Looking Right

[Graeme Dunbar]

I was perhaps a bit misleading. Dullcote is a brand name by Testors, and possibly hard to get. It is often used over decals.

The Vallejo matt acrylic varnish is water based and might be easier.

I've not tried either though as I use Games Workshop paints and varnishes, Tamiya and some Vallejo paints but not the varnish. I may even have been thinking of GW Ardcoat (which is gloss) when I was typing.

[Dave Cooper]

Thanks for that Graeme. I'll have a look around and see what's available...
Dave

[Dave Cooper]

Hi Guys - getting hopelessly lost with photography and imgur (should have held the phone landscape not portrait for a start !)

Something may appear below :


The bus looks rather pathetic - but, it's a start !
Dave

[Dave Cooper]

'Landie' on the Hillside (needs some scenic development !).


Can't seem to get Auto Resize to work though...

[Dave Cooper]

Pick-up in the SG goods yard collecting some sand.


Not sure about scale. Think it needs a rear window and better glass ?

[Dave Cooper]

I think a plan is starting to form for the current crop of vehicles :

Bus - remove the 'painted-on' driver /passengers (this will make it look less 'toy-like'). Re-tint the glazing /paint in lights.

Red Pick-up - lose the side windows and replace with clear, partially open ones. Maybe fit a rear window (if it's not too much work !).

Landrover - dirty it up a bit and "dull-cote" bodywork.

New acquisitions : AA /RAC motorcycle and sidecar, tractor (may depend on up-coming scenic work), car with opening bonnet (very tempted by Oxford Diecast Jaguar 'D' type to go into a railway arch garage though). 

[Dave Cooper]

Today the bus had it's first make-over. The front view of the driver is now opaque. Side views of driver /passengers have been 'knocked back' a little with some cyano' on the glazing. Head lights and indicators painted in. Not quite there yet but coming along.

Pick-up truck now has a cleaner windscreen, a painted on rear window, plus tail lights and indicators. Head lights and side windows to finish (these will be semi wound-down as in hot weather).
Dave

[Tod Sloan]

Using diecast vehicles has a drawback in that without some surgery, the front wheels are always straight, even when parked. With kit built vehicles it is easier to pose the wheels to a more natural attitude. Just slightly turned out makes a big difference, remembering that each wheel, is offset, not parallel. You may think this is too much detail, but it does cover the original post of "looking right".

Oxford Diecast do a nice range of 1940/50s cars, at reasonable prices. Pocketbond Classix, EFE, Corgi 00 and a few others can be found on the web or at exhibitions. Though the latter isn't available to us just now, due to Covid19 restrictions. Good luck with your project anyway.

Happy modelling, stay safe and well.

Tod

[Dave Cooper]

Thanks for the tips Ted. I'll try and get some steering lock (and, maybe a bit of "Ackermann") onto the Landie's front wheels. Latest shot of the L-R on the hill-side /cliff with some scenic assistance:

[Peter Boulter]

Hi Guys - getting hopelessly lost with photography and imgur (should have held the phone landscape not portrait for a start !)

Something may appear below :


The bus looks rather pathetic - but, it's a start !
Dave

I don't think the bus looks all that pathetic, I think it's the wheel hubs that let it down, they're too silver and toy-like.
But I have found that photographs have a nasty habit of showing up all sorts of errors that just aren't noticed on the layout when viewed from a normal distance.

[Dave Cooper]

Thanks Peter.

I hadn't noticed but, when I next get it out I'll have a look. Perhaps a bit of 'mid-to-dark' grey instead on the hubs ?

Regards,
Dave

[Graeme Dunbar]

Once you point it out, it does look a bit "Hot Wheels"-like.  :)

Yes, perhaps a grey or a colour that might be described as "what was once red".

[Dave Cooper]

Haven't had the layout out for a while (tends to be more of a winter time thing for me).

Thoughts on the bus wheels - quite simple really : Lose the 'spoked' look by adding discs over them, then match-paint in red as near as possible.

Discs will probably be card, 1/64 ply or similar....and, perhaps, dished.

I'll try out a few ideas then post some results.
Dave 

[Robin Webster]

A pimped out bus. Why not?

Robin.

[B.Meldon]

The bus looks way too small to me.
I think the London buses are 14 foot high and 8 foot wide so in 4mm scale that should be 56mm tall and 32mm wide.