Search the Community
Showing results for tags 'SPV'.
-
I had visions of all sorts of resin beasts I could build for this GB, but most would have been fairly substantial builds, like a 1/32nd TBM-3 Avenger or Typhoon Ib “Car-door”, and I just don’t have the time. But I came across this and I really couldn’t resist, plus it was super cheap, ~$100USD less than others around, plus a 1/35th Captain Scarlet SPV!!!! Gosh who wouldn’t want that. The model from General Products was released sometime in the 80’s and is long out of production, plus it is the only one available in 1/35th, all the others (only 3 strangely) are in odd scales. This model could be built as a Remote/Radio Controlled model or a static one. Unfortunately it’s not made of resin but Vinyl, something I have never worked with before (and the first Vinyl model I think for this GB as well). So some quick study on the net was required to figure out how to build with vinyl. Similar to resin the model is cast in large pieces which is sort of nice, though there are huge vinyl blocks that’ll need to be removed. As can be seen the vinyl is sloshed around the mould and is very thick, also notice the droplets on the roof of the mould. They were an issue with the lower half as I found out later. There are not that many parts to this model, most are the wheels. Plus the tracks, not the greatest mould work, being vinyl I will not replace them with scratchbuilt items, maybe a wee bit of filler here and there to tidy them up. You get some nice (?) white metal hub caps and a replacement fin, and some vinyl stickers instead of decals. Decals are non-existent for this model so in keeping with the 80’s vibe of the model I will use them, the letters I may replace, will see. Instructions……..well my Japanese is pretty bad….ok I’m illiterate in Japanese, so I’ll just have to look at the pictures. Ok so off we go…..and a hour later and one scalpel blade later I have this. Another 2 hours later and I have this, all tidied up, the side guards thinned down (what a job that was!!!), plus after a hot bath to help straighten some warpage in both parts. Also I have started to remove those vinyl droplets in the lower body section…… ………. this was done so I could fit a solid card base to it. This will help keep the base sort of straight and level………. ……. just a little bit of persuasion required. Since this photo I’ve added some more support structure to this base as well as the upper body as it is really flexible. I’ll be adding more to help strengthen it as I do worry that any flexing will cause the paint to flake off. And this is why they provided a replacement metal fin, pretty sad huh! Now that's much nicer. The wheels, I started cutting the extra bits off them (I didn’t know all the wheels were doubles, on my Dinky one they’re just single ones), the smaller ones are ok, the big ones……. well they’re…… lets say I’ll need to do quite a bit of work to get them sorted. They’re moulded ok, it’s just how they’re meant to go together as they don’t at the moment! Plus I have to come up with a better solution with how they’re going to fit as well. The paint colour is a bit unknown, I have found some references plus I have my Dinky Toy version. I may try and use a automotive lacquer as I think I’ll be able to get a better colour match. So far I am enjoying this build, it’s very straightforward, it won’t be long before I can have an undercoat on her. This won’t be a super-detailed build or have heaps of scratchbuilt extras added, Vinyl models don’t have/need this….. now if it was resin!!! Plus I did for a short time had an idea to do a resin cast of her…….. maybe that is something I can revisit in the distant future.