In odd minutes over the last week, I've finished the Airfix Beach Buggy kit. I know the project has jumped some steps, but I'm sure you don't need all of them.
Anyway, the body is stuck to the chassis, seats and figures added and the clear parts fitted with Glue'n'Glaze. Told you it wasn't exciting.
There were a few interesting wrinkles. The roll bar is on the clear sprue, and is glazed. Not sure why this is as you wouldn't have a honking great window behind the seats, it would act like an air-brake for a start. carefully opening this up with a razor saw looks better, and makes it easier to paint. On balance, I should have replaced it with something thinner, but it's OK.
Both figures are nicely sculpted, but a little laid back. They looked odd until I painted their eyes in (I don't normally bother with eyes on 4mm figures and sometimes not on 7mm, but these definitely needed them doing) and she is still staring at the sky rather than forward. I'm out of practise on skin tones too and think I could have done a better job - but every project is a learning exercise.
Overall, I'm pleased to have had the chance to revisit the kit and enjoyed the build. Aside from a few issues, the model goes together well.
If you want to do a really top-notch job, I'd recommend buying two kits and building the first to get a feel for the model, then making the second the exhibition job. There's plenty of scope for customisation too - the nerf bars on the front could be changed, and the rear cage is a bit basic too. That fan belt cover would be nice in mesh with visible pulleys too.
But then that's the joy of plastic kits - so adaptable, and so much fun to adapt.
Could the rear glazing have been a wind deflector? The Mazda MX-5 I used to own, and the Audi A3 Cabriolet I currently drive are both more comfortable with a gauze screen behind the seats. Without them, the wind curls back over the front screen which is fine when it's really hot weather, but bothersome at normal British temperatures.
ReplyDeleteThe bikinied crumpet in your model would have her hair blowing in front of her face...
John - A good point, but I don't think anyone had invented wind deflectors in the 1960s when this thing was built.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes to the hair, but the Airfix modelmakers obviously chose the easy option. Perhaps another build with her hair replaced by plumbers hemp a la Pendon!
Looks great Phil - nice model!
ReplyDeleteGreat build Phil. Like the Union Jack on the front. You have done a good job on the figures - they do however look as though the Airfix sculptures thought they may have inhaled glue or possibly other substances.
ReplyDeleteWoody
Nice, quite fancy a real one, but perhaps not the best choice of vehicle for living in the Peak District.
ReplyDeleteThe laid back open eyed pose suggests watching the sun go down and enjoying a relaxing herbal cigarette...
"You have done a good job on the figures - they do however look as though the Airfix sculptors thought they may have inhaled glue or possibly other substances."
ReplyDeleteInteresting point about the glue - especially since plastic kit modellers don't tend to use dope ... .
"Perhaps another build with her hair replaced by ... hemp ... .
So that sort of substance ... .
"The laid back open eyed pose suggests watching the sun go down and enjoying a relaxing herbal cigarette ... ."
I'm starting to wonder if this might be a case of "too much information" - still, I suppose that some people might want beach buggies to "fly" - on the beach, or grass, or whatever else they might happen to be on ... .
It's probably just as well that, like a lot of people round here, I don't smoke tobacco - or anything else, for that matter.