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Belkits 1/24 Escort Mk.1 1970 London-Mexico World Cup Rally, Mikkola/Palm


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On 2/10/2017 at 7:32 PM, Nick Belbin said:

Adds some nice depth that does 👍

 

Nick

Thanks, it's the nice thick plastic that helps!

 

I've been busy making a new co-driver's/navigator's seat to match the driver's, much laminating layers of plasticard, filing and carving and I'm nearly there. The primer coat now shows the areas I need to address more clearly and so a bit more filing and filling should do the trick. I also took the opportunity to add the backrest brackets and rake adjuster knobs. Pity mine looks post 16,000 miles and the kit one looks brand new!

 

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Do you think I'm a branch of DFS? :D I have distressed the kit seat to match. Now I'm thinking this is another item to add to the box of cast bits ;)

Most of the other kit parts have had a coat of primer so with summer arriving in a couple of days I can get a top coat on. 

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Just realised something was wrong with the dash...too many holes. This car has one of the navigators instruments mounted above the heater controls on a stand-off bracket and the other is centrally mounted in the binnacle ahead flanked by a couple of bulldog clips, probably for pace notes. On the centre console there are 2 aux instruments to add too.  I also forgot with only one C pillar fuel filler there was no need for the pipe inside, another hole to fill. There's also what looks like a washer fluid bottle in the passenger footwell - do I bother with it? Note to self 'Stop reading books'.

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Thanks.

As mentioned the kit seat has been distressed to match. Today I made a start on the larger Halda unit and brackets for the dash and I've been experimenting with Plastikote Enamel Gloss Varnish Hobby Spray, available from The Range other colours/finishes are available, and no doubt from other outlets. It's half the price of the equivalent Humbrol rattle cans and says it dries in 3 hours, the latter not quite true. I gave the floorpan [best to try something out of sight] two medium mist coats, with about 10 minutes between, over Halfords white primer and it's being left overnight. Tomorrow I will apply another couple of coats. I'll post a before and after comparison photo once done. 

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A little more progress today interrupted by sorting out Minilite Wheels & Tyres and some 'Panasport' style ones too. Anyway I've made the larger Halda Twinmaster and bracket for the dash centre, just need to find some decals for the mileage readouts, and added the bracket for the Speedmaster along with the two Bulldog clips which sit to each side in the r/h binnacle. Also tried to add some tonal difference to the dash areas but I need some satin varnish to complete this. The seats have also had a coat of paint and the backs need a satin coat too to replicate vinyl. 

Visiting The Shuttleworth Model Show tomorrow.

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I completely missed the start of this Mark, but I'm all caught up now & have used a goodly portion of my day's supply of likes - some great work so far, looking forward to more!

 

And I've just been perusing your new sets of Minilites - expect another order when next month's modelling budget arrives - February's appears to have disappeared somewhere!

 

Keith

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Thanks Keith, I thought your finger had become welded to the 'Like' button! :D Good to hear the wheels have caught your attention too, I may swap to the 13" x 7 size for this build. 

I wonder if anyone saw the TV footage of the London-Mexico Rally in 'The Cars That Made Britain Great' Channel 5, also featured some other Escort variants?

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17 hours ago, keefr22 said:

And I've just been perusing your new sets of Minilites - expect another order when next month's modelling budget arrives - February's appears to have disappeared somewhere!

 

Keith

 

Eh??? Minilites or Elektrons? Perusing in your hand or somewhere I haven't seen yet??

 

Nick

 

EDIT. Ok just been to your website, Mark, and seen them there. So, are the Panasport Minilites the ones with the front of the spokes 'sharpened'?

 

 

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Nick, that's correct. In the wide world of Minilites by a similar name bur slightly different style that's what they match closest to my eyes. But the Elektrons have the angled transition from rim to centre spoke/hub section as per the AMR car.

Here's a guide to the Ford 4 Spoke wheels to illustrate the name game :think:  http://www.turbosport.co.uk/showthread.php?t=76297

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At last some progress with assembly, but I could have done with another 4 hands due to the fiddly nature of the suspension components.

Firstly if you recall in an early post I was experimenting with Plastikote Varnish, it has not been as successful as I had hoped. After another mist coat followed by a heavier coat it dried slightly grainy. I polished with Farecla G3 and Wax Polish to one flat area which improved the finish somewhat but I'm not wasting time on the floorpan. Unfortunately the photos I took don't show the finish clearly enough to be of use to publish suffice to say I won't be using that method again.

 

Here is a close up of the new shock/spring installed, along with a general view of most of the suspension parts added. And what's with the excessive length of the post on the steering rack that drops into the U shaped hub? I think a plastic washer to secure the post and trim the excess off is needed.

 

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I'm still waiting for something to attack the Belkits chrome surface, 24hrs soaking in bleach removed about 5% in places, I'm now trying Caustic Soda. Belkits chrome could be the hardest surface known to man?

 

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2 hours ago, mbdesignart said:

Nick, that's correct. In the wide world of Minilites by a similar name bur slightly different style that's what they match closest to my eyes. But the Elektrons have the angled transition from rim to centre spoke/hub section as per the AMR car.

Here's a guide to the Ford 4 Spoke wheels to illustrate the name game :think:  http://www.turbosport.co.uk/showthread.php?t=76297

 

That's an interesting thread, shall have a proper read of that later.

 

I have to admit that I was a bit confused by the differing names of your wheels too Mark, I know there have been 'homages' to the 'proper' Minilites almost since they were first made by Tech-del. I didn't realise until I just had a look at their website, just how many variants they produce themselves!

 

Keith

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Keith, yes the different styles of rim and spoke profiles was confusing for me too. Hopefully those in the know will be able to identify which ones they want, if not all :D If you ask 10 people for a photo of a Minilite I bet you get 10 different styles.

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1 hour ago, Nick Belbin said:

So will it strip the copper plate underneath off as well . . .  :popcorn:

Parts are now sitting in a tub of oven cleaner. Not sure how long this stuff will take to work? The bleach did remove down to the plastic for the areas that it managed to work on, but I didn't expect it to make so long. I'll post an update in the morning. 

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