Jaguar XKE Coupe - By Monogram

[Fletch]

Just about anything from Jaguar catches my eye, but I am most fond of the XKE. When painted and maintained properly it's a car that looks fast even when it's parked. Over the years there have been several issues of the XKE from different manufactures. Some good others not so good. This is the story of one of those not so good releases.

The 1978 Monogram Jaguar XKE, molded in white (about the only +) with way to much chrome and casting sink marks that would make a mold maker want to start drinking.

I did the initial clean-up that allowed the lower front and rear pans to be attached to the body and the hood. After gluing the pieces together I went looking for mold parting lines and sink marks.

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Needless to say there is a significant amount of body work to be done on this build. The up side is I now have a place to use the wire wheels from the parted out Tamiya Jaguar Salon sitting on the shelf out in the garage.

Stay tuned, More to come.

Edited March 17, 2010 by Fletch

[Modellpularn]

I guess you already know this is an old Aurora kit, and they used to be molded in red.

[Ken]

I don't have this one, but I have two of the 'Shaguar' release, which I believe is based off this molding. I look forward to watching this thread. Good luck with the clean up.

[Eshaver]

Hans , thank you for bringing up the fact that the jaguar was an old Auroura kit ! i suspected this kit as I helped a friend of mine assemble thai very same kit back in 1965....? Yes , his was red too.

Fletch , ya got paticence there .......... I must applaude you over you perserverence and stamana ! You need an award for going to the trouble to try and massage all the " Parking lot dings " out of that body ! Ed Shaver

[Fletch]

I guess you already know this is an old Aurora kit, and they used to be molded in red.

Yes Sir, I was aware of the Aurora connection and that it has been molded in red, silver and white and I have no idea how many other colors. I have built the the Monogram red and silver releases in the past and the bodies were no where as bad as this one molded in white. The other color versions had the sink marks around the rear pans and the extremely deep parting lines running down the hood etc but not nearly as bad as this one. The hood on this particular casting has to be the worst of any of the 2 previous build with sink marks in the center as well as down the sides. The appropriate pieces will get removed from the chrome tree and the rest will get stripped and painted as the build progresses.

I'm looking forward to getting this one completed so I can get to the Heller 1/24th scale version waiting on the stack. I'm working on getting the Heller race version. It has some interesting twists in it's construction from the street car.

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If you're building just for the sake of building the Monogram/Aurora 1/25th scale version will expand your skills for doing body work where the Heller 1/24th scale version will give the proper shape and proportions.

Back to the sanding and filling.

[sjordan2]

My heart goes out to you for having to deal with some of the worst sink marks and clunky detailing (such as the gas tank lid) I've ever seen, outside of my Aurora Maserati 3500 GT – the sink marks on its chrome bumpers are unbelievable. Very uneven quality on those old Aurora-tooled kits.

[stevebarry]

Those early series 1/ series 1 1/2 FHCs are by far the prettiest of the E Types. The Heller kit is one I'm vaguely familiar with, but I haven't seen the Monogram. Hope it goes well for you, I'd like to see this one built.

[sjordan2]

I don't know this kit, but I have one observation that goes with every single XKE kit I've ever seen, including the 1/8 version and the favorite one I've built, the original Revell 1/25 roadster: The chrome headlight surrounds are always too thick and need thinning out, perhaps in the inside diameter. This one little detail makes a huge difference.

[Junkman]

I don't have this one, but I have two of the 'Shaguar' release, which I believe is based off this molding. I look forward to watching this thread. Good luck with the clean up.

Nope, they are not related. The Shaguar is the old Revell E-Type Roadster. Contrary to the Monogram, nee Aurora, coupe here, it has a fairly accurate bonnet, errr...hood. I find the Aurora hood way too 'stubby', resulting in incorrect headlamp angles. The best thing to do is mate the Revell hood with the Aurora body.

The Heller coupe needs to be chopped a scale inch or so - the roof sits too high.

[Monty]

I've got this Revell thing sitting in my "rainy day" stack. It has ejector pin marks on everything - shocks, radiator, you name it. I don't mind doing "prep work" but this one will require a week's worth of fill-file-and-shape drudgery before I even get started building it.

Just thought of a new term for kits like this - Glue virgin!

[Fletch]

I've got this Revell thing sitting in my "rainy day" stack. It has ejector pin marks on everything - shocks, radiator, you name it. I don't mind doing "prep work" but this one will require a week's worth of fill-file-and-shape drudgery before I even get started building it.

Just thought of a new term for kits like this - Glue virgin!

Monty, for as bad as the Revell Roadster version is believe it or not this one is probably worse. I have a couple of the Revell Roadsters and they are better overall then the Aurora/Monogram Coupe.

What I find amazing is how many of us have a version the XKE, either Coupe or Roadster, sitting in our "Someday" stack. Perhaps, we should turn this into a CBP, after all misery loves company.

[Junkman]

Perhaps, we should turn this into a CBP, after all misery loves company.

*ohnosecond*