Italian Job Mini (with a twist)

[Leighbo]

Hi Guys

Just picked up this Tamiya Mini Cooper which I am going to build as one of the Italian Job Minis from the original film.

If you have seen the film you might remember that the Mini's ended up being pushed from the coach and bounced down the Alps to their end. Well I intend to build a compact vignette of how one of then might look today over 40 years since the film, battered, rusted & faded laying at the bottom of a ravine

Looking forward to this one, especially as my first car was a mini and I've owned four of them!

I'll be posting my progress soon

Thanks for looking

 

[Subhuman1]

Cool bit of inspiration for a dio, looking forward to seeing your progress! Good luck!

 

[Leighbo]

cheers dan

 

[Chris S]

This should be good ;D Nice little kits those Tammy Mini's ,done a few of them over the years .

Chris.

 

[JohnSimmons]

Well this will be amazing.

 

[Leighbo]

thanks guys

tamiya do know how to make car kits Chris thats for sure.

im thinking of using some thick foil to make some creased body panels and roof, the car did a few cartwheels on its way down the mountain side. also minis were always prone to rust so should give me plenty of scope

 

[noname]

Should be fun. I've seen people use foil to replicate dents.

 

[Leighbo]

cheers Matt

i did do it before on my general lee, but i think ill go more extreme on this one!

 

[Leighbo]

Hi guys

Been working on the Mini, sorry didn't take many photos throughout!

After watching the scene from the movie where the mini's go off the cliff the doors and boot lid fly off so as these were moulded on the Tamiya kit I had to carefuly cut them off with a scalpel. I also used thick foil to replace the boot lid and the roof of the car and cut some rusted areas into it. I knocked up a base with blue foam, which will be covered with grass, etc...
I cut carpets from some tissues impregnated with silicone, these will be lifted in areas to show rusted holes underneath.

Heres everything so far

It may be a small model, but theres plenty of detail to go in yet!

Thanks for looking

 

[hook1169]

SO you had mentioned you had used "tissues impregnated with silicone". Can you elaborate on that? I am not familiar with that process but sounds useful... The "PG" version please!

 

[Leighbo]

no problems, it does sound a bit rude!

i posted it the other day but here is the link to the article i found it in

http://www.militarymodelling.com/news/article/making-realistic-tarps/3310/

it takes a bit of time to prepare but it makes a material which resists tears and will conform the shape of whatever it is streached over.

just be sure to use water based silicone or it wont mix with the water.

have fun!

 

[hook1169]

Oh ya, i did see your post about this and did take a look. Thanks for the reminder. I didn't realize it was the same process.. Very cool work!

 

[Leighbo]

no problems buddy, although even a sinlg tissue goes a long way, would probably also suggest making a few sheets worth while your doing it and storing them away for future builds

 

[Chris S]

Looking good Leighbo . I like the roof ! great job

Chris.

 

[Leighbo]

thanks Chris

i wanted to do more panels with the same technique but i couldnt get the foil around the complex shapes well enough.

still it will look battered enough, i just finished rusting and spraying the top coat so ill post progress tomorrow night.

 

[JohnSimmons]

Looks awesome all ready!!

 

[spud]

that is very cool

 

[Leighbo]

cheers dudes!

 

[hooterville75]

Looken good !!!!

 

[noname]

Yup, looks cool. Now I want a MINI.