Trundling the layout back to the car from Warley, the one glued-down road vehicle decided to part company with the baseboard, leaving only a single wheelset. I've no idea what happened to it but wasn't inclined to go back to the NEC and find out.
Obviously I'd like the replace the Coopercraft AEC with an identical model but can't find a kit for sale and while I'm sure there is one in my stash, it's well buried and I didn't get around to digging it out.
The space looked a bit empty so I needed a quick replacement in time for the Doncaster show. An Oxford Diecast Landrover was to hand so a quick coat of Testors Dullcote, applied by brush rather than spray to save masking, was followed by a wash of Lifecolor track dirt weathering paint.
Total time required less than half an hour including drying time.
On the layout, the model looks fine and actually attracted positive attention. One visitor was really impressed as he'd been stripping and repainting the models. Suddenly he realised that a simple coat of varnish might be all that was required.
If I remember rightly that's not the first AEC Monarch you've lost that way!
ReplyDeleteAre you sure that you really want this "Landie" to leave your layout any time soon?
ReplyDeleteAfter all, it sounds like it's attracting positive attention - and prompting people to ask the sort of questions that suggest they might be about to do some modelmaking.
There's also another angle - JLR ceasing production of the "Defender" (essentially much the same design) - so this diecast's appearance on the layout probably couldn't have been better timed.
Here's a throwaway thought: I've noticed that, these days, a lot of diecasts are supplied bolted to black plastic bases, in otherwise transparent boxes.
Do you know of any convenient way of re-using these bolt fixings - perhaps running some suitable sized metal tubing through a hole in the baseboard and running the bolt through this into the chassis - or something like that?
I'm not sure how workable the suggestion is - but these models are likely to come away from baseboards when layouts are being transported.
If possible, how about drilling a couple of smallish (ca. 1 mm dia.) hole through the baseboard to line up with the axles? Then a loop of fine wire can be passed over each axle and pushed through the baseboard, where it can be be firmly secured underneath. With any luck the wire will be invisible under the vehicle, and should stop it dropping off in transit. (And the vehicle wouldn't need to be glued down.)
ReplyDeleteA loop of wire would work a treat on a diecast vehicle with metal axles. Trouble is, I'm more inclined to take the back off, drill a great big hole and use a mahoosive screw to fix it to the board. Not because it's better (it's not) but just for the fun of taking the photo...
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