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Spudgun · Posted: Wed 18 Mar 2009 21:14 pm Post subject:

Day 4.

Not a lot done as I had to go out for the evening, but some progress has been made.

The first job was to paint the cab seats and the backrest squabs in the rear compartment. Also the paint callout says H30, I'm using H86 as the real squabs are made of plastic leathercloth, so a little contrast is required. I also did the same for the gearstick gaiter. The H30 painted parts of the axels were given a second coat of paint. One side of the road wheels was given a coat of H33 (The hubs were painted a couple of days ago). Lastly, the baffle box on the exhaust pipe was given a coat of H56. That's it for today.
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Spudgun · Posted: Thu 19 Mar 2009 20:46 pm Post subject:

Day 5.

Some more progress has been made on the painting front. All seat squabs were given a second coat of H86. While I was at it, I painted the stretcher that's moulded onto one of the bench seats a lick of H86 as well. With this out of the way, I turned my attention to the bulkhead that's at the rear of the cab. On the rear compartment side, there's some raised detail. I'm guessing that the four pips on either side of (what I assume to be) a locker are interior lights. I gave these a bit of H11. Slightly down from these pips are what I assume to be bump-stops for stretchers that can be slotted between the two rear upright poles. These I gave a coat of H86. I may use the stand-alone stretcher to verify this when the time comes.

The reverse side of the wheels were given a coat of H33. Fingers crossed, the wheels and axels should be able to be assembled tomorrow. Speaking of which......

Next up was the axels. I gave the springs a coat of H70. The diff boxes recieved some H56. Lastly I gave the transfer box and couplings on the drive shaft assembly a coat of H56.

I actually managed to glue a part on! It was the exhaust pipe. I thought I'd better do it now, or I'd forget later.

That's it for today.
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Collectable kits built here. Baggies, blisters or boxed. You collect 'em, but I'll build 'em.

Spudgun · Posted: Fri 20 Mar 2009 21:32 pm Post subject:

Day 6.

Right, time to get some building done (rather than just painting parts).

The first things to be attached were the two axels. I test fitted then first and found that they were a good snug fit. With a dab of superglue, they were fixed into place. The transfer box and prop shafts were next. Dry fitting showed that a little shaving of plastic was required at the rear end. Once done, this assembly was fixed into place. Before the wheels were attached, any exposed (but now dry glue) was painted over. Then came the wheels. Care was needed to ensure that the right wheel went on the right axel. To do this, I simply laid the chassis on the instructions, put each of the wheels next to the relevent wheel on the illustration. The wheels were then attached. Once dry, the chassis was turned the right way up to reveal........ the chassis sat with three wheels on the ground! DOH!! One day, I'll make an Airfix kit where all of the wheels are on the deck!!

Next part to be attached was the front seat and engine cover assembly. Dry fitting showed that this part was going to be tricky to get right as the front bulkhead goes directly in front and butts up to the engine cover. In the end, I got it right. The engine cover was glued into place and the front bulkhead (dry) fits correctly.

I boobed again when I fitted the gear stick. I glued to on backwards! I'm so used to gearstick that lean backwards, I thought this one would be no different. Wrong!! Take a tip from me folks; The gearstick leans forwards!

The last part to be attached for tonight was the steering wheel assembly. The locating pin had to be shaved down a little, but now it's on.

Lastly for tonight, all parts that needed a bit of paint (exposed plastic, glue, etc) got the colour it needed. Phew!
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Collectable kits built here. Baggies, blisters or boxed. You collect 'em, but I'll build 'em.

Spudgun · Posted: Sat 21 Mar 2009 21:46 pm Post subject:

Day 7.

Ah progress, don't you just love it. I had now got to the tricky bit. That was putting the body work onto the chassis.

The first part to be glued on was the front bulkhead. To ensure that it was aligned correctly, I held the two doors in place with one hand while I applied some superglue to the mounting area and placing the bulkhead with the other hand. Thirty seconds later, the two doors were removed and the front bulkhead was solidly on.

The second part to be added was the rear bulkhead. To do this, I put the bulkhead in place and added the two side pieces. This was all held together with one hand. A little jiggling was required to make sure that everything was aligned correctly. Once happy, I used some superglue to fix the bottom of the rear bulkhead to the floor plate. Once dry, the two side plates were removed.

The next part to be added was the cover that goes behind the front seats. It was a bit of a snug fit, so I trimmed off some of the plastic. Once happy, I placed the part into position and glued the part from underneath.

Now came the doors. These were easy to put on, so 'nuff said. The two side panels were next. A small amount of cutting was required on the locating bars (the ones that butt against the rear bulkhead inside the cover that behind the front seats) to ensure that everything fitted right. I used poly cement this time as I wanted the extra drying time allow me to 'wiggle' the parts into the right position. Once happy, I allowed everything to dry while I went for coffee.

The last part to be assembled was the small panel that goes over the windscreen. This part fitted without any fuss.

I now painted any exposed plastic and glue marks that remained in the inside of the Ambulance. I have to say that the Ambulance is taking shape and looks rather nice (NO pictures until it's finished so there!).That's it for today.
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Collectable kits built here. Baggies, blisters or boxed. You collect 'em, but I'll build 'em.

Spudgun · Posted: Sun 22 Mar 2009 20:11 pm Post subject:

Day 8.

Well, after yesterdays flurry of activity, I've not done much today. I can't do much more until the roof is glued into place so, I concentrated on the roof section. I'd already painted the rear compartment part with H28, so I painted the cab end with H30. The two 'poles' that fit into the rear compartment were given a coat of H28. That's it. Nothing else!

Just a thought for you. I'm positve that the Ambulance is supposed to have a spare wheel. A spare is provided. There's even a space to put it as indicated by a locating slot on the underside of the chassis. However, there's no mounting bracket. I suspect that there's a mounting bracket on the standard FC Landrover kit, but the part wasn't duplicated on the Ambulance sprue. I may have to scratch build one.
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Collectable kits built here. Baggies, blisters or boxed. You collect 'em, but I'll build 'em.

Spudgun · Posted: Mon 23 Mar 2009 20:36 pm Post subject:

Day 9.

Time for some building. The roof was dry fitted to the Ambulance. There were a couple of gaps, so I used my sanding block to smooth out the top surfaces where the roof was going to be glued to. Once done, the fit was an improvement.

The next part was the fold down step. I left the back plate on the sprue and went to find the step so I could glue it on. I couldn't find it!! Rummage, rummage. Search through the bin. Got on my hands and knees and looked around the carpet. Gave up and and considered having the rear doors closed. Picked up the instructions and..... there it was! Somewhat relieved, I glued the step onto the back plate.

Paint time. All exposed plastic on the outside of the Ambulance was given a coat of H30. I now have a completely green Land Rover. While the H30 was out, I gave the folding step a lick of paint as well. Next out was the H28. The joints on the inside of the rear compartment were covered. While the H28 was out, the two support poles were given a second coat of paint. Now, I haven't fitted these two poles yet. I found that they're flexable enough to be bent slightly and slotted into place. I'll be doing this when they're dry.

Right, there's not much else I can do for now, so I'm calling it a day.
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Collectable kits built here. Baggies, blisters or boxed. You collect 'em, but I'll build 'em.

Spudgun · Posted: Tue 24 Mar 2009 20:55 pm Post subject:

Day 10.

I reckon that I'm on the downward slope now. The bulk of the building is finished. There's just the odd bits to do now. So, onwards!

As I mentioned yesterday, I was going to fit the two poles to the inside of the rear compartment. Some fiddling was required to get them into the position I wanted. I reckon I put things together slighly wonky in the rear as the poles didn't look quite right when I dry fited them. However, a little work with a knife and a file got them looking right. Now that I was happy, I glued the poles into position. Once done, it was time to get the paints out.

The two poles were touched up with some H28. The outside of the Ambulance was given its second coat of H30. The rear step was also given some H30 as well. Now, I mentioned the lack of a spare wheel on the Ambulance, so I painted the hub of the spare with H30 as well. Lastly, I painted the two rear doors with H30 as well.

All being well, I'll paint the H33 cammo stripes on the Ambulance tomorrow.
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Collectable kits built here. Baggies, blisters or boxed. You collect 'em, but I'll build 'em.

Spudgun · Posted: Wed 25 Mar 2009 20:56 pm Post subject:

Day 11.

The decent towards completion continues. I reckon that I'll be finished in about 2 days. Anyway, onto the buildy bits.

The first job was to add the H33 cammo stripes. In reality, there's no set pattern. A new vehicle would arrive at a given Regiment (Painted in gloss olive green) and 'the lads' would be given paint brushes and paint (I've done this when I was in the Army), so I had a bit of fun painting randon stripes.

The rear doors and the hub of the spare wheel (I don't know if I'm going to use it yet) was given a second coat of H30. That's it, I couldn't do anything else!

Tomorrow, I'll be able to add the two side windows and paint the small lights on the Ambulance. That should see the Ambulance ready for the decals. Then it'll be on with the rear doors in the open position. I'll worry about the spare wheel then.
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Collectable kits built here. Baggies, blisters or boxed. You collect 'em, but I'll build 'em.

Spudgun · Posted: Thu 26 Mar 2009 20:51 pm Post subject:

Day 12.

The first job was to put tin the windows that go to the rear of the drivers compartment. Now, on the vehicles (when I was in the Army), the rear compartment windows were painted over, but the drivers compartment windows were left clear. In this respect, this kit is spot on. However, things are going slightly downhill from here.

I'm not happy with the detail paint call-out. The front side lights and indicators are fine, but it's the rear lights that annoy. The instructions are accurate, but I'm used to seeing vehicles with the indicators outermost. To hell with it, I'm painting the rear lights my way!

The rear step came off the sprue and was dry fitted to the Ambulance. The fit was fine, but I'd stuck the step to the back plate a little off centre. I decided not to do anything about it (it doesn't look all that bad) and glued the step assembly into place,

The beacon was given a lick of blue paint and then put to one side.

The rear doors were left alone as they can't be fitted until the decals are placed on the sides of the Ambulance. One thing here. I'll have to scratch build some hinges, otherwise the rear doors will appear to float in mid air.

After an hour, I fitted the blue beacon. The blue paint had pretty much dried so I thought 'why not'.

I've fitted the spare wheel! It was simple enough. A bit of glue on the chassis beam and a bit of glue under the rear compartment and on it went. It may not be correct, but it doesn't look out of place (I think the real spare wheel goes behind the drivers seat somewhere).

The last job of the day was to touch up any areas with paint so the model would be ready to have the decals applied tomorrow.
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Collectable kits built here. Baggies, blisters or boxed. You collect 'em, but I'll build 'em.

Spudgun · Posted: Fri 27 Mar 2009 21:12 pm Post subject:

Day 13.

The decals are on, but it wasn't a completely happy experence.

The 'brown backing paper of doom' wasn't the problem. It was that the writing (indicating where the decals go) was far to close to the decals themselves. In fact, a letter is actually on the decal that goes on the roof! Another problem is that a decal is allocated to go on the front of the roof section, but it's not indicated on the illustration. However, it was kind of obvious where it went, but even so, it was too large to fit correctly. I didn't fit the decals that go on the rear doors as I couldn't see the point. You're not going to see them when the doors are fixed into place. With the decals on, I'll let everything dry before fixing them into place.

Ok, decals now fixed. I use matt varnish for the job. I've noticed that one decal is slightly damaged (it's got a hole in it). I'll have to let the varnish dry before I can put in a little red paint. While I'm waiting, I'll look at putting on the rear doors.

Oh dear. This wasn't as simple as I had hoped. The doors are supposed to fit flush against the sides of the Ambulance. However, there's a lot of raised detail on both the doors and the Ambulance sides. There was no way there was enough surface area to allow the door to be glued to the side. Some had to be removed!

I shaved off the window detail on both of the doors and both of the Ambulance sides. The raised vent detail was also removed. This gave a sufficent contact area to allow the doors to be glued on. However, during this 'jiggery-pokery' phase, I damaged the Red Cross decals on the sides of the Ambulance (Whoops!).

The doors looked a bit silly because there weren't any hinges. I made a set out of ..... (wait for it)..... stretched sprue. The open doors now looked a lot better. A coat of H28 finished them off.

The Ambulance was given a last look over and any odd spots that required a touch of paint got it.

That's it, finished! Well, I suppose I'd better organise some photo's then.
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Collectable kits built here. Baggies, blisters or boxed. You collect 'em, but I'll build 'em.

Ratch · Posted: Fri 27 Mar 2009 21:22 pm Post subject:

Spudgun · Posted: Fri 27 Mar 2009 22:15 pm Post subject:

I'll do them in the morning. It'll be light and it'll give the paint a chance to dry.
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Collectable kits built here. Baggies, blisters or boxed. You collect 'em, but I'll build 'em.

Spudgun · Posted: Sat 28 Mar 2009 08:08 am Post subject:

Photos are now in the Gallery (and elsewhere).

This concludes my builds for this GB. However, as GB Leader, I'll be keeping an eye on everyone as this GB continues.
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Collectable kits built here. Baggies, blisters or boxed. You collect 'em, but I'll build 'em.