Harry P. Posted March 24, 2014 Posted March 24, 2014 Now that the Wolseley has been put to bed, I need to make a dent in that pile of old Aurora kits. This time I'm doing the 1904 "curved dash" Olds. Similar to the other Aurora kits in the series, but this one is molded all in black (with the usual brass-plated parts, of course): This time I'm going with the color scheme as seen on the box top, and as always, I will be jumping around from one subassembly to another, in reckless disregard of the instruction sheet... As usual, I want posable steering. In fact, in this case I want functional steering (through the tiller, like I did on my Rambler)... so the first thing to do is cut the molded-in spindles free of the axle, and rework the various components to allow for the wheels to steer: The real car has louvers on the back panel, which the model does not have. I didn't have any quarter-round styrene rod on hand, but I did have some half-round. Finally getting that chance to use the arithmetic skills I learned back in 3rd grade, I cleverly deduced that if I split a piece of half-round lengthwise, I wind up with two pieces of quarter-round (and I thought the time spent learning math in school was worthless! )... so now the body has the missing louvers: Much more to come...
sjordan2 Posted March 24, 2014 Posted March 24, 2014 After the brass-era cars, I just wonder what your next obsession will be. But you still have plenty of kits to go, and I'm along for the ride.
Harry P. Posted March 24, 2014 Author Posted March 24, 2014 One of these days I'm going to have to build the two Pocher RRs I have had laying around for literally years now... one half-built, the other completely unstarted.
High octane Posted March 24, 2014 Posted March 24, 2014 Sounds like a good project for you and your new grandchild Harry.
Cato Posted March 24, 2014 Posted March 24, 2014 One of these days I'm going to have to build the two Pocher RRs I have had laying around for literally years now... one half-built, the other completely unstarted. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm-I've only got maybe a decade left Harry; before then????
Harry P. Posted March 24, 2014 Author Posted March 24, 2014 Sounds like a good project for you and your new grandchild Harry. I have a feeling my new grandson will be a grown man before I ever finish those two RRs!
Harry P. Posted March 24, 2014 Author Posted March 24, 2014 I've been doing some internet snooping around, and it turns out the model in the box is a 1903 curved dash Olds, not a 1904. The '03 model had only a band brake on the transmission, no brakes on the wheels. Rear wheel brakes were added in 1904... so since there are no rear brakes in this kit, I'm going to save myself a lot of scratchbuilding time and trouble and just call it a 1903. All curved dash Olds (1901-1905) were basically visually identical apart from different chassis details and a slightly larger engine on later models, so calling this one a 1903 makes sense.
sjordan2 Posted March 24, 2014 Posted March 24, 2014 I vote for your next project to be the Pocher Rolls shooting brake.
Harry P. Posted March 24, 2014 Author Posted March 24, 2014 I vote for your next project to be the Pocher Rolls shooting brake. Definitely one I want to do. It's been in the planning stage for way too long now.
Harry P. Posted March 26, 2014 Author Posted March 26, 2014 The top irons in the kit are wrong... I'll have to scratchbuilt the whole thing. The way the kit parts attach to the seat shell is also wrong, so I had to fill in the indentations with strip styrene... And a little Bondo... One detail missing from all of these Aurora kits is the bolt heads on the fenders that attach the fender brackets. I drilled the fenders and inserted small brass nails to simulate them.
f1ford48 Posted March 26, 2014 Posted March 26, 2014 (edited) Congratulations on your Grandson!!!!! it is good to see a modeler concerned about authenticity on this car as well as all of your subjects. I like the #1 post with the body sanded-looks like a barn find! just was looking through an old AACA magazine and saw a 1900 CDO fitted with hard rubber tires. by the way- EXCELLENT work on the Wolseley-nice colors and different for a change. HEY Skip-let him stay with the Brass cars as long as he wants- he does such Fantastic work!!!!!! Edited March 26, 2014 by f1ford48
Harry P. Posted March 27, 2014 Author Posted March 27, 2014 Well, I got the tiny little body on this "big scale" kit painted, and much of the engine/chassis assembled. At first I thought about masking off the body so I could paint the red trim, but after thinking about it for a while I decided that it would be too much wear and tear on the paint to do it that way. Too many chances of a knife slip, paint bleeding under the masking, scratching the black with all the masking, cutting, unmasking, etc. Instead, I actually hand painted the red trim with a fine tipped brush and red enamel bottle paint. While painting the red trim, I held the body by that "handle" made of wood scraps that I glued to the body before painting.
Old Buckaroo Posted March 27, 2014 Posted March 27, 2014 I really like these old kits you have been assembling and following the progress. And I have always had a soft spot for anything made by Aurora. You also inspired me to cut up the front axle on the Pete I am working on for poseable wheels !
Harry P. Posted March 27, 2014 Author Posted March 27, 2014 I really like these old kits you have been assembling and following the progress. And I have always had a soft spot for anything made by Aurora. You also inspired me to cut up the front axle on the Pete I am working on for poseable wheels ! Posable steering is fairly easy to accomplish on most kits, especially vehicles with straight axles, like older cars and many trucks. Go for it!
Harry P. Posted March 27, 2014 Author Posted March 27, 2014 Talk about getting down to brass tacks. Literally!
Pocherphile Posted March 28, 2014 Posted March 28, 2014 Another master piece from a simple box of parts.......I have this same kit. I was wondering, with your skills will you render the Oldsmobile mark on the shields? I assume this one will get that scratch made top treatment as well. The one thing I find disappointing about this kit, from the research I have done.........should have wire spoke wheels! Rick
Harry P. Posted March 28, 2014 Author Posted March 28, 2014 Another master piece from a simple box of parts.......I have this same kit. I was wondering, with your skills will you render the Oldsmobile mark on the shields? I assume this one will get that scratch made top treatment as well. The one thing I find disappointing about this kit, from the research I have done.........should have wire spoke wheels! Rick I will be doing a scratchbuilt top. The curved dash Olds had wire wheels only in the first two years. After 1902 they went to wooden spoke wheels until end of production.
Harry P. Posted March 28, 2014 Author Posted March 28, 2014 I was wondering, with your skills will you render the Oldsmobile mark on the shields? Find a good photo online, print out to size, and "glue" in place with Future... same way I did the STUTZ badge on the Bearcat I posted recently.
GeeBee Posted March 28, 2014 Posted March 28, 2014 Very nice Harry, I remember seeing one of these taking part in the London to Brighton run a few years ago
Old Buckaroo Posted March 28, 2014 Posted March 28, 2014 Your going to get me hooked on this era of cars. Oh and I was really Impressed with your Stagecoach that I followed a link too. That is my idea of transportation !
lanesteele240 Posted March 29, 2014 Posted March 29, 2014 Harry. I take it that you dont get to worked up when the new releases are anounced every year. ????. I do like your build and you are doing a great job. I did chuckle when you called it a tiller. Reminded me of when baby face told everet to "grab the tilla" in the move Oh brother
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