1930's Blower Bentley Advice Please

Hi guys,

Looking to tackle the 1/12 scale airfix kit, with a little bit of improvement (I hope!) here and there. However, I'm at a bit of a loss as to how to replicate the vinyl body of the car. Anyone got any suggestions??

Oh, and anyone know how to get hold of sms faux fabrix in the UK??

TIA!

Darren

I have that kit also....if my memory is correct the 'fabric' part of the body has a molded texture for it. I have seen one of these cars in person and the fabric is very tightly bound to the car and tightly woven.

I plan to paint the fabric texture on the body with a flat BRG or just paint it with Tamiya's BRG and then flat coat over that section. There isn't much you can realistically do to improve the kit texture in that scale IMO.

Hi Veyron,

I'll have to check it out - I was going from memory too - when I built the car when I were a lad - when it came with the motor!!! That kit unfortunately got broken when a friend of the family's kid decided to play with it in my absence, resulting in the serious decimation of my kit collection at the time!! Had to say good bye to the Bentley, a 1909 (I think) Rolls Royce, Porsche 911, and large scaled Harrier Jump Jet, Stuka, and Spitfire!:runaround: Not a good day for me!!!

If it is already textured then that may help. Thinks I'm going to have to do the same re BRG flatted. Are you going to use Tamiya or auto paint?

Darren

I will definitely use Tamiya's BRG, it's one of Tamiya's better formulas.

I have that kit also....if my memory is correct the 'fabric' part of the body has a molded texture for it. I have seen one of these cars in person and the fabric is very tightly bound to the car and tightly woven.

I plan to paint the fabric texture on the body with a flat BRG or just paint it with Tamiya's BRG and then flat coat over that section. There isn't much you can realistically do to improve the kit texture in that scale IMO.

It's not fabric, so there's no weave! The material used is actually leather cloth (a posh name for vinyl), so if there's a suitibly scaled moulded in leather grain, that will be more than sufficient. As for the finish, matt or a matt / satin mix would be a good replication imho, as it should have a slight sheen.

:)

Cheers for that Veyron - will check out the tamiya paint range

AmazonSprite - you are of course correct - something like this then?? http://www.mediamixhobby.com.sg/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=115_119&products_id=3217

Not sure how it would work, but may be worth a go - any other suggestions for scale leathercloth??

Hmmm...I must be confusing my memory of the texture on real car with what's on the kit. I'll check my pics of the real thing later.

Here's a shot Veyron, not too clear, but you can see the big difference

http://i194.photobucket.com/albums/z1/LanciaNuut/45-10.jpg

I'm pretty sure there were some shots of one in a museum somewhere in a thread, yup, this was it

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=542626&highlight=bentley

You can see in the shots on page 2 the bodt of the car is in leathercloth

Yup, real car leather on bodywork, I stand corrected. So semi gloss is in order, or real leather if you're going for max realism.

Hi Darren,

try this link:
http://www.wworkshop.net/

Master model builder Gerald Wingrove builds the Bentley
scratch from metal. Very good source for many details..

I built mine some years ago and was able to make many improvement to
the Airfix kit. First: Get rid of the clear plastic "mesh" that should depict
the stoneguards on the headlamps and for the windscreen. Replace them with "real" wire mesh.
I painted my body with Revell Primer as a base, the primer has a very "textured" surface- bad for highgloss finishes- good for this project.
Then I jused semigloss custom mixed BRG on it. The glossy metal parts were
covered with Tamiya BRG form a spray can.

Here is another link for a WIP report from me( with bad pics)
http://www.pmc-bodensee.de/hoffmann/bentley/bentley.htm
and:
http://www.pmc-bodensee.de/hoffmann/bentley/text_bentley_eng.htm

Hope it helps...

Uli

Darren,

This link will take you to a pdf on the Airfix build but you have to pay for it to be downloaded as a hi-res article. The model was built by Tony Allen and is the most inspirational build that I've ever seen of this kit.

http://www.modelersite.com/Mar2001/English/Bentley_Eng.htm

Uli,

Thanks a lot for those great links - reminds me of the guy who built the sharknose ferrari from scratch - unbelievable skill there. And great work on your Bentley too - thank you for the info and will certainly refer to you when I start my build.

cinqster - thanks for that link - I have the pdf file of the build too and all of it is certainly inspirational!

Thanks again guys!!:grinyes:

Darren

Darren,
I found some pics of my Bentley:


http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/85/5480285/1280_3033376233653637.jpg

You can see the reworked stoneguards on the headlamps and the scratchbuilt stoneguard on the carbs. The tires have
a bad fit on the wheels.
Also note the difference between the glossy hood and the satin matte body.

http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/85/5480285/1280_6330346136376661.jpg
Next time I will respoke the wheels...




http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/85/5480285/1280_3435653435313766.jpg

Here is a shot of the engine with heat resitant covered spark plug cables and some extra wiring.

If you compare the 1/24 Heller kit of the Blower Bentley with the big Airfix kit there is not much difference in the details.

Have fun!

Uli

Hi again Uli,

Great shots and a lovely build. I hope to make as good a job of mine! I would like to have a go at lacing the wheels as that would make a huge difference to the overall look. The other place would be in the bonnet, but I don't have the tooling to make and cut the louvres, so I think I'll probable leave that for now!

Will certainly use your tips on painting the fabric parts of the body - that really works well!

I'll post up a WIP once I get everything in order and ready to go!

Darren

Hi Darren,

Forgot to mention the tyres - mine were very badly distorted from new and I managed to get Airfix to select a good set from their factory for me a few years back - guess you can't do that now though? The fit can be improved upon, IIRC, Tony Allen filled his with 3 core cable to fill them out a bit.

My top detailing tip is to use steel wound guitar strings for the cabling to the rear lights and for some of the engine compartment wiring. Check out your local music shop - there's a guage that's absloutely perfect for that period conduit look!

Mine is yet another of my just started/unfinished projects. I wanted to build the kit stripped out without lights and fenders as Birkin's Pau GP car - there's a great shot of him somewhere, post race sat on the car. I came to a halt because I couldn't find a decent solution to make the engine turned dash - hopefully a milling machine will sort that one soon. I did get as far as re-spoking the wheels, but I didn't make spoke nipples which kind of annoys me now! I'll try to get some pctures up at the weekend so you can see the improvement.

Nice choice of Italian classic BTW. I used to have a chipped 16v Turbo Thema - very lairy! :smokin:

Hi Darren,
I came to a halt because I couldn't find a decent solution to make the engine turned dash
- hopefully a milling machine will sort that one soon.
:smokin:

Hi cinqster, the best way to depict turned aluminium is turned aluminium!:rofl:

From my WIP report:

The kit´s dashboard was used as a pattern for a new one made of 0.5mm aluminium sheet.
The real Bentleys had a ball-milled pattern on it. I replicated it by the following method:
First I punched a small disc out of 240 grade sandpaper. I glued this to a round grinder
from my Dremel motor tool and chucked it in my drilling machine.
Then I worked my way with this tool over the above mentioned aluminium sheet.
The tool produced a roundel on it which I led overlap half by the next roundel and so on.
After I had a piece of milled aluminium large enough for the dashboard,
I used my jeweller´s saw to cut out the outer shape of the board.

I doubt a milling machine will do the job..:frown:

Here the result:
http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/85/5480285/1280_6465653030316330.jpg
I have to fix the steering wheel again.

And from behind:

http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/85/5480285/1280_3763633466636336.jpg
Oops, one copper cable came loose, you can also see the guitar wire I used .

The tool it´s done with:

http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/85/5480285/1280_6661306362643533.jpg

The mor I look at my model and write about it, the more I come to the conclusion that it needs a rework.. we will see...:uhoh:

Keep on building!

Uli

Hi again Cinqster,

Thanks for the tip on the tyres - yeah I don't think i'll be able to source any replacements, but will certainly be filling them with cord to try and get them looking right. Will also be taking a trip to our local music shop for strings! Going to lace the wheels - or at least attempt to - not tried before!

As far as the build is concerned, I'm just going to 'improve' it where I can and see where we end up!!;o)).

Always loved Lancias and owned the for a few years - Beta Coupes, Delta's and currently trying to finish a restoration on a Montecarlo - got a volumex engine ready to go in, but more work needed first! Thema engine would definately be a good one to have in there!!

Darren

Hi there Uli,

Great shots there - I guess I need to get a punch set then. Any recommendations on sourcing one in the uk? Ebay?? I then need to find the time to start it all!!;o)

Darren

Hi Protarguy, great work on that Bently! I know links to other forums seem to be generally frowned upon - not sure why?? But I think this is worthy of a look, this 1/12 Bentley is amazing, have a look at how he has respoked the wheels! I can't speak the language, but Babelfish does a good enough job to understand most of it!!

http://forum.modelbrouwers.nl/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=6522

Malc.

http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/85/5480285/1280_6465653030316330.jpg

Now that's exactly what I was talking about...excellent work! :smokin:

I was only going to use the mill only to allow me to step the tool an even amount for each turn. After a bit of experimentation I intended to use a cut down pencil eraser - makes nice swirls.

Thema engine would definately be a good one to have in there!!

Darren

Would of thought it would drop straight in! Have you tried L+M in High Wycombe? They took my old Thema when the cambelt snapped. :banghead:

Sorry to go OT, BTW!

It will go in - as will the V6 Alfa 164 engine - The maddest I've seen is the Thema 8.32 engine - Ferrari V8 power!!!;o)) No probs with OT with me, I'm always happy to talk about Lancias!!:grinyes: I do know of L&M but not had to use them to date

[QUOTE=DarrenGR]The maddest I've seen is the Thema 8.32 engine - Ferrari V8 power!!!;o)) QUOTE]

The soundtrack was nice but the 16v turbo was quicker!
:wink:

Better not tell you I went from the Thema to a 115 bhp Turbo Cinquecento - quite a culture shock! Still have a picture somewhere with the needle of the clock:lol:

LOL, that is a drop!! Still they looked quite fun once you'd got them moving! I quite like the look of the new Punto or the Abarth Stilo - great cars both!

Hi there Uli,

Great shots there - I guess I need to get a punch set then. Any recommendations on sourcing one in the uk? Ebay?? I then need to find the time to start it all!!;o)

Darren

Hi Darren,
here is a picture of a hole punch. It is used for making holes in leather belts in various sizes but also good for paper or plastic.
I guess it is available in any better tool shop.

http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/85/5480285/1280_6439653232326433.jpg

Just do it!

Uli

Cheers Uli, I'll have a look out for one of those - I may even have one lying around in the workshop somewhere!

Darren

I'm working on a 1/24 Blower Bentley, and I've run into a problem mounting the engine/blower on the chassis. I've assembled the engine according to the instructions, but The engine mounts shown on the instructions don't match the actual engine and blower combo. The front mounts (right in front of the notches) are too far forward - they move everything about 1/4 inch ahead of where it should be. If I were to attach the front crosspiece under the blower as shown in the instructions, it would be in front of the frame tips.

My only option seems to be to mount the engine on the mounts specified, and to mount the blower farther back than shown on the plans.

Has anyone else had this problem? Is there an error in the kit or the plans?

Hello there.
I just saw this thread.

I built this kit around 5-6 years ago and I covered my body with satin fabric before spraying it green. It worked a treat.
I made templates in paper, cut out the fabric parts and sprayed the plastic body with permanent picture mount. The fabric was pressed in place, dried 48 hours and then the edges trimmed. Simple really.
I also replaced the mesh parts with real wire mesh and added loads of engine detail.

Regarding your engine probs - mine went together with no bother so I'm guessing you have something assembled incorrectly somewhere.

All the best, Roy.

http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb355/roymattblack/Image1_zps20a61172.jpg
http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb355/roymattblack/Image7_zps17318f12.jpg
http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb355/roymattblack/Image3_zpsb841ece5.jpg
http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb355/roymattblack/Image4_zps2b85c9a8.jpg
http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb355/roymattblack/Image6_zpsf7d2e5b2.jpg
http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb355/roymattblack/Image5_zps9e6366ff.jpg
http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb355/roymattblack/Image2_zps8dc545ed.jpg

Nice job! Your model - and your pix - are excellent.

I checked and re-checked my engine and chassis assembly against the instructions, and can't find an error. The exact placement of the front mounts isn't perfectly clear on the instructions, so I attached them just behind the frame notch, instead of in front of it like the instructions seem to indicate. All the hoses match and everything else fits at this point, including the front crosspiece.

I'm using Rustoleum's new "Camouflage" paint for the green body. It's very, very flat, and should give the appearance of leather. It's a bit off from the Tamiya British Green I'm using for the glossy surfaces, but photos of real cars show that an imperfect color match was common.

Thanks!

Hi Darren,

I believe car modelling is really cool work for making a car into new one. Hope I would work on that.