"Ghosty" adds a Rolls-Royce model to his collection!!!

[YYS4BOB]

This is a great kit to build, BUT, be careful where you display it. I've seen these distort badly if they get too warm. Spot lights in cabinets etc. are enough to do it.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Thanks Bob, yes I know, the plastic used for these early kits is lovely stuff to work with, much more supple than some of the other kit makers plastic and a tip here already for anyone else making this kit, the tyres are more of a nylon compound and will cause contact problems with the plastic wheel rims, so it is best to paint the area of contact with modelling paint to cover-up the bare plastic surface.

Because the actual kit is from 1975 production, the tyres inside the box have already started leaking oil and had to be cleaned with household spray polish (Mr Sheen comes to the rescue...!) and the bonnet straps will be doing the same so they will not be used on the kit, I will make my own straps.

GHOSTHUNTER.

[fixer]

I am glad you managed to get this for your dad , it looks rather impressive
I for one will be interested to see the in progress updates

[GHOSTHUNTER]

Thank's Reg, never had to do a photographic build article before, Years ago when I was always building plastic kits, I would lock myself away in my room with some cans of drink, crisps and me Dirty mags and just get stuck-in (no pun intended... ), so it will be intersting for me as well.

Ghosty.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

As a collector of Rolls-Royce and Bentley models, I have always had the Airfix kits in the collection, I still have my very first Rolls-Royce and Bentley kits built up out of the Poly Bags they used to be sold in and have of course added many more to them.

When Airfix introduced the big 12th scale Bentley in late 1971, it was a revelation and a daunting prospect for kit builders at that time, it was huge by comparison to the 32nd scaled versions and I knew that when I got my kit it was very unlikely to ever be built, certainly not by me!

1st issue..jpg (85.98 KiB) Viewed 1984 times

First issue boxart

Almost Ten Years down the line, my Father brought a new one for around £12 (it was less than £5 when new in 1971), and I was able to assist in the building of it, but for some reason the bonnet panels were deformed and no matter what I tried they could not be coaxed back into a proper shape, so until that model passed into my ownership, it was displayed with a ghastly gap at the rear of the bonnet because it would not sit flat.

Jumping to a Year or so ago, Father expressed his wish for another example and was keen to build this one himself, but he does now suffer with Parkinson's so would not be safe holding small hand tools etc, so once again I would be involved in building it for him, I have really become the custodian of the kit during the building process and while essentially it will be built as an 'OOB' kit (Out Of the Box with no special working features etc), I will be adding some extra detail that can be seen when the model is on display and give Father something to be proud of.

1975 issue.JPG (120.51 KiB) Viewed 1984 times

Second 1975 issue boxart

The above kit is the actual example I will be building, I got it at the Monthly club night I attend in Windsor for £85, it is complete and has not been started, just what I wanted.

The fact that this kit was re-issued in the last Year or so as a slightly re-tooled version for £100, did not change my decision to get a second hand example, I am happy with the one I got.

My next post will have some pictures, I promise.

GHOSTHUNTER.

[motorman]

I am looking forward to seeing the progress reports Kevin!

[GHOSTHUNTER]

First picture shows the engine.

DSC06171.JPG (62.32 KiB) Viewed 1980 times

Some extra detail on this side is the Copper pipe just under the spark plugs. Two pieces of Black plastic rods are sticking out waiting to be trimmed and painted in Copper, these are the nuts holding the pipe to the casing. This pipe is moulded onto the side of the casing but does not look accurate, I was not keen on cutting it away so instead I just stuck some electrical wire onto to it to enhance it. The same was done on the other side.

The thin Copper wires sticking up in the air are representing wire ties for securing the manifold nuts. Three components waiting in front on the surface.

DSC06172.JPG (60.33 KiB) Viewed 1980 times

The front of the engine showing standard Airfix moulded Twin magnetoes (in Black), waiting for further attention, like bottom linkages and the leads to the spark plugs.

DSC06173.JPG (94.22 KiB) Viewed 1980 times

The other side of the engine showing that Copper pipe again with it's little brackets (in White), and those Copper nut securing wires. On the surface are the Two 'Blow-Off' valves (the Two circular parts), which will go onto the inlet manifold, these have 4 extra pieces of detail already added inside.

GHOSTHUNTER.

[motorman]

You have just started this build and yet you have had to resort to some customising already Kevin. I thought this kit was a very accurate representation of the original model but you have had to make some amendments already which seems disappointing?

[GHOSTHUNTER]

The next Three pictures...

DSC06174.JPG (91.45 KiB) Viewed 1975 times

The poly bag contains Eight fine wires for representing the spark plug leads and just visible towards the bottom of the bag, are the little connectors made from the nylon insulation that was covering the wire in the first place, so I know it would slide back onto the wire for an effective connector!

DSC06175.JPG (132.04 KiB) Viewed 1975 times

A closer shot of the engine.

There will be some painting to attend to and the magneto will require some additional pieces added and some painting, but so far there have not been any problems, it is going together nicely.

The original issue of this Bentley was designed for the fitment of a small electrical motor and this was housed inside the model's engine block, as shown on the original instuctions below.

Early issue with electric motor.jpg (121.55 KiB) Viewed 1975 times

But this was deleted around 1974-75 and so a few parts in my kit are still used but they do not fulfill their original purpose anymore. The motorization was only to see the rear wheels turn under their own power with the rear of the car jacked up, not for the whole model to actually run along the surface, which it did not do too well, so I believe this was the reason for deleting this feature.

Next pictures will be the wheels, had one problem with a tyre keep going down, a loose valve I think...!!

GHOSTHUNTER.

[GHOSTHUNTER]

You have just started this build and yet you have had to resort to some customising already Kevin. I thought this kit was a very accurate representation of the original model but you have had to make some amendments already which seems disappointing?

The kit warrants some extra detail like spark plug leads and operating levers etc and this kit can not be considered as a 'Superkit' like those of today and within my own modelling limits, I am happy to add such details and already Father can not believe the engines transformation, it really is worth doing it if you can, fortunately even at my age, I can!

Ghosthunter.