1/32 Airfix World War One B Type Bus "Old Bill"

[sunray]

Looks superb.

If I was being super critical (and this is from the point of view of an armchair modeller, who certainly couldn't replicate such a model himself!), I'd say your handwriting is a bit modern for early 20th century. The style was much looser in those days- as someone who reads old documents for a living I find British handwriting circa 1890-1910 the hardest to read! The 'Merry Christmas' is most certainly a convincing early 20th century hand. Excellent!

Chalking large letters and numbers on vehicles would be a common thing for working people in the Edwardian period. On the railways for example, most goods wagons received chalked marks indicating the contents, destinations, weights. Photos from the time show quite perfect calligraphic handwriting used for this sort of thing- you'd pay a fortune for a graphic designer to do the same for you today!!

I doubt anyone would notice on a model though...

The white gel pens work well- I'll be nicking that idea!

Good luck on the final stretch. Will you be weathering/ placing in a diorama?

Will

Thanks Will. I know what you mean about the handwriting. I was more worried about making a mistake to be honest and writing a raised surface I found it quite awkward. I tried to do it it different handwriting so it doesn't look done by the same hand but the "Merry Christmas" is actually how I write now.

I have tried 3 different makes of gel pen and the Pentel is the one I used as the others put the gel ink down a bit too thick. The other thing is that went I used them I found you have to write faster than normal or again the gel ink goes down too thick giving raised text, if you know what I mean.

You are right I am doing the weathering now but it will be just going on an oak base as I normally do.

Thanks again Will for the comments which are most appreciated.

[Gremlin56]

Looking good, will you be putting a wash over the slogans to tone down the white a bit?

[sunray]

Looking good, will you be putting a wash over the slogans to tone down the white a bit?

Gremlin you are spot on the money. I got in from work and I decided to crack on with the bus. I made the lenses for the lights from a thin clear plastic container and two different hole punches which were then glued in position with Roket Card Glue. Then I made a stencil from Tamiya Tape of a number "1" and sprayed it on the front, back and sides with white paint. Before I started the weathering I gave the bus a few coats of Klear then I used a home made oil wash over the whole of the bus. When I was happy with that I used Flory Models Sand Clay Wash for the dried mud effect on the upper, stairs and rear platform. I also did a touch of clipping on the handrails with Hobby Color Brass Buffable Metal Paint. To tone down the white a touch more I used a Vallejo wash and finally for the rust effects I thought I would try Humbrols Enamel Wash, finishing off with a pencil to highlight one or two metal edges. Anyway here are a few photo's to show you the results of my tired bus.

I haven't quite finished as it needs a coat of flat varnish to finish.

[Alpha Delta 210]

You have created an amazingly realistic model from this old kit. I love it!

[Ozzy]

That looks fantastic, nice job.

[Gremlin56]

That is a really beautiful build. Great job done Ian, I need another kit in the stash like I need a new hole in the head but this build is really tempting.......................

Cheers mate

[Nomore Shelfspace]

Absolutely excellent! I remember this characterful old kit well. My dad built one as the LGOC version, and I later converted one into a lorry...

[sunray]

Thanks everyone for all the kind comments and advice that made this build a pleasure to do. Here is the link to the final reveal photo's.

http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235002868-the-bus-that-went-to-the-great-war/

There are a few more photo's there and I hope you don't get too bored looking at more photo's of my bus.

[Max Headroom]

This is wonderful. Never seen one of these built and you holding it in one photo gives scale.

Your attention to detailing shines through.

Trevor

[Tomoshenko]

Just caught up with this build. Fantastic workmanship, tutorial and thoroughly enjoyable.

[HattyDamp]

Hi...i am a new user here. As per my knowledge the style was much looser in those days- as someone who reads old documents for a living I find British handwriting circa 1890-1910 the hardest to read! The 'Merry Christmas' is most certainly a convincing early 20th century hand.Chalking large letters and numbers on vehicles would be a common thing for working people in the Edwardian period.

[krow113]

Well done!

[sunray]

7 hours ago, HattyDamp said:

Hi...i am a new user here. As per my knowledge the style was much looser in those days- as someone who reads old documents for a living I find British handwriting circa 1890-1910 the hardest to read! The 'Merry Christmas' is most certainly a convincing early 20th century hand.Chalking large letters and numbers on vehicles would be a common thing for working people in the Edwardian period.

 

Thanks Hatty, the worrying thing about it is, that is actually my normal handwriting.  I know what you mean though and thanks for the post which is most appreciated.

 

 

4 hours ago, krow113 said:

Well done!

 

Thanks.  The finished article can be seen at http://www.britmodeller.com/forums/index.php?/topic/235002868-the-bus-that-went-to-the-great-war/& and also Airfix did an article on the build which can be seen at http://www.airfix.com/uk-en/news/workbench/new-b-17g-artwork-takes-inspiration-from-the-past/