The title for this entry comes from a late 80s advert for the humble Mini. Perhaps “a mini adventure’ would get the point across easier to the current generation and might be a bit more apt given that’s kind of what its been!
At the start of the process there were several routes to a model mini, the Springside kit, a HO version (under size), the Cararama version (over sized) or the Corgi one. Since then the Corgi one seems to have disappeared and there’s a version from Oxford Diecast. Sadly both Oxford and Corgi chose to do the earlier version which surprised me a bit. I feel Oxford missed a trick not doing a later one. I’m not talking about the BMC verses BMW type here either.
I chose the Corgi ones and first step is to strip the caked on pain off. For such a small model the paint all but destroys what is some quite nice detail underneath. It also suffers from the same problem as a lot of 4mm scale cars – oversized wheels.
Sticking with one original one this was a simple repaint with replacement wheels from the springside kit (as are all except the orangy one). From left to right numbers 2, 4 and 6 all have new grills again from the springside kit and new rear light clusters (from microstrip) they also have wider back windows and have had the door hinged removed. Number 4 has the original wheels turned down and wider wheel arches added from scrap brass strip added to the inside of the wheel arch and filler.
Number 3 was a bit of a challenge as I was given a springside Mini Clubman kit and try as I might I couldn’t get the kit to look anything like the real vehicle. In the end I just used the front of the nose and grafted it onto a corgi one. The same goes for number 5 (the estate) which started life as a van.
The result is a fleet of minis more suited to a late 80s layout. Still to do are the number plates and tax disks.
Lovely. Do you fit people inside your vehicles Jim? I find this is often missed, so you see these ‘ghost vehicles’ driving round layouts. Did BNS have a car park, too?
I do fit people Chad. HO ones are best as the glazing usually takes up a lot of room. Of course some vehicles need to be parked so they need to be empty.
There is a car park on the roof yes as we’ll as a smaller one by the front door where the taxi rank was. I’ve got 20 or so taxis in a draw somewhere so I hope that’s enough. The Oxford FX 4 taxi is much like the corgi mini, it represents an early version and will need updating.
Great work as always Jim.
I think you are giving us all food for thought with your holistic approach the constructing a layout.
One thing that always looks wrong with model cars is the way they sit on tippy-toes on their wheels. I haven’t tried it yet, but with plastic wheels, the vehicle could be stood on a hot (but not too hot!), flat surface to gently melt the tyres into a more realistic road-to-tyre relationship. (Don’t know how this characteristic could be achieved with white metal tyres however.)
All the best,
Colin
A swift swipe with a 12″ bastard should see to thatt problem Colin. File a flat on the tyre.
I glue the wheels up solid and rub the vehicles on a bit of sandpaper to flatten the tyres off.
Good luck with that one Colin – i still have the burn on my hand where the hot plastic landed 30 years ago. I think its a case of ‘showing’ the heat to the plastic!!
Here’s a thought Jim I dont ever recall seeing any learner drivers modeled so how about sticking a set of L plates on one ?
That’s not a bad idea Dave. A mini would be a classic learner vehicle too but then you’d be brave trying to learn to drive in the city.