1:43 Scale Vehicles

When it comes to modelling 1:43 scale vehicles there's not a huge range of affordable trucks. I've a selection of Ixo models and two nice but expensive models from The Goods Yard, now no longer trading. So when I saw the Austin K8 delivery van on the Hattons web page at a very reasonable price, "a cunning plan was hatched".

It could be possible to turn this model into a coal truck with just a slight bit of surgery !!!!!

Attached files

 

Thanks Pete,So a quick search on google turns up a few versions of a small Austin K8 truck. This is the one I decided to try and produce. Not sure about the colour.


At this point I should warn you that if you collect die cast models you should look away

 

So this is what the Oxford Austin K8 looks like from Hattons.

Three screws, one at the front, which I will re-use to secure the cab, and two at the rear, which will be cut out

The model has a cab interior which I will paint and detail later plus I think I have a white metal figure that will fit with some minor adjustment with the cutters.


So this is where you have to get brave, but at a cost of £8, if it goes wrong its not the end of the world.After removing all the plastic detailing and windows, surgery begins!!!!



Ive cut about 10mm away from a the cab detailing line that runs around the sides and roof,second line after the door handle, this will be the finish line.



This shows the first cut. Oxford make these models very thick in places.



The chassis floor needed to be altered to allow plenty of open space around the fuel tank, batterybox and exhaust detailing, as this is never seen on the original model, Oxford only detail the underside leaving open gaps which needed to be filled.



A test fit using plasticard to see if it looks right



to be continued.......................

 

Hi Pete,yes, I used a masking tape placed over the mold line on the bobywork, then used a pencil line to show where the line to cut up to was. I used a small rechargeable Dremel stylus (great piece of kit to have) and a new cutting disc, not the cheap ones, then slowly marked out the cut with the cutting disc making a small cut first. Slow and easy is the way to go, plus with this model the metal was quite thick and it does heat up quickly. I was not sure if I would keep the original paint work so by cutting it slowly there was less chance of the paintwork being damaged. After the first cuts I did the final cut by eye and then used a large flat file to square both sides of the cab up.
Next up was to make the rear tray out of scribed plasticard.......

 

Hi Pete, they can be found at www.kingfishermodels.co.uk Lots of useful bits, but not all 1:43 scale.Ive used www.shapeways.com for some other projects, as they produce 1:43 3d items, but at a price !Hi Toto...next instalment..basic tray loose fitted to see if it looks right....


Plasticard rivet detailing and some hinges (to big, will alter these later)


All scribed inside and out with the Olfa scribing tool


Corner posts look to big in these pictures as well, so I will change those again later...


Two small pieces of plasticard tube cut and glued to form rear lights


rivet detailing to main head board sides


Brass scrap used to form a basic rear wheel arch plus some tie down rails added


Old number plate from original model will be re-used




comparison with the "real" version



Next I will alter the items mentioned above.....

 

Thanks Pete & Paul,
This is today efforts.
Painted and Driver added.

I'm still not sure about painting the cab, as the finish is quite good, so for now I'm going to leave it as is, but if I do keep the colour then it will need the gloss finish taken back a bit. You might have noticed the name has been removed from the cab roof, this was intended to be removed by polishing it off with some very fine grade polishing sticks, but by accident while gluing some items together my MEK, the brush touched the old van body work on the sign writing and the red letters just dissolved away leaving a red patch. So I used a piece of tissue dipped in MEK and quickly wiped the red patch removing every bit of sign writing without damage to the Ivory paint work, result ! so within a couple of seconds the cab roof sign writing was gone.
I think the corner posts and hinges now look better. The rear number plate that I carefully salvaged from the original model and done the disappearing act.











I have a couple of pictures showing similar trucks where the rear wheel arches have been left black, what do you guys think? Black as is or paint them the cab body colour.Kim

 

Hi Pete, yes I think it might look better done that way.
I've enjoyed doing this quick conversion, so much so that I've ordered a couple more in different liveries. I'm going to build a flat bed truck, which would make a better truck for coal delivery as a drop sided truck would be a pain for the coal man to have to keep dropping the side down on his delivery route.
Kim

 

Hi Paul, Gary.
Done the touch ups on the Austin plus painted the rear wheel arches as close to the body colour that I could make. As Paul suggested the model was given a wash after giving the model a coat of matt varnish. The other two models arrived this week so I've had a truck bashing week. Heres where I'm at as of tonight's session.
Original vehicles in the back ground as they come from the factory















weathering powders next plus the odd repair to the wing mirrors on the bedford
Kim

 

Thanks Gloria, blimey that’s takes me back a bit, 2016, mad rush to get these ready for the Perth show and LSD first outing .
I’ve added a few to the layout since then , my main aim at the moment , other than clearing out some of my wagon and loco builds, is to complete four large commercial lorries that I have. I will have to update this thread or possible a new one soon.
Kim