Every so often I’ll get obsessed with a particular modelling subject and buy lots of kits, most of which may never get made (by me at least). A couple of years ago, whilst writing a “propellerpunk” sci-fi tale, I got loads of models of less well known planes- prototypes which never made it into production, Luft46 fantasies, that sort of thing. I’ve still got the flying wing, and that may yet get built, but most of the rest have gone the way of EBay.
My new obsession is 1:32nd scale model cars. They don’t take up too much space and they come in some interesting subjects. Arii do some cool Japanese retro vehicles, though I have to find them on EBay as it seems no-one in the UK stocks them. Airfix did an equally interesting range of British vehicles. But they’re mostly out of production now, and the rarer ones can get a bit pricey.
These resin slot car bodies by Pendle Slot Racing may be a source of interesting British classics to customise, if I ever work my way through the backlog I’ve already got. The bodies are £20-£40 each, it’s true, and I’d have to provide chassis and interior detail, but I could have fun creating a very British custom car meet with a few of them.
Or I could buy myself a Scalextric track, build them for their intended purpose and re-enact chases from The Sweeney and The Professionals with them.
This was the project I set myself after watching all those banger racing videos on Tuesday. Build an old school banger to sit in a corner of some model railway layout just waiting to go out in metal rending glory.
This is what I started with. A 1:76th (OO) Rover 100 by Base-Toys. Their not the most detailed models out there, but the Base-Toys vehicles have the advantage of being held together with screws rather than rivets. This makes taking them apart to work on so much easier. Oxford Diecasts do this as well, and the Corgi Trackside cars I picked up this week, it makes modding them so much easier.
See what I mean.
The first job was the interior. Like any racing car the Rover would have had its interior stripped out and a roll cage added. Seats were removed with a saw, though the driver’s was glued back in after having masking tape seatbelts added. In future I’ll use a Sharpie to make the tape black before doing this. The roll cage was made from solder, bent to shape and super-glued down. After this picture was taken I added some more detail, a gear lever and fire extinguisher. Looking at my pictures from the banger racing I should have added a fuel tank. Another thing to remember for next time.
Before painting I took my rotary tool to the body to remove details like the radiator grille and door handles and also to gouge a few dents and pre-existing bangs. I forgot to take a picture before painting the body. Citadel foundation colours were used, red and blue, whilst the wheels got some matt black.
My small selection of transfers supplied variations on number 32, so that’s what the car became.
Ready to rumble. One day I may make a whole race meeting worth of bangers, but for now this one can be yours.
Here’s some interesting finds on eBay. Soviet era Russian models, of British cars. The Bulgarian seller has listed three 1:18th scale car kits- a Vauxhall of some type, a Jaguar E Type and an Austin Morris. It seems odd that the Soviets would want to make models of Western vehicles, particularly such decadent items as an E Type. The models came with an electric motor, though not all three listed still have theirs. I must resist the temptation to bid and find out more.
I have a modelling table in the living room, next to the computer desk, but I don’t do enough modelmaking. Shows like this, and the high standard of the entries, both inspire me and make me despair of ever being making anything that good. Nonetheless, I bought some models, including the AMT ’49 Ford I’ve been wanting. The AMT and MPC re-releases through Round 2 Models are hard to get in this country (the Polar Lights and Star Trek stuff less so, much of it is stocked by my local model shop), so it’s nice to find. My 3d modelling this afternoon shall be customising kit suitable for the ’49 and similar models.
A few links follow, clubs and companies who were there-
Model Design Construction do a lot of resin and brass upgrade parts for aircraft in 1:48th and 1:32nd. I bought some rockets and machine guns for future road warrior style vehicles. They also have a range of figures and busts which look good. This robot is a modified version of one of their products.
I linked to the full size bike designs of Olli Erkilla on Two Wheels Good. But if you look at his website you’ll find lots of other cool stuff. The Digital Art section has lots of cool customs, mostly based on the good old 2CV. I’m a fan of the Traction Avant coupe shown above, and I have an old Matchbox kit I can make up like it.
The Jalopy Journal is an online car magazine specialising in more traditional rods and customs. It also has a busy forum for you to dive into, so you shouldn’t be lacking inspiration.
I’m currently working on a 1960s Camaro to go with the Post Apocalypse Pony. If I find a 70s/80s version of the model maybe I can make it looks like this.
I’ve not put any bullet proof plating on the cars I’ve built so far, and that would be an obvious addition.
If, like me, you’ve got a couple of the reissued Airfix vintage car kits from a couple of years go these vintage racing pictures could giveyou some conversion ideas.
I recently got, from Ebay, this kit of a BMW Dixi.
The Dixi was basically an Austin 7 made under licence in Germany. I’m thinking of turning it into a rod, so this post about hotrod Austin 7s was interesting. I may use some of the stuff available from Scale Link in 1:24th, which includes a Rover V8, the quintessential british rodding motor.
I completed the rat rod T bucket a few weeks ago, but have only just got the photos uploaded.
The engine wiring is fairly basic, just the wires going to the spark plugs, no fuel or coolant lines. The exhaust pipes are aluminium tubing trimmed and superglued to the block, a bit more realistic than the plastic pipes that came with it.
The interior is basic. I didn’t add any extra detailing. All the gauges are sporting a very ratty black on black look.
The fuel tank is a drop tank, probably 1:72nd, from the spares bin.
And here’s the T from the side. I’m looking for interesting new ways to display my models, this one’s going to be mounted in a picture frame, so it can be stood on someone’s desk like a photo of the family.
There are a few more photos of the build in the Ratty T set.
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