ICM 1/24 1913 Model T Roadster - a therapy build..................

[Dave Ward]

Not a very good Christmas - had a few problems, and I'm going a bit stir crazy, there's only so much TV and book reading I can stand!
I decided to grab a model from the stash, and see how it goes...................

Just over 100 parts.

A few detail shots


The original issue of this model had a 'brass' sprue for the radiator & lights, but ICM found that the plating wasn't very good - so now it's just a normal grey sprue. Not sure about the off-white vinyl tyres, I'll have to see how they look. I thought all Model T cars came in any colour, as long it was black ! - I'll have to have a bit of a dig around..............
Dave

 

[adt70hk]

Dave, sorry to hear it wasn't a great time for you and I know exactly what your mean on the stir crazy front. Food luck with the build.

ATB.

Andrew

 

[outrunner]

Glad to see you are feeling better and getting back to the bench Dave. Looks like a nicely detailed kit that.


Andy.

 

[Jim R]

Hi Dave
You're not alone in having had a poor Christmas but glad you feel able to get back to the bench.

there's only so much TV and book reading I can stand!

... and the telly is 90% repeats or mindless drivel

It looks a nice kit. Am I right in thinking that ICM do a few Model T variants?

Jim

 

[Steven000]

Have fun Dave, details looks nice

 

[Dave Ward]

ICM do several Model T's both in 1/24 cilvilian, and in 1/35 military - I've done the 1/35 Ambulance & the Utility

This is my first 1/24 Model T - the parts look like a scaled up 1/35 ( or is the 1/35 a scaled down 1/24? ). It may be a quite slow build
Dave

 

[Fernando N]

Sorry to hear you didn’t had a good time Dave, guess that has been a Christmas for the most of us…

Good luck with the build, hope it goes in your way

 

[Dave Ward]

After reading the Wikipedia entry of the Model T
"By 1912, all cars were being painted midnight blue with black fenders. Only in 1914 was the "any color so long as it is black" policy finally implemented. "
Found two pictures that fit the bill.....................

Electric lights weren't fitted until later - so, oil coach lamps & carbide ( acetylene ) headlights. The tyres are mid-grey, rather than the off white supplied. The wheel spokes are body colour - not wood, as in the instructions.
These are, of course renovated cars, but I reckon they are authentic enough!
Dave

 

[Tim Marlow]

I’ll support you in this one Dave. It looks really interesting. Regarding the tyres, are you sure they are not just natural rubber coloured? I know a lot of WW1 aircraft had uncoloured tyres so these might be similar.

 

[Dave Ward]

As soon as I looked for another photo for the tyres - what did I find?

It's a later model - with electric headlamps, but the tyre colour...............................
Dave

 

[Tim Marlow]

Hi Dave
I’ve had a bit of a read around, and adding carbon black to tyre rubber didn’t become commonplace until 1917....before that tyres were mostly milky white. It was the shortage of the required strength agent due to use in munitions production for the war that prompted the change. Once adopted, the tyre companies found black tyres were far stronger and more rigid, so they never changed back.

 

[Dave Ward]

Made a start - engine assembled & primed Front axle & radiator primed, the radiator masked & painted....

I've used Mr Hobby brass, for the radiator surround

I'm going to need a steady hand to pick out the 'Ford' logo & tidy up the edges, I can see that this may need stripping back before I'm happy...............
Dave

 

[Dave Ward]

Stripped the radiator back, and used AK True Metal instead of the Mr Hobby brass..................

Still needs a bit of work (!!)

I did some of the other brasswork at the same time

Gloomy day, lights needed all the time! Hate using the camera flash - it shows up every flaw & imperfection ( and there are a fair few of those! )
Dave

 

[papa 695]

Very nice work Dave, been thinking of getting one, so I’ll jump in and watch if you don’t mind.

 

[Dave Ward]

Ian

Very nice work Dave, been thinking of getting one, so I’ll jump in and watch if you don’t mind.

Ian,
ICM have a nice range of 1/24 Model T's from a delivery van, through a firetruck to a stripped down 'speedster'. The one I fancy is the four seater 'Tourer' - ICM also do a range of passengers for them, as well.
You don't see them at much of a discount, so ebay & 2nd hand are my areas I lurk!
Dave

 

[Bobby Conkers]

That's lovely brass, I might need to check them out.

Watching with interest.

 

[Dave Ward]

A

That's lovely brass, I might need to check them out.

Watching with interest.

Andrew,
AK True Metal comes in a tube, and is a waxy smelling paste. After letting it dry, you can buff it up with a soft cloth. You can apply it with a brush, or finger! Clean up with white spirit. It helps to apply over a matt black primed surface - practice on sprue, to get the hang of it. AK do quite a few metallic finishes - I've also got silver. It's OK for smaller parts, but I wouldn't care to do an overall coat of it...............
Dave

 

[Dave Ward]

Driving the Model T was different - the 3 pedals don't do what is expected................................

Of course very few people had driven a car, so the Model T wasn't seen as having odd controls!
Dave

 

[Bobby Conkers]

A

Andrew,
AK True Metal comes in a tube, and is a waxy smelling paste. After letting it dry, you can buff it up with a soft cloth. You can apply it with a brush, or finger! Clean up with white spirit. It helps to apply over a matt black primed surface - practice on sprue, to get the hang of it. AK do quite a few metallic finishes - I've also got silver. It's OK for smaller parts, but I wouldn't care to do an overall coat of it...............
Dave

Thank you Dave, I'm going to get a couple of tubes and see if they suit me.

 

[Dave Ward]

Quite a lot of progress today - it helps if the parts fit well! All parts fitted to the underside & painted....................


Started the bodywork - you can make it separately, so spraying the blue bodywork won't need any masking.

Just dry fitted for the moment! I'll spray gloss varnish on the uppers of the body, just masking the radiator - I'll see to that later. No more work on the engine - the bonnet will be closed!
Dave