|
|
Post by mrmike on Apr 5, 2018 12:39:56 GMT -7
This is my newest project and one that I just had to build! This is the Tamiya Morgan 4/4 and what a kit this is! As typical of Tamiya, this kit does not represent a specific model year, so it could be anywhere from 1955 to 2018. The Morgan 4/4 is still built in pretty much the same way as it was when the first 4/4 was introduced in 1935 as Morgan's first 4 wheel automobile. Even the 3-wheeler is still produced today using a modern S and S Harley motorcycle engine. The 4/4 is still produced today in very small numbers using mostly the same technology from the mid-'30s. No computers, exotic suspension pieces, or carbon fiber whatever. It is basically the same car today as it was back then.  The body is molded in green plastic, but there is a join line in the rear of the body by the spare tire. I'll check the body over for mold lines and such, primer it and paint it with Tamiya TS-9 British Green with a black interior. And, the wire wheels are just exquisite! Beautifully molded and plated in shiny chrome. You just don't see molding like this on many kits today.  So far, the engine has been assembled and the chassis is partially assembled. The sprues are molded in semi-gloss black plastic which will save me a lot of paint work since the Tamiya TS-29 or X-18 paint matches the plastic.  FWIW, this kit is very expensive online with Amazon wanting $430 plus shipping! I was looking around for this kit online until it was offered to me by a fellow Club member, Scott who wanted me to build the kit and to have fun with it! Thank you Scott! |
|
|
|
Post by DeeCee on Apr 5, 2018 13:55:12 GMT -7
That's cool and different Michael, i'm watching man..
|
|
|
|
Post by mrmike on Apr 5, 2018 18:45:18 GMT -7
Thanks DeeCee!
|
|
|
|
Post by mrmike on Apr 10, 2018 14:59:57 GMT -7
The chassis is complete minus the wheels and tires.  I did a mockup so I could set the proper angle on the gas tank filler neck.  I added a black wash to the wire wheels.  More to come... |
|
|
|
Post by nyratrod on Apr 11, 2018 4:58:16 GMT -7
A great start on a classic sports car. One of my favorites.I'll be surely watching this one.
|
|
|
|
Post by mrmike on Apr 11, 2018 18:26:05 GMT -7
With sports cars having electronic this-and-that, it's refreshing to find one that is just the basic sports car. Keep watching...
|
|
|
|
Post by stitchdup on Apr 15, 2018 12:58:45 GMT -7
These morgans are pretty cool, I've seen a lot of them around locally to me. I'm pretty sure they do a v8 version of it still, and the aero 8 if you fancy something a little more modern looking though I find the front of the aero a bit crosseyed looking
|
|
|
|
Post by mrmike on Apr 16, 2018 5:47:02 GMT -7
Absolutely cool looking! I haven't heard of a V8 version myself, but that might be a scary ride if the V8 has substantial power. I know of the Ariel Atom having a V8 which would make it a WILD ride for sure. What makes the Aero 8 look cross-eyed is the headlights are flush and in-board with the fenders like on the 4/4. I think they would look better if the lights were mounted at the leading edge and slightly outboard from their current position. Anyway, I can look past the cross-eyed look with the sound of that BMW M-series V8!
Update...
I went onto Morgan's website and discovered the Plus 8 Anniversary Edition with a BMW 4.8 Liter V8. WOW!!!
|
|
|
|
Post by stitchdup on Apr 16, 2018 6:17:18 GMT -7
Absolutely cool looking! I haven't heard of a V8 version myself, but that might be a scary ride if the V8 has substantial power. I know of the Ariel Atom having a V8 which would make it a WILD ride for sure. What makes the Aero 8 look cross-eyed is the headlights are flush and in-board with the fenders like on the 4/4. I think they would look better if the lights were mounted at the leading edge and slightly outboard from their current position. Anyway, I can look past the cross-eyed look with the sound of that BMW M-series V8! Update... I went onto Morgan's website and discovered the Plus 8 Anniversary Edition with a BMW 4.8 Liter V8. WOW!!! The v8 ones I've seen used what we call a rover v8, but was actually developed by buick before they gave up on it and sold it to the roots group (who may have been involved with chrysler at around the same time) . |
|
|
|
Post by mrmike on Apr 17, 2018 5:36:40 GMT -7
Yes, Buick sold their aluminium V8 engine to Rover and they have been able to make that V8 available when Buick couldn't. I must admit that I don't know the entire story on the Buick aluminium V8 design and why they had sold it. Sounds like something I might want to research...
|
|
|
|
Post by DeeCee on Apr 18, 2018 1:58:36 GMT -7
Seen a couple of these this week, we have got TARGA TASMANIA on at the moment,
and it brings out all the faster versions of old and new sports car.
|
|
|
|
Post by mrmike on Apr 23, 2018 13:19:58 GMT -7
I had to Google Targa Tasmania to see what it is. Sounds like quite the race event!
|
|
|
|
Post by mrmike on May 2, 2018 6:32:59 GMT -7
With my Jaguar Mk. II Saloon nearly finished, I can continue working on the Morgan 4/4. I got the body and body panels into a coat of primer and found some more moldlines to deal with. I spent nearly an hour looking for and removing the mold lines.   Back in March, I watched a series on Velocity called For The Love Of Cars with Philip Glenister and Ant Anstead. The episode finds them purchasing and restoring a '69 Aston Martin DBS similar to the car driven in the James Bond movie On Her Majesty's Secret Service with George Lazenby. The restored DBS was repainted a dark olive green and the interior was reskinned in oxblood or dark red leather. I'm going to paint the seats of the Morgan in a dark red or oxblood color and the rest of the interior will be black.  More to come... |
|
|
|
Post by stitchdup on May 2, 2018 9:23:33 GMT -7
For the love of cars is a pretty good show, its a pity there wont be another series now ant has joined wheeler dealers. I'm not sure if its shown in the usa, but car sos did an older morgan type 3 wheeler on one show. I like your colour idea,
|
|
|
|
Post by mrmike on May 2, 2018 19:10:46 GMT -7
It is a shame that there will be no more For The Love Of Cars as I enjoyed the program. I don't blame Edd China for leaving Wheeler Dealers. I've watched a couple of episodes and they didn't grab me like the older episodes did.
|
|
|
|
Post by stitchdup on May 3, 2018 0:38:43 GMT -7
I tink it might improve on the next series. I still have magazines with some of edd's own customs and they were wild, the one that sticks in mt mind is couch and table that had the engine from a mini, and a 4 post bed with the same. Both were road legal too, lol
|
|
|
|
Post by mrmike on May 3, 2018 12:37:30 GMT -7
I got some more work done on the Morgan this morning. I got the interior bucket in with the shifter, handbrake, and the seats.   I wanted this interior to be a little different. Every Morgan 4/4 is made to a customer's order and so far, all the seats I have seen are either black or tan in color. I choose a dark red for mine. I painted the seats with Model Master Fire Red Enamel and placed them into the dehydrator last night and this morning, I coated them with Testors Semi Gloss Clear. This should look good!  More to come... |
|
|
|
Post by mustang1989 on May 3, 2018 12:59:21 GMT -7
Everything looks like it's going well together there Mike. Details are lookin' swell.
|
|
|
|
Post by leon on May 3, 2018 15:58:49 GMT -7
Looking good Mike! Like your choice for the seat colors.
|
|
|
|
Post by mrmike on May 4, 2018 5:22:50 GMT -7
Thank you Joe and leon!
|
|
|
|
Post by DeeCee on May 4, 2018 6:10:16 GMT -7
Those seats look like leather, nice work Michael.
|
|
|
|
Post by mrmike on May 4, 2018 11:06:15 GMT -7
Thanks DeeCee! I painted the Morgan this afternoon.    More to come... |
|
|
|
Post by mrmike on May 14, 2018 14:22:51 GMT -7
Well, it had to happen. My bad painting luck is still with me and I'll shake it at some point. After spraying the hood, doors, and nose piece, I noticed some spots that didn't look fully covered to me. So out came the spray can a day later and I sprayed them with another coat of paint and left them in the booth for the next several days and didn't look at them. A few days ago, I brought them out of the booth and they all had bubbles and trash on them. I tossed them into a small container with 91% alcohol to remove the paint. I will start again with Tamiya Fine Surface Primer and Tamiya TS-9 British Green. I have tossed these pieces back into a clean container of 91% alcohol with the hopes of removing more primer and paint from the nooks and crannies.    More to come... |
|
|
|
Post by DeeCee on May 14, 2018 15:33:12 GMT -7
That's just rotten luck mate, the first paint job looked pretty good too...
|
|
|
|
Post by mrmike on May 14, 2018 18:00:25 GMT -7
I'm not sure what had happened while I had to step away. But, like the old football coach once said, "Keep running that play until you get it right!"
|
|
|
|
Post by mrmike on May 20, 2018 7:17:15 GMT -7
Some progress on my Morgan 4/4. I've been detailing the body off and on the last several days. I installed the dash, steering wheel and column, coil and brake booster, and painted the underside of the body with Tamiya X-18 Semi Gloss Black.  I installed the interior onto the chassis. I couldn't seat the interior all the way down onto the chassis without a little persuasion and now it fits perfectly. I still don't know why it didn't go on all the way.   More to come... |
|
|
|
Post by Deano on May 21, 2018 2:44:22 GMT -7
It's going to be worth the struggle mate, soldier on.
|
|
|
|
Post by DeeCee on May 21, 2018 5:10:06 GMT -7
Another step FORWARD mate, nice to see it looking so good, she's nearly done !!
|
|
|
|
Post by mrmike on May 21, 2018 10:04:48 GMT -7
Thanks Deano and DeeCee! Since my last post, I have been working away on the Morgan 4/4. The body has been joined with the chassis and I have added the grille and center hood support.  The spare tire was added to the rear along with the rear valance panel and license plate frame.  With a little bit of masking, I used my Molotow Liquid Chrome pen and painted the raised strip on the running board.  More to come... |
|
|
|
Post by Deano on Jun 15, 2018 0:56:16 GMT -7
Sweet ride, looking spot on.
|
|
