mbdesignart

A little more progress away from the roof issues. I know the engine and front suspension won't be seen but hey. Applied the correct speedo/fuel/temp decal along with the gearshift label decal and fitted the cab front. Here's the suspension engine subframe assembly suitable weathered. And a couple of shots of the engine. I had to install a larger distributor cap, which needs painting once set, for the plug leads and I see some paint has rubbed off onto the air filter housing. I could go crazy with the other pipework and linkages but this will be all on this engine considering the work I've been doing on the Panigale too.

Some progress on assembling the body parts [just in time for All Hallows' Eve, put that down Igor you'll have someones eye out!]. Unfortunately another couple of poor fit issues have cropped up. The front of the floorpan which butts to the cab front requires sanding to achieve a flush fit with the bulkhead and sides near the footplates. The roof appears to be too wide for the rear door surround. When aligned with the side panels it bellies and creates a large gap around the top panel. When pressed along the profile of the curved panel the ends miss the cab sides. Assembly is not helped by the side panels bowing inwards and only a couple of small locating pips along the top edges of each for alignment. This will either require a van load of filler or a new top panel making.

Finally returned to this, damn aircraft modellers! Anyway I may have said I wasn't going to bother with the interior but I couldn't help myself so out with the weathering stick. I can throw these bits onto the main chassis and attach the cab front and remainder of the body, or do I weather the underneath too where no one will look? Colin, it's French- probably the result of many committee meetings. I've used Tamiya masking sheet on the windows, first use of this so we'll see what the end result is after the top coat. The shiny worn metal areas have not shown up in the photo, but I'm pleased with the seats as they replicate your finest sun baked and worn vinyl.

Just had a quick scan at the Pocher build. Looking at the exhaust I'd expect better parts & fit considering the scale. Don't you think they are a bit like posh Meccano? You could have a proper working Mini Moto for a lot less and probably have more laughs.

What you need is a 4wd trailer Usually the adjuster plate for the towing hitch allows enough height adjustment for trailers. It certainly is a long beast, looking forward to seeing the finished build.

Whilst waiting for some Citroen seats to dry I tried the Humbrol Polished Alu - NO. Found an old tube of 'Rub n Buff', it was pretty dry but worth a try, however it picked up the primer coat enough to give a rough cast effect [must make a mental note of this effect somewhere!] Rubbed the disc down with fine wet & dry and reapplied on a cocktail stick and buffed. This is the finish. I may try Alclad for the front discs as there are many other parts to be finished in this too.

I'd err towards the more matt side of satin for the disc carriers [spokes] and hub. The rivets which link the carrier to the outer disc want to be more chrome finish.

Re the discs it will either be AlClad or, if it's still ok in the tin, some Humbrol Polished Aluminium. It won't be matt, if you look at your bike's brake discs from a distance to match the 1/12 ones that should give you a fair indication of the finish. As for the front mudguard most likely silver as per the PSM bike. I can't see a need for Carbon Fibre on my version of this bike. Build update - pinch bolts and brake cable runs have been added to the trellis swing arm along with more filler and sanding but I'm still not happy with the finish. I'm going to try some Albion Alloys needle files to get into the joints. But I have to leave this, again, for my Citroen H Van build. A case of too many pies, not enough fingers...

No your build is coming along nicely. Is this your first bike build? The good thing is we all improve with practice and the hints, tips and advice we can pick up on from forums like this. Modelling time, some days as much as a couple of hours!

Same kit as you, it's in the WIP list somewhere, look for Paul Smart Replica Homage. There was a Buddy Build for the Panigale but most who signed up for it have gone awol.

Thanks for the comments. I've done a bit more filling and sanding and have decided, before going too much further I need to add a couple of pinch bolts to the back of the hub and whilst I'm at it some cable runs for the rear brake. This may take a while to get around to as I'm busy with last minute jobs for SMW. injidup, I have been eyeing up a Hyperstrada as I have fond memories of a Multistrada I had a while back. There is definitely something about a Ducati...

Good to see another bike builder on the forum. Your build is progressing nicely. I'm building one too only I keep getting diverted by making bespoke parts.

If the 19" rims sit as close to the arches as per the box art it should look, what's the term, wickedly well!

Well I'm past pondering on the trellis frame swing arm and have cracked on with bending, cutting and swearing at bits of plastruct tube and rod. This still needs a lot of work filling, filing and fettling which should keep me quiet. The first pic is one for a Ducati Monster which gave me the basis for my Panigale version.

Thanks for the comments Matt. The seats are a match for the whole van A quick google at 2CV's shows the Ebbro 2CV pick-up seats could be a match for the early H Van?

A bit more progress... The Guinness van has modified openings on the r/h side with top hinged panels and the sliding door runner housing removed, now done on the kit. The kit door has been replaced with one from plasticard and strip frame, I've also reworked the dash to resemble the early version with the squarer speedo and simpler, angular mounting panel, also added some knobs as per reference photos. The lift out panel in the middle of the dash is longer than the kit version and I added a 'proper' handle too. That should be it for mods now back to priming...

Following a bit more research on the interior I came across these images which show different seats than those in the kit. Info suggests these are similar to those in the 2CV, most likely above the subframe. Even though the vans pictured are of the later version [single screen] I wonder at what period these were replaced with the more 'plush' items that Heller have supplied. Given time constraints on my build finish date I doubt I will be replicating these at this time. But it gives you detail hounds something to mull over. .

It's back, the fits & starts Buddy Build! Whilst busy priming my Heller H Van [build post in WIP] I thought I'd may as well as add this to the pile of bits to spray. However, looking at the Paul Smart bike I decided to take a brave pill and attack the fairing. You can see where I have made the cut and this will expose quite a bit of the engine and hopefully reflect my take on the PS bike. The rear corner of the upper section has been rounded off to reflect the stock section above, now for the other side. I'm still also pondering on a trellis frame rear swing arm!! !

Finally I managed to get a quantity of parts primed. I tried Hycote primer which appears to be as good as Halfords but less expensive. Also made a start on the front end, the mix of clear and solid plastic parts. All the windows will need masking both sides before painting, with them being integral to large parts the van parts. I'm going to give the Tamiya masking sheets a go. Also I may replace the sliding side door with plasticard as the real van shows these as flat panels. Once everything is primed it'll be time to shoot some colour.

Roy, Have you a link to the Atalya kit? Thanks Mark

Things are getting more 'interesting'. I decided to complete the front hub/steering assembly, as no painting was possible today, and decided I'd like the front wheels to be steerable. After finding another part misnumbering issue on the instructions [a possible issue for new modellers I bet?] see below, I discovered the steering arm just hangs onto the locating posts on the hubs and can pop off at will. Amusingly these make a brief absence in subsequent build images only to reappear when the chassis is complete. Fortunately there was enough length on the locating post to flatten the top with a hot knife [don't try this at home!] to capture the steering arm, I then cut a sliver of evergreen rod and attached it to the flattened top to mirror the outer diameter of the ring on the steering arm end [see pic which I hope is clearer than my rambling]. I may leave the engine out, either to detail at a later stage or as a time saver. My other thought for the day is why no paint masks for the windows? Given they are clear parts complete with the 'A' posts/windscreen frame and the rear upper door it would have been a worthwhile inclusion in the kit. Gallic shrug anyone?! PS The large curved rod is a support post for painting.

Why do they do it? Hours of fiddly work on the wheel hubs to remove the attachment points to the sprue which are on the rim edge and four per wheel. I'm sure with a bit more thought Heller could have made things easier. I have cut more bits off other sprues and prepped ready for a primer coat but the weather has decided to turn cold and damp, strange for October in the UK.

Thanks for the interest. These are popping up all over the place refurbished into mobile catering vans, campers or as delivery vans for chic boutiques. The museum at Cosford has one as a catering van. There are at least a couple of importers in the UK who are converting them, one is 2CV City in Bradford. This van could fors the basis for many conversions, long wheelbase van, high top, car transporter [there is a previous post about this], etc., so plenty of possibilities from the basic kit. There are some 'interesting' conversions on You Tube, with someone dropping a V6 under the bonnet, given the van's low weight that would be a nice Q Van!

I've decided to make a start on this which I managed to grab before Heller's last 'bit of trouble'. No photos of the spurs as I jumped straight in. This is the scheme it will be finished in, albeit I doubt I will replicate the condition due to the ravishes of time and climate in the Canary Isles, the van's not me! As mentioned I have completed some sub assemblies [see below] and part painting of the interior and other bits will have to be done whilst easy access to the interior is available. The instructions have proved a bit vague regarding exact part fit and some parts have been mislabelled, step 23 should be C3 for instance. Also I have deviated from the Heller assembly guide and fitted the inner arch panels to the van bed prior to one of the outer side panels. There will be some filling required too, I didn't expect such a poor fit considering this is a new tooling. More progress as and when...

'Tecalemit-Jackson', for the Broadspeed Escorts with1.3 litre engines had continuous-flow fuel injection from this company fitted, amongst other modifications according to the WEiD book. I found some info from another forum re this too.