Auto Modeler :: Mini Cooper Custom

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Mini Cooper Custom

tinbanger

Ontario, Canada
Joined: February 04, 2008
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Posted: Friday, August 23, 2019 - 11:43 AM UTC

I am building this Mini for a fellow Millwright at work.
The box lid and contents:-

Photo of the car i will be building:-

I will be using left over paint from the real mini to paint the model.

First thing to do is convert dash to left hand drive:-

The three foot pedals have to be shaved off and scratch build ones installed on the left hand fire wall:-

The car has a double sun roof so I will have a think about how to handle this.
More to come.

brekinapez

Georgia, United States
Joined: July 26, 2013
KitMaker: 2,272 posts
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Posted: Friday, August 23, 2019 - 04:43 PM UTC

Are you going with the stock rims or are you able to obtain ones like in the photo that will fit?

tinbanger

Ontario, Canada
Joined: February 04, 2008
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Posted: Saturday, August 24, 2019 - 12:08 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Are you going with the stock rims or are you able to obtain ones like in the photo that will fit?

Good point!
I will have to surf the web and see what's available.

Joel_W

Associate Editor
AUTOMODELER

New York, United States
Joined: December 04, 2010
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Posted: Saturday, August 24, 2019 - 01:46 AM UTC

Richard,
I truly love Mini's but my real personal favorites are the original ones from the 1960s. Bare Bones fun, and could they ever handle.

Since it's a current version, I'm assuming that the 1/32 Airfix kit is current, so the fit should be pretty good.

Excellent start to the conversions needed for left hand drive. At least you don't have to flip or move the dash's instruments as they're in the center.

As for Shell's question about the wheels, I'm sure hoping that someone has them in 1/32 scale.

Joel

tinbanger

Ontario, Canada
Joined: February 04, 2008
KitMaker: 2,507 posts
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Posted: Saturday, August 24, 2019 - 08:44 AM UTC

Hi Joel
Slot car rims will work,if I can find some!
No engine with this model but I will post details of the one my build will represent.
The sun/ moon roof is another that needs a lot of thought.
I had a old mini in England , sliding windows!
Brush painted gloss black with the roof painted with body under seal!
My brother found it for me for about $50.00 back in 1974 as a runabout while I rebuilt a 1957 Ford flathead.

Joel_W

Associate Editor
AUTOMODELER

New York, United States
Joined: December 04, 2010
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Posted: Sunday, August 25, 2019 - 01:19 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Hi Joel
Slot car rims will work,if I can find some!
No engine with this model but I will post details of the one my build will represent.
The sun/ moon roof is another that needs a lot of thought.
I had a old mini in England , sliding windows!
Brush painted gloss black with the roof painted with body under seal!
My brother found it for me for about $50.00 back in 1974 as a runabout while I rebuilt a 1957 Ford flathead.

Richard,
Good luck finding those slot car wheels.

I got to drive back in 1967-8 a Mini Cooper Super S with the 1275cc engine. On a twisting back road the handling put my MGB with a modified engine and suspension for time trials to shame.

Joel

tinbanger

Ontario, Canada
Joined: February 04, 2008
KitMaker: 2,507 posts
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Posted: Sunday, August 25, 2019 - 09:54 AM UTC

Marked out and drilled the roof:-

Cut out and sanded:-

Next up figure out how to fill with something that look like glass!

Joel_W

Associate Editor
AUTOMODELER

New York, United States
Joined: December 04, 2010
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Posted: Monday, August 26, 2019 - 01:06 AM UTC

Richard,
That's one super large hole for the sunroof. As for the clear window, both Evergreen and Plastruct offer clear sheets for modelers. You could also look in Craft stores as they've got all sorts of things for use modelers.

Joel

AussieReg

Associate Editor
AUTOMODELER

#007

Victoria, Australia
Joined: June 09, 2009
KitMaker: 8,156 posts
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Posted: Monday, August 26, 2019 - 02:07 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Next up figure out how to fill with something that look like glass!

Very nice work on opening up the roof Richard, looking good.

I have found that a lot of general household items are supplied in clamshell packaging that is quite strong and clear, but also quite flexible. Kid's toys especially. I get some strange looks when I scoop up the rubbish and stash it away quickly before it makes it to the recycling bin

Looking forward to more progress reports.

Cheers, D

bbailey_33

Florida, United States
Joined: May 10, 2005
KitMaker: 108 posts
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Posted: Monday, August 26, 2019 - 06:40 AM UTC

Love Minis... hard to find any updated models. Lastest big scale I could find is the "CountryMan". I call this "BeachMan" custom.

Szmann

Netherlands Antilles
Joined: September 02, 2014
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WWW

Posted: Monday, August 26, 2019 - 06:50 PM UTC

Now that is interesting. Not quite a Beetle but it fall into the class and I cannot help bu love the Minis.
As Joel said, I prefer the classic ones. Truth be said, the new ones are packing quite a punch - the scroll turbo version has 116HP, more than a Panzer I-II!

Too bad for their technical problems. I was on the verge of buying one, but certainly it would have been a money pit and I gave up.

Gabriel

Joel_W

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New York, United States
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Posted: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 - 06:49 AM UTC

bbailey_33,
Now that's one very impressive custom Mini.

Gabriel,
Every British car from that era was a money pit. That's how I learned to fix every part of my MGB, Then my Brother's TR250, and I never really stopped self learning.

Joel

tinbanger

Ontario, Canada
Joined: February 04, 2008
KitMaker: 2,507 posts
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Posted: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 - 11:56 AM UTC

Mod Podge picked up at Walmart a few years ago:-

Works well, I applied two coats probably better to apply in one go.
I made a test piece to build up to the thickness of the model roof.
Tinted clear backer will be the way to go, test piece base was painted gray.
The sun roof will be cast once painting is complete:-

AussieReg

Associate Editor
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#007

Victoria, Australia
Joined: June 09, 2009
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Posted: Tuesday, August 27, 2019 - 07:14 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Mod Podge picked up at Walmart a few years ago

Very interested to see how this turns out Richard, I'm always looking for oddball solutions to tricky situations (mostly of my own creation

)

Cheers, D

Joel_W

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New York, United States
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Posted: Wednesday, August 28, 2019 - 03:53 AM UTC

Richard,
Same here. From your example the surface seems wavy. Does it self level?

Joel

tinbanger

Ontario, Canada
Joined: February 04, 2008
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Posted: Wednesday, August 28, 2019 - 09:15 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Richard,
Same here. From your example the surface seems wavy. Does it self level?

Joel

Hi Joel
The surface is smooth the paint underneath is brushed onto the base which gives it the waves look..
Next test will be to.spray a clear sample and then poor

Joel_W

Associate Editor
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New York, United States
Joined: December 04, 2010
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Posted: Wednesday, August 28, 2019 - 09:54 AM UTC

Richard,
That sounds like a really good plan. Looking forward to seeing how stable it is once the mold is removed.

Joel

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