1/43 BR road runner crew van

[37114]

Only just seen your last update Chris, looking really good!

[ChrisS]

2 hours ago, 37114 said:

Only just seen your last update Chris, looking really good!

 

Thanks - nearly there. Just a couple of small bits to try and box off.

 

Once I've finished it, I can finally move on to another kit my wife bought me for Christmas!

[Enterprisingwestern]

 

Re the glazing.

On 4mm rolling stock when fixing Laserglaze I use De-Luxe Glue n Glaze, but not just around the edges, if you cover the whole window from the inside there is no danger of a tell tale line around the edges.

 

Mike.

[Steve_Beattie]

On 21/05/2023 at 18:51, ChrisS said:

 

Glazing part 2 - on the home straight.

 

I should mention the crew van body was gloss varnished and transfers added the other week. It then had a coat of satin varnish too. I'd also painted and varnished the frames and window seals separately.

 

There is a recess around the widows that would allow the glazing to be sandwiched between the frame and body, but following filing, painting and varnishing, the recess was not deep enough in places and caused the frames to sit proud. 

 

Using the same method on the crew body as what I did for the cab, I covered the plastic sheet in masking tape and using a sharp cut down pencil I traced the outline of the windows from within the body.

 

 

The windows were individually cut, test fitted and labelled for orientation. On a side note I also painted the cupboards and combi oven. I added wire handles to them too. These were subsequently installed. You can't see much of them when fitted but at least I know they are there.

 

 

Using tiny amounts of super glue I stuck the frames and window seals to the body first.

 

 

Using the canopy glue i installed all the windows from within the body. I also painted the door handles as I'd forgotten to do this before varnishing the body.

 

 

 

 

Overall I'm quite pleased how it looks.

 

Till next time.

I've used some low voltage LED's from Amberley Services in one of my old demonstrators. They show us the hidden inside quite well. 

[ChrisS]

6 hours ago, Steve_Beattie said:

I've used some low voltage LED's from Amberley Services in one of my old demonstrators. They show us the hidden inside quite well. 

 

You've almost stolen my thunder  - lol

 

My dad randomly gets me bits for my modelling. The period I model is mid 80s to early 90s. A couple of years ago, in his wisdom he thought I could use some very cheap modern Mercedes cars. God only knows where he found them. Anyhow, they were put aside until now, as they had a potential use, not that I'd know what till now.

 

 

Though cheap and nasty, they did come with some micro LEDs. So I stripped one of the cars and have temporarily installed the white ones in the crew body. I managed to get the black glue off the red ones so will tidy up the white LEDs too.

 

The plan will be to stick a 9v battery in the rear and look for a suitable switch. 

 

 

Though it looks bright in the photo, in reality they are not too bright, particularly under normal lighting conditions.

 

I was contemplating using the red LEDs for tail lights but decided the vehicle will be static so more likely in use by the work gang. I'll have to find some figures to populate it.

 

 

Other jobs I've boxed off include finally creating some method of securing the crew body to the chassis. Two small screws at the front end screw into the tabs I previously glued into the crew body (see earlier upturned body photo above). I drilled through one of the rear lockers to hide a screw which secures the rear end. I've no idea why I used such a large screw - I could have drilled a smaller hole!

 

 

I've also done the headlight lenses on the cab and made a start on making some number plates.

 

 

Between all this work I managed to knock off one of the front wheels, but it was a clean break and was easily glued back on - thank god.

 

That's all for now.

 

[Steve_Beattie]

The headlamp lenses should be pre-formed and are in with the glazing? 

[ChrisS]

On 28/05/2023 at 12:05, Steve_Beattie said:

The headlamp lenses should be pre-formed and are in with the glazing? 

 

Thanks Steve - I didn't notice anything pre-formed with the glazing supplied, but it was relatively easy to make my own.

 

Anyhow,  whilst walking past the Swindelton yard tonight, i noticed the lights were on but nobody was in. No signs of work being carried out either!

 

 

Another minor detail completed earlier. I tried to shape it before painting it. The roof vent would be vulnerable, so I drilled the bottom and fitted a pin into it. This should reduce the risk of it being knocked off after I drill a hole and fit it to the roof.

 

 

 

Edited May 31, 2023 by ChrisS
Typo

[ChrisS]

Nearly there. I outlined the cab quarterlight window rubbers with a sharp tipped permanent marker and then varnished over the top. This was neater than trying to paint them.

 

A couple of minor details to sort including some number plate transfers. Then I might have to look at weathering it.

 

If you look hard enough you can see the combi grill within the crew van.

 

I saw a photo somewhere, where someone with a sense of humour had added a wear a respirator sign, so thought I'd replicate this. It can be removed as I've not applied any varnish over the sign yet. 

 

 

 

 

Till next time.

[37114]

9 hours ago, ChrisS said:

Nearly there. I outlined the cab quarterlight window rubbers with a sharp tipped permanent marker and then varnished over the top. This was neater than trying to paint them.

 

A couple of minor details to sort including some number plate transfers. Then I might have to look at weathering it.

 

If you look hard enough you can see the combi grill within the crew van.

 

I saw a photo somewhere, where someone with a sense of humour had added a wear a respirator sign, so thought I'd replicate this. It can be removed as I've not applied any varnish over the sign yet. 

 

 

 

 

Till next time.

Looking good Chris. Have you got the registration plates pack from Railtec for it? If not send me the PM and I can pop some spare ones from my set that are the right era in the post?

[ChrisS]

12 hours ago, 37114 said:

Looking good Chris. Have you got the registration plates pack from Railtec for it? If not send me the PM and I can pop some spare ones from my set that are the right era in the post?

 

Thanks for the offer. I already have some on their way from Railtech along with some other bits for other projects too. Hopefully will be with me soon.

[37114]

1 hour ago, ChrisS said:

 

Thanks for the offer. I already have some on their way from Railtech along with some other bits for other projects too. Hopefully will be with me soon.

No worries Chris.

[ChrisS]

I wanted the red hazchem plate I've seen on many of these crew vans, but couldn't find what I wanted. 

 

Thanks to Steve at Railtec transfers, he very quickly produced a brand new set of hazchem transfers after I enquired if he did anything suitable - amazing customer service.

 

 

I also managed to finish the number plates. A disclaimer- I purposely made the decision to create a fictitious set of number plates to avoid any comments to the effect that vehicle x had pink wing mirrors and a rust patch below the windscreen. However, i did make sure using the dvla mot checker that my false plate had not been assigned to a random real life vehicle! 

 

 

 

 

 

Except for some weathering, the decoration is now pretty much complete.

 

Despite being a challenge at times, I'm really happy with it.

 

Just keeping an eye open for some suitable figures to populate the crew body.

Edited June 9, 2023 by ChrisS
Typo

[37114]

Top notch Chris, it has turned out well.

[markwilson]

It looks fantastic @ChrisS. Thank you for sharing your journey with us. I'm inspired to have a go after I've got the layout landscaping more complete! 

Edited January 21 by markwilson