Toftdale Posted February 26, 2023 Share Posted February 26, 2023 I also don't believe white walls are the way to go. However if you do decide to go this route I've found that an Elmer's Painters White opaque marker works really well. It's the method I used on my Fiat Jolly - Andy 8 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neddy Posted February 26, 2023 Author Share Posted February 26, 2023 That's a sweet little model! Lovely job and thanks for the tip. The Revell decals are excellent quality but I don't think they'd look right on the Isetta. Thanks again all for your input. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neddy Posted February 28, 2023 Author Share Posted February 28, 2023 Right, it now has wheels... ...and to rectify an odd deficiency I scratched a screenwash bottle and fitted it where it's supposed to go on the engine bulkhead. I suspect this may only apply to UK marketed models, possibly due to vehicle regs in existence at the time. I was also going to wire the engine but there are so few wires, all of which are completely hidden once the body is fitted, that it seemed a pointless struggle to attempt it. Having completed that stage I trial-fitted the bodyshell prior to prepping it for spraying... ...and all of a sudden it starts to look like a bubble-car. Thanks for looking in, more when I've got started on spraying it. 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted February 28, 2023 Share Posted February 28, 2023 That's coming on very nicely! Keith 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toftdale Posted March 2, 2023 Share Posted March 2, 2023 On 28/02/2023 at 18:09, Neddy said: and all of a sudden it starts to look like a bubble-car. It certainly does. They must be terrifying to drive in modern traffic. - Andy 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neddy Posted March 2, 2023 Author Share Posted March 2, 2023 Oh I dunno, the Heinkel/Trojan Kabine I owned back in the 1960s was a real bundle of fun and it's diminutive size didn't worry me then. A Swiss manufacturer has produced an EV based on this exact shape called the Microlino and if ever forced into an urban EV runabout I'll seriously consider one! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbadbadge Posted March 4, 2023 Share Posted March 4, 2023 Wow this looks fantastic, great work so far. Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neddy Posted March 10, 2023 Author Share Posted March 10, 2023 Two light coats of white primer and several airbrushed coats of Revell Aqua No 50 Light Blue gloss, applied over several days, has resulted in a slightly better look... Now I need to let it harden off properly before continuing with the build. 12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ints30 Posted March 10, 2023 Share Posted March 10, 2023 Nice build and successful color choice. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Solexman Posted March 11, 2023 Share Posted March 11, 2023 Loving this Neddy. Great subject. I agree about the tyres too. Mind I also subscribe to the Rule No.1 principle . 👍 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neddy Posted March 17, 2023 Author Share Posted March 17, 2023 Having let the paint harden off I'm now onto the fun bit, final assembly. It'll take a while, there's a lot still to do. Starting with the door, the outer and inner skins were glued together... before fitting the instrument panel (such as it is!), mirror, sunvisor and pull-handle. The bodyshell was then mounted on the chassis/floorpan assembly. At this point I was really impressed by Revell's kit quality - the 'shell locates onto the chassis/floor by four pillars terminating in very slim pins that go into holes in the correspomding mating surfaces, high up inside the 'shell and totally invisible should any wiggling or wrangling be needed to align them accurately. A trial fit saw them locate instantly and positively which was a great relief! Removing it, applying cement to the pins and relocating it took but a few minutes with no hassle at all. Nice one, Revell. Now I can start prettying things up a bit. Starting at the rear, light units, bumper and reg plate were assembled and fitted (all had been pre-painted prior to this date)... ...then the sidelights were assembled and fitted, the 'shell was masked up and the chromework painted. That's it for now, I'm letting that lot set before proceeding further. Thanks as always for your interest. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neddy Posted March 21, 2023 Author Share Posted March 21, 2023 Reached a bit of a milestone today. Fitted all the window glass apart from the door... ...which like everything else on this superbly made kit fitted perfectly. Then the part I've been half dreading, half looking forward to - assembling the articulated steering column, connecting it to the swivelling mount in the floor and hanging the door. Once again everything went together with far less drama than I was expecting and works perfectly, the door hinges aligned exactly with the shell, the door closing precisely on the catch which in turn works a treat, and above all the steering column rotating smoothly on two axes as the door opens and closes, swinging out of the way just as it does on the real thing. It may not seem much to the more experienced precision modellers but it gave me a real lift - not to mention a sigh of relief! - when it all went exactly as intended. Only the windscreen, bumpers, sunroof and external trim to fit now. Watch this space... 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fnick Posted March 21, 2023 Share Posted March 21, 2023 That is lovely. I think anyone irrespective of their experience would be pleased to have the door open and the rest working as intended. Still can't get my head around the fact this is 1/16 scale. Seems so small!🙂 Looking forward to the completion. Nick 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spiny Posted March 21, 2023 Share Posted March 21, 2023 Got to agree with Nick, I think the moment when you find a door opens (and even more so closes) correctly is always a big relief. Looking very good, and doesn't appear that it will be long now until you have this completed. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keefr22 Posted March 21, 2023 Share Posted March 21, 2023 What a cute little thing, lovely work Neddy! Keith 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nearsightedjohn Posted March 22, 2023 Share Posted March 22, 2023 (edited) Very nice job so far on your Isetta. I built this same kit when it was first released in 2016 for childhood nostalgia reasons. My parents gave me a tin toy version of this car when I was 5 or 6 which was about the same size (6” - 7” long) as this model. Here’s a few pics of one for sale on eBay which also has an opening door although without the articulated steering wheel-column: Looking forward to watching your blue one come to completion! Edited March 22, 2023 by nearsightedjohn Content correction 3 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neddy Posted March 23, 2023 Author Share Posted March 23, 2023 Windscreen fitted (I unashamedly filched an idea from another member - sadly I can't remember their name but many thanks! - and ran a black indelible marker round the edge to represent the rubber seal). Headlamps added (beautifully made three-piece units which even offered a choice of "eyebrow" visors or not), door handle, wiper, badging, rear luggage rack, bumper and sunroof - again with the option of open or closed. I could even have added a suitcase strapped to the luggage rack but it looked a bit incongruous and hid some nice detail so it was cast aside. This model is now complete and I await your comments. I have to admit it gave me enormous pleasure building it and it's possibly the best quality kit I've built to date. I'll put a couple of pics below but the main bulk of the images will be in the RFI thread which can be found here. Thanks for your interest and comments, it really adds to the enjoyment to know others are watching the progress - even if they're laughing at it! 😆 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vesa Jussila Posted March 23, 2023 Share Posted March 23, 2023 Looks really good and worth of your efforts! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fnick Posted March 23, 2023 Share Posted March 23, 2023 Lovely little runaround! Beats a smart car anyday! 😄 On a more serious note great work. Thank for sharing with the rest of us. Nick 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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