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Post by mrmike on Apr 21, 2019 4:58:02 GMT -7
I have been wanting to start this long before I had came into possession of this kit. This is the Revell/Monogram Aston Martin DB4. I have been long since been looking for a full-detail DB5 and this is a s close as I have been able to get to. The only difference between the DB4 and the DB5 is the engine size and a slightly long rear deck.  This kit is from 1979 according to the molding on the inside of the body. There is some flash and significant moldlines on the body. This may take a while to clean up.   My research has been ongoing for a little while now. Plus, I want to see how many unsuspecting people I can fool into thinking that this is the James Bond 007 DB5. Let's see what I can do with this kit. More to come... |
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Post by mrmike on Apr 21, 2019 5:34:55 GMT -7
I decided to post three pictures of the DB4 (white) and the DB5 (grey) side-by-side. You can see the obvious differences between the two cars. Both models will require bodywork to get them ready for primer and paint, but the DB5 will not be assembled.    I decided a while ago NOT to build the 007 DB5 due to its value. Some discussion between myself and several model builders in my Club have resulted in some interesting reasons for and against building the 007 DB5 kit. I have decided to hold onto the DB5 kit for now and not build it. Maybe I'll build it later. We shall see. More to come... |
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Post by leon on Apr 21, 2019 6:38:20 GMT -7
Looking forward to seeing what you do with this Mike!
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Post by moramarth on Apr 21, 2019 18:29:26 GMT -7
Who is the manufacturer of the JB DB5, please? I recall being given the Airfix 1/24th JB DB5 as a birthday present, unfortunately it was only my 12th... The wreckage may be still around somewhere, I built it (sort of!) as the JB version but as I recall there was a stock option (no functioning ejector seat, etc,). The mould was modified to make a stock DB6, there's an unbuilt one of those in the Deep Stash. As I recall the same thing happened to the JB Toyota 2000 which was re-tooled to the production GT which was to have been used in the movie until they found Sean Connery couldn't fit into it... (That's most likely wherever the DB5 is, I did have Little Nellie as well...).
Regards,
M
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Post by stitchdup on Apr 22, 2019 2:32:56 GMT -7
Looking forward to this
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Post by mmthrax on Apr 22, 2019 6:41:36 GMT -7
I want to see how many unsuspecting people I can fool into thinking that this is the James Bond 007 DB5. I don't quite understand this statement. Does this mean you will paint it silver and see how many people say "Nice James Bond car."? or do you have something else in mind? Looks like a neat kit. Never seen it before. I am sure you will do it justice. |
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Post by mrmike on Apr 23, 2019 13:02:57 GMT -7
I want to see how many unsuspecting people I can fool into thinking that this is the James Bond 007 DB5. I don't quite understand this statement. Does this mean you will paint it silver and see how many people say "Nice James Bond car."? or do you have something else in mind? Looks like a neat kit. Never seen it before. I am sure you will do it justice. Yeah, something like that. Most people couldn't tell the difference between a DB4 and a DB5, so why not test them to see? It would be fun! |
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Post by mrmike on Apr 23, 2019 13:06:31 GMT -7
Who is the manufacturer of the JB DB5, please? I recall being given the Airfix 1/24th JB DB5 as a birthday present, unfortunately it was only my 12th... The wreckage may be still around somewhere, I built it (sort of!) as the JB version but as I recall there was a stock option (no functioning ejector seat, etc,). The mould was modified to make a stock DB6, there's an unbuilt one of those in the Deep Stash. As I recall the same thing happened to the JB Toyota 2000 which was re-tooled to the production GT which was to have been used in the movie until they found Sean Connery couldn't fit into it... (That's most likely wherever the DB5 is, I did have Little Nellie as well...).
Regards,
M
The Aston Martin DB5 kit I have is made by Doyusha and it is possible that the molds came from someone else. They are could be Airfix, but I really don't know. |
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Post by moramarth on Apr 23, 2019 13:37:45 GMT -7
Thank you for the information. I don't think the Doyusha and the Airfix are related, it would appear from your photo the Doyusha body is in one piece while the Airfix JB DB5 had a separate bonnet (hood) with a full engine (a feature retained when the mould was re-cut to produce the DB6) and a separate boot (trunk) lid.
Regards,
M
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Post by mrmike on Apr 24, 2019 18:39:50 GMT -7
Based on what I have been told, the molds were different between the two kits. Finding an Aston kit is now getting tough to do. And, getting very, very pricy. What I paid for the Tamiya Aston Martin DBS several years ago was only half of what the Doyusha kit is going for today.
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Post by moramarth on Apr 24, 2019 19:51:58 GMT -7
The later posts on this thread seem to be the most comprehensive explanation of a complicated story: I hadn't realised that Airfix had released a stock version of the Doyusha kit after their own moulds were destroyed but the production timeline on Scalemates would appear to confirm this: Between train wrecks and warehouse fires it's a sad tale...
Regards,
M
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Post by mrmike on May 2, 2019 13:14:04 GMT -7
I decided to play around with this kit a little bit this afternoon. I assembled the whitewalls, but I'll turn the tires backwards and paint the whitewalls flat black or rubber color to hide them. Whitewalls on a sports car? Must be a '60s thing...  I thought I was going to assemble a good part of the engine only to discover that many parts are chrome plated. I removed those parts from the main sprue, leaving the number tags on them and gave them a bath in Easy-Off Oven Cleaner.   More to come... |
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Post by leon on May 2, 2019 15:23:26 GMT -7
Nice start Mike!
Does the easy-off do a descent job on striping the chrome?
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Post by stitchdup on May 3, 2019 0:30:37 GMT -7
I seem to remember reading somewhere that the US importer of these added whitewalls to make the cars appeal more to your market, I dont recell the european spec versions having whitewalls but that could be down to aston being owned by a tractor manufactuer around this time
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Post by mrmike on May 3, 2019 6:39:33 GMT -7
Nice start Mike! Does the easy-off do a descent job on striping the chrome? Yes, it does! But, tha also depends on how thich the plating is, too. The whitewall tires seem out of place. Not sure why they are there. It's like putting a dress on a pig. The dress is pretty, but it is still worn by a pig! |
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Post by leon on May 3, 2019 13:19:25 GMT -7
Thank you Mike!
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Post by Deano on May 3, 2019 17:23:09 GMT -7
Nice start Mike! Does the easy-off do a descent job on striping the chrome? Yes, it does! But, tha also depends on how thich the plating is, too. The whitewall tires seem out of place. Not sure why they are there. It's like putting a dress on a pig. The dress is pretty, but it is still worn by a pig! Dress on a pig?! Think I dated her in high school? rolling |
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Post by mrmike on May 4, 2019 12:10:34 GMT -7
Probably the same pig I dated!  |
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Post by mrmike on May 6, 2019 19:04:44 GMT -7
I clipped these parts for the engine from the chrome tree and dechromed them. Now for some cleanup and painting.    More to come... |
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Post by mustang1989 on May 6, 2019 19:18:49 GMT -7
Looking forward to seeing that engine all built up and painted Mike.
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Post by mrmike on May 7, 2019 14:57:06 GMT -7
Look no further, Joe. Here it is...mostly. I've been working on assembling the 3.7 Liter engine this afternoon. Mostly assembled. Just need the distributor and ignition wire tube added, plug wires and some touchups!    More to come... |
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Post by leon on May 7, 2019 15:27:33 GMT -7
Engine looks good Mike!
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Post by mmthrax on May 8, 2019 6:41:21 GMT -7
Looking good sir. I've read that adjusting the valves on this engine is a colossal bear. Good thing us modellers don't have to worry about that.  |
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Post by mrmike on May 8, 2019 18:05:56 GMT -7
Thanks leon and Mark!
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Post by mrmike on May 12, 2019 14:34:42 GMT -7
I had filled a couple of sink marks in the rear fenders of the DB4 with Mr. Dissolved Putty. Great stuff, but does it ever smell!   I painted the whitewall insert with Tamiya Semi-Gloss Black and reversed the tires and assembled the wire wheels and knock-offs.  More to come... |
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Post by leon on May 12, 2019 15:21:56 GMT -7
Wheels and body work look good!
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Post by mmthrax on May 12, 2019 15:50:19 GMT -7
Digging the progress Mike.
Carry on sir....
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Post by mrmike on May 12, 2019 18:42:09 GMT -7
Thank you leon and Mark! Now that the Mustang and the Cyclone are done and out of the way, I can pay more attention to the DB4!
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Post by mrmike on May 19, 2019 10:02:54 GMT -7
Back on the Aston Martin DB4. I never cared for the wire wheels or the skinny tires that came in the kit. I dug through the parts box looking for a better set of tires and I found them...with Borrani wire wheels on them! If my memory is correct, these wheels and tires came from an old Fujimi Ferrari Daytona from many years ago and was retired from the shelf before it fell completely apart. I'll just transfer the knockoffs from the kit wheels to the Borrani wire wheels.  The tires are twice as wide as the originals.  I assembled the luggage. I want to add ignition wires to the engine, but the wires run out of a tube to the distributor and I need to drill some attachment points into the tube. Maybe I can find a slightly larger tube...  More to come... |
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Post by mrmike on May 19, 2019 12:06:09 GMT -7
I was asked about the different tire sizes elsewhere. The new tires that I am using are about 1/16th inch shorter than the taller, skinny tires in the kit. They just look a whole lot better than the originals do. And, the wire wheels don't stick out a country mile like the kit wheels do.    More to come... |
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