Jaguar MK7
This is going to be a commission build for a fellow slotter, who wants a Jag Mk7. George Turner Models produces a resin version of the Jag Mk7 in 1/32nd scale, for slotting. The George Turner kit as supplied is for a Monte Carlo rally version, so I will be modifying it to the car as above, factory racing car, run at Silverstone in 1952, driven by Stirling Moss.
Here's the GTM chassis. I've discarded the original front axle & blade mount in the foreground, and built a replacement to take the MRRC steering unit. Note the unit is also pivoted fore-and-aft, which allows the front wheels to move up and down, meaning that all four wheels should always stay in contact with the track - basically, self-levelling !
Here is the GTM shell, and a bag of bits. Added to this are alloy wheels & tyres, an MRRC front steering unit & guide blade, and wheel inserts that I made up myself - grey master, pink silicone rubber mould and the cream resin casts. Not in the pic are a standard Mabuchi motor, and Scalextric rear axle / contrate / pinion / bronze axle bushes.
Chassis painted in off-black, and a bit of blanking added in front of the rear wheels to conceal view of the motor through the wheel arches. Also added an exhaust pipe, using some ally tube. Motor and axles have been glued in place.
Vac-form interior trimmed to fit, and seat backs glued in. Resin wheel, dashboard, driver as supplied. The supplied co-drive for the rally version is not being used, obviously !
All painted up with assorted enamels and acrylics, and some semi-matt varnish on the 'leather' seats and 'walnut' dash. I also added a rear-view mirror to the dash, and I also added a front seat squab on the passenger's side, to fill the 'black hole' a bit.
Priming - I cleaned up the main shell with a fine sanding and a good wash, blasted it over with a couple of coats of rattle-can grey enamel primer, and then washed some dark grey acrylic in to the panels lines to emphasise them a bit. NO NEED TO PAINT - the grey primer is already the right colour !
Finished -
Chrome work done with Bare-Metal Foil, then the GTM-supplied etched window frames and clear sheet plastic fitted, using canopy glue and clear varnish to affix. The decal set came off of EBay; I had to carefully slit the numbers wrapped round the nose in various places to get them to sit down. Everything was then overcoated with Klear acrylic floor polish to gloss it up.
Far left, front - radiator grille black-washed to bring out the detail. Note also tax disc and a label inside the windscreen, made up on computer, printed off, clear-taped then stuck inside with canopy glue - carefully !. As regards the label, it's not clear what the label reads on the photo of the original, but I've made an intelligent guess that it reads 'Stirling Moss' and was a hand-made driver's name tag.
Near left, rear - I had to remove the Monte Carlo rally plate from the rear bumper ( and the front ) - pig of a job ! I also removed the solid rear lights and replaced them with clear dark red slot car spares.