Heller 1/8 Citroen Traction Avant

[kpnuts]

Hi all here's one I've been on for a couple of months. Its one hell of a kit 1100+ parts after a disasterous reaction on the paintwork on this(which nearly caused me to bin it ) I've sorted it (will never be a great job but is ok as an old jalopy) did a bit more staining of the doors and the bodywork and added some rust effects to the black paintwork, still a long way to go on it but is starting to look better now.

[harron68]

Rust looks authentic and possibly that's where they were rust prone. Looking pretty well along. Good luck on the rest of the BIG SCALE kit. It's rare to see one so large and well detailed.

[kpnuts]

Hi all I was checking some of the pictures, one advantage of that is looking at pictures of things 2 and sometimes 3 times bigger than the actual thing you see faults you wouldnt see on the actual item, like for instance a lot of the flat areas of rust are, just that flat, no blistering and no reason to be rust coloured, so I,ve fixed that and dulled the doors and bodywork down and started blending panels and adding general grime (I must say I'm quite pleased with the results so far) if things carry on like this I think the finished thing will look quite realistic (of course having said that I will no probably go and ruin it)






















does anyone know how to dull down and dirty the windows and windscreen? all tip welcome.

[Mr.409]

Wow, 1/8 scale...That is one big model kit! Looks like you're doing an excellent work so far. I had to double check the rust on those doors as first I thought those pics were on real parts. Very nice work.

[kpnuts]

Hi all well I'm sure you must be getting bored of this by now (I know you're all so polite you wont say so) so I'll take advantage of your good nature and continue the onslaught.

[Mr.409]

Dec 1, 2015 15:11:26 GMT -5 kpnuts said:

Hi all well I'm sure you must be getting bored of this by now (I know you're all so polite you wont say so) so I'll take advantage of your good nature and continue the onslaught.

No sir, this is an interesting project and you're doing good work with it! Keep the pics coming!

[kpnuts]

hi all here is tonights update, I realise the windscreen needs work but its my first effort at doing glass.




does the bird poo look effective

[harron68]

That area below the doors (usually called the rocker panels) is most prone to rust due to both its location and often factory drainage holes. I admire the bubbly rust look you achieved. I am surprised at the big amount of rear seat leg room in that old car. When done it'll be quite a collection "show piece!"

[kpnuts]

Hi I've seen a model of this car called family where it has another set of seats between the front and rear seats, so later models obviously didn't have as much leg room.

[kpnuts]

hi all here is yet another update

[kpnuts]

Hi all here is another installment

[kpnuts]

does anyone know where I can get some decent pics of the dash in these as I want to weather it and cant find any decent pics, here is what I have at the moment.

[kpnuts]

Hi guys weathered the wheels, not done much to the spare as I figure that wouldnt have much weathering

[kpnuts]

Hi all well this is going to be left for a while to let me cool off (I came sooooo close to throwing it against the wall) went to fit the wings and complete radiator as you saw I did in the last update and with those in place tried a fit of the bonnet (no chance 6 mill gap at the front, or back depending on where you want the gap) after several minuets of scratching my head I figured out what the problem was there was a gap all around the top of the firewall of about 2 mill, lift the front of the car a bit gap disappears and the bonnet fits perfect (I think the floor pan is bent) (I know the back part is but thought I would sort that when I finally glued it on) so lifted the front of the car glued the firewall to the body let it dry, released the body and the bottom of the firewall came away from where that was glued (too much stress I guess ) after a very fidely application of glue to that area, mahoosive amounts of taping to hold it there, let that dry undo the tape all fits perfect, just start applauding myself for sorting it and ping gap at the top again. How I stopped myself I don't know, but I didn't throw it, I don't want to come that close again so having a break for a little while.

[kpnuts]

Hi all well I've figured it out, On the ladder frames which you slide the subframe on the sub frame was about a mill away from end of the ladders which through everything else out unfortunately that part was stuck with a capitol S but with a lot of jiggeling I've moved it the mill required so now back to work, I've added the inner roof lining and weathered it.





for some reason the weathering is not showing up in the pics very well, trust me it looks very grubby.