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| Photographer / Copyright: Les Wrangle Images should not be reused without permission. Date added to site:08/08/07 | ||
| Details: Saving the best for last, this is a brilliant reproduction of the distinctive Thames Trader emergency tenders. Les says: Two Base Toys models were required to construct this model. I gave this long and careful consideration before attempting this conversion, as I had calculated that it was going to be difficult to construct the crew cab. I dismantled both models, one being a box lorry and the other being a Dropside body. Keep the Dropside body in the spares box as these will not be needed. I used a sheet of wet or dry paper (800 grit), placed on a flat surface and sprayed with some water. Take the box body and place it on the wet or dry and using a circular motion, remove all detail from the moulding until it is smooth on all sides. On the rear of the box, attach a thin piece of Plasticard with liquid plastic cement. Score a line down the middle from top to bottom, so that it appears like a pair of doors. Make the hinges and door latch from small offcuts of plastic. I have over the years acquired a bag of odd bits & piece, which I have found extremely useful on occasion. Now for the cabs. I cut the back off one and the front off the other using a razor saw, being careful to leave the doors intact on both cabs. It was by trial and error that I was able to fit the two halves back together by using a file and wet or dry paper (the same as on the body). Once I was satisfied it look OK, I stuck them together using liquid plastic cement. I then attached some small pieces of Plasticard on the inside of the rear part of the cab and on the wheel arches. I then made good all the gaps, roof and wheel arches using car body filler, which was rubbed down to a smooth finish when dry. The chassis had to be cut and then rejoined using Araldite, the length being determined by the new cab. I also made the sign for the cab roof. Once all the components where completed, the whole model was spray painted using Ford Radiant Red, add the transfers and hand rails using brass wire. The wheel centres was painted in the usual way, however, the indicators on the front of a Thames Trader are circular and a prominent feature fitted to the front wings. I made these using a solid plastic rod cut into slithers and superglue. I was very pleased with the result and although not an accurate model, I think that overall the model is a fair representation of the real thing. | ||
| Comments (Most recent at top) | ||
| Posted By | Comments | Date/Time |
| Chris Batten | Nice conversion and one that tempts me to tryit. | Tue 14/08/07, 19:58 |