1/43 1990s Seddon Atkinson Lorry build

[Steadfast]

Hi Rob,

 

They look great in place, really pleased they fit well. It's always exciting seeing the little part I've helped to make other people's projects come together.

 

I like Tamiya sprays a lot. So long as you don't go too heavy, and keep the can warm to keep the pressure up (do you know the warm water trick?), they're super reliable. They're varnishes are my go to these days, much easier than trying to clean clear paint you can't see out of the airbrush.

 

Jo

[37114]

2 hours ago, Steadfast said:

Hi Rob,

 

They look great in place, really pleased they fit well. It's always exciting seeing the little part I've helped to make other people's projects come together.

 

I like Tamiya sprays a lot. So long as you don't go too heavy, and keep the can warm to keep the pressure up (do you know the warm water trick?), they're super reliable. They're varnishes are my go to these days, much easier than trying to clean clear paint you can't see out of the airbrush.

 

Jo

Thanks Jo, yep Keeping the can warm works well, agree re aerosol Varnish, I actually got rid of my air brush a while ago!

[37114]

I had to abort my planned early morning cycle ride as the roads were too icy and the bike shed padlock was frozen so used the time to crack on with the transfers for the unit. I am really pleased how they have turned out and the grille is a great representation. Jo gave me 3 different versions as the plastic on the grilles lightened over time, I went for the lightest one which showed the detail the most strongly. As an aside while fitting the transfers I noticed that the prototype unit only had the Strato badge on the offside (drivers) door so followed suit. 

 

Next job is to Varnish it and get the unit back in one piece. The trailer is still being painted but hopefully will be not far behind.

[Steadfast]

Wow that looks fantastic Rob.

 

I'm glad I did the 3 different grills, because on the computer I'd have gone with darkest one, but it shows how there's an element of art and experimentation to see how the colours come out.

 

I'm sure it says in the instructions, but I recommend several light coats of varnish over the transfers. I've been known to rush and be heavy handed, ending up causing them to react slightly. Moral of that story - don't rush things!

 

Jo

Edited March 3 by Steadfast

[37114]

2 hours ago, Steadfast said:

Wow that looks fantastic Rob.

 

I'm glad I did the 3 different grills, because on the computer I'd have gone with darkest one, but it shows how there's an element of art and experimentation to see how the colours come out.

 

I'm sure it says in the instructions, but I recommend several light coats of varnish over the transfers. I've been known to rush and be heavy handed, ending up causing them to react slightly. Moral of that story - don't rush things!

 

Jo

Thanks Jo, Good shout re the coats. At the moment the workbench in the garage has some house bits being painted but as soon as they are out the way I will Varnish it.

[37114]

Milestone day today; The tractor unit is back in one piece(ish)! I painted the inside of the cab before I put the transfers on so it was a straightforward job to put it all back together. 

 

First job was to glue the wing mirrors on and the air filter. The airfilter is mostly scratchbuilt and was unique to firescreen fitted vehicles. 

 

The glazing (including windscreen with its tax disc and o Licence transfer) was refitted quite easily. The wipers were refitted but were swapped from left hand Drive to right hand Drive; in essence this was achieved by fitting them back to front. The bumper and headlights were then refitted. 

 

From the otherside 

The last bits to do is fitting of the airlines (I need to check which ones go where as it ages since I coupled a unit and trailer) and some weathering 

 

With the tractor unit done I will crack on with the last bits on the trailer.

[fodenway]

Fantastic work - but don't forget the locking handle on the fifth wheel coupling!

[37114]

On 08/03/2024 at 08:27, fodenway said:

Fantastic work - but don't forget the locking handle on the fifth wheel coupling!

Good point, how could I forget??! will add!

[37114]

The end is near on the project now; I unmasked the trailer this morning having painted the roof and the rubber strip that seals the top of the curtains. The curtain buckles were hand painted which wasn't easy but they are not easily masked.

 

Then it was onto applying the transfers: I only had a 3/4 nearside view of the trailer so the position of the transfers on the rear and offside are pure guesswork. The big transfers are some of the biggest I have ever applied but they went on fine. 

 

For the offside I applied the transfer in broadly the same place. I had wondered if the logo might be at the rear of the curtain but all pictures of other EVC lorries I could find had the logos at the same place I.e. both sides at the front or both sides at the rear.

 

For the rear I used the same transfer as the trailer front but cut between the "m" and "p" to miss the door rubber.

 

So the last jobs left are to fit the airlines, 5th wheel release handle, Varnish the trailer and some light weathering. Oh and build a layout for it to go on...

 

[37114]

Nearly done now, last jobs on the tractor unit was the airlines and the 5th wheel pull handle. As supplied the model came with a blue line but this should be black in the UK and provides the electrics for the trailer while the red and yellow lines supply air to the trailer (without the red airline in place the trailer breaks won't release). The handle on the side of the coupling plate (aka 5th wheel) is pulled towards the edge of the mudguard to release the trailer and then pops back in when another trailer is connected.

 

 

On the trailer I drilled holes in the receptacles so with a small pair of pliers the airlines can be connected. The trailer and unit are store separately in the box so I need to be able to split them. Whenever I eventually build a 1990s layout the lorry will be securely fixed to the layout by removable wires.