this I first take pictures of the original model and then mess with them in any photo editing program.

Edited October 17 by Big Messer

[Anglia105E]

2 hours ago, Anglia105E said:

This is an interesting project of yours Gene . . . I have built around ten of these Silver Clouds, but never have I chopped the roof off any of them ! Mine are all standard steel saloon body hard tops. These were built from Minicraft, Revell and Entex kits . . . I am looking forward to seeing your drophead version of the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II . . .

Good luck !

David W.

Sorry, my mistake . . . I meant to type " J. Gibbs " and not " Gene " . . .

David

[Perspect Scale Modelworks]

2 hours ago, Big Messer said:

Looks like the front door should be longer and the wheelbase shorter. Pretty common. When doing a conversion like this I first take pictures of the original model and then mess with them in any photo editing program.

Yes, the front door will be extended rearward. Fortunately the wheelbase can go unchanged. According to my research, the drophead wheelbase is about 127 inches, or 3226 mm. My measurement for the 1/24 scale model is 128.35 mm, which would be 3081 mm in 1:1. So I'll be a bit short but close enough for me, and I think visually it should be ok.

Edited October 17 by Perspect Scale Modelworks

[Perspect Scale Modelworks]

3 hours ago, Anglia105E said:

This is an interesting project of yours Gene . . . I have built around ten of these Silver Clouds, but never have I chopped the roof off any of them ! Mine are all standard steel saloon body hard tops. These were built from Minicraft, Revell and Entex kits . . . I am looking forward to seeing your drophead version of the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud II . . .

Good luck !

David W.

Thanks David. I've followed your builds and dioramas for some time, as well as your current WIP. I may ask you for one of those engines if you're willing to let one go.

Edited October 17 by Perspect Scale Modelworks

[Perspect Scale Modelworks]

Since the interior will be exposed, I'll have to correct the door panels. I removed the front seat, which I'll clean up and try to make a bit more realistic as much as I can. I'll probably put the center armrest in the up position on the rear seat as well.

[NOBLNG]

Interesting project. It looks like updating that interior might be the toughest part…they don’t give you much to work with.

[Mark W]

Really interesting project.

Extending the door will make the profile look good.

Hope to follow this to the end.

[Anglia105E]

14 hours ago, Perspect Scale Modelworks said:

Thanks David. I've followed your builds and dioramas for some time, as well as your current WIP. I may ask you for one of those engines if you're willing to let one go.

Hi J. Gibbs . . . Yes, if you need an engine later then I can let you have one. This inline 6 cylinder engine is for the cars built between 1955 and 1959, which is the Silver Cloud I . . . The cars built between 1960 and 1962 had the V8 engine, which is the Silver Cloud II and then between 1962 and 1966 was the Silver Cloud III that also had the V8 engine, and double twin headlamps.

I have previously tried cutting up the interior seating tub from this kit, when I was attempting to build a hybrid model car that was partly a diecast Franklin Mint model, and partly the plastic model . . . That build never did get finished. The Franklin Mint diecast version is very good actually, as it represents a 1955 Silver Cloud I with a nicely detailed inline 6 cylinder engine. That diecast engine is much better than my 3D printed engine, I must admit.

If you get time to search the MCM Forum there was a W.I.P. topic way back that shows my attempted hybrid build, part diecast and part plastic.

David W.

[Perspect Scale Modelworks]

I figured before I went any further, it might be a good idea to strip the paint from the body and interior. I don't remember what paint I used but it sure was tough to get off. After a week soaking in the purple pond, the paint only faded but would not come off. I bought a fresh yellow can of Easy-Off which took two rounds of about 2 days each, to strip the paint. After all of that I still had to sand a few spots. There's still some fine tuning to be done before I shoot some primer and see what I have.

The interior may need another shot of Easy-Off.

Edited October 31 by Perspect Scale Modelworks
Spelling

[Perspect Scale Modelworks]

On 10/18/2025 at 10:29 AM, Anglia105E said:

Hi J. Gibbs . . . Yes, if you need an engine later then I can let you have one. This inline 6 cylinder engine is for the cars built between 1955 and 1959, which is the Silver Cloud I . . . The cars built between 1960 and 1962 had the V8 engine, which is the Silver Cloud II and then between 1962 and 1966 was the Silver Cloud III that also had the V8 engine, and double twin headlamps.

I have previously tried cutting up the interior seating tub from this kit, when I was attempting to build a hybrid model car that was partly a diecast Franklin Mint model, and partly the plastic model . . . That build never did get finished. The Franklin Mint diecast version is very good actually, as it represents a 1955 Silver Cloud I with a nicely detailed inline 6 cylinder engine. That diecast engine is much better than my 3D printed engine, I must admit.

If you get time to search the MCM Forum there was a W.I.P. topic way back that shows my attempted hybrid build, part diecast and part plastic.

David W.

I may just go curbside on this one. Sourcing or scratch building an accurate V8, along with all the body and interior work to be done, may make this a lifetime project. I'll take a look at the Franklin Mint die cast to see if there any parts I can use.

Thanks.

[Anglia105E]

10 hours ago, Perspect Scale Modelworks said:

along

 

10 hours ago, Perspect Scale Modelworks said:

I may just go curbside on this one. Sourcing or scratch building an accurate V8, along with all the body and interior work to be done, may make this a lifetime project. I'll take a look at the Franklin Mint die cast to see if there any parts I can use.

Thanks.

Many of the model builders on MCM Forums have not used the crude representation of a V8 engine that is included in this Silver Cloud kit, and they have usually sealed the bonnet panels in the closed position for that reason . . . I think you may have arrived at the best decision !

David

[Big Messer]

16 hours ago, Perspect Scale Modelworks said:

I may just go curbside on this one. Sourcing or scratch building an accurate V8, along with all the body and interior work to be done, may make this a lifetime project. I'll take a look at the Franklin Mint die cast to see if there any parts I can use.

Thanks.

If you feel courageous enough to take apart the Franklin to make a copy of the engine...

[Perspect Scale Modelworks]

5 hours ago, Big Messer said:

If you feel courageous enough to take apart the Franklin to make a copy of the engine...

The Franklin's are 1955, I6, so that wouldn't work for the Silver Cloud II. But, there's always this option:

 

However, I should be able to use the grill, lights, bumpers, and door handles from the Franklin if I can snag one at a reasonable (low) price.

[Perspect Scale Modelworks]

Getting somewhere. Still a lot to clean up especially on the right side.

[Bugatti Fan]

Minicraft, Entex and Revell have been mentioned as more readily available sources for this kit.  I seem to remember that they are all reissues of a very crude old Hubley kit.

Interesting to see what will be made of this kit during this extensive conversion.

[Perspect Scale Modelworks]

I was able to find a Franklin Mint diecast on ebay for a very good price since it wasn't in primo  condition.

I'll use this as a parts car for the lights, grille, and door handles. The interior parts should really help out. The seats and dash are much better than the Entex parts.

[Perspect Scale Modelworks]

The engine, frame, and under carriage of the Franklin are very well detailed so I'd like to use these parts. 

Unfortunately the wheelbase is a bit longer than the Entex.

So i dismantled the chassis and I'll move the rear axle forward a bit once i figure out how.

[Big Messer]

I am reworking a 1904 Mercedes from Franklin. Shortened the chassis, epoxied the two parts and made a brass plate attached with 1 mm screws on the top of the chassis. The interior floor will hide it.

[Perspect Scale Modelworks]

28 minutes ago, Big Messer said:

I am reworking a 1904 Mercedes from Franklin. Shortened the chassis, epoxied the two parts and made a brass plate attached with 1 mm screws on the top of the chassis. The interior floor will hide it.

What did you use to cut the chassis?

[Big Messer]

1 hour ago, Perspect Scale Modelworks said:

What did you use to cut the chassis?

A dremel. A jeweler's saw with a fine tooth blade will work also.

[Anglia105E]

I am finding your work on this Franklin Mint donor car very interesting, and all of this looks very familiar to me . . . One other part that caught my attention was the radiator grille shell, which is larger ( taller ) on the diecast model than it is on the styrene kit car versions . . .

I agree with you, in that the engine and chassis underside parts are more nicely detailed than the plastic equivalents, so well worth using if you can.

These Franklin Mint Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud model cars can be picked up sometimes on Ebay for reasonable prices, when they have parts missing or are in poor condition generally . . . It feels somehow wrong to be dismantling such a fine model motor car. but if it creates a whole new model like your drophead version, then I think this is justified at the end of the day.

David W.

[Big Messer]

20 minutes ago, Anglia105E said:

It feels somehow wrong to be dismantling such a fine model motor car....

A diecast, like a plastic kit, is just a collection of parts intended to be displayed as the manufacturer intends. Unfortunately I see them as a bunch of parts to be rearranged in whatever way my cooked brain sees fit. As an added benefit every time I make a conversion the resale value of the rest of the production run will raise by a few cents.  😀 😀