Airfix MGB Roadster

[AmazonSprite]

Another quick kerbside build, to help me get my enthusiasm back! I'm pretty sure that this kit is a reissue of the Aoshima one, and was also released by Revell.

Here's the major components:


Underside detail is very good, but needs careful masking as the sump and gearbox are all part of the floorpan:


(Just noticed that I'd forgotten to put the anti-roll bar on in that pic...)







Everything fits together nicely, and the floorpan slots into tabs on the body like so:



However this makes the ride height far too high (unless you're building the rubber bumper version, the parts for which are included in the kit) as these were jacked up to comply with US Federal regs. Instead, to get the ride heigh shown in the earlier pics, I located the floorpan above the tabs like this:





And finally, a sneak preview of another project on my workbench:

[rockinanko]

Wow! rare subject you've got here.

may i ask if there's any engine details for this kit?
i understand aoshima produces curbside MGBs only...

please advise.
cheers!

[willimo]

The MGB looks great! Clever solution for lowering the car. Does it cause the interior bucket to line up incorrectly with the body shell?

Your second project looks like a Spridget. I wish I had the balls to do the same, I would love a model of my dad's '71 Midget. I'll be watching that closely.

[AmazonSprite]

Originally Posted by rockinanko

Wow! rare subject you've got here.

may i ask if there's any engine details for this kit?
i understand aoshima produces curbside MGBs only...

please advise.
cheers!

Unfortunately no engine detail except for what can be seen in the pics. However the area around that is open, so it is easy to separate it away from the floorpan (leaving the gearbox in place) in order to scratchbuild an engine using that for the sump. However the bodyshell is marked inside for the bonnet shutlines, so it's very easy to cut that panel free too. There was a whitemetal kit available in the same scale (1:24) that I believe has an engine & I think that a Rover V8 transkit for the whitemetal kit is / was also available. I have another one of these kits that I'm using as a testbed for full opening panels so that will be getting an engine, but probably something that's in my parts box rather than anything that's factory correct. In case you're looking at doing opening doors too, the interior panels line up to the exterior door shuts pretty much as per the 1:1, so no hidden surprises when it comes to building up the door shuts

Originally Posted by willimo

The MGB looks great! Clever solution for lowering the car. Does it cause the interior bucket to line up incorrectly with the body shell?

Your second project looks like a Spridget. I wish I had the balls to do the same, I would love a model of my dad's '71 Midget. I'll be watching that closely.

Imho, the interior actually fits better - clamped very securely in place. It's possible that this is the correct way to differentiate between the chrome and rubber bumpered versions, but if so, the Airfix instructions that I have don't communicate this since the elevations for the decals etc (as the chrome bumper version) clearly show it at the higher ride height.

When doing opening doors, that method does cause the door gaps to open up at the top, so on my other one I'll probably be thinning down the floor of the interior tub to remove the stress, as well as heavily reinforcing the sills (door gap area needs boxing in anyway).

Yup, the other project is indeed a Spridget - a Sprite Mk2 (like my 1:1 in my sig, which has sadly been off the road for the last three years ) based on the Gunze Sangyo Sprite Mk1. Another Airfix MGB will be donating things like the rear lights (as per the 1:1s) and probably a few other bits and pieces. Progress is very slow on this as I currently have about 11 other part built kits including a Sprite Mk1 with full opening panels and using the engine from a Tamiya Mini Cooper...... Once there's a bit more to show on these, I'll start their own thread.

Thanks guys!

[Martsmodels]

Nice one Paul - looks to be coming along fine. I did the same sort of thing a few years ago with this kit but can't remember how I sorted the ride height problem - I shoved a V8 into it and wrote it up (rather badly) for Modelersite
(http://www.modelersite.com/Sep2002/E...adster_Eng.htm)

SE Finecast will sell you bits from their MG range so it would be possible to go with either the four pot B engine or the V8 as I did.

I really like the look of your Sprite too - keep us posted on that one.

[klutz_100]

Shame not to see more of these but I am glad to see this one

[AmazonSprite]

Following my recent house move & wedding, I've now unboxed this and started work again. The interior and underside are now finished.












Since these pics were taken, the rubber seal at the base of the windscreen has been painted (screen base looks much better - less chunky), and all that is needed now is a final polish on the body before all the lights, 'screen & door handles etc are glued in place and the boot badging transfer applied. Once my camera battery is recharged, I'll post up some more, and of the five other models that
are at a similar stage.

[AmazonSprite]

Almost done!



Not quite visible in those photos is that the cement that is holding the headlights (despite being applied from behind to avoid this) seeped out all over the lamp recesses I have almost finished rectifying this (need to polish the repaired area & reassemble), and weather permitting, will take some outdoors photos once that is done, for the completed section.

The hood is very crisply moulded (one piece in clear), and easy to mask:


However I can't decide between that or the half tonneau:



Better dashboard pic:


And a close up of the engine & gearbox. The clutch slave cylinder is a separate piece (as is the suspension crossmember & exhaust), but the rest is all moulded with the chassis rails & floor. Turned out well though.

[Viccario]

Excellent job!, it looks like a nice kit with the correct proportions for the MGB Roadster. I have seen the Aoshima versions go for quite a lot of money on e-bay! Tempted to get this Airfix version and maybe do as a race version. Does it come witha hard top or just the soft top!

Is it possible to give the grille a black wash in the vents or is the moulding too thick? May add a touch of extra realism if possible.

Looking forward to seeing it completed!

[AmazonSprite]

Originally Posted by Viccario

Excellent job!, it looks like a nice kit with the correct proportions for the MGB Roadster. I have seen the Aoshima versions go for quite a lot of money on e-bay! Tempted to get this Airfix version and maybe do as a race version. Does it come witha hard top or just the soft top!

Thanks!

The Airfix one has just the hood and two tonneau cover options - no hardtop sadly. Other parts are included though e.g. things like the bumpers for the later rubber bumper cars, bullet wing mirrors, radio aerial (in down position), reverse lights etc. IIRC, Revell did a rebox of this kit too but I suspect that it's prbably the same as the Airfix version. AFAIK, the hardtop only came with the Aoshima race version, rather than the standard one.

Originally Posted by Viccario

Is it possible to give the grille a black wash in the vents or is the moulding too thick? May add a touch of extra realism if possible.

Looking forward to seeing it completed!

The grille slats are open at the back, and the part is nicely moulded, with the gaps wider than the slats, so no wash needed. Unfortunately my camera hasn't captured that well though.

[Viccario]

Originally Posted by AmazonSprite

Thanks!

The Airfix one has just the hood and two tonneau cover options - no hardtop sadly. Other parts are included though e.g. things like the bumpers for the later rubber bumper cars, bullet wing mirrors, radio aerial (in down position), reverse lights etc. IIRC, Revell did a rebox of this kit too but I suspect that it's prbably the same as the Airfix version. AFAIK, the hardtop only came with the Aoshima race version, rather than the standard one.



The grille slats are open at the back, and the part is nicely moulded, with the gaps wider than the slats, so no wash needed. Unfortunately my camera hasn't captured that well though.

Thanks for the info, perhaps it would be possible to modify the soft top hood, may have to give it a try! I can now see that I could not view the grille openings because of the angle of the photographs!

[voyageur]

Really nice OOB MGB. Perfect paint also. It could profit from a little lowering on the front axle and some flocking on the cabin floor. Otherwise a great "I want to get back into building" booster for you, and an interesting WIP for us. Keep it coming!

[AmazonSprite]

Originally Posted by Viccario

Thanks for the info, perhaps it would be possible to modify the soft top hood, may have to give it a try! I can now see that I could not view the grille openings because of the angle of the photographs!

Hood and factory hardtop are very different shapes. Hardtop is quite boxy, with relatively flat glass, so presumably could be scratchbuilt?

Originally Posted by voyageur

Really nice OOB MGB. Perfect paint also. It could profit from a little lowering on the front axle and some flocking on the cabin floor. Otherwise a great "I want to get back into building" booster for you, and an interesting WIP for us. Keep it coming!

Thanks! The ride height is something that I've been thinking about, but it doesn't compare unfavourably to the pics I can find of ones at factory ride height, but many are now lowered though.

The issue with the cement around the lights is fixed now. Due to the localised damage, having removed the headlights, I was able to get away with scraping the paint / cement mess away and then once sanded down carefully, the entire headlamp recessed nacelle was carefully brush painted up to the surface edges (the body was originally painted with a spray can, so I sprayed a load into the lid of the can to then apply with the brush to ensure a perfect colour match). Once fully dry, the area was flatted back, which also removed the ridge at the edge, and then polished. It's not 100% perfect, but worked out pretty well, and so much better than it was before:



Also finally remembered to take some pics outside. Worked out which was the best pre-programmed setting on the camera for photographing models, and turns out it's the one for food....

Anyhow - completed thread & outdoor pics here.

[makindue]

Nice building of your Airfix MGB Roadster. I really wanted to build also.

[da_ashman]

Looking Good!!! What colour have you used? It looks very similar to a Triumph colour "Wedgewood Blue". Looking at your build has made me think of converting it into a Spitfire