johnlambert

I believe that was pretty normal for them, alas.

That's a gorgeous model, or pair of models. The colour is perfect and the car looks so tidy I feel like I could jump in, turn the key and drive it away.

I've driven an Austin 1300GT. I'd definitely have one of those. For something that shares so much with a Mini, they are (or this one was) surprisingly refined, and quite modern to drive. I don't like the styling of the MG, Riley, Vanden Plas and Wolseley variants as much as the Austin and Morris versions. But, GT apart, I prefer the interior treatment of the posher marques.

Not much progress, but it is progress. Test fitting the body, just in case there are issues. I didn't tape or glue the glass in place, hence the glass not fitting even more than usual. Back to primer.

I paid a quick visit to the British Motor Museum today. This Wolseley 1100 was in the car park. I'm a sucker for the ADO16 range. It seems (and is) tiny compared to the modern cars nearby.

Thanks. It's a quartet (or two pairs). The 404, 401 and 405 are resin, pre-built I think from NEO, and came relatively cheap from China or Japan. The cream one, just out of shot, is a Lansdowne Bristol 408; pre-made with a white metal body. I think Lansdowne also did the 400, 406 and 411 in 1:43. I've seen kits of the 450 racing car, mostly in 1:43, but Profil24 does the 1954 car in 1:24 (I've ordered one).

No idea, I've seen Gordon Keebles in lots of great colours, I just need to pick my favourite.

I visited The Great British Car Journey yesterday. I don't know if you can win in a car park, but this smart Mercedes-Benz 220S would have won if it could. I also had the monthly pub meeting for a classic car club. I only took one photo but there's something nice about this early Renault 5.

I've added another model to my 1:43rd kit collection. I'm a sucker for 1960s GT cars. When I discovered this Gordon Keeble metal kit in 1:43rd on eBay it was only a matter of time until I bought one. It looks like it is quite nicely done. I hope it builds well.

I have to say that these smaller kits are quite addictive, because you get quite quick results. Thanks for the feedback. I appreciate everyone's comments and reactions.

Yes, those are the kit decals. Thanks for the feedback. Some kits are easy to get into the groove and get them done. For me, this was definitely one of those.

With the Jaguar finished, it's time to deal with the fluffy Range Rover. Time for an early bath. This is Detol, which seems quite effective as a paint stripper. Scrubbed, rinded and back to bare (if slightly grubby) plastic.

If I'd seen that Porsche 356 kit, it would have come home with me. Great selection @Technics

I can see what you're saying about the Lancia.

Although this is an older kit, it builds up into a satisfying representation of the early Jaguar XJ-S. I took inspiration from both The New Avengers, where Mike Gambit (played by Gareth Hunt) drove a red XJ-S with a black interior, and also from the launch catalogue photos of a French-registered red car. The biggest problem with the kit is that the clear parts don't seem to have been designed with reference to the dimensions of the other kit parts. One of the headlamp lenses seems a little too small, the tail lamps seem a little too large, and one of the side window mouldings was slightly under-size. Nothing that can't be fixed, it's just a pity that it's necessary. With the Heller Mini also inspired by The New Avengers. With the Airfix 1:43 E-Type. I think they make a nice pair. I'm building up quite a 1:43rd collection. The dark red Maserati and the Bristol cars are diecast/resin models.

I'd say to leave the Mustang as it is, mould lines and all. Just treat it as a reminder for future builds. Plus they don't show in the photos and hopefully won't detract from the model when it's on the shelf. It would be a shame to spoil what looks like a nice paint scheme.

And we're onto the last steps. Front number plate. Number plate and wing mirror added, plus some paint touching up.

Thanks for the reactions and comments. I've added the last few little pieces and taken some "pretty" photos. More pictures here:

Thanks to everyone who responded to my build thread. I wasn't really aware of the Blackburn Buccaneer until I watched a YouTube video about the aircraft. This piqued my interest and I decided to buy the Airfix 1:72 kit. I can remember the first Gulf War dominating the news when I was in secondary school. I also like the colour schemes of desert warfare. Generally, it goes together very well. There are a few places where flash or mould lines need cleaning up. There are, as you would expect of a relatively new kit, plenty of tiny parts to either dislodge or ping out of your tweezers and feed the carpet monster. I also found that the instructions were a little confusing in places, but that's more of a "me" problem. Here is the build thread:

Ejector seat? You're joking! (somebody had to say it)

Here we go, in matt finish and on its wheels. There is a bit of detail that I've added to the wheel bays. The landing gear legs themselves are easy to assemble and insert. I left the nose wheel loose until this point, so that the model would sit on the weighted flat-spot, then I applied a little thin cement. I've decided against any more weathering, as I'm pleased with the finish that I've achieved. There are a few little bits to touch up and add, but we're almost there.

We're onto the last few steps on this one. The XJ-S now wears its distinctive tail lamps. Then adding the yellow base of the number plate. The registration is taken from the original XJ-S brochure, which features a red, left-hand-drive XJ-S. It's quite a tight space for applying the individual characters of the licence plate.

There must have been some sort of Bentley convention today. While I was driving home I saw, in close succession, an S-Type Continental convertible, an R-Type with two-door saloon/coupe bodywork that looked like it was by Abbot of Farnham, and what I think was an R-Type Continental. It's one of those occasions where I wish I had a dash-cam to capture what I'd seen.

I've got to say that Italeri/Esci knew how to get value out of its tooling with all these Ferrari 250 variants. Much of what I've seen is very familiar from my 250GT SWB build. Those interior parts seem to really lift the model and on the open California are probably a worthwhile investment. The body seems to fit nicely, and I can't wait for the finished result.

I wish I'd had my camera ready today when I was walking back from the pharmacy. A gorgeous Mercedes-Benz 220S Fintail saloon drove past, looking smart in grey with a white roof.