Chip's 200MPH armoured interceptor ground vehicle. *S.I.G.*

[iggie]

I remember the Dinky version of this; it had a button on the roof to open the side door with a seat that lowered to the ground. It also fired a missile from a flap at the front....

I always wanted a Dinky SPV to go with my FAB 1

"You rang M'Lady?"

[Molly-new]

I remember the Dinky version of this; it had a button on the roof to open the side door with a seat that lowered to the ground. It also fired a missile from a flap at the front....

Although the opening side door option is probably a step too far, it does have the mechanism for firing the missiles built into it:



I get the feeling that this mold was used as a powered/remote control toy as it appears to be steerable, and there is a hole at the back for an on/off switch:



This has been filled in with a bit of scrap plastic card and will get painted black:



The fitting at the front has left an unsightly step that is difficult to fill and sand down smooth so I am going to cover it with a thin piece of plastic that has been cut to shape:



I hope to get a suitable electric blue colour paint at the weekend, any suggestions welcomed as always.

[SJPONeill]

Really love the way this is coming together...I love these Imai kits and think they have much unrealised potential once you grind away all the 'working' parts...could you put something in one of your pics to give an idea of the size of this one..? Thanks...

Simon

[AndrewR]

The paint seemed to be a light grey blue metallic colour to me.

In Vallejo Air, I'd probably mix US Intermediate Blue with Aluminium. (That's what I have in stock!)

For a non-metallic, I like the look of Humbrol 109, WW1 Blue.

Citadel Fenrisian Grey looks okay from the online colour sample too.

Hope that helps!

[Chris]

Nice work on her so far Chip.

[iggie]

I'd be thinking of a trip to Halfords or a car parts shop for a metallic blue rattle can

[AndrewR]

I'd be thinking of a trip to Halfords or a car parts shop for a metallic blue rattle can

Yes, blue metallics are more common on cars than anything else!

Good thinking Batman!

[Molly-new]

could you put something in one of your pics to give an idea of the size of this one..?

Certainly, here is the body with a 1/72 Spitfire next to it:



Whilst doing a bit more research, (OK, watching episodes of Captain Scarlet ) I noticed that there should be a light cluster in each of the front wings, which need to be scratch built. Whilst planning this I noticed quite prominent gaps between the outer bodyshell and inner wings which I have filled with putty;



Annoyingly this has delayed the painting which I had intended to start this weekend. Best laid plans.........

Talking of paint, thanks for all the tips. I had thought about using a rattle can, but was worried that it would be a bit one dimensional in colour, at least with acrylics I can add lighter and darker colours to make some tonal variation. On the way out of the local art shop (they sell models and paints as well) I spotted this:



The colour is Pearl Ice Blue and looks perfect for the SPV. I have never used this type of paint before, but it is acrylic and water based so I should be able to thin it down enough to go through the airbrush. And at £2.00 a bottle it has got to be worth a shot.

[SJPONeill]

Thanks for that shot with the Spit: it certainly is a decent size...I would be careful about using that paint in an airbrush as the particles may be a lot larger than typical model paint...I tried a similar experiment a few years back and gave up in the end...hope it works for you...

[Molly-new]

Thanks for the tip Simon, it is something I had not considered.

The chassis is now complete:



For the light clusters I am using a thin strip of clear plastic with some dots of silver paint on them:



Once dry they have been overpainted with the Blue:



The body has had a coat of primer and the pre shading completed:



Next stage is to try out my new paint (with trepidation).

[iggie]

Fingers crossed for you!

[lancfan]

Thanks for that shot with the Spit: it certainly is a decent size...I would be careful about using that paint in an airbrush as the particles may be a lot larger than typical model paint...I tried a similar experiment a few years back and gave up in the end...hope it works for you...

How about a cheap hobby spray gun? you wouldn't have the clogging problem and it may come in use later for similar jobs on car bodies etc.


David.

[splash]

I have sprayed that type of paint before and found if thinned with a good acrylic thinner (not Tamiya as that's sprit based) it will spray but adhesion was an issue, it had to go over primer otherwise it just forms blobs and runs off.

It might need a top gloss or matt coat to protect it and be carful if you use masking tape on it as this will probably pull the paint off due to the adhesion problems.

Good luck I will watch this with interest. If it works you will have opened up a new cheap range of paints for us all to use

Regards Splash

[splash]

Am I right in thinking the drivers sit facing backwards in the SPV?

Or has my old age caught up with me at last, I just recall the drivers seat came out on an arm when the door was open.

Regards Splash

[SJPONeill]

They did indeed sit backwards, Splash, and there was some sort of Anderson pseudo-science that explained why...