THEscaleSHOW Posted January 17, 2022 Posted January 17, 2022 Hello all 🥳 The construction of the T54 has been delayed a bit 😴, so I have started a new project 😁 For a change, it's not a track, but wheels - 6 to be precise. Besides tanks, I also love building trucks and exotic models that you don't see every day. Today I would like to introduce you to one of my favourite vehicles, the Austin Armoured Car 1918 Pattern by Miniart. I find the WW1 theme at least as exciting as WW2, so there will be more to come.... Ok, now to the model: The box is full to bursting with parts, some of which are very fine and fragile. The connections of the sprues are partly very large which makes it difficult to loosen the parts - beware of the danger of breakage! The soft Miniart plastic is not my cup of tea, some Parts were warped / bent in my kit. But anyway-there is only this supplier for the Austin and as a modeller every new kit is a challenge. If you are interested in the build, I can o highly recommend Andy Moore's report on TMN. From my point of view a very good kit with complete interior and the option to show many doors, hatches and flaps open. Plus nicely detailed wheels and a engine as a model within a model. Maybe not for beginners or people with little patience (sometimes you have to find out by yourself how the parts fit together best), but therefore something special. As usual I will also build a small vignette, hence the title: "Greetings from the front". Enough words and have fun! MD Nice Boxart Many parts inside The decals look good Many fragile small parts that can cost nerves I recommend loosening the parts with a PE saw or rebuilding them. It is very difficult to clean these small parts. The frame parts were bent in my case I have already glued and fixed the largest parts in this step. I will do the fine details on the engine and frame later, so nothing can break off and cleaning is much easier because of the handling on the frame. Of course, you have to study the instructions carefully to see what needs to be done first and what can be left out. The main frame work is done Whenever the glue dries (which it has to do very well with this soft plastic), I prepare new parts for the next steps. some nice references 🙂👌 See you! 14
Lazy Modeller Posted January 17, 2022 Posted January 17, 2022 That's a really nice project! Cheers LM
THEscaleSHOW Posted January 18, 2022 Author Posted January 18, 2022 16 hours ago, Lazy Modeller said: That's a really nice project! Cheers LM Thanks LM! Besides the model there will be a trench scene and figures 😅 MD 1
edjbartos Posted January 18, 2022 Posted January 18, 2022 Hi MD, this looks like fun, I will definitely follow this as I have the Ukrainian, Polish, Georgian version. From the sprue shots this is typical Miniart with lots of gates on thin straight pieces, those will be fun. You have started out really well so will follow along with interest all the best Ed 1
diablo rsv Posted January 18, 2022 Posted January 18, 2022 Looking forward to watching this one progress, I have the same kit in my pending pile so it will be handy to see any pitfalls you come across before I start mine.😁 Wayne 1
Jasper dog Posted January 18, 2022 Posted January 18, 2022 Hi MD, another great project to follow! Good luck Darryl 1
THEscaleSHOW Posted January 25, 2022 Author Posted January 25, 2022 Hello all 🥳 Gentlemen thank you for your comments!! After a lot of work on several projects (T54 and Matchbox GB) at the same time, today a little update on the Austin. I had already cursed enough about the Mini Art plastic and am therefore glad to have finished the chassis. For all of you who are planning to build this kit, I have started to document all the difficulties-so only one person has to suffer 😁 I will put these tips online at the end of this project 🧐 The photos are described as always, so have fun! MD The frame is slightly warped, the floor brings more stability. I would like to show the wheels turned in. Therefore I have rebuilt the steering rods. I was surprised that this is not possible with such a detailed kit 🤔 Evergreen material is very usefull in this case I cut off the joints and used them again New stabiliser and brake linkage Ignition cable 0.2mm A horror to clean up, so just cut it off The assembly is ready for primer. Otherwise it will be difficult to reach all places later on. This is a better way to paint the engine 🤓 Mr. Surefacer 1500 In the meantime, other components are being prepared. This is about the wood grain. For the base a small piece of PE saw works very well. I did further more engravings with the Hobby Knife. Important with wooden floors are also some chipping for a used look. See you! 14
robw_uk Posted January 25, 2022 Posted January 25, 2022 great work so far, and love the added wood grain, a useful tool for my toolbox!!! 3
edjbartos Posted January 25, 2022 Posted January 25, 2022 Very good work MD, this really is coming on. I really like the mods that you have done, they look great, I have this noted for the future when I come to do mine. Keep up the good work... All the best Ed
THEscaleSHOW Posted January 27, 2022 Author Posted January 27, 2022 On 25/01/2022 at 16:20, robw_uk said: great work so far, and love the added wood grain, a useful tool for my toolbox!!! Thank you for your comment! Yes, this tool does a good job 👍 MD
THEscaleSHOW Posted January 27, 2022 Author Posted January 27, 2022 On 25/01/2022 at 16:25, edjbartos said: Very good work MD, this really is coming on. I really like the mods that you have done, they look great, I have this noted for the future when I come to do mine. Keep up the good work... All the best Ed Hey Ed Building the chassis was very fiddly work. I am curious to see how the front wheels will hold - there is not much plastic to glue them on. I will report... MD 1
edjbartos Posted January 27, 2022 Posted January 27, 2022 11 minutes ago, THEscaleSHOW said: Hey Ed Building the chassis was very fiddly work. I am curious to see how the front wheels will hold - there is not much plastic to glue them on. I will report... MD Hi MD, I can believe that, when I looked at the sprues on my version they all looked very fragile, so it's a case of being slow and careful. Good luck.... Ed
LeeM Posted January 27, 2022 Posted January 27, 2022 Coming along nicely. I really like the wood grain effect. Plus the top tip.
Bertie McBoatface Posted January 27, 2022 Posted January 27, 2022 This is something of a masterclass. 1
THEscaleSHOW Posted January 31, 2022 Author Posted January 31, 2022 Hello all 🥳 The build is progressing well and slowly I am approaching the body of the Austin. To make it easier for me, the shown assemblies were divided and painted step by step. The floor of the interior was treated with HS, but not yet weathered. Painting the engine was a lot of fun after all the work. When choosing the colours, pictures of a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost helped me, as the period of the year of construction (1906-1925) matched. As always, the pictures show everything else. Have fun! MD I treated the bulkhead separately and installed it after painting the engine. After that, the rest of the floor could be installed. Primer in black, wood areas in beige and then HS. For the interior, I opted for a white shade. Chipping done. A detailed view of the engine. The exhaust manifold was weathered with oil paints and pigments to show the rust and heat exposure. Mini Art has done a good job. In only 8 hours the work was done 😅 Oil stains etc. are still missing... The seats look the same and need some reworking (hobby knife and Dremel tool) for a used look. The dashboard is easier to paint and the green provides a good contrast to the white. The first steps in building the trench scene. See you! 12
edjbartos Posted January 31, 2022 Posted January 31, 2022 1 hour ago, THEscaleSHOW said: Hello all 🥳 The build is progressing well and slowly I am approaching the body of the Austin. To make it easier for me, the shown assemblies were divided and painted step by step. The floor of the interior was treated with HS, but not yet weathered. Painting the engine was a lot of fun after all the work. When choosing the colours, pictures of a Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost helped me, as the period of the year of construction (1906-1925) matched. As always, the pictures show everything else. Have fun! MD I treated the bulkhead separately and installed it after painting the engine. After that, the rest of the floor could be installed. Primer in black, wood areas in beige and then HS. For the interior, I opted for a white shade. Chipping done. A detailed view of the engine. The exhaust manifold was weathered with oil paints and pigments to show the rust and heat exposure. Mini Art has done a good job. In only 8 hours the work was done 😅 Oil stains etc. are still missing... The seats look the same and need some reworking (hobby knife and Dremel tool) for a used look. The dashboard is easier to paint and the green provides a good contrast to the white. The first steps in building the trench scene. See you! " Mini Art has done a good job. " So have you MD, It looks fabulous, the engine looks great with good detail even down to the "Austin" logo. Keep going this is looking to be a really good build... Ed
Model Mate Posted February 1, 2022 Posted February 1, 2022 lovely work - I'm really enjoying this. The engine looks amazing - what metal paint did you use for the radiator? - completely convincing brass look.
NIK122 Posted February 1, 2022 Posted February 1, 2022 Awesome paint work on the engine. As above, what metallic paints are you using?
vytautas Posted February 1, 2022 Posted February 1, 2022 Same here, agree with all the others, a top job. I especially liked the way you painted the exhaust pipes. Great colors! Vytautas
viper-30 Posted February 1, 2022 Posted February 1, 2022 Fabulous build ,very much enjoying this mate
Jasper dog Posted February 1, 2022 Posted February 1, 2022 Great work MD! Particularly like what you've done with the engine and cooling system, excellent work!
THEscaleSHOW Posted February 3, 2022 Author Posted February 3, 2022 Hello all 🥳 First of all, I would like to thank everyone who has written comments!! It's motivating, because I'm only halfway through the construction stages and I still have figures and vignette to do 😅 About the colours of the engine: Silver and copper from Tamiya (with water and their retarder). Gold (for the brass) from Andrea. The first coats diluted 50-50 and add some matt black for the patina. Afterwards, especially on the radiator, touch up the edges with pure gold as a glaze to achieve a shiny effect. It is important to seal everything with silk matt clear lacquer after finishing the work. Otherwise you will spread fine metal pigments on the model and this will not be easily removed. After the lacquer has dried, the gold can even be easily polished a little with a cotton bud. Washing with Sepia and Paynes grey Oils for the first weathering. Rub the fan lightly with a pencil lead and silicone brush - done. MD BTW: The pictures still show a few actors for my planned scene - so there is still a lot to do 😎 Cheers! 7
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