My Aoshima MG-B arrived 5 days after ship date. At first glance it looks very nice. Curbside model with a solid hood. Right hand drive, with no option for left hand drive. There is no dip over the head lights. The wire wheels are one piece but have see through openings, may not look too bad after using a black wash.

Russ

Hi Joel

Cheer up - I'm sure it will still be a huge improvement over the old Airfix kit! I sorted the area behind the headlamps last night and found some photos online to compare the lines against. Not too bad...

But then I noticed the shape of the wheel arches was wrong, the door handles may be in the wrong place and the way the bumpers fit into the bodywork is all wrong...

To be honest, I won't tackle any of those issues! Having realised just how much work you could put into rectifying and detailing this kit, I've decided I just want a nice clean, presentable build of a vintage model that bears a passing resemblance to an MGB! But - as promised - it definitely will be British Racing Green - which will only be fair to Warren too after all his help!

Re: your dismay over the lack of a right-hand drive option in the new kit, I was struck when looking at on-line shots of the interior that MG didn't shift the hand-brake for the US market... You lucky so-and-sos if you were out for a drive with a date! That must have been a great alibi for "accidentally" getting familiar...

All the best

Rowan

Joel,

Yes I'm disappointed with only right hand drive and no engine. There is a suspension, front disc brakes, and what looks like some type hydraulics next to the rear suspension. Having said that it should look good on the shelf. I've built several detailed engines before but for me if it has a hood it rarely gets opened. At least with aircraft cockpits you can see the effort that goes into them.

The Revell XKE I'm working on has an engine but the fit is such that I'd never open the hood and coming up with reasonable narrow wire wheels for is a real challenge. If I had your skill maybe I'd feel different but my detailed builds are few and far between the rest are subjects, aircraft, armor and cars that I'm interested in and look good on the shelf.

Cheers
Russ

Hi again

Just a check-in to let you know I haven't been slacking. I must admit it's taken longer than I'd hoped to reshape the front, but I think it's pretty much there. I need to do a bit of work to tidy up the moulded-on chrome trim that's suffered since the kit's original release and scribe in a couple of missing panel lines and then, at last, it will be time to throw a primer coat at everything and see how bad things look!

All the best

Rowan

Hi again

Just a check-in to let you know I haven't been slacking. I must admit it's taken longer than I'd hoped to reshape the front, but I think it's pretty much there. I need to do a bit of work to tidy up the moulded-on chrome trim that's suffered since the kit's original release and scribe in a couple of missing panel lines and then, at last, it will be time to throw a primer coat at everything and see how bad things look!

All the best

Rowan

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Hi again

Just a check-in to let you know I haven't been slacking. I must admit it's taken longer than I'd hoped to reshape the front, but I think it's pretty much there. I need to do a bit of work to tidy up the moulded-on chrome trim that's suffered since the kit's original release and scribe in a couple of missing panel lines and then, at last, it will be time to throw a primer coat at everything and see how bad things look!

All the best

Rowan

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Excuses excuses...

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Hi again

Just a check-in to let you know I haven't been slacking. I must admit it's taken longer than I'd hoped to reshape the front, but I think it's pretty much there. I need to do a bit of work to tidy up the moulded-on chrome trim that's suffered since the kit's original release and scribe in a couple of missing panel lines and then, at last, it will be time to throw a primer coat at everything and see how bad things look!

All the best

Rowan

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Excuses excuses...

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Hi Warren

Yeah - I know... excuses! But I think there's a danger of a primer coat tomorrow...

All the best

Rowan

Rowan,
I'm really looking forward to seeing your B in the primer stage.

Joel

Hi again

Just a quick word to say this isn't a forgotten project! I actually did a bit more work on the chassis area at the weekend (which basically just reminded me that every single part requires a lot of clean-up work).

The worrying thing - which I'd only half-noticed before - is that the whole front of the kit is actually slightly lob-sided.

Whether that's down to the original 1960s patterns, or a result of gradual degradation over the years, I don't know (I've found a few other areas which aren't symmetrical), but I can only go by what's in front of me... and it's definitely wonky.

Is this a problem? well, for me personally... no; I'm past caring on this nostalgia item. I just want to have a clean build as a result. And will it show on the finished kit? We'll see. But it's something potential purchasers should be aware of.

All the best

Rowan