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Another 1:24 Transit Conversion - Mk2 Phase 1 + Beavertail


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As previously posted in the 'What have you bought recently' section of the best area on Britmodelller another Transit is on the bench and is undergoing surgery, indeed as usual most of it will not end up being used or not being cut into pieces The most important tools are on the box and have been weilded at the big bits already. I decided on the Police version for a change and thought there may be some items that could be used on other projects. I'll also be turning into a Mk.2 Phase 1 which requires mods to the grille, lights and indicators. If any Transit officianados know of any other diferences please chip in with reference photos.

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This will be another chassis-cab but this time an EWB version, offered by Ford's SVO division if the brochure blurb is to be believed. The extra length will be needed to accomodate a scratchbuilt bed, more of which later.

But first here's where I'm up to with the cab and kit floorpan. The kit bulkhead [part B4] was installed as per instructions, yes I've had to read them contarary to usual practice 😉 to aid with cutting the bodyshell. I've added a strip of 2mm plastic to the rear of the inner cab roof ready for sanding to priofile and a small strip to the rear of the front vallance to capture the front edge of the cab floor. Top tip - it helped taping the doors shut, adding more stifness to the body when cutting.

 

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Cut through the chassis to the rear face of the crossmember behind the cab steps and clean out the centre web.

 

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A bit of masking tape helps in adding a guide line over the roof to align with the bulkhead. I cut the body a couple of mil aft of this then did a second cut to the cab wall and finally sanded flat.

 

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Guide line across the cab rear ready for contouring the rear of the roof. The image below shows the added plastic strip, this can be hidden by adding a roof lining later.

 

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And finally for the first installment, cab floor locating strip.

 

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Edited by mbdesignart
typo, and another typo
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I hope you've not been sitting on your chair these past few days watching a blank screen? 😉🤣

I've been busy in the land of virtual modelling producing a CAD drawing of the extended chassis, new grille, headlamp surrounds and a winch, along with drawings for etched Fairlead and lashing points. Hopefully today will see a start on the bed using good old fashioned plasticard/rod and brass tube. Time to fire up the hand saw, stand back this could get messy!

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Finally, after other things getting in the way, the deck bed is underway. Fortunately I only need to make one side before getting the parts cast in resin.

 

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Now to attack the ramps.

Edited by mbdesignart
typo
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Thinking of redoing these with a smaller treadplate pattern. I can always use this for a one legged churchill bridge layer 😉 Photoetch artwork for the Fairlead and lashing points has gone for etching today, I'm sure there's a half finished kit or two I can occupy myself with in the meantime.

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...the more the merrier.

Some bits arrived from Shapeways, apart from the phase 1 grille these will need a bit of fettling to get them to where they need to be before final casting. The winch will be getting some photoetch and metal rod additions to complete the set. Also the bed deck and ramps, see above, have been reskinned with a smaller treadplate pattern. That's apart from pushing on with a British Classic 1/4 ton pickup build, no WIP for this.

 

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  • mbdesignart changed the title to Another 1:24 Transit Conversion - Mk2 Phase 1 + Beavertail

Some more work to the cab, fitting the phase 1 grille and a headlining.

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                                                                                                                                                                                                                           I found it easier to cut down to the kit vents then file back to the lower line of the grille.

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And filling the gap for the rectangular indicators. Now back to the chassis...

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22 hours ago, fightersweep said:

The "Transit Master" is at it again.

Hardly a 'Master', more a maker of plastic swarf! 🤣

 

Anyway after staring at another photo and looking at the kit I found another area that requires correction. The vents in the kit bonnet are too long [side to side] and there should be six slots and, what probably shocked me the most, was the omission of the screen washer jets. I mean just what do the kit manufactures look at, really! 😉 The area is now marked up ready for surgery. Whilst I was adding bits, there are two new plasticard fillets to the lower coners of the cab.

 

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The rear bumper for the beavertail bed has been fashioned from 0.5 plasticard folded into a C channel, along with a frame to protect the cab rear. The small grey blocks are buffers. Also I think there should be 2 red triangular reflectors which go on the rear bumper, something to do with a man from the ministry with a clipboard?

 

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31 minutes ago, mbdesignart said:

Hardly a 'Master', more a maker of plastic swarf! 🤣 

 

Well, a sculpture creates a lot of swarf to arrive at a masterpiece.

 

34 minutes ago, mbdesignart said:

Anyway after staring at another photo and looking at the kit I found another area that requires correction. The vents in the kit bonnet are too long [side to side] and there should be six slots and, what probably shocked me the most, was the omission of the screen washer jets. I mean just what do the kit manufactures look at, really!

 

The issue with the vents. Is that just applicable to the Mk 2, phase 1, or does that apply to all as I've seen both types of vents on Mk 2 Transits.

 

Cracking work so far as usual!

 

Steve

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Re the vents, tbo I don't know as I've seen both too. Following a bit more delving here's an answer according to a Transit forum, but we all know how accurate info on a forum is 🤣🤣🤣

https://fordtransit.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=185362&c=1

Given these guys probably know [a lot more than me, which is not hard!] I'm going to leave it and save myself some work. There are photos of the six vent style on the net for anyone wanting to do the mod. Can't understand why Ford would make two pressing tools for this, the difference in air flow can't be THAT different.

 

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15 minutes ago, mbdesignart said:

Can't understand why Ford would make two pressing tools for this, the difference in air flow can't be THAT different.

 

Wonder if it's a transitional production thing, as all the Mk 1 Transits I've seen have the six vents. Maybe a detail that was changed as the Mk 2 evolved.

 

Steve

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Anything looks possible with all the anomolies that are cropping up. I'm seeing images of Phase 1 with both round headlights and square headlights in the metal grille. The more I look at this the more confused I become. Unless Ford were using parts left over from the Mk1 until stocks were exhausted.

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Interesting (I've got a Transit next in the build queue).

 

Ref the bonnet vents, page 12 of the Mk2 Phase 1 brochure clearly shows four vents (square headlamps 1978-1983 type), but it is a cutaway drawing rather than a photograph. I can't see a clear photograph in either the Phase 1 or Phase 2 (1983-1986) brochure pages I image clipped. 

 

Weirdly, all the used or repro bonnets bonnets I can find for sale in a Google image search all show 6 vents. 

 

The Mk1 Transit bonnet was different and wasn't carried over. 

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9 hours ago, mbdesignart said:

 Unless Ford were using parts left over from the Mk1 until stocks were exhausted.

Ford weren't too precious with what went into their vehicles. If you wanted brake parts for a MkI Escort, the first question was "Lockheed or Girling". They fitted both with no record of which chassis they were on. I also remember a 3 litre MkI Capri which no 3l clutch would fit. Why? Because although RHD and sold in the UK it had a 2.6l Ford Germany engine...

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