Jaguar 420
As I do want the motor forward under the bonnet like the real car, I used a Scalextric TVR chassis - narrowed, and all the overhang in front of the motor and behind the rear axle also removed. Then I added a vertical plate in front of the motor, with a second vertical plate in front of that, with a pivot screw holding them together. Then I built a block on to the second plate, to hold an airfix / MRRC Ackermann steering unit; the pivot screw between the two vertical plates allows the steering unit to move like a beam axle, so the wheels can move up and down and self-level on the track. The wheels and tyres are Airfix slot racing ones, and I've skimmed off the front of the wheels and then trimmed down and attached the kit rims and hubcaps. Oh, and MRRC wiring, spade connectors and braids.
This is a 1/32nd scale static kit of the mid 1960's Jaguar 420.
It was originally issued by Airfix, but this box is an MPC (American) issue of the kit, slightly different in that it has a chromed sprue of bits like the grille and bumpers, plus some odd weird 'custom' decals, and the ability to use part of the box as a background display, using stands also included in the box.
I am converting this kit to a slot car version, using part of a Scalextric chassis, plus Airfix / MRRC slot car bits like wheels / tyres, and Ackermann steering unit.
It is being finished as a road car.
Here's the kit floor pan. It's had various parts cut away to clear the chassis mechanicals, and a box built to which the chassis screws.
Note also that I've attached parts of the exhausts, but I've replaced the tail pipes with aluminium tube - properly round, and hollow, and already metallic in finish, and much stronger !
The floor pan attaches to the body with three screws; two going in to locating blocks built just behind the front wheel arches, the third in to a post added under the boot.
In this shot, note also that I've permanently glued the bonnet in, and I've also added a front valance, plus the rear valance has been separated from the floor pan, and glued to the body instead.
Kit shell - a fair amount of tidying up required, to deal with sink marks, ridges from misaligned mould parts, and some detail tightening, particularly the rain guttering above the side windows, the (to be) chrome trim line across the doors at waistline level, and also properly demarcating the front and rear window frames.
Interior; kit parts - dashboard and shelf, seats, steering column & steering wheel, and driver. The one thing missing in the kit is interior door panels and detail like handles, so I've made these up from plastic sheet and bits and bobs. I've done the rear seat separately, so I can more easily get in to the front bit to paint. Note also at bottom left of the picture are three small panels - these are replacement dashboard bits; the detail on the original dash is a bit too fine to paint easily, so I've made new bits with better raised details, to which I can also add dial decals. Note chassis now attached to floor pan, with the drive shaft going through the actual transmission tunnel, and lead weight added over the rear axle to counterbalance the weight of the forward motor. And the motor has slightly intruded in to the passenger shell, but should disappear with the front seats in place, plus judicious painting...
Deflashing the chome is unfortunately going to leave some bare plastic to be dealt with. The side windows have sink marks, so they're going to have to be sanded down and repolished, to remove the currently distorted view through them.
Interior painted and assembled.
The floor pan was given a shot of grey spray primer, then the bulk of it painted with a very dark grey / brown acrylic.
The light tan 'leatherwork' was done with a custom-mixed acrylic, and then given a darker wash in a leather colour to pick out the details. The 'walnut' dash was done with acrylics, and dials are from a Patto's Place decal sheet. Chromework was picked out in a good silver paint. The dash and steering got a coat of gloss varnish, and the slight sheen on the 'leatherwork' was done with a light coat of diluted Klear.
Driver - done as supplied with the kit, with flash removed and joins filled, though I had to add ears to the head, as they'd disappeared in to a mould join. Painted off with assorted matt enamels.
Shell prepared by rubbing down with 1000-grade sandpaper, followed by a good wash.
Then shot with matt white enamel spray as an undercoat and to cover up any spots of grey filler.
Finished off with two coats of cream gloss enamel spray.
There were a couple of panels that ended up with 'orange peel' dimpling on them, so the paint was left to dry thoroughly, the defective panels gently flattened down with a 2400-grade polishing cloth, and then coated with Klear to bring the shine back.
Finished -
All assembled, and final detail bits built i.e. windscreen wipers and interior mirror - and a tax disc in the windscreen!
Windows were affixed with PVA canopy glue, and all the other bits attached with tube polystyrene glue and / or the PVA.
As you can see, the paint job is gloss cream enamel, from a rattle can, and panel lines have been lowlighted with a wash of burnt umber.
Chrome is either as supplied with the kit, or Bare Metal Foil, or silver paint for the very small bits, and all the chrome has subsequently been toughened with a coat of Humbrol Gloss Cote.
Note numberplate(s) - make up on the computer, printed on to paper, covered with clear sellotape, cut out and attached with double-sided tape. Rear light clusters; Tamiya clear orange and Humbrol clear red paints, plus a small divider strip of Bare Metal Foil. And note steering in operation !
Note driver, and I have removed the window in the driver's door ( as if rolled down ) so you can see him better.
Jag 420 along with my Jag Mk 2.