Hellers 1/8 Citroen Traction Avant

Hi all after selling a couple of my ships builds I had 400 quid burning a hole in my pocket so I bought the above model, also the revell 1 / 12 mustang gt 500 and the foose camaro,these and the Citroen Traction Avant and the italari mefistofeles I am going to be a busy boy ( and that's not counting my on going builds )

Hi all well it arrived today and it is mahoosive

that is a 1/12 kit box on top of it
just to give you an idea of its size


these are the sprues there are 3 or 4 sprues to each bag just for comparison (the rule devides the too model kits) the camaro has 1 sprue to each bag apart from the black sprues and that has 2 sprues


one tip I've already learned do not take the sprues out of the box as you wont get the all back in and shut the lid (unless you have a degree in astrophysics) that is, this is one case where the box is not big enough.

Wow, that is BIG.

Will make a fabulous model though

Hi I've been given a superb idea for this, I am going to have it in a barn being readied for a mission by the French resistance with the cross of lorraine and a tricolour on it, the possibilities are endless, need to find some 1/8 figures and things like bren guns or make them from scratch I've been doing some research and this was available in blue irise (which is apparently a course metallic where the flakes aluminum were bigger than modern colours) if I can find I will do it that colour or ac615 blue marine which it was also available in, since I'm on hols from Monday I won't be starting it for a while (lots of other stuff to finish first) but (assuming I can get internet) being on hols will give me lots of time for research.

Hi all well I've made a start on this mammoth build (and thats without putting it in a dio) tbh once I looked at the instructions, without Roy Fitzimmonds aka roymattblack dvd I would have closed the box and put it away again.
I've read loads of reviews on this and they've all said the engine is badly warped and had to use some reinforcing or some such to make it square, I recon I've been lucky as mine has been a perfect fit (so far) I've even taken pics inside so you can see I've used no tabs or reinforcments ats all (I just hope this continues for the rest of the kit.

Hi all been working on the engine, this kit is awesome, the engine alone has more parts than the whole Shelby kit, just as an example that little nut is a separate part I've put the tin of humbrol paint there as a refrence I had to use my PE pencil to place it, thank god I got Roy's dvd the instruction are so vague (there's a little do hicky lever sticks out the side its only about 3mmx2x2 and from the instructions I had no idea which way up to put it)
I've primed it and now I can see a few bits if filling I've missed.

Hi all more work on this I've not been able to find a definitive colour for the engine (every pic I've seen has been a different shade of green but since I'm using CAT's info for the bodywork I will use that for the engine as well.




Thats a 1/24 scale car just to show how big this engine is

Hi all a bit of an update, weathered the engine and tried to emulate the oxidization on the ally manifold.

Hi all here is tonight's episode, there seem to be a lot of these on the go at the moment (no surprise really it is a superb kit)

lovely work that engine looks very real. I like the way you dirtied it, just enough i think. Good work on the exhaust manifold also. Looking sharp.

Thanks glad you're liking it
Here is todays update
these parts were bent so using Roy Fitzimmods dvd I corrected this problem with stretched copper wire

Hi all well the engine is done (well as much as I can do without putting it in the car)
The next bit is the front chassis and suspension (to be honest I keep looking at the instructions and I'm tempted to box it back up and put it away) looks to be way beyond my meagre abilities, I would start somewhere else on the model and come back to this part but that may cause problems later on I've no idea whether I can start the body without causing problems with the chassis, I will see how brave I'm feeling, this may be as far as this kit goes for me, really not feeling confident at all on the next bit.

Amazing work that is a really nice engine, well done.

Hi all here is the next update

Great stuff, what are you using for the rust effect, its very convincing, looks real.

I'm using the salt method for the main rust and for the blistering and scabbing (I use enamel paints, this wont work on acrylics) cellulose thinners, you need to take great care as it will melt the plastic if you are not very careful I use a small brush and a tiny amout of the thinners and wait for the effect to happen I may do this upto 4 times till I get what I want , I use dirty thinners as it helps to give some staining as well, like I said great care needs to be taken and dont get it anywhere near good paintwork.

Hi all here is an Idea of just how huge this is, I thought the GT was big but, and dont forget it still has the rad and bumpers to go on, just look at this.

Why did you put in so much rust?

That's just the base coat hardly any of that will show when I've finished

Here is tonights episode. I really, really, really, really love this kit cant wait to start the Mefistofeles if its anything like this.

impressive

Hi all here's tonight's bit

Hi all well this steering rack has driven me to hurling this against the wall, I've re-glued it on no less than a dozen times only for it to come off almost as soon as I turn it over, fingers crossed its on for good now, tried a test fit of the engine (I have to say it fitted before, but someone stood on one of the engine mounts (my fault I shouldnt have left it on the floor)when I took it off to do the breaks and clutch pedal linkages) now the engine dosnt lign up on that one so it will have to come off and see whats wrong with it.

Hi all engine mount sorted some work on the engine bay and a quick try of the body

Very nice work, love the detail.

Coming on well.