Pete in Lincs Posted March 15, 2021 Share Posted March 15, 2021 It's looking good to me after a large catch up this evening. The interior turned out nicely. Next time you see an Open Reach van parked by a green telecoms cubicle. Go back after it's gone, there's usually some useful bits of wire left lying around. Or just approach the guy and ask. It makes great ignition leads! I'd forgotten about the black bumpers on the base models. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiny Posted March 15, 2021 Share Posted March 15, 2021 Lesson learned - never tidy up mid build! Looking very good now, for all the world you would think this was a kit of a road-going Escort. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted March 15, 2021 Share Posted March 15, 2021 All looking very neat, body looks great polished up! Keith 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onethritysecond Posted March 19, 2021 Author Share Posted March 19, 2021 On 15/03/2021 at 21:08, Spiny said: Lesson learned - never tidy up mid build! Looking very good now, for all the world you would think this was a kit of a road-going Escort. Yes lesson definitely learned but to be fair a tidy up was definitely needed! Wouldn't mind but it isn't the first time - did the same thing with the steering column/wheel when doing a Revell VW camper build - Revell kindly sent me replacements, after which I found the originals of course! Not holding out much hope on these mirrors though as they are very small and it was a thorough tidy up! Next time only after a kit is finished.... Chris 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onethritysecond Posted March 21, 2021 Author Share Posted March 21, 2021 Just spent an hour or so updating this and then managed to move away from the page without uploading it - gutted! Haven't got the heart to start again now so will try again later. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Boak Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 Go back in and you will find that your edit has been saved in the edit box, although not posted. This works for me (W10/Edge) though not sure it works if you actually do anything else in between. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onethritysecond Posted March 21, 2021 Author Share Posted March 21, 2021 5 minutes ago, Graham Boak said: Go back in and you will find that your edit has been saved in the edit box, although not posted. This works for me (W10/Edge) though not sure it works if you actually do anything else in between. No, looks like it has gone! I'm going to write them out in Word first then cut and paste from now on! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onethritysecond Posted March 21, 2021 Author Share Posted March 21, 2021 Because I managed to lose the big post I wrote before posting it I am doing this in smaller batches today! Part 1 Distributor wiring As I suspected the Detail Master distributor body was too big so I built my own, following the same basic principles – I shaped a bit of 1mm plasticard and drilled 5 holes in the shape of the 5 on a dice. The plug leads were looped through and a knot tied on the end of the central king lead (goes to the coil). Boots were added from the sleeving supplied in the kit – the pictures show the basic idea. Wiring installed on the engine and looks a million times better than my first attempt with oversize cable. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onethritysecond Posted March 21, 2021 Author Share Posted March 21, 2021 Part 2 – Details Actually first of all forgot to include this picture in the last post about ignition wiring - in place in the engine bay. Smaller details One of the good things about the Revell kit is that it includes a selection of seat belt hardware so I created some belts using 2mm x 0.25mm Evergreen plastic strip. As these need to be mounted half-way up the door pillars the glazing unit gets in the way so I marked the position on masking tape and then drilled 0.5mm holes through the glazing unit and fitted rods to mount the belts on – again, pictures tell the general idea. Number plates were made using self-adhesive number plate letters from BECC Model Accessories Ltd to replicate the pressed type of plate common in the late 70s. You always have more letters than plates in the BECC kits but they work just as well on 4.8mm x 0.25mm Evergreen strip and the rear is painted using Revell Lufthansa yellow. Borders are done using a Sharpie. I always like to try and use believable registrations on my models and (any letter)NO prefix plates were typical on Ford press cars of the period, often seen in TV programmes such as the Professionals. In the early 70s (any letter)HK were more typical on Ford press cars and often appeared in the Sweeney etc. I wanted to do PNO 641P, as P would be appropriate for the first year of Mk2 Escorts (1976) but I ran out of Ps! I only realised afterwards that I could have easily converted the R to a P, or (even easier) just used RNO 641P instead! Tax discs were created in 1/24th scale in Photoshop using scans from real period tax discs that I accumulated when I was working in 1/32nd scale. Disc is cut out using a 1/8th (3.2mm) wad punch and a slightly larger disc was cut from some of the spare sticky back vinyl from the number plate sets to use as a typical period tax disc holder to stick it inside the windscreen. Underside, featuring many scratch-built or converted parts, received a light weathering. Gearbox crossmember missing in this picture but has since been added, using one cut from the kit’s gearbox. The Escort boot badge should be black but the kit’s transfer is white and I thought it would be better than no badge. Ford branded GB plate from the kit added too to add a bit of interest. I made the mistake of trying to paint the Ford letters with a brush (exaggerated by the camera) so may polish that off and do it again with a Sharpie, like I meant to do the first time! Nearly caught up with my lost post, just one more batch to do but I will have to do that later. 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toftdale Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 (edited) You must be glad you took the effort to reinstall the ignition leads, I agree they do look a million times better . The rest isn't too shabby either 😉 Edited March 21, 2021 by Toftdale I meant Isn't not is 😲 now changed 😁 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnlambert Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 It's always nice to see the progress on this build. The ignition system, seat belts, number plates and underside are all looking superb. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Mansfield Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 The ignition wires look a million times better! Some really nice details in there, impressive before you even consider the re-shaped wheel arches 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onethritysecond Posted March 21, 2021 Author Share Posted March 21, 2021 Last of my lost update! Apart from the wing mirrors that I lost (update on that later) I am now in the final stretch! Last of the parts added to the engine bay – air filter, battery and radiator top and bottom hoses, the latter was a right fiddle to make and fit! Hopefully can’t tell but I originally managed to put the FORD transfer on upside down but it hadn’t stuck that well so managed to peel it off with a scalpel and re-stick it using varnish, not sure how long it will last though. A couple of other views. When I have got some wing mirrors I will clean off all the dust and smuts etc that you only notice it hi-res photos and post some better pictures in the Ready For Inspection category. On the subject of wing mirrors – I emailed Italeri about the possibility of buying some off of them from their issue of the kit and got a vague response – they weren’t sure if they could supply them or not, but if they could it would be 5 or 6 Euros (they weren’t sure about that either) but I could have a 15% discount on anything off the website! Incidentally, the Revell issue is made from that rather soft plastic – does anyone know if the Italeri issue is made of better (harder) plastic? Luckily fellow Britmodeller member Tim Lucas has offered to supply me a pair of mirrors, for which I am very grateful! This conversion was a lot of work, especially since I opted to do the engine as well, and not in any hurry to do it again – although I do have a Bellkits Mk1 Escort just begging for the same treatment, so you never know! 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted March 21, 2021 Share Posted March 21, 2021 More excellent progress - that idea for fitting road car seatbelts is excellent - I've been trying to think of a way of fitting seatbelts to roadcars for years and that way never even dawned on me, so many thanks for that! If you want to change the boot decal to a black one, Motobitz do a generic Ford decal sheet that includes one, together with FORD boot lettering, but unfortunately the rest of the decals on there are mainly for performance Escorts, so might not be of any use to you. https://motobitz.uk/uploads/8/3/7/6/83763834/mbd24012-webad_2_orig.jpg Lovely looking little Escort! Keith Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onethritysecond Posted March 21, 2021 Author Share Posted March 21, 2021 1 hour ago, Toftdale said: You must be glad you took the effort to reinstall the ignition leads, I agree they do look a million times better . The rest is too shabby either 😉 Yes, definitely glad I made the effort - it's loads better. I would have preferred green or black but these red ones came along at the right time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onethritysecond Posted March 21, 2021 Author Share Posted March 21, 2021 2 minutes ago, keefr22 said: More excellent progress - that idea for fitting road car seatbelts is excellent - I've been trying to think of a way of fitting seatbelts to roadcars for years and that way never even dawned on me, so many thanks for that! If you want to change the boot decal to a black one, Motobitz do a generic Ford decal sheet that includes one, together with FORD boot lettering, but unfortunately the rest of the decals on there are mainly for performance Escorts, so might not be of any use to you. https://motobitz.uk/uploads/8/3/7/6/83763834/mbd24012-webad_2_orig.jpg Lovely looking little Escort! Keith Thanks Keith! That transfer sheet is just what I need! Might even be able to adapt the wing 1.6/1.8 etc badges to perhaps 1.3 at least even if I can't get 1.1 out of it. I'm often trawling their website (it's where the wheels came from) so I am surprised I have never noticed it before. Off to order one now! Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onethritysecond Posted March 22, 2021 Author Share Posted March 22, 2021 18 hours ago, Toftdale said: You must be glad you took the effort to reinstall the ignition leads, I agree they do look a million times better . The rest isn't too shabby either 😉 I assumed that's what you meant! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onethritysecond Posted March 28, 2021 Author Share Posted March 28, 2021 Just a few last tweaks while I wait for the replacement mirrors to arrive and can post in Ready for Inspection. First of all, I have realised looking at past posts that I keep referring to the colour as Bermuda Blue but it is, in fact, Olympic Blue! Correct for 1976 though. Keith (keefr22) put me on to these Motobitz transfers (thanks again Keith) https://motobitz.uk/uploads/8/3/7/6/83763834/mbd24012-webad_2_orig.jpg So, I scraped off the white ‘Escort’ boot badge and fitted a correct black one. Incidentally, don’t think I was doing anything different to normal, but these transfers grab really quickly so you have to work fast to get them in the right place – I didn’t work quickly enough and had to soak it off as it wasn’t correct and peel with a scalpel to re-position, hence why it looks a little stretched! The transfer sheet is, as you would expect, aimed at the hot escorts so didn’t feature 1.1 wing badges but I managed to cut most of the 8 off of the 1.8s and it looks close enough! Wheels have had a black wash to give them a bit of depth. Lastly, for anybody like me who has an interest in creating everyday 60s/70s cars, I recently took delivery of the new Academy 1976 Hyundai Pony (yes, told you my tastes are towards the mundane!) which features 70s Ford steel wheels (Hyundai used to make the Mk2 Cortina under licence, although the Pony was loosely based on the Morris Marina) both with and without hubcaps. And that's it. I am now off to create a new thread for my next build - the 1964 Austin Mini Super driven by Jeanie in the 60s TV series Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamden Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 Very nice result, looks very much a Mk2 Escort 1.1 just as I remember them! Stay safe Roger 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fightersweep Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 Just superb! All that hard work has paid off with a lovely looking Escort. Reminds me of the S plate Escort my best mate's dad bought in 78. Same colour too. I was most jealous as my dad had a beat up Austin 1100. I was hoping all your converting and scratch building would yield the usual curse....that a mainstream manufacturer releases a nice base model Escort Mk II in 1/24. Wishful thinking I guess but I would love to see more kits like this on the shelves. Once again, great work so far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 9 hours ago, onethritysecond said: Keith (keefr22) put me on to these Motobitz transfers (thanks again Keith) You're most welcome! Lovely little everyday Escort - fine job! Keith PS, I don't know if you 'do' youtube, but I posted a link in the vehicles discussion section to a Korean modeller's channel who builds some sublime car models (way above anything I can do, but it's still really inspiring to watch!) and who's currently building an Academy Pony, this is the link to his first video in the build if you're interested; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGDqGSNK1jM 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onethritysecond Posted March 29, 2021 Author Share Posted March 29, 2021 20 hours ago, keefr22 said: Keith PS, I don't know if you 'do' youtube, but I posted a link in the vehicles discussion section to a Korean modeller's channel who builds some sublime car models (way above anything I can do, but it's still really inspiring to watch!) and who's currently building an Academy Pony, this is the link to his first video in the build if you're interested; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGDqGSNK1jM Dang that guy is good! Watched two episodes on the trot and fascinated throughout. His version of the kit seems to have photo-etch etc that doesn't come with the budget version I have though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onethritysecond Posted March 29, 2021 Author Share Posted March 29, 2021 21 hours ago, fightersweep said: I was hoping all your converting and scratch building would yield the usual curse....that a mainstream manufacturer releases a nice base model Escort Mk II in 1/24. Wishful thinking I guess but I would love to see more kits like this on the shelves. Once again, great work so far. Thanks! I wouldn't mind if they if they did! Long ago accepted it wasn't what most people wanted and I would have to make my own. If they were going to though I'd prefer it if they started with the Mk1 though to save me doing it Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted March 29, 2021 Share Posted March 29, 2021 I'd be happy with base model kits too, much easier to convert into 'narrow body' performance versions than de-arching the currently available kits - although you've shown it can be nicely done with the necessary skill and patience (neither of which I have in abundance! ) Keith 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onethritysecond Posted April 20, 2021 Author Share Posted April 20, 2021 Just to say that I have managed to get some mirrors and have now put this model in the ready for inspection, thanks for watching! Chris Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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