activexp Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 Having never built an all white metal kit before I had no idea what to expect. Would the castings be rough and require a lot of cleaning up? Would the fit be poor with vague placements? None of these concerns apply to this kit from SE Finecast, in fact I'd say that the engineering quality is equal to mainstream injection moulded plastic kits. The only problem I experienced was the fit of the bonnet, but I've had that problem with plastic kits too. A little about the car. Powered by a four cylinder 4.5L engine developing 100 BHP at 2800 RPM, capable of 85 MPH and considered to be one the best of the early sports cars. No decal are supplied in the kit. The number plates are made up from some left over from another build. No headlight lenses either. I had to cut them out from a small sheet of clear acetate (supplied in the kit), not easy. The same goes for the split windscreen. Thanks for looking, Steve 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
triumphfan Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 Steve, you have done a wonderful job of that old white metal kit. Some of the SEF kits are really knocking on in years now. Frankly, I am surprised so many of the moulds are still usable. I know a lot of the current catalogue is not available (shown by the £0.00 on the price list) I have built a few of the race car kits and find the change in media quite refreshing. Good to hear your build did not give you any trouble, judging by the result. Nice colour combination as well, good stuff. Atb, Steve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activexp Posted July 28, 2017 Author Share Posted July 28, 2017 Thanks Steve, much appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 That's a really nice model and not something you see every day! But imagine doing 85 in one of those...!! Keith 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activexp Posted July 28, 2017 Author Share Posted July 28, 2017 The stopping distances must have been horrendous Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmatthewbacon Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 Very nice build indeed, and a great car. I have a couple of SE Finecasts in the stash, and they do look very nicely detailed and well engineered. I might dig out the SS100. Talking of stopping, isn't the 30/98 one of those early Vauxhalls that only had wheel brakes on one set and some kind of friction brake on the prop-shaft? I'm sure i read a hair-raising tale of driving one across Europe in Octane a couple of years back... Lovely job! best, M. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activexp Posted July 28, 2017 Author Share Posted July 28, 2017 Yeah, rear drums and a transmission brake. Good job traffic was light in those days! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arachnid Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 Nearly as bad as the Buggati on brakes eh ?,nice model👍 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scratchbuilder Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 Nothing's as bad as a Bugatti on brakes. He was scared the front brakes would rip the axle clean off the springs which, with great elegance and little engineering accumen, went through holes in the axle! In fact by standards of the time the Vauxhall stopped as well as it went, which was a lot better than the 3 Litre Bentley of many years later. So nice to see one of Dave Ellis's kits being made. I have an old chum who Dave reckons is the only customer for any of these w/m kits he has in any one year! They are so full of soul compared with the perfect "so what" plastics, none of which cover these lovely subjects. Dave has the masters, but has to decide if it's worth making another mould for something he may sell one of in a year! He's also looking to retire soon. He may sound 35 on the 'phone, but he's over 70 now! Don't forget these are the original AutoKits from Auto Models of Finsbury Pavement, London in the 60s. They were always cast by Wills Finecast, the metal side of which was then bought by Dave (South Eastern Finecast) years ago. Nice job too. Martin 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Killingholme Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 Nice job! Was there even anywhere in the UK you could get a car up to 85mph in 1920...?! Sounds terrifying. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmatthewbacon Posted July 28, 2017 Share Posted July 28, 2017 Brooklands? ;-P M 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jo NZ Posted July 30, 2017 Share Posted July 30, 2017 Nice build! Before you put in the cabinet, I'd suggest making a couple of blocks to support the model. The white metal is a little soft, and after a couple of years the suspension will sag. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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