Toftdale

Its always great to see someone build a model of their of own car, its a top kit and I've got a spare union jack decal for the roof you can have if it helps - Andy

Great work, I might even have to apologise for my dismissal of your corning abilities - Andy

Photographs never are flattening to this type of work. I be well chuffed if I could be that neat free hand. - Andy

Very neat work - Andy

Trucks are not my thing, but admiring your scratch building skills definitely is, thanks for taking the time to post - Andy

Got to agree a great save with regards the tripod issue (it would definitely ended up in the bin in a fit of rage). I also think the wheels really suit the car, looking forward to your next build - Andy

Although your body work and colour choice is top notch, its the interior that's the stand out feature for me - Andy

Very convincing work, thanks for sharing - Andy

It always helps when the kit and the add ons are top notch, however you've clearly got more than a modicum of skill. Lovely mini - Andy

I would never have guessed she was anywhere as small as 1/72, superb work and the figure work is top notch too - Andy

Looks spot on to me - Andy

The wipers on the headlamps are a very neat touch and great work on the fans - Andy

Thanks @Spiny, @Pete in Lincs, @Windy37 & @klubman01 for the comments they're much appreciated. However as for...... I've just had to learn to weld in 1/24 scale!😅😅. After a few minutes on YouTube It transpires it much easier than in real life. All you need is some masking tape, some putty (Ammo Medium Putty Surfacer in my case) and a scalpel blade. Lay two pieces of tape parallel to each other put the putty in the gap, then use the blade to level the putty with the tape. Once the putty has started to dry (but us still soft) remove the tape and then use the scalpel to put the weld marks in the putty. I actually quite enjoyed doing this (but don't tell Keith 🤫) - Andy

Hi Nick, Definitely not. Well I've made the first step and ordered a Micro Mesh polishing kit, so watch this space - Andy

IT a Mustang, that won't be a problem 😁🤣😂. Great to see you back at the bench - Andy

Well the roll cage turned out to be a bigger challenge than I expected and involved an awful lot of reattaching parts as the various components just sprung apart ar any given moment! However I've finally beaten it into submission 🤞. Its not perfectly square, but you've got to really look to notice and I'm calling it done for the sake of my sanity 😀. The missing sections on the sides are going to be hidden in the rear side storage bins, so they won't notice once assembled. Building it like this allows for the cage to be removed and therefore making assembling the interior easier. Installed onto the interior base, I've drilled holes in front of the bins which the cage only just passes through. With the sides and dash temporarily in place. This is what you see on the finished car, hopefully a fairly convincing full cage. Thanks for looking - Andy

Flawless as ever. The exhaust must have been a real challenge, there's not a straight section in it! Thanks for sharing - Andy

Looks good to me to and very nicely done. I must confess I'd forgotten you had started this, but very nice to see it again - Andy

As I've said before I never sand my clear coat (too scared 😨), however looking at your results I'm rapidly running out excuses not to, lovely work - Andy

Thats the perfect solution to the ram and will compliment the rest of your very fine work - Andy

Thats more than headway! I enjoy scratch building as much as anyone else, but I wouldn't have a clue how to undertake anything on this enormous scale! Looking forward to the next update - Andy

I've got to agree with the others the wheels really suit the car (especially since you toned them down) and the engines spot on too - Andy

As always really enjoyed your WIP thread and picked up some inspiration along the way. Lovely result worthy of all your efforts and patience, plus great photography (the first shot of the model is my favourite), thanks for sharing - Andy

Carrying out repairs can be very frustrating, but looking at your finished work you would never know any had be carried out, top work - Andy

My original intention was to make this a road car with a standard interior, however I've now decided that this doesn't fit the character of the car. So after a quick bit of Googling I discovered that Mini roll cages can actually be quite complex, so I put off that task and decided to improve the exhaust instead 😀. I cut out the bent section and replaced it with some 2mm styrene rod and was very chuffed as I managed to relocate the rear silencer fixing to the centre of the car. It was only after this that I discovered that the rear silencer interfered with the rear sub-frame, which I subsequently filed a semicircle into. I'm not sure how this solution would stand up in the real world, but it got me out of a hole. The hardest part with regards to the roll cage is that the front uprights (the ones inside the a pillars) will need to go through the dash and trying to get this aligned might be quite tricky. Hence I have only made the rear section so far. In the rear of a Mini the are two side storage bins into which the roll cage is mounted. In this Hasegawa version they are moulded with lids on, although I'm fairly confident in my Mini they were open. Anyway whatever the facts I needed to open up the units with a razor saw. I could then fabricate sides and a bottom into which I could drill a hole to give me a nice secure fixing for the cage. Another challenge will be that with a full cage there will be no back and forth movement to install the interior tub. If you follow the instructions you mount the interior to the chassis and slide the whole assembly in as one, which does require a degree of back and forth travel. My cunning plan is to install the interior in first and then chassis plate. I think it will work but I'll only know for sure when it comes to final assembly 🤞. Hope you all had a great Christmas and wishing you and yours a very happy modelling New Year - Andy