vindicareassassin

Ian does do some full kits, most of them are upgrades of Airfix kits, this is a new test venture aimed at both the modeler and the Wargamer, hense my attempts to scratch build an Austin K6 and re-do these cabs into 1/72 scale so its not just the aircraft diorama builder buying them, there will of coarse be a whole selection of bodies that can be used by both camps of followers Having never built an IBG QL I could neither confirm or deny that my new Airfix based cab will fit the IBG chassis.... though I'm sure it could be made to fit by a semi skilled model maker

Ah, now, a subject all of its own..... the new Airfix kits wheels are actually bang on 1/74 scale, so cover both the 1/72 and 1/76 scales..... unless your going to cry over half a millimeter either way. The old trick of replacing the naff kit wheels with the AECs is ok in only 1 respect..... the wheel is the right size in diameter, the tyre is massive, even in real life an AEC tyre is 3inches bigger in width than a QLs, thus making it scale completely wrong for the purpose they were being used for.... And the squashed spring thing is dross, if you compare the new over the old springs they're very near identical, what everyone should of been doing was infact raiding their Quad kits for the wheels, as the Quad used the same size wheel and tyre as the QL

It depends on who does the pattern making for what, I bought several Bedford OYs from Milicast hoping they would be scale corrected only to be disappointed to find them to be very detailed Airfix sized cabs, fear not though, its on my "to-do" list to make a corrected pattern after the K6 cab and chassis is finished (see my other thread for details of that project),....... It would take a trained eye and alot of research to notice the QL cab discrepancies, and as I've now looked at 1000s of QL pictures and plans in the lead up to doing my QL conversions it took me over a dozen completed models before I realise the size issues, sadly Airfix are renowned for the issue of bad and mixed scales and I should of known better to look harder, sooner..... Never mind, soon you will all be able to benefit from my findings with these new cabs..... ATB Sean

I certainly hope so, in regards the IBG kit someone has started casting an upgrade kit for it comprising a new cab front, a couple of fuel tanks, if I remember correctly new wheels also cuz the IBG kit parts aren't the bestest either ATB Sean

Proper 'aansome!! ATB Sean

Ok lads I'll see about getting some more pics up for you all, I'm a bit busy this weekend with family stuff but I'm sure I can get on it during the week ATB Sean

Yes mate, it's a well know fault with the Airfix OY cab, you can actually fit the Airfix cab inside the 1/76 RTI OY cab its that small, all Milicast has done is detail up an Airfix cab so they are still mind numbingly small, I suppose its ok if all your using is Airfix and Milicast for your dioramas but as soon as you stick someone else's OY in there the size issue is very apparent

fear not, It's on the "to do" list with the exception that mine will be 1/72 scale and not 1/87th like Airfix and Milicast

Go check out the 2 posts I did earlier and all will be revealed

She's coming along nicely there mate

I dare not mate, I sure I'd go quite mad trying the make the threads onto 1/24 scale bolts so it was that little bit more "real"

Thanks Ian, I couldn't possibly say but I would suspect so yes, first body requests are the GS with separate Tarpaulin cover and the wireless body that are currently in Ians range for the Airfix K6, the list of bodies these used are huge so I suspect it may grow beyond the obvious ones like the crew bus and CO2 fire tender that everyone else seems to have on their stock list. Sean

This is a special commission build for Ian at Wee Friends Models, It will be a complete rolling chassis and cab for which there will be a variety of back bodies made available in kit form. The request was for a brand new scratch built master of an Austin K6 in 1/72 scale, using original chassis drawings I prepared a GS length chassis, there will also be different chassis lengths made to accommodate some of the back bodies.... Once that was done it was on to the hard bit.... The cab... this is my first ever attempt at anything quite so ambitious so I was a little daunted at the prospect of having to scratch-build one of the hardest cab shapes.... This was my first attempt at it..... The yellow resin cab behind is a Road Transport Images Austin K3 cab in 1/76 that sports the same crew cab as a K6 and is what I started to use as a reference for cab roof shaping..... And with a part built Airfix Austin K6 cab from their Rescue set also used as a shaping reference.... It was while I was looking at this image that I had a "Eureka " moment..... To make the cab easier and faster to make why not use the Airfix cab as a Vac-Form mould??.... With it being 1/76th scale and my requirement was for 1/72 it made sense to use the smaller as a former to make the bigger..... And so..... I set about making a Vac-form machine out of my mould making Vacuum chamber and pump..... I then converted the Airfix cab into a mould block, and got forming, to get the thickness of plastic and also build up the scale I had to laminate repeated layers of plasticard on top of one another, after my third attempt at it I came out with this..... A bit of shaping went on using a file, sanding sticks and needle files to get this..... And with its first test shot of primer to show up pits, blemishes and faults..... during this project I also invested in some new machinery to make like a little easier, not knowing how much actual use it would get I bought the cheap copy of the Unimat1 6in1 tool, so far its been a god send, although the 3 jaw lathe chuck was total poop straight out the box, literally seizing solid on me the first time I used it, no big drama as I now use a Dremel arbor to hold wheels,...... here I have it set up as a milling machine to face up the windscreen angles...... Yet more shaping and sanding..... Things moved on quite quickly after that, here it sits in its second test shot of grey primer to show up the blemishes, and now also windows are cut in and shaped, the engine and radiator are fitted and in the last few pics the start of the interior base plate that will also locate the cab to the chassis..... Stay tuned for more, which will include the radiator grill and engine covers, and then the chassis and suspension..... ATB Sean

So after building over a dozen Bedford QLs now from Airfixs' 1/76 scale kits I came to notice some oddities with the scaling of the cab while doing my research for back bodies. Turns out the old Airfix QL is actually closer to 1/72 scale in height but 1/76th in width, yet the new QLs cab is nearer 1/72 scale in width and closer to 1/76 in height. So I've taken them both and started to make a corrected one and obviously with a scale increase there is a need to correct the chassis for scale as well..... On to the pics...... And while I was at it I thought it almost rude not to make a Ford WOT 6/8 cab as well..... Now the thing is the wheel base is very similar to several other 3 Ton trucks, so there are plans a foot to also produce cabs of them also at some point in the future, so stay tuned.... There is also a chance that Ian at Wee Friends Models will take them on as kits once a couple are finished.... ATB Sean

Thankyou David, This time, having learnt my mistake with the SWB wires I used .4mm copper wire, much easier to work with, though much easier to bend when handled wrongly Thanks to all for the positive feedback ATB Sean

Finished this today..... 1/76 Airfix Thornycroft Amazon, with Coles MkVII crane, Long wheelbase conversion And the 2 side by side...... ATB Sean

................... ATB sean

Ah, but will yours have an engine in it though??? .... I think he's aiming for end of February, so there's your time scale to work on..... You never know, I might have mine done by then too. ATB Sean

Thanks mate, If you look a little closer its actually threaded, I made it by winding copper wire around a wire core, it's just not obvious in the photos as the thread is so fine. ATB Sean

Short wheel bases nearly all came with a deck with a frame around it like a roof rack on their roof, it was common practice for crews to remove the frame to allow for better visability and not interfere with the boom on full depression over the cab front, but leave the deck on as it wasn't in the way, Long wheel bases pretty much all came with a normal roof with a hip ring in.

Sadly mate I dropped it while painting the crane and bent the wires, as I made them out of steel wire its nye on impossible to get them back straight again now.... Lesson learned, I'll be making the LWB out of copper wire so its easier to work with

As per title..... Short Wheel Base Airfix 1.76 scale Thornycroft Amazon with Coles MkVII crane, Pre/Very early war paint scheme, Milicast Figure ATB Sean

SWB is now finished, new thread in Ready for Inspection.... ATB Sean

You, sir, are one lucky bunny!! And yes, every likely hood a war vet as they stopped making them in 1939 if I remember correctly!

Build finished on the SWB.... Paint is on but no glass yet, will wait till it's done before the big reveal..... Work on the LWB has slowed somewhat as I'm currently doing this Master as a commission for Ian at Wee Friends Models as a prospective new kit..... ATB Sean