Is my MGB going to be a donk?

[cortinanut]

First attempt at posting photos here--I'm slowly getting back up to speed after being out of the hobby for about 10 years. Here's an Aoshima 1:24 MGB in progress, with the body test fitted to the chassis. The ride height seems too high to me, and I've begun to think the wheels and tires are too big. As the chrome-bumper version of the kit, this should represent an MGB from roughly the late '60s, I think--certainly before the 1:1 car's ride height rose to meet new bumper standards.

Just looking for impressions, input or especially experiences from any others who have built this kit. It has beautifully molded chrome wires with Dunlop tires that read 185SR14 on the sidewall. (I have the exact same tires packaged in an American Satco bag and labeled as 185/60R14.) These sizes should be right in the ballpark for an MGB, if scaled accurately. I don't seem to have anything in the parts bin suitable to try--anyone know of any Minilites on the market in an appropriate size?

Try to ignore all the Novus #2 I failed to polish out of the headlight area!

[vwrabbit]

That's just about typical ride height for the MGB. Maybe off by about scale 1/2".

Love these classic MGs. Look forward to seeing this further along.

Tim

[62rebel]

IIRC; the kit was intended to be able to recreate both eras, and unintentionally they set the ride height at rubber bumper level. i had a '78 that i was backdating to chrome bumper spec and wasn't even concerned with the height difference so much as the unnecessary extra weight of the rubber bumpers. other than your ride height, how is that kit for building?

[hotrod59f100]

Those are cool cars my neibor has 3 of them.

[Peter Lombardo]

I built that exact same kit a few years ago. I built it into a replica of my 1977 MGB. I lowered the suspension on it to mimic the lowered look of my real car. The real car was a rubber bumper car, but was retro fitted back to the chrome bumpers when I restored it, which, in my opinion, is the only way they should be. I opened everything and scratch built the engine and left hand dive dash. I shortened up the front springs, just like I did on the real car and put a spacer block between the rear axle and the springs, which is also the way the real car is lowered. It really wasn’t difficult.

[iBorg]

A tip of the hat....that's a great job with a lot of scratch building.

[cortinanut]

Holy moly what a spectacular build! That's absolutely stunning. I won't be attempting anything on that level, but I may try the same suspension mods you did. Wow.

[Modellpularn]

It looks good, I really like the color! What is it painted with?

[Erik Smith]

Can't give any tips as mine is still in the box. Looks good so far - i'll be watching. These look like really nice kits - in fact, the casting on them is nothing short of fantastic.

[Dr. Cranky]

The real car and the models are beautiful.

Edited February 25, 2012 by Dr. Cranky

[MicroNitro]

I love it!

[cortinanut]

I wound up lowering the suspension as Peter described (thanks for the tips!), and the model is now finished except for an outside rear view mirror. The mirrors that came with the kit are a bullet style and not plated.Virtually all MBG photos I've looked at show a flat-style chrome mirror. I'll come up with one eventually, but for now I'm going to call it finished. Will post more pix in Under Glass--that'll be a first for me!

[Deathgoblin]

Very Pretty! Nice job!

[Peter Lombardo]

Steve, very nice.........it looks great.....it may only be a small relatively inexpensive sports car, but they have great style and yours captures the look perfectly.

[cortinanut]

Thanks so much! This isn't 2% of what you accomplished with yours, Peter, but it helps me feel I'm getting back into the modeling groove. These are such appealing cars, and by this point I think every one has become one-of-a-kind.