Apparently amongst the die cast Collector community, an altered original issue is called a Code 3. I've wanted to get a James Bond Mini Moke and repaint it and put it in a new package as a "Spy Who Loved Me" Stromberg Lipparus support vehicle. That would be classified as a Code 3 model.
Well, thanks to Woodsy's Chitty chitty bang bang adventures combined with my Husky toys fever, I've made my own Code 3!
Original Husky Chittys with complete family figures are going for stupid prices these days, so I got a new Corgi Mini version and sculpt 'n scanned my own Potts family! I won't go into that process here, as Moonbasers will have seen my Husky Batmobile and how I made replacement figures there.
1) The original Corgi Mini in it's package
2) The car with it's missing family and a slightly yukky shade of yellow metallised brass fittings.
3) I didn't like the lemon yellow wings (they should be more Chrome Yellow, but you work with what you've got...) I masked off the wing pieces, note how the translucent tape allows me to see the etched lines, so I can cut the lines perfectly.
4) Painting polythene is a nightmare. So I use ESP prep fluid to make the paint stick better and spray acrylic Graffiti paint rather than enamels or auro lacquers.
5) Peeling the masking off a perfect job is always edifying!
6) I wanted to use clear plastic jewels for the head and taillights, but the only suitable ones in my wife's findings box were the traditional glass cut cones, so I'm grinding out recesses in the headlights using a 3mm twist drill in my Moto-tool.
COURAGE, LITTLE ONE!
7) 3D modelling the spare tyre with tread patterns to match the other tyres was a bit fiddly. Here I've painted all the wheel hubs red. I've also overpainted the the brass pieces with Tamiya clear orange to get a nicer brass tone and filled in the empty windscreen with PVA glue (next time I'd use a piece of celluloid as this result isn't fantasmagorical)
8) The end result -Even nicer than a Husky original if I do say so myself!
I'll sign off now, Moonbasers, tune in again when I go crazy with an Edai Grip style package for this little baby!
Looey
Oz Base
A remarkable restoration! What you did with those wings is truly amazing! SFZ
ReplyDeleteIt's truly scrumptious!
ReplyDeleteThat turned out gorgeous! Well done Looey!!!
ReplyDeleteThat is a really beautiful model, well done. Craft shops and $2 shops sell sheets of plastic jewels in various sizes and colours, some of which might make model headlights.
ReplyDeleteThat's where I get my stuff too! I was in a hurry and wanted to get it done, so I settled on what I had at hand. The tail lights are from one of those sheets and a tiny 2mm wide. They looked Absolutely Fabulous glittering from the rear coachwork, but when I put the tail piece back on, they were completely hidden! Sob!
DeleteThat is a very tidy restoration, Lewis, well done.
ReplyDelete"Is this your vehicle, Sir?"
ReplyDelete"Uh, no Officer, It's my friend's, I've just turned it into a Code 3 model..."
"No it isn't. What you have produced is a Code 4, not a Code 3.
I'm afraid you'll have to accompany me to the Station..."
Fantastic work Looey. A wing and a prayer paid off! ha ha
ReplyDelete