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Posted
13 minutes ago, Brandy said:

Blimey, over 4 months have passed apparently!

 

Really? It seems like years....!! 🤣

 

Great update though, it was worth the wait!

 

14 minutes ago, Brandy said:

lovely lady has entered my life and takes up a lot of what used to be my modelling time, although she fully supports my hobby, so that's a plus!

 

Congratulations Ian, and if she supports your hobby, she sounds like a keeper (although I've been married for 45 years next April and my missus has been completely unsupportive all that time....!! :rofl2:)

 

ATVB

 

Keith

  • Haha 5
Posted

Lovely work, Ian :) The improvements you've made to this old kit are all very worthwhile, she'll look nothing like a Matchbox kit when you're finished

 

James

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  • Agree 2
  • 1 month later...
Posted

Less than 2 months - I'm getting better!

 

Thanks to all for your patience and support!

 

Still, even after 2 months I don't have much to show. A trip home for Christmas and New Year and a busy work schedule combine to ensure that. However, I haven't been totally idle. Design has been completed on replacement door trim panels.

Since I removed the sides of the rear cockpit tub and replaced them with plastic card the kit panels wouldn't fit even if they had been accurate because the kit tub sides extend forward of the rear of the doors! I'm not sure why, but that's the way it is.

This is what I came up with. Photos show slightly different arrangements for fasteners, etc, so I decided on one I prefer and ran with it.

 

54290756499_161b24518d.jpg

 

and after a quick disclosing coat of Tamiya white...

 

54290945375_c437ff4946.jpg

 

I think those will work! I now need to design a replacement for the gearbox tunnel as it should be higher at the front where the gearlever is mounted. I have already added the kit rear shelf parts and filled the gaps left by widening the tub, and that has also been painted white to see if any further work is required.

That will hopefully complete the interior parts needed (except the steering wheel) so I should be able to start getting some final paint colours on it soon!

 

Thanks for looking in!

 

Ian

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  • Love 3
Posted

Those look a lot better than the kit parts

 

James

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  • Agree 2
Posted
2 hours ago, Brandy said:

Less than 2 months - I'm getting better!

 

Clearly much better than me!

 

They look superb Ian. I'm sure this one is going to look superb when done.

 

T.

  • Like 2
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Posted

Excelent printing and modelling Ian. Those linkages are soooo tiny. Bravo for getting them looking just so. Obvs the other printed stuff looks fab too. 👌

 

 Johnny

  • Like 1
Posted
On 1/27/2025 at 3:25 PM, 81-er said:

Those look a lot better than the kit parts

 

James

 

On 1/27/2025 at 4:08 PM, Terry1954 said:

 

Clearly much better than me!

 

They look superb Ian. I'm sure this one is going to look superb when done.

 

T.

 

On 2/2/2025 at 1:42 PM, The Spadgent said:

Excelent printing and modelling Ian. Those linkages are soooo tiny. Bravo for getting them looking just so. Obvs the other printed stuff looks fab too. 👌

 

 Johnny

Many thanks for the feedback, gents! 

As a special treat you now get an update LESS THAN 1 MONTH after the last one!:yahoo:

 

I didn't bother to design a new gearbox tunnel - it just didn't seem to be worth the effort. Especially when there's Milliput!

 

54311261847_ca3051e1ae.jpg

 

Once cured, it was sanded to shape...

 

54312144576_d4e62309f2.jpg

 

I think that will work, and so much quicker than designing and printing it!

 

So on with the paint then!

 

First up was the BRG (Tamiya X5) on the underside/interior.

 

54311261822_a91e1f2742.jpg

 

54312566570_6891039584.jpg

 

54312144561_918bef9721.jpg

 

A quick check of the fit and to make sure I didn't miss any areas that will show, and all looks good!

 

54312144591_5b2b117b6b.jpg

 

54312566575_6a998ca022.jpg

 

I made up some trim panels for the scuttle to match those on the doors thickness-wise, (so 0.5mm sheet) and then some Vallejo leather was "thrown" at it all (including the inside of the scuttle not included in the new panels).

 

54312144636_73a7cd3849.jpg

 

54312144661_2f76e68bbb.jpg

 

54312387613_0e51ac1a63.jpg

 

The side panels got a coat of satin clear, and I think the carpets need a little more texture, so I've ordered some flocking powder to try that.

I'm not too worried about a top-notch paint finish on the underside, but I did polish up the large flat areas a little to remove any irregularities.

 

That's it for now. Next up will be detail painting on the door trim panels and painting the upper body surfaces. I had originally thought about darkening the X5 a little, as I did on the 1:12 Bentley, but I'm glad I didn't as it seems quite dark enough and I'm very pleased with the colour. The dashboard is also coming along and has also received a coat of BRG with the instruments masked off. I plan on  punching out masks for the inside and outside of the dials to paint the bezels, and we'll see if that works soon! Decals received for those too so it should start progressing fairly quickly now.

 

Except I still need to lace the wheels.....

 

See you soon, and thanks for looking in!

 

Ian

 

  • Like 15
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Posted

Less than one month ? Be careful , you're spoiling us !😂

 

Nice work 👍

  • Haha 1
  • 3 weeks later...
Posted
On 2/7/2025 at 4:28 PM, Heather Kay said:

Whoosh! And suddenly it starts to come together! Nice to see paint going on.

Not quite "woosh", but at least it's moving on...

 

 

On 2/8/2025 at 12:03 PM, The Spadgent said:

All coming together rather nicely. That paint looks great. 🙌

Thanks Johnny!

 

On 2/8/2025 at 1:32 PM, othertales said:

Lovely to see that green bringing it all to life so nicely.

I have to admit I do like the green!

 

On 2/8/2025 at 4:08 PM, HK-500 said:

Less than one month ? Be careful , you're spoiling us !😂

 

Nice work 👍

Sorry, I couldn't find a Ferrero Rocher emoji!

 

Dashboard finished. The large dials are a little small but they'll do.

 

54355823566_365a9e44d8.jpg

 

and the exterior has been painted. First coats...

 

54356047808_f459237883.jpg

 

54354943292_99689f1f49.jpg

 

and the final coats done

 

54354943352_25bc75c981.jpg

 

54356025049_691f899b69.jpg

 

That last shot was during the final polishing. It's not perfect, but I'm more than happy with the finish.

 

The interior was finished with flocking powder. Recommended by @81-er and duly ordered!

 

54354943262_569a7625db.jpg

 

which was then fitted to the finished body.

 

54356047788_ee689537cf.jpg

 

That was when I remembered that I hadn't yet fitted the foot pedals or gear lever. Oh well, nothing like making life harder for yourself!

 

and for some strange reason I thought it would be a good idea to fit the door trim panels, even though it will be weeks before they're needed.

 

b****r!

 

54356025044_7c999fed87.jpg

 

I guess that will need to be done again then!

 

So that's where it sits as of this afternoon. I may just leave it a while longer so I don't ruin the rest of the paintwork!

Thanks for looking in!

 

Ian

 

  • Like 12
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Posted

I've somehow managed to lose track of your build Ian, so just enjoyed catching up on the last couple of updates. She's coming along really well, the paint looks very nice (apart from the fingerprint ooops!) and the interior likewise looks great.

 

Really tidy work!

 

Keith

  • Thanks 1
Posted

That's really coming along well, Ian (fingerprint aside). I'm glad my recommendation worked for you, too

 

James

  • Thanks 1
Posted

That's coming along really nicely. It's great to see what can be done with these kits, I used to think Matchbox kits were the bee's knees back in the day.  And in those times I think they were.

  • Like 1
Posted

Lovely work going on here - where did you get the mesh you used for the radiator grill ?

Posted

This build really shows the potential in those old Matchbox car kits.

Given the subjects in the range, it was a pity they were not made in 1/24th scale instead.!

Posted

This is amazing work and to think it’s 1/32 that’s small!!! Great work, you must be a very patient person.

  • Like 1
Posted

Really great stuff. Lovely shine you have going on. Apart from the obvs, obvs.  😬

 

Love the Flocking too. Inspired. 👌

 

Johnny

  • Like 1

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