Another Tamiya Jag MkII

[Chief Cohiba]

Dear Britmodelling Community,

 

this is a new for me, and a bit of a challenge as I come back after a longer time without modelling. I never tried myself on a 1/24 car kit in the "adult" part on my modelling career, so I depend on your indulgence while I gonna work myself through a Mk. II Jag from Tamiya I recently found on the bay. Yes, you've seen some of these before, but maybe one or the others round here might find it interesting. We'll see...

 

I want to give myself time for it (and kindly ask for your patience) and try not to get into any kind of superdetailling it, so this should be just a kind of a fun build for my desk, not a museum worth kind of art, and so not even trying to compete with some other pieces of work on exactly this one I've found on this forum. Also I need your patience on my poor English - as you might have guessed I'm no native speaker.

 

But I definitely hope for some input and ideas from the experts on this site, as I want to try out a few things; first thing is to give it a mildly weathered look, especially from the bottom and under the hood. Also - and I think this is the big challenge at least for me - I want to give the interiour a  beautifully aged look, as you would expect for a 50 year old car. I'm no expert on leather, so this will be a new one for me and hints and tips are welcome.

But before I tear the plastic sheets and let it lose it's virginity I want to start a discussion on a very basic topic - colour scheme!

There are two options on this for me; the first option is a light green version I've seen once, a kind of metallic mint, which I think looks really nice - and is also favoured by my wife (I try to involve her now and then in my hobby for political reasons ;-). This came with dark moss green leather trim. But this was no original colour option (or at least I haven't found it), which somehow, I don't know, makes me shy away a bit.

The other option is red trim, which I always found beautifully aging, together with an original colour like silver blue or gunmetal, which I think were original combinations back then. 

Guys, what are your opinions - sty strictly to the original or give a bespoke paint a try?

Edited March 18, 2017 by Chief Cohiba

[shood23]

Chief lovely car to build firstly and on to the paint drama my advice is 5 simple words to live by "always listen to the woman" but at the end of the day it's your build so build it how you want to see it. 

 

Shaun 

[kento]

BBC  -  Inspector Morse

[Chief Cohiba]

Guy, thanks for your ideas. As for the Inspector Morse option - I would find the vinyl option quite interesting, but want to go for a metallic colour, I think this is a bit more interesting on a small car. Also, as we here on the continent do lack a bit of the cultural connotation, which makes it a little less fun.

 

But I've promised myself to have a look in the series...

 

But anyway: I tried out a few things (sorry for the poor quality, I didn't want to start the big camera) and think I have a favourite.

As for the green - as long as we're not looking for a new staff car for kermit the frog I think we can dump that one:



Btw, my wife totally agrees with me on that. I could spend some more time on mixing a proper green, but I wanted to try something easier first - simple silver (or according to the colour chart "Mist Grey", or at least the idea of it).



Looks nice, but I think it is not the most interesting colour, both from a Jag lovers as well as from a modellers perspective. Especially I think that the chrome trim will lack contrast.

Next, I mixed some blue, trying to get in the direction of Silver Blue. I mixed something that still is a bit more on the blueish side than the original colour, but looks quite nice:

 

This could also look good with my ideas of the red interiour, so I guess this is a good direction to follow.

What do you think?
 

[BrotherMole]

Silver Blue - no question. I don't think I've ever seen a silver MkII and the green! No. Although a mint green (non-metallic) might work if you do fancy a green. Lots of nice pics of a silver blue though:

1959-Jaguar-Mark-2-1959-Jaguar-Mark-2-Pictures.jpg (scroll down - it's the third one)

Enjoy!

Edited March 19, 2017 by BrotherMole

[Pouln]

From the three you show here, I would choose the last one.

Having said that, I wouls suggest the following (might not be totally original):

 

Edited March 19, 2017 by Pouln

[shood23]

That blue is very nice, subtle but very jaaaaagg

 

Shaun 

[injidup]

A tip I learned from the internet when testing colours is to spray the back of plastic spoons instead of the model. It gives a good idea of how it will look on the car.

You can label them can keep them for reference in the future!

[injidup]

I do like Ian Callum's Jag. It would be a good one to try and build based on the Tamiya kit...

Much like Julian Thompson's take on a modern Series 1 Elise. Interestingly Julian (who designed the Elise's body) now works for Jaguar. Now if only someone would make a decent Elise kit in 1/24. Mr. Ebbro, are you there?

[Chief Cohiba]

Sorry for not posting for a while, but we had some unpleasant issues familywise - and also my airbrush decided not to do as I want him do. I guess I've fixed it by now, but will only be able to continue tomorrow - hopefully. But worked a little on the engine in the meantime, nothing spectacular, but might turn out to be a nice one, once ready...

 

 

And, thanks for the hints - I appreciate, especially the one with the plastic spoon. Next time, when I have some at home, and am a little more patient...

 

I remixed the bodycolour, it is a bit more silvery now, a bit more close to the original silver blue. Had to chance to stand near an original MKII, while waiting for my car being inspected, also with red interiour. Stunning combination, even in real life...

 

Hopefully can post more pictures tomorrow.

[Chief Cohiba]

So, spent some time today tinkering with the airbrush, but finally could finish the body colour;

 

which looks more silverish than in real life, here's another picture taken with flash (the shadow at the bottom is the lense, just a quickshot):

 

 

The real impression is something in between. I'm pretty happy with it now, gives a good impression on the original opalescent silver blue.

 

I also worked a little bit at the bottom, married body with engine and did a little washing (maybe looks a bit much in the pictures, but is more decent on the actual model):

 

 

 

A first dry-fit

 

 

Next steps will be less impressive, but working towards the next bigger challenge: interiour. I keep you updated...

 

[shood23]

Loving the body colour, very subtle and understated looking. It looks like the kind of jaaaag Jeremy Clarkson talks about on proper top gear when he describes a jaaaaag man. 

 

Shaun 

[kpnuts]

Looking very nice.

 

[Chief Cohiba]

4 hours ago, shood23 said:

Loving the body colour, very subtle and understated looking. It looks like the kind of jaaaag Jeremy Clarkson talks about on proper top gear when he describes a jaaaaag man. 

 

Shaun 

That was the one when they spoke about the new XJ, right? :-D

 

Always loved that episode...

[JOCKNEY]

Love the build, let me know if you need any photos of the car, I have a 1/1 scale version that took 2 years to complete picture below

 

 

 

 

Good luck with your build which hopefully will be a lot quicker and a damn sight cheaper !

 

Cheers Pat

[Alan R]

I have bookmarked those pictures! My Tamiya MkII is that colour. Though with red upholstery!

Chief, I love your build as well! I hope mine comes out as well!

 

Cheers, Alan.

[Chief Cohiba]

It's been a while since posting, but there are a few things that went on. But first let me send my words of being impressed to Jockney, for his beautiful Mk II. It looks as if she did cost some investments, but also as if she's worth every pound of it. Just beautiful.

 

I've been tempted seriously as well some weeks ago, when there's been offered a 2.4 in white. It looked beautiful on the pictures and was reasonably priced, but when it said in the ad "...all original condition) it read like - "did nothing more than abolutely necessary in the past 20 years, kept all the work for the new owner". So I thought I'll pass the fun to someone else (also, I thought that the 2.4 engine is probably not the right choice). So, I'll stick with my trustworthy Daimler Six (X300), which I nevertheless absolutely love and is a wonderful example, how good a 20+ year old car can be, if treated properly.

 

But back to the small ones. I finished the lower parts of the chassis, which was easy - just a little washing, a little drypainting and it comes out quite nice.

 

 

 

But then for the engine bay - and I think this is one of the two real shortcomings of this kit (or what I've discovered so far). It really lacks parts, and I simply can't understand why Tamiya decided to show every nut and bolt on the bottom side, but left the engine bay so under developed. It would have needed only three easy parts,, especially on the right side, and this would really had turn out to be a beauty. But so I found myself scratchbuilding again (something I would have willingly avoided), using parts from other models, Ever Green, some old wire, and painting, painting, painting...

 

It went out somewhat ok-ish in a way, but this could have been easier. Also, I could have invested much more time - also find a small decal for the battery - but that's exactly what I wanted not to do. 

 

 

 

I'm going to continue with the interiour next, and there come the next thing I simply don't understand - but I'll come to that next time...

Edited April 18, 2017 by Chief Cohiba

[morty_3333]

Hi Chief!

Love the weathering,nice and subtle,just how it should be!

Great choice of colour too,don't see many in this!

I've just finished the same kit a few months ago,and really enjoyed the project,went together really well:-

 

Hope everything is OK with the Family now.

 

Keep Sticking!

 

Cheers,  Pete

[Chief Cohiba]

Hi Guys,

 

a few days gone by again and I started with the one annoying issue that I was aware of right in the beginning.

 

But before switching to angry-mode let me tell you, Pete, that your recent build was one of I was watching when thinking of starting the jag, even thinking of a vinyl roof as well. And of course really loving the wheel caps you build, that really dressed the car. I've been pretty impressed and in fact still am. So, a big thumbs up on this (need to like the post as well, I'm afraid I'm a bit lazy when it cames to forum socialising - different from others round here, many thanks for all your interest (and patience) in this, it is really appreciated. Thank you all, guys! :-)

 

But, now for the - I don't know how to call it - lunacy of this kit; while so many areas are covered so nicely and beautifully detailled, there are some areas that look like belonging to a  cheap eastern block model from the 70ies (I'm exaggerating, but you get the idea). The one issue I've already mentioned, the engine bay if build ootb will come out just as a big empty space under the bonnet. 

 

The other are the side panels of the interiour. I show you what I mean:

 

 

You see this ugly urmels on the upper part (already removed it on the lower part) that can be interpreted with an astonishing amount of good will (which I'm afraid I don't have) as the  door handle and window curbs? I mean, whatever in the world did Tamiya think of when designing this? From the overall impression this really could be called a quality kit, the spoke wheels, metal stripes, extra material for the floor mats, the small leaper - and then...

 

OK - so you see what I'm working on right now - this is a tedious work, especially as one does not want to destroy the other areas of the panels. And also I'm afraid I don't have the perfect tools for that. But it goes on, I already made some progress on the other panel (the lower part on the picture), working my way on. Drilled some holes to find the position again once these thingies are removed, but afraid these can't be seen in the pictures...

I keep you updated, if I make some progress or burn the whole thing down.

 

(Kiddin', pretty sure I won't).

[Chief Cohiba]

...ah, and just if you're wondering, what I want do install for the handles; I found an partly build Italeri Rolls on Ebay for some 5,- € in the neighborhood, not even had any shipping charges...

 

These are just the handles, which are complete - and pretty tiny, so I don't dare to take them out of the bag. I'm thinking of removing the chrome and Alclading them, if it works well I will do so with some other parts as well, like the grille. We'll see...

[JOCKNEY]

Please be careful CC, those little handles look like a very tempting snack for the carpet monster !

 

i would be tempted to cut them off whilst still inside the bag to prevent an escape attempt 

 

Really enjoying this build keep up the good work 

 

cheers Pat

[Chief Cohiba]

Guys, sorry for the longer break, but about 30% spending my time on private issues and 80% of business trouble just did not let enough time for the 20% of day-to-day-sh*t...

 

But, though not posting for a while I did find some time for this nice build, finally could make some pictures, and though not finding them perfect - well; here is what I did the last weeks.

 

Worked on the seats, looked pretty horrible in progress:

 

While I planned not to fuss around, and build this out of the box, I couldn't resist to open the picnic table in the rear:

 

 

[Chief Cohiba]

I experimented a bit with washing and create a nice leather look, it worked perfect on the test piece - but just did not turn out just as I wanted on the actual seats. But, after the third paint I just decided to keep it like that - it will be hidden in the inside anyway, and it got some more structure and depth, though not that beautiful shine - here in a dry fit:

 

What worked out ok for me is the center console, the small chrome accent worked nice and my first try with alclad (as seen on gear stick as well) did work. The dirt washing looks much less prominent in real life.

What worked out nice as well was the wood structure decal from uschi van der rosten for the picnic table:



The handle is too large compared to the real seat, but hey, here it goes. I think one has to work with what he's got...

Also worked a bit on the door panels, here as well; Alclad worked fine, cranks are too large - but as I said before, this is supposed to be an easy build.

So far for this evening, I hope I can continue a bit faster from now on... 

Edited June 22, 2017 by Chief Cohiba

[Chief Cohiba]

So, once again two more months spend - what a huge amount of time for such a small and easy mode. But there have been some other things that caught my attention...

But, I've managed to work on the dashboard, which I've expected to turn out to be much more fiddlier than it actually was. I did not use the - in my opinion - roughly printed Tamiya decals but wanted to go for the Uschi van der Rostens wooden decals, as already ussed on the door planks and the picnic table. It's a thing that's called "Truckers Delight", and this really turned out not only to be beautiful, but as these are semi transparent they are really forgiving. For instance I did not cut out the meters, but simlply layed them over the black painted instrument space, and set them with some Micro Sol. They set really well, so I just laid the original intrument decals on top, sealed them with a drop of Humbrol Clea Fix and done. Pretty easy.

 

Try fitted the parts together, looks good to me.

 

Once again I must add that the human eye is much more forgiving that these Zuiko lenses, so please do add a bit of distance, then these somewaht rough surfaces really look good.

I did prepare a bit on the body, but still shy away a bit. Maybe find some time to continue tomorrow...

[Ian]

This is shaping up to be a fantastic build. Love all the detail work, those interior handles were a master-stroke !!

 

 

Ian.