Roy vd M. Posted March 20, 2020 Share Posted March 20, 2020 For a group build on another forum, we're to build a model by the renowned kit producer Miniart. This company makes kits of high accuracy, often exceeding a part count of 500 and sometimes approaching the 'magical number' of 1,000 parts. We'll submerge both in luxury and annoyance, for sure... in brief, adventure. I participate using the recently issued LGOC double decker bus (B-type) of the beginning of the 20th century. This build report is a summary of the report elsewhere, leaving out stories, technical stuff, building tips and caveats and replacing them with short descriptions for enhanced easy reading. Quite a few sprues... my hand is 1:1-size. 1. The sprues are first assorted and hung in order, for easy finding and to prevent damage. 2. Holes for the push rods need to be drilled (they are 1,05mm. but should be 1,3mm.), otherwise they won't fit. 3. Under 1. you see a dryfit of the pushrods. Under 2. an ugly seam, caused by cement glue. 4. Here that seam is scraped clean, after drying. To clean up the heads, costs time and energy. Very fun kit so far, notwithstanding it taking energy and time. Spent time: 2 hours 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhouse Posted March 20, 2020 Share Posted March 20, 2020 Good grief - so many parts! What's the parts ratio Miniart:Airfix? 50:1? 100:1??? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeroenS Posted March 20, 2020 Share Posted March 20, 2020 Hi Roy, hmm that build looks familiar 🙂 I'll be following it over here, I fell in love with these MiniArt kits when building the GAZ-AA, swiftly purchased a couple more. I'd like to see how you work your way through this one, should be good! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy vd M. Posted March 20, 2020 Author Share Posted March 20, 2020 Hey thanks for following guys! Brian, no idea but I think the Miniart kit probably has around 800 parts. Jeroen... did you build this too? I haven't been on this part of the forum for quite some time, having been involved in other projects... guess I'm a bit outdated as regards forum-info Thanks for following. Yeah Miniart... gotta love it (hate is totally possible and acceptable too though). 5. Checking the valve system, to verify whether Miniart designed this the right way. 6. It appears to be wrong in three ways. Summary: the indicated nut should be higher, the springs aren't correct for several reasons and one spring is way too high. 13. Hour of testing makes for this result. The rings ('nuts') should be smaller and straighter but other than that, it looks better. Bestede tijd: 3 uur 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeroenS Posted March 21, 2020 Share Posted March 21, 2020 @Roy vd M.No I didn't build this one, but have a cargo truck and a dozer in the stash. My reference to the familiar build was because of the fact that I had just spotted your thread on the Dutch site, right next to my Volvo which can also be found on BM. Nice work so far, I hope you make your group build deadline, what with you checking every part MiniArt put in the box 😉 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harveyb258 Posted March 21, 2020 Share Posted March 21, 2020 Welcome back, Roy. What a finely detailed kit. I look forward to watching this progress. Great job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan R Posted March 21, 2020 Share Posted March 21, 2020 I want one! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy vd M. Posted March 22, 2020 Author Share Posted March 22, 2020 On 3/21/2020 at 7:00 AM, JeroenS said: @Roy vd M.No I didn't build this one, but have a cargo truck and a dozer in the stash. My reference to the familiar build was because of the fact that I had just spotted your thread on the Dutch site, right next to my Volvo which can also be found on BM. Nice work so far, I hope you make your group build deadline, what with you checking every part MiniArt put in the box 😉 I have the Quad gun truck (Gaz AAA), a Kolibri heli-plane that I won't build, a Mercedes-Benz 170 and a bulldozer in the stash... given that this stash of mine never features many kits (probably 20 or so) that shows how much appreciate Miniart as a kit maker. There's not a strict deadline, we're supposed to finalize it in 6 months but if that won't work no problem Well regarding checking every part in the box, unfortunately there's some truth in that. Although this work on the valve pushrods is, I expect, incidental and it will be a 95% OOB build, each and every part needs to be cleaned from mould lines. Given that the plastic is ultra soft, this is a project of patience. On 3/21/2020 at 10:12 AM, harveyb258 said: Welcome back, Roy. What a finely detailed kit. I look forward to watching this progress. Great job. Thanks Harvey, I'll come and have a look in your Fiat 806 topic soon. Very curious to see how you're doing there! On 3/21/2020 at 3:29 PM, Alan R said: I want one! Alan I can imagine, but it's not all hunky-dory... you'll find out by reading this thread because I tend to describe everything that goes ok as well as everything that fails / goes bad / is detrimental in any way. I'd like to summarize the build thus far and the feeling I have regarding it, by saying that 'there's a beautiful model inside that box, somewhere, to be found and managed using plenty of effort'. 15. Homemade tool (lathe-turned) to center the nut holes before punching the nuts. 22. Many parts of the kit have flash. Yes, what you see below really is flash. Usually easy to remove (although the plastic is soft so you'll have to be careful) but sometimes... not! 26. A lot of work, but the pushrods subassemblies are done. 27. A dryfit is made On an average computer screen this photo shows the engine true to scale. Cilinder valve 2 is about to tumble. All springs have the same amount of windings. Macro: Spent time: 12 hours 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 Great attention to detail, excellent skills, a pleasure to watch. Cheers 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harveyb258 Posted March 22, 2020 Share Posted March 22, 2020 1 hour ago, Moa said: Great attention to detail, excellent skills, a pleasure to watch. +1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan R Posted March 23, 2020 Share Posted March 23, 2020 Roy, I don't mind the challenge of a kit that needs a bit (lot) of work to make it good. I just have too many on the go models to consider adding anything more to my stash. I shall enjoy this vicariously through your build, which is excellent by the way. Cheers, Alan. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy vd M. Posted March 24, 2020 Author Share Posted March 24, 2020 Thanks Moa, Harvey and Alan. Alan, these kits are here to stay for a bit longer, in the end when you'll have finalized your works in progress, it'll be a joy to start one of these 28. For those who intend to build this kit... don't forget drilling 4 chassis holes (it's easily overlooked on the instructions). Ideal diameter is 0,75mm. 29. After the big cleanup, sorting parts. 30. Applying liquid poly by paintbrush, glueing one side. 31. Aligning the chassis on a perfectly flat surface. 42. The result thus far, with dryfitted engine. Spent time: 16 hours. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickD Posted March 24, 2020 Share Posted March 24, 2020 So neat as always. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fjaweijfopi4j48 Posted March 24, 2020 Share Posted March 24, 2020 Looking sharp. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy vd M. Posted March 25, 2020 Author Share Posted March 25, 2020 Thanks Moa, thanks Nick for following... it's been awhile 43. Large update this time, as I spent 2 hours and 50 minutes preparing and joining 15 parts, largely seen here. After careful cleaning / deburring, it all fits together astonishingly well. Kudos to Miniart for that part. These photos make me spot flaws, like the one regarding the crank support. Once noticed, I tend to correct them. Ok perhaps not as grand an update as I thought... but as much time as these works do cost me, it's a great way to spend that time! I'm having fun. Spent time: 19 hours. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NickD Posted March 25, 2020 Share Posted March 25, 2020 The detail is amazing. I'd not come across this company before. They clearly know their stuff. As do you my friend. Regards Nick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy vd M. Posted March 28, 2020 Author Share Posted March 28, 2020 Thanks Nick, yes they do! 44. And sometimes they use mould lines to add detail... I have to pay attention what to scrape away and what to ignore. 45. Example of a beautifully moulded part and the challenges it offers. Micro saw is almost a requirement. 46. IRL these leaf springs did not have these 'seams'. Some leaf springs did, but these did not. So I'll have to scrape and file them smooth. 47. Shock absorber. 47. Most difficult part to remain intact, is this part of the differential housing with on-moulded cables. Very fragile. Removing the moulding tabs cost me patience, energy and thought. 48. This is only one part, beautifully designed. 49. And the rear axle subassembly consisting of 9 parts, ready. You can see how everything was designed to fit perfectly (after some TLC in filing / sanding). 49. Photo etch rings for the exhaust, pressed flat. 50. Safe for replacements in brass / copper, 91 kit parts. Spent time: 28,5 hours. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeroenS Posted March 28, 2020 Share Posted March 28, 2020 Once you get past cutting and cleanup some wonderful parts emerge... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy vd M. Posted April 2, 2020 Author Share Posted April 2, 2020 @JeroenS yes, unless they break... happened to me once with hand brake cable. By merely touching one of both broken parts, it broke once more. Spent time: 47 hours 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
harveyb258 Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 Lovely and meticulous work, as always, Roy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyCrank Posted April 3, 2020 Share Posted April 3, 2020 Nice to hear of you again, Roy, and vgery nice starting for this pretty kit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy vd M. Posted April 10, 2020 Author Share Posted April 10, 2020 Thanks Harvey and Thierry. It's a pretty kit indeed, but a lot of work. Well, so is your Talbot of course.. in the end it all depends on how carefully and detailed you build it. Here some photos of the current state of affairs.... Time spent: 60 hours 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roy vd M. Posted April 11, 2020 Author Share Posted April 11, 2020 Thanks for the likes gentlemen! 95. These paints were used to get to the rubber colour for the tyres, after studying photos of the real bus. 97. The chassis, a 'lighter shade of black'. Spent time: 69,5 hours. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mpfiend Posted April 11, 2020 Share Posted April 11, 2020 Very nice progress Roy, I like the different shades of "black" you are using so far. I have just received this kit and I am following with great interest. Can you post a link to the other site where this is being built, that you mentioned in your first post please? Best Regards Keith. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Posted April 11, 2020 Share Posted April 11, 2020 Beautiful work Roy, your additions are making a very nice looking kit just that bit more special! Ian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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