Airfix 1/12 Bentley

[Jim Gibbons]

Great work! The only thing missing is oil oozing from the gasket locations!

[Harry P.]

I've often wondered what you were supposed to do with the motorised version... spinning props on the big aircraft kits makes sense, but putting your huge and expensive model with fragile mudguards on the floor and watching it cruise off sedately into the distance...????

bestest,

M.

I also never got the whole "motorized" model thing. After spending the time and effort to build and detail a model like that, the last thing I would do is turn on the motor and let it fly across the floor!

[Harry P.]

So looking at the diagram Skip posted... apparently there was a small electric motor that was installed within the "engine." Ok, then what? Did the model have an actual operational driveshaft and rear end?

[sjordan2]

So looking at the diagram Skip posted... apparently there was a small electric motor that was installed within the "engine." Ok, then what? Did the model have an actual operational driveshaft and rear end?

After the enclosed motor was discontinued pretty early on in the history of this kit (about 1972), you could order a 3v motor from Airfix. If you look at the instructions, I think the gears hidden inside of the engine (which I threw away) turned a driveshaft that operated the rear differential. Can't remember in detail. May need to take a closer look at the instructions.

[Harry P.]

Here are the instructions:

http://public.fotki.com/drasticplasticsmcc/instruction_sheetsh/instruction_sheets/airfix/airfix-1930-bentley/

It looks like maybe there is a working rear end driven by the electric motor, but I don't see where the batteries go.

[Agent G]

I love this build. It is of a favorite car of mine, and very very well done. That said:

Long long ago, in a galaxy far far away, a Marine Lance Corporal was given a task by his company commander. It had been learned that this young Jarhead was a model builder. Having received "the word" he began building,.........tanks, lots of motorized Tamiya tanks.

Said tanks were then driven across the company area for the fledgling Dragon anti tank gunners to practise sighting on.

See? Motorization does have benefits!

G

[Harry P.]

Step 27, Harry. The batteries hover in space over the model. Do we have to spoon-feed this stuff to you???

[Jim Gibbons]

Electric motor, wiring, and battery box by Lucas? I jest, though; I had a number of A1 VWs with Hella electrics that were as bad as Lucas (though without carbon core wiring.) I got to the point where I could replace a relay plate (fuse box)blindfolded. Can't say I've ever seen this kit motorized.

[sjordan2]

Here are the instructions:

http://public.fotki.com/drasticplasticsmcc/instruction_sheetsh/instruction_sheets/airfix/airfix-1930-bentley/

It looks like maybe there is a working rear end driven by the electric motor, but I don't see where the batteries go.

The batteries go under the rear seat bottom and require special metal contacts, and probably a bit of soldering. Not worth it, in my estimation.

Edited May 10, 2011 by sjordan2

[Joe Handley]

I agree. Even if it had a motor, I wouldn't have used it. But an experience RC modeler might have some fun with it. Nothing like seeing those wire wheels turning to evoke a sense of the real car.

Don't think I'd make it R/C as it just looks like too nice of a kit to do that too (as well as being a bit difficult to place a steering servo), but put a driver (and maybe a mechanic/co-driver) and place it on an appropriately sized treadmill.............

Edited May 10, 2011 by Joe Handley

[Cato]

Good luck, Harry!

It’s hard to find remotely in-scale mesh to replace the wire parts with. If you look at the 1:1 photo Skip found, you can see that the mesh shield for the aeroscreens looks virtually like smoked glass. I have some decorative ribbon which is close, but there’s no way to get it to stay in a specific shape. There’s no metal mesh that has the right ratio of wire diameter to spacing, and believe me, I looked. The closest is something in stainless steel used for some exotic chemistry purpose, but it’s fiendishly expensive.

Well look no further than a cooks kitchen drawer.

I found a round (like a Spaldeen) mesh ball of two clasping halves which the Kitchen Queen tells me is used for suspending spices and herbs in a cooking soup.

It's stainless and the mesh is smaller than the headlight mesh in Matt's photos.

I'm told some strainers for baby food are similarly small.

I may dig out my Bentley and compare them.

[Harry P.]

Well look no further than a cooks kitchen drawer.

I found a round (like a Spaldeen) mesh ball of two clasping halves which the Kitchen Queen tells me is used for suspending spices and herbs in a cooking soup.

It's stainless and the mesh is smaller than the headlight mesh in Matt's photos.

And if you touch it won't the Kitchen Queen be a bit annoyed?

[sjordan2]

Great work! The only thing missing is oil oozing from the gasket locations!

Actually, I did exactly that in my 30-year-old build, with oil leaking from the oil pan gasket!! If I had a display case, I would have put oil drippings under the engine.

[Cato]

And if you touch it won't the Kitchen Queen be a bit annoyed?

The nice thing about kitchen drawers is that it's often difficult to find non-everyday items in there.

At this stage there is very little change in the Hostility Index. It hovers between 10 and 11...

[Harry P.]

The nice thing about kitchen drawers is that it's often difficult to find non-everyday items in there.

At this stage there is very little change in the Hostility Index. It hovers between 10 and 11...

Sounds like a familiar story...

[Cato]

Sounds like a familiar story...

If Scarlett Johansson was flitting around in here, I would NOT be scouring model car forums...

[Jim Gibbons]

Actually, I did exactly that in my 30-year-old build, with oil leaking from the oil pan gasket!! If I had a display case, I would have put oil drippings under the engine.

Now that's the proper way to build an old British car model!