The Zodiac was neat because this US issue had chromed parts for grille, bumpers, hubcaps etc.. although mine was missing one hubcap so I had to improvise one from a disc of plastic covered with Bare-Metal foil. I thought the Zodiac chrome would make the Mini look a bit shabby with painted bumpers, so I covered them and the grille and hubcaps with Bare-Metal foil.
When my parents decided in September to visit for Christmas, I decided it was time finally to get these built and offer them as Christmas presents. Bad idea as it turned out because it created a deadline. I travel a lot for work, so these really only got my attention in the last week and it has been stressful. The Zodiac ended up being painted 3 times (and stripped twice) before I got an acceptable finish. Then painting the silver edges round the windows didn't go very well but I decided to leave them 'as is' because I thought I'd make them worse if I tried a second coat.
Final assembly was made a bit tough because the Mini grille wouldn't fit and needed severe trimming with a file and then the same happened with the Zodiac grille and I had to repair some of the filed area with foil. The Zodiac bumpers are barely attached with Clearfix but I daren't touch them again!
Anyway, they are ready to be wrapped for Christmas and I have learned a few lessons - never model to a deadline, these old Airfix cars have some really poor fitting parts, ALWAYS dry-fit every part and never, ever, ever build another car model!!!!
David
More pics here: http://s147.photobucket.com/albums/r296 ... %20Zodiac/;
