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LGOC B-type London bus (Miniart)


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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. 

 

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Quite a few sprues... my hand is 1:1-size. 

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1. The sprues are first assorted and hung in order, for easy finding and to prevent damage. 

49677764948_755e982d3f_b.jpg

 

2. Holes for the push rods need to be drilled (they are 1,05mm. but should be 1,3mm.), otherwise they won't fit.  

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3. Under 1. you see a dryfit of the pushrods. Under 2. an ugly seam, caused by cement glue. 

49677795798_16c79d20a8_b.jpg

 

4. Here that seam is scraped clean, after drying. To clean up the heads, costs time and energy. 

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Very fun kit so far, notwithstanding it taking energy and time.

 

Spent time: 2 hours

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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!

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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 guess I'm a bit outdated as regards forum-info :D 

 

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. 
49680582716_2e53949da4_b.jpg 

 

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. 

49680088333_01bc57cbc2_b.jpg 

 

13. Hour of testing makes for this result. The rings ('nuts') should be smaller and straighter but other than that, it looks better. 

49680170638_ba5abc479a_b.jpg 

 

Bestede tijd: 3 uur

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@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 😉

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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. 

49680937353_ec5b00eedb_b.jpg 

 

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! 

49684111757_90d0f31fca_b.jpg 

 

26. A lot of work, but the pushrods subassemblies are done. 
49687381697_5969d8e45c_b.jpg 

 

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.


49687370791_7230e979f1_b.jpg 


Macro: 


49686862178_e4e8becac7_b.jpg 

 

Spent time: 12 hours

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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.

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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.  49691677428_2034ab7749_b.jpg 

 

29. After the big cleanup, sorting parts.

49692521107_bcf8b41ca3_b.jpg 

 

30. Applying liquid poly by paintbrush, glueing one side.

49691677458_4c8747725f_b.jpg 

 

31. Aligning the chassis on a perfectly flat surface.

49691677423_83733700bc_b.jpg 

 

42. The result thus far, with dryfitted engine. 

49692577077_387879c747_b.jpg 

 

 

Spent time: 16 hours.

 

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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. 

49696243991_72b651e826_b.jpg 

 

After careful cleaning / deburring, it all fits together astonishingly well. Kudos to Miniart for that part. 

49695738418_613d9d311d_b.jpg  

 

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. 

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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. 

 

49707875851_7d263043ce_b.jpg 

 

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45. Example of a beautifully moulded part and the challenges it offers. Micro saw is almost a requirement. 

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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. 

49707343123_2339704e7f_b.jpg 

 

47. Shock absorber.

49707875896_91d2f59777_b.jpg 

 

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. 

49707875976_862da8961e_b.jpg 

 

48. This is only one part, beautifully designed.

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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).

49707875751_2f4340fc96_b.jpg 

 

49. Photo etch rings for the exhaust, pressed flat. 

49707343338_3425963c5d_b.jpg 

 

50. Safe for replacements in brass / copper, 91 kit parts. 

49707343348_7e1069e4f0_b.jpg 

 

Spent time: 28,5 hours. 

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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.... 

 

49747937633_e744438c40_b.jpg

 

49747937528_c2a3aeb0de_b.jpg

 

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49747937513_3b8eeca715_b.jpg

 

Time spent: 60 hours

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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. 


49759238312_bce0a90322_b.jpg 


97. The chassis, a 'lighter shade of black'. 


49758407078_8e21d42cfe_b.jpg 


49759238267_1bc5f33412_b.jpg 


Spent time: 69,5 hours. 

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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.

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