John's RNAS Rolls Royce Armoured Car

[JohnRatzenberger]

This is being done for the CBK SIG display this year.

I'll be converting the Airfix 1/32 1911 Rolls Royce into a Rolls Royce Armoured Car, 1914 Pattern used by the RNAS.

Here's the kit, a few parts, and some refs.

.

I have a number of references, but I've shown a re-scaled drawing from one and an article from the Airfix Modelling Guide 21 - these'll be enough for me to get the basics done.

I haven't put much time into studying/planning this, but I do see that I'll have to lop off the back part of the chassis and rebuild that - and I'll have to cut the frames off the body parts and mount on the chassis. It'll be easier to plan/design once I get that done. This will be a visual representation, not exact scale. The only thing I see as a problem is the wheels - I have no wire wheels in that scale, I'm not going to make them, so I may end up just using the kit wheels to represent them. Fortunately that's the last parts needed (I have a spare 1911 or two to provide all the extra ones I need), so an inexpensive and/or easy solution may arise.

[fredk]

Towards the end of WW1 the solid steel wheel disc was introduced. This was slightly different from the post-1922 steel wheel.
AFAIK it was a steel disc which bolted onto the rim using the tire rim bolts.
You could cover up the wood spokes with a disc of plastic card, as I have done for the Ford T, to make steel disc wheels.

[JohnRatzenberger]

I do have two of the Roden 1/35 WW1 kits, #803, but I hate to sacrifice one of them for the wheels ....

[PaulBradley]

Can you somehow copy the Roden wheels?

[fredk]

I've been considering this wheel problem.
Sources for spoked wheels
Kits;
Airfix ~ solid wheels with raised line spokes as on the Bentley or better ones on the MG Magnette and the Vauxhall Prince Henry
Matchbox ~ most of their classic cars, they do a 1920s Rolls Royce; its wheels would be perfect
Pyro ~ some of the classic American cars. I have a broken Duesenberg, its wheels are just a tad bigger than the Matchbox RR

Airfix; not too easy to get
Matchbox; fetching silly money
Pyro; silly money in the UK, but still cheapish in the US of A

It would be a shame to take the wheels from a Roden kit.

Suggestion; see if you can get one of the above kits cheap. If not, contact me and I'll send you the 6 from the Duezy or from another Pyro car. One of them is for conversion and its a long time project. I'm also after a load of model spares on ebay which has suitable wheels; either for you or to replace the ones I send you.

[Arcwelder]

THis is very, very intriguing!

[JohnRatzenberger]

Thanks, Fred, I didn't think to look at some of my other auto kits - I have most of the Airfx & Matchbox range.

I have also been thinking about removing all but 3-4 spokes then back filling with wire spokes or using a clear disc on the inside to hold the tire and hub in the right place and then using some wire for spokes.

New thought to look at aircraft stash - I might have WW1-ish photo-etch spokes that would work also.

Regardless, I am NOT, repeat NOT, going to have a scale number of wires ...

Do not weep for the Roden kit, it could also contribute some other bits to the project. That would still leave me one more plus my Resicast kit.

[JohnRatzenberger]

I have found, and ordered, some photo-etch 1/32 aircraft wire spoke wheels from Tom's Modelworks; they might be a bit big in diameter but ought to be something I can work with ....

Hard not to start cutting plastic; I think cutting the frame rails from the body then mounting them to the chassis is my first step ...

[splash]

Here is a good link http://www.marqueart.com/marqueart/back ... ed_car.htm

[JohnRatzenberger]

Thanks, Splash, but that's a 1920 pattern whereas I'll be doing the 1914 pattern.
I did bookmark the page as I have a couple 1920 pattern to build yet.

[fredk]

I have found, and ordered, some photo-etch 1/32 aircraft wire spoke wheels from Tom's Modelworks; they might be a bit big in diameter but ought to be something I can work with ....

When you get them and think they'll do, go to a car parts shop or plumbers supplies and see if you can get large O rings. They make great tyres.

[JohnRatzenberger]

Good idea, Fred, but I think I'm going to try to make the kit tires work first - they seem suitably skinny/round enough.
Also it'll probably double the number of kit parts I actually use - I did some close inspection/planning and not only do I toss the body (less frame rails) but about half the chassis. That leaves a couple axles and the rest will be scratch built.

Is it still a CBK ? Says 1956 on the bottom, so it must be ...

[JohnRatzenberger]

Off we go ....

Here are the Airfix kit parts -- the body and chassis in the first and everything else in the second ...





Task 1 was to cut the frames rails from the body parts and cut the fenders and running board from the chassis.



Which you can see here. I haven't cleaned up from those cuts yet but that is next. The 2 body halves, the two running boards, the front fenders -- all go into the scrap box. Most of the little bits seen in the 2nd picture will end up there also - probably use the wheels, steering wheel, and a couple other parts but that's all. The two rear fenders may become front fenders or may end up in scrap also.

It strikes me that I am not so much converting a kit but just taking a few parts and then building a whole other one ... don't tell Martin

[PaulBradley]

It strikes me that I am not so much converting a kit but just taking a few parts and then building a whole other one ... don't tell Martin

lol!

[Barry]

Converting almost nothing into something...nothing wrong with that.