Starting with a 20p toy!

Hi All


Inspired by Peters thread over on RMweb here I have picked up (for a massive 20p!) a Corgi Mercedes Minibus.  Research shows its pretty accurate for 4mm scale and was in production from the late 60's right up until 1986!  It also came in many versions so an ideal candidate for a typical large white van!

Basically (so far) I have cut out the window frames and filled in the side and back windows along with the slot at the back that holds the chassis in place.  These infills will need filler and sanding smooth before door lines are scribed on.  The wheels have been swapped for Paragon models ones as per my earlier Transit conversions.



Cheers

Jim

I had one of these on my layout when I was 16! Mine was painted in the same livery as the local town bus and not long after the real town local service was taken over by a fleet of the merc minibuses. Never thought about converting one to a van though…..

:hmm

Following this one with great interest, Jim!

My two are still playing with the one I had - you can still make out the school bus markings on it!  I might have to recover it one night now.

Chris– I might have to recover it one night now.

cheapskate.. the poor kids!!!

thud:pedal:pedal:cool:

[user=200]Christrerise[/user] wrote:

My two are still playing with the one I had - you can still make out the school bus markings on it!  I might have to recover it one night now.

Think i call the child protection line :twisted:

Phill

Hi All

Made some more progress on this one.



Where I am stuck is the model has no rear lights and I cant find a piccie of the same.  Anyone got any idea's?

Cheers

Jim

That's a tough one Jim.  Perhaps this could be an early Merc "Sprinter" van - in which case there are a few photos on Google Image to play with.  I typed in "rear view mercedes sprinter."

Hi Tim

Its a L408 or T2.  Turns out the rear lights are mounted in the rear bumper.

My quickie project moves to the nearly there stage!



Glazing is done with a bit of plastic from a Bachmann Mk2 coach box.  Interesting stuff as you can bend it quite a lot without it going milky.


A bit more of a fitting environment

Cheers

Jim

Looks very nice, Jim.  What glue did you use for the glazing?

Mike

Hi Mike

I used Klear Floor polish.  If you paint it over the glazing itself it makes it look more glassy somehow!

HTH

Jim

Thanks Jim. Amazing what you can learn on here! No more windows frosted by accident.

Hmmm frosted windows. That's just given me an idea.

Mike

Hi Mike

Try coating your accidently frosted windows with clear too - usually gets rid of the frosting.

HTH

Jim

Hi All

I have grubbied up my mercedes van.  Aside from a driver and wing mirrors this one is done  :D



Cheers

Jim

Excellent! I really must keep my eyes open for some more vehicles. This looks like a very enjoyable pastime.

Mike

Nice one Jim, and cheap too.

Hi Jim, here's one from me it started out as a furniture van. I shortened the chassis and fitted a drop side body  from an old Cooper Craft kit, side mirrors and tarpaulin. It's painted and decorated as Wm. Canning a local Electroplating Supply Company.

Very nice Mike

Anyone else?

Cheers

Jim

Another one from me out of the Corgi toybox.

MAN cab with Basetoys chassis and flatbed.  Hi-Ab from Kibri

Cheers

Jim

i done this a while back but nothing like the standard you lot have produced. i was playing about with lights etc. i will (when i have a layout) use copper tape on the road and wheels to conduct the electrics.