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Trevor L

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Posts posted by Trevor L

  1. Right, we're off.

    The first thing I've done is strip the chrome off.

    It's not something I've done before but I've seen some tips that bleach or oven cleaner will do the job.

    I had a rummage around in the cupboard under the sink and found some Mr Muscle oven cleaner spray and tested it on a piece of sprue frame. It worked a treat, so I've gone ahead and sprayed it on the parts, left them for half an hour then rinsed them off.

    It got rid of the majority of the chrome, with a few stubborn bits left that I removed by rubbing some of the cleaner on with a cotton bud.

    I then cleaned the sprues in warm, soapy water, rinsed them and put them on the bathroom windowsill to dry.

     

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    As there's a mix of black and silver throughout I'll be doing a lot of painting before final assembly.

    I'll also break it down into sections starting with the engine, and after a couple of sessions this weekend I've got most of it prepped.

    There's still a bit of clean up and dry fitting to do, but not a bad start.

     

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    • Like 9
  2. 23 minutes ago, JamesP said:

    Great to see someone else tackle this kit. It was my most challenging build. My one piece of advice upfront would be to replace all the locating pins with wire of the appropriate size for the receiving hole, almost all are undersized.

    Thanks James.

    Your build contains some useful information, and the end result is top notch.

    I might be biting off more than I can chew with this, but I've never let that put me off before.

    • Thanks 1
  3. 12 minutes ago, cmatthewbacon said:

    Good choice! If you haven't seen it, there's a lot of useful info to be gleaned from @JamesP s build for the Classic British Kits SIG Matchbox Anniversary display here https://uamf.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=23420

     

    Good luck!

     

    Best,

    M.

    Thanks for that. I had seen it before, but it's handy to have a link to it here.

    Some useful into in it that may help me be aware of some issues in advance.

     

    It also has a link to an excellent stop motion video which is worth sharing here...

     

    • Like 2
  4. Revell 7952 1/12 scale

    Vincent Black Shadow motorcycle

     

    My entry for the Baby Boomers GB will be the Black Shadow, one of the most exciting motorcycles of the era.

    Produced by Vincent in Stevenage, Hertfordshire between 1948 and 1955, it had a 998 cc engine producing 55 bhp and a top speed of 125mph.

    It looked great, and it was bloomin' quick!

     

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    The kit was originally produced by Matchbox in 1980, and was then re-boxed by Revell from 1992.

    The version I have looks like it was made sometime between 1992 and 2002.

     

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    I bought it on eBay and the sprues are all complete and looking good.

     

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    While researching the build it's been pointed out that the wheel spokes look too thick.

    Some modellers have removed the plastic spokes and replaced them with wire which look good, but I've decided that's above my pay grade.

    Others have removed the thick chrome layer, then repainted the thinner plastic underneath. I'll have a go at this option, and maybe also strip and repaint all the chrome.

     

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    A couple of items of concern:

    The decals look aged, which is to be expected. I'll have to see how they work out.

    The rubber tyres are warped. When viewed head on they look like a meandering stream! I'll dry fit the wheels to see if they pull the tyres into shape, but if that doesn't work I'll have to think of something else.

    I wonder if soaking them in hot water with some weight on top might soften them enough to straighten them out?

     

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    • Like 17
  5. 2 minutes ago, Ratch said:

    A three or four weeks before the current GB comes to an end proposals are taken and everyone votes on which one they want to do next - simple.

    The potential problem there is that the most popular genres would be more likely to win each time. Aircraft are by far more popular than other genres, so would be most likely to win through in each vote.

  6. Regarding the understanding of group builds, I think once any changes have been agreed it would be a good idea to write a definitive post explaining the whole thing: what a GB is, the various stages, the rules etc.

    At present there is info in the FAQ section, but it's based on an initial post and responses. A single post in FAQ or pinned separately would be a good thing IMHO.

    I'd be happy to help set it up if required.

     

    I also agree that the GB/STGB quotas could be reviewed after the 5 year period. The simplest suggestion could be to have 9 GB and 5 STGB slots. More room for the more numerous GB proposals, and bunfight fun for the STGBs.

     

    Discussions aside, GBs are my favourite area of BM. I enjoy taking part in them, the support, the banter, the community etc.

    I could live without the bad jokes, but you can't have everything I suppose!

    • Like 4
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