Monogram Packard Boattail Speedster - 1/24 scale
- Thread starter Jim R
- Start date
Jim R
SMF Supporter
Hi all
Thanks for all your comments. Many brought a smile to my face. Progress has been slow due to having to bake more cake!!
The plugs are hex shapes punched from thin card with a short length of rod on top.
Main engine block primed with Stynylrez grey and other parts with Vallejo black gloss.
I then decided to work on the front cross piece and axles. I don't understand why but this part has many problems. The moulding looks to have slipped or been misaligned
Much sanding and scraping needed but had to be careful not to destroy the shape as so much work was needed.
The other problem was the part had lots of areas where the plastic seemed to have shrunk. Don't know why - maybe someone can explain how or why these sunken marks occur.
Anyway I filled the holes and replaced some bolt heads and used some PE from the spares.
Looks a bit rough in the photos but it is mostly hidden and should be ok under paint.
If anyone can explain either the misalignment issue and/or those sunken areas I would be most interested.
Right I'm off as there's only a stale bun and some crumbs left in the cake tin so a baking session is needed as the gannets are gathering.
Jim
Thanks for all your comments. Many brought a smile to my face. Progress has been slow due to having to bake more cake!!
The plugs are hex shapes punched from thin card with a short length of rod on top.
Main engine block primed with Stynylrez grey and other parts with Vallejo black gloss.
I then decided to work on the front cross piece and axles. I don't understand why but this part has many problems. The moulding looks to have slipped or been misaligned
Much sanding and scraping needed but had to be careful not to destroy the shape as so much work was needed.
The other problem was the part had lots of areas where the plastic seemed to have shrunk. Don't know why - maybe someone can explain how or why these sunken marks occur.
Anyway I filled the holes and replaced some bolt heads and used some PE from the spares.
Looks a bit rough in the photos but it is mostly hidden and should be ok under paint.
If anyone can explain either the misalignment issue and/or those sunken areas I would be most interested.
Right I'm off as there's only a stale bun and some crumbs left in the cake tin so a baking session is needed as the gannets are gathering.
Jim
The misalignment is probably due to some parts of the mould tool being hotter than others, so the mould has expanded unevenly. The sinkage is caused by the operator releasing the feed pressure on the plastic too soon, before the plastic in the mould has finished shrinking as it cools, or possibly by faulty mould design that doesn't allow that pressure to keep feeding plastic to that area as it cools and solidifies.
Pete
Edit: I've never worked in injection moulding but as a development engineer I've had to investigate faulty moulding.
Pete
Edit: I've never worked in injection moulding but as a development engineer I've had to investigate faulty moulding.
A lot of problems occur, due to the old moulds - not only wear and tear - which probably account for the mismatch, but the old dies being used on newer injection moulding equipment, which may have different parameters in pressures, flows and injection points. Add to that operator error, and you have all sorts of problems. it can be said 'they still have the original moulds/dies', but modifying old equipment to fit on new can be problematic.
My area was more gravity die/sand casting - aluminium & cast iron mainly - but even with those comparatively crude methods, you could run into all sorts of failures when trying to recommission old moulds!
Dave
My area was more gravity die/sand casting - aluminium & cast iron mainly - but even with those comparatively crude methods, you could run into all sorts of failures when trying to recommission old moulds!
Dave
Jim, if it's any consolation....I think you have recovered beautifully. That front axle will certainly do the job and you will have peace of mind that you gave it a good go. All else is coming along nicely........look forward to your next update.
Rick H.
Rick H.
Jim R
SMF Supporter
Hi all
Peter and David - thanks for your explanations. I understand better now
Rick and Simon - appreciate your kind comments.
I have been working on the chassis. Two long side members with cross pieces and springs. The fit was quite good although the springs took a lot of cleaning up and the two side members are slightly warped but should pull into shape.
All clamped together. The front axle piece is only glued on one side because the long chassis members will need to be opened up to allow the engine to fit in.
Primed with stynylrez black and then Tamiya semi-gloss black.
You can see where the right side in the picture is not glued.
I have started painting up the engine block.
Thanks for looking in
Jim
Peter and David - thanks for your explanations. I understand better now
Rick and Simon - appreciate your kind comments.
I have been working on the chassis. Two long side members with cross pieces and springs. The fit was quite good although the springs took a lot of cleaning up and the two side members are slightly warped but should pull into shape.
All clamped together. The front axle piece is only glued on one side because the long chassis members will need to be opened up to allow the engine to fit in.
Primed with stynylrez black and then Tamiya semi-gloss black.
You can see where the right side in the picture is not glued.
I have started painting up the engine block.
Thanks for looking in
Jim
Jim R
SMF Supporter
Wouter, Rick and John - thanks guys. I appreciate the boost your comments give me
Too hot today to do much at the bench but tomorrow looks much more conducive to mogglin.
Jim
Too hot today to do much at the bench but tomorrow looks much more conducive to mogglin.
Jim
Steve Jones
Steve Jones Scale Modelling Site
You are certainly beating this one into submission Jim. A lot of hard work with some terrific results. Luv what you have done with the chassis and engine. Great to see.
Jim R
SMF Supporter
Hi all
Nearly a month since I've done anything on this. To be honest I have hardly spent any time at the bench. Usual excuses - hot weather, lots of summer jobs courtesy of the missus, lock down eased and so able to visit the granddaughter and to be honest a lack of mojo. Anyway chassis complete, engine complete and put together. The fit is not good and it needed a lot of care to ensure everything is square and lines up.
I had already taken the chrome finish off the chromed sprue so cleaned up the wheels and sprayed Vallejo gloss black primer. A couple of the spokes were broken so needed repairing. Hopefully get them chrome painted and put together and dry fitted soon and then I'll see whether I did get the chassis nice and square.
Take care
Jim
Nearly a month since I've done anything on this. To be honest I have hardly spent any time at the bench. Usual excuses - hot weather, lots of summer jobs courtesy of the missus, lock down eased and so able to visit the granddaughter and to be honest a lack of mojo. Anyway chassis complete, engine complete and put together. The fit is not good and it needed a lot of care to ensure everything is square and lines up.
I had already taken the chrome finish off the chromed sprue so cleaned up the wheels and sprayed Vallejo gloss black primer. A couple of the spokes were broken so needed repairing. Hopefully get them chrome painted and put together and dry fitted soon and then I'll see whether I did get the chassis nice and square.
Take care
Jim
Steve Jones
Steve Jones Scale Modelling Site
The colours on the engine look really nice Jim. You must be pleased this part of the build has come to an end. Like it a lot
Jim R
SMF Supporter
Hi all
"Slowly, slowly catchee monkey" - definitely most apt for this build. Slow even by my standards
Wheels painted and built up. Flat sanded for the ground/tyres contact area.
Monogram would have the wheels 'click' fit onto the ends of the axles to allow them to rotate. Far too tight to get on and then wobbly.
So knob cut off and wheels will be glued in place.
The silencer was terrible as was the end of the tailpipe. So a new exhaust was scratched.
Dry fitted the cabin into the body. Bad gap on both sides. It will come together with clamping but the body is then distorted. So I'll have to fill the gaps. Not that difficult but just takes time.
This kit is really showing it's age and yet is strangely satisfying. It could yet become a shelf queen though
Stay safe everyone
Jim
"Slowly, slowly catchee monkey" - definitely most apt for this build. Slow even by my standards
Wheels painted and built up. Flat sanded for the ground/tyres contact area.
Monogram would have the wheels 'click' fit onto the ends of the axles to allow them to rotate. Far too tight to get on and then wobbly.
So knob cut off and wheels will be glued in place.
The silencer was terrible as was the end of the tailpipe. So a new exhaust was scratched.
Dry fitted the cabin into the body. Bad gap on both sides. It will come together with clamping but the body is then distorted. So I'll have to fill the gaps. Not that difficult but just takes time.
This kit is really showing it's age and yet is strangely satisfying. It could yet become a shelf queen though
Stay safe everyone
Jim
Jim R
SMF Supporter
Hi all
Si - thanks
A bit more done in between other jobs.
There is a sump guard thingy to fit. It doesn't
There is a YouTube video build of this kit and the guy there couldn't fit it so missed it off. I hacked it about and made a couple of wedges and got it to fit - sort of. I doubt very much if it will show anyway.
The wedge bit - rough but it does the job.
Two parts of the exhaust painted and fitted. Just the tail pipe to go on later.
The sides of the cab were bulked out with styrene strips and the gap is no more
You can see in the cab photo that where the door opens is a raised line - why raised I don't know. I scribed in a line - needs cleaning up.
The upper body was quite scratched. Its been rattling about in the box for over 40 years so hardly surprising. I gave it a polish with Tamiya Polishing Paste and I hope I can get a reasonable gloss finish.
Stay safe
Jim
Si - thanks
A bit more done in between other jobs.
There is a sump guard thingy to fit. It doesn't
There is a YouTube video build of this kit and the guy there couldn't fit it so missed it off. I hacked it about and made a couple of wedges and got it to fit - sort of. I doubt very much if it will show anyway.The wedge bit - rough but it does the job.
Two parts of the exhaust painted and fitted. Just the tail pipe to go on later.
The sides of the cab were bulked out with styrene strips and the gap is no more
You can see in the cab photo that where the door opens is a raised line - why raised I don't know. I scribed in a line - needs cleaning up.
The upper body was quite scratched. Its been rattling about in the box for over 40 years so hardly surprising. I gave it a polish with Tamiya Polishing Paste and I hope I can get a reasonable gloss finish.
Stay safe
Jim
Steve Jones
Steve Jones Scale Modelling Site
Quite the challenge Jim! You are certainly beating this one into submission. Great to see how you are overcoming the obstacles.
D
Deleted member 6559
Guest
Coming along very nicely Jim. As always, so clean and tidy.