Neddy

I might be of help there... Looking to try BMF I bought the only type I could find that was in stock - a sheet of ultra-bright (I think they call it) from Hannants when I was building the T-Bird earlier this year. The adhesive on that is excellent, no problems at all..

I do like that pickup! I love well-executed pickup conversions and that Fiesta's very nicely done.

Thanks for your thoughts people. I enjoyed making the rollcage but it does look overscale and the 3mm tubing currently on order should be exactly in line with @Anteater's research. Cheers for that. Also pleased to report the errant airbrush compressor is wending it's way back to the supplier and a nice shiny Sparmax is on it's way to me from GraphicAir. Hopefully this weekend I'll be airbrushing again.

Thanks @Spiny, all seriously useful advice. ...especially the last bit. 😁

Thanks! Actually I'm pleased to report that earlier today I located a supplier of 3mm aluminium tubing (the size I used was 3.97mm) which I hope will be sufficiently slimmer to get over the slight over-scale look. OK, it'll mean making the rollcage again but the time spent making this first one wasn't wasted, I know how to do it now!

She's looking really great! The buggy's not too bad either... This one's going to be quite something when it's dune-ready.

Hi, welcome to the forum from a fellow car modeller! I look forward to seeing some of your models.

Hmm... at 1:43 scale your options would be a bit limited. My only suggestion for carpet would be to use airbrushed wet & dry paper, experimenting with different grades until you end up with the required "pile" effect. As for leather effect I'm a bit stumped apart from the obvious semi-matt acrylic paint, airbrushed on (brush-painting at that scale would leave too much in terms of brush-marks I'd have thought. However, there are far more accomplished modellers within these hallowed portals (stop laughing!) than I so watch this space for some better advice!

Looking really good @Spiny, lovely bit of BMF work - smooth, even and not overdone. This one's really beginning to come alive now.

Thank Heavens someone else thinks that way. The look of inadequate tyres on unsuitable rims always has been comically ridiculous as well as dangerous - especially unsuitable for classic cars IMHO.

Ditto, they look fine!

Easy decision for me - the late model Bond Equipe. Lovely condition and as rare as 🦄💩

Still waiting for an airbrush compressor (long and boring story) so I started on creating a rollbar/lightbar setup for the truckbed, something I planned a while back but have never tried before. I acquired some 3.9mm dia. aluminium tubing from my local r/c model shop, a tube bender and a tube-cutter from another one oop north and set to. After a couple of trial runs to ascertain the curve radius of the tube bender, some careful measurement (useless) and a LOT of trial and error (much more useful!) I was able to produce a rollbar to stand just behind the cab and eventually carry a couple of spotlights... ...and feeling I was on a roll here (sorry!) I attempted a couple of sidebars. Offering the lot up as a loose trial-fit the end result was better than I expected... The end result is slightly over-scale but I think I can get away with it. The next size down would have been too thin by a long way. Still longing to spray the 'shell but that's in the hands of suppliers at the moment. 🙄

An absolutely exquisite model of proably the most beautiful looking of all 1960s F1 cars. I'm not a fan of F1 cars later than the '70s and prefer the look of '60s F1 - Lotus, BRM, shark-nosed Ferraris et al. It just looks real, which is the best compliment I can think of. Another amazing achievement Tomasz.

My commiserations! That is a truly awful kit and I admire your perseverance with it. I tend to regard deficiencies as a challenge but there is a limit and I think I would have cut my losses and 💩-canned it long before now. Your workarounds are ingenious but this narrative should serve as a warning to others tempted to buy it. I ain't touchin' that brand in the future!

Having carefully considered all options I came to the conclusion that fitting them was better than leaving rather deep grooves all down the bodywork. I'll spray the 'shell first before deciding whether to colour them or leave them body-coloured. Thanks for your thoughts people. EDIT: fitting them was easier than I thought, entirely down to first use of Tamiya Extra Thin. Never tried it before but I can see now why so many of you recommend it.

I'm in a bit of a quandry and am looking for opinions please. There are impossibly thin and fragile plastic trim lines running along the tops of the wings and quarter panels. IMHO they have a very '60s look about them, rather like the Ford Corsair did until they did away with them when the 2000E was introduced. I have three options:- 1) Attempt an OOB build, chroming them first and running the risk of damaging the paintwork trying to fit them, 2) Fit them unpainted, spray the bodyshell and attempt to mask them afterwards and chrome them, or 3) Leave them off completely, fill in the tiny locating holes and go for a cleaner look. At present I'm leaning towards Option 3 but would really appreciate your input.

It's to cover up their bald patches mate - something I'd never dream of doing! I use a fisherman's cap instead.

from the bottom righthand corner of Olde Englande!

Living dangerously, you two!

Hello from just across the channel, welcome to the club! I know it's slightly out of your zone of interest but drop into the Vehicles Non-military section some time - the coffee's better there and sometimes we even have cake! ☕

Hello, That sounds like an admirable and interesting project, I wish you luck with it. If you feel like setting up a WIP thread I'm sure it will be interesting to other military and diorama builders.

I'm sure he must have @Bengalensis - rebore, outsize pistons, nitrided crank, enlarged valves, gasflowed head and ports, the lot. It's still going to be gutless but not quite so embarrassing!

Nearing the end for the interior now, just the door cards to complete and the seat belts added... ...ready for fitting to the interior tub. Which is now complete (the dash fits onto the lower edge of the 'screen). Back to the bodyshell while I waited for paint and adhesives to dry. I first dealt with the sunken spots on the extremities before reshaping the rear wheelarches to try to recover the profile lost when enlarging them. Thanks to @Spiny and @Bengalensis for their advice on these points. ...not perfect but the best I can do and they look OK from a distance! Now almost ready to spray the bodyshell but currently waiting for a replacement airbrush compressor. Again...

Yup, spotted them this afternoon and filled 'em while I was working on restoring the rear wheel-arches. They weren't immediately noticeable but If I'd missed them I'd have been kicking myself regularly. Thanks again for the tip-off.