Vanroon

A month later. Dulled by drilling and pinning slender front suspension parts only to have them sag badly when under load, I reverted to spending build time finishing off a couple of undocumented stalled kits while pondering how to deal with a flexy front-end on the Opel. I brainstormed and thought about a base with secret props or a set of jack-stands but settled upon using lengths of clear sprue as supports. Dodgy but by using acrylic cement, reversible. Need to correct the wheel alignment caused by the sagging in my repairs. Trimmed to length the props take all the weight off the front wheels, so encouraged I shall try to finish this model by weeks end.

Done, with link.

Not a build article but a notification that Corsairfoxfouruncle proposed a group build for so called "Muscle Cars". I decided to join in and fly the Australian colours by building a biscuit tin Holden. i.e. Aldi in Oz is selling shortbread in decorated tins with Holden "muscle cars" on the lids. The shortbread was lovely and buttery and the tins are great for organising model building tools. I'll likely build the Torana A9X, the white one. Please have a look and if the idea appeals, sign on.

The day after I enrolled in the Muscle Car GB, our local Aldi had shortbread in tins on special for Fathers Day. Now containing modelling tools. A question or several about group building. When does this one start and finish? What protocols for the posting of progress and completed model? I'm familiar with the In Progress type of postings, are we getting a dedicated page with a post each? The shortbread was delicious.

I'll play, Looks like fun. Grant

The 'couple of slow days' blew out to a month it seems. As mentioned, the painting went quite well. I used SMS Insignia White and Super Silver as the finish. Tip of the hat to Germanys' racing colours of the pre-war era. I tried flocking the floor yet again. Mod Podge has proven to be the most successful method for me to date. I tried the decals but they disintegrated into unsalvageable pieces. I was very happy with the ICM chrome parts. Applied a clear gloss enamel coat onto the remaining decals in hope they may stay together during application. They didn't. I substituted some spare R33 Skyline decals for the major instruments. Then the front wheels succumbed to my handling of the assembled vehicle and fell off taking various suspension and steering parts with them. Time to pause for a while. In the interim I attacked a part build Hasegawa DAP Beaufighter 21 which has been living in the 'next' pile. It remains unfinished until painting weather returns but soo close. This week after a dalliance with leatherwork and minor health issues, I drilled and pinned the front-end of the rather handsome Opel together again but it remains delicate. Then the wind swung northerly (warmer) and i lost focus on the Opel. More shortly.

It's a very nice kit to stick together. I'm having a couple of slow days due to 'life' but should have an update tomorrow. The painting went ok but needs detailing and a gloss coat, foil or chrome trim.

Ironically the wheels are glue-on with brake anchors on the front pair.

It really is! Primer, lunch, sanding then painting.

Colour decision made, I wanted a red interior so am running with the warm grey/ivory as in the photo above. Alerted to an anomalous vent window winder location by Britmodeller Jouko I filled the position with some Mr Surfacer 1000 and before it hardened attempted to match the trim contours with a dental tool. A little fine filing once the mess is properly dry and touch-up the colour. That tiny task complete, it was time to assemble the painted chassis, engine and exhaust. That went well with positive locations and glue-points. A little Tamiya color wash goes a long way. Need to add the steering arm, paint and detail the wheels, attach exhaust correctly. I was in two minds as to approaching the painting of the multi-piece body; simply paint each component and assemble later or; assemble the bodywork onto the floor pan which includes engine bay inner guards and exterior rear guards. out with some tape to dry-test fit. It looks so good, i immediately added some thin SMS solvent glue to the boot (trunk) panel. If only mainstream kits were this nice. I was so impressed at the natural fit the side panels/front guards were stuck on, test fitting the seats and door cards to assure myself this wasn’t folly. Panel & door lines are the panel breaks so it all works organically. The fascia cowling and bonnet panels are just loose dry fit in the photo above. This kit is coming along swimmingly. But, that's enough for me today, I'll prep sand the bodywork for primer, hopefully tomorrow.

Thanks for the heads-up on the vent delete Jouko. I shall be sticking with the 4 door configuration. Using similar two-tone colours and I do like the scalloped two-tone paint on the Gläser coachwork.

Thanks for the link Keith. I currently don't have the (laser) printer for such an item but may do in the near future. Appreciated.

Oh, the colours running through my mind atm. I want a Stuart tartan decal for the seats! That fuel leak is to be expected for a 1937 IC automobile. Painting tomorrow (Sunday), the weather has switched from freezing to just cold.

Opel Admiral Cabriolet ICM #24021 Purchased upon its Australian release in 2013, I was deterred from starting this model due to what seemed to me, over complicated multi-part chassis and bodywork. Today, it’s time has arrived. Followed the instructions and put the engine/gearbox together first. Basically the 3.6 litre inline 6 was a Chevrolet, Bedford, Opel truck engine. It came together very nicely. Looks awfully like a Holden ‘grey motor’ too. Followed on and started on the chassis. This went together as easily as the engine, the front axle and suspension was excellent to assemble with good sized pegs/holes or 3 face glueing for all the components. Fitted it and the two piece differential to the chassis then jigged the whole to dry square and level. Which it did. That took about 75 to 90 minutes of my modelling time, very pleasing progress. Now I need to make it look like this. Rummaged through the parts and decided to assemble the seats and folded cabriolet top. Nicely figured impressions for the seat upholstery they all went together very nicely. About now I was having to think about paint scheme to apply to the interior panels, seats and floor. An image search led me down the restored samples trail. They’re a nice looking vehicle for a Sunday drive with quite the (conservative) colour range. More as my fickle mind decides.

Wonderful news! He shall a quite different car for a weekend vanity car and 'Show & Shines'.