Heller 1/8 Citroen Traction Avant

[Guest]

Hi Robert.


Many thanks for those words.


No Haynes manual - just a mega search on Google images and various Citroen club websites.


There's lots out there if you search.


No working windows though - unless they are in the kit build.


I'm building this totally 'out of the box' with a few scratch made extra's as I intend putting the whole build on a CD for others to use.


So far I've written 52 pages of detailed build notes explaining the pitfalls and how to sort them, and have over 800 annotated pictures.


By the end, it will probably be around 65 - 70 pages and over 1000 pics.


It's great fun actually, writing notes and taking pics as you go.


Roy.

[Guest]

Fantastic build there top marks

[Guest]

An update on fitting the front wings...


The explanation and pictures are meant to help anyone building this beastie...


FITTING THE FRONT WINGS (FENDERS)


The front wings of the model have no proper attachment points other than a recessed ridge running around the upper area of the side panels, and some tiny locating pips that are next to useless.


Trying to glue the wings in place with any degree of success while keeping them level with each other is extremely difficult. There is also a great risk of getting glue on the bodywork paint.


First, glue the mounting brackets – Parts 479 & 480 – to the front cradle. Make sure you fit them to the correct sides. Clean off the moulded ridge on the mating face of the parts before fitting them.


To attach the wings, it would be far easier to add some locating brackets to the underside of the wings and drill and screw them in place to the main body. This way no glue is used and the wings will also ‘pull’ more tightly to the bodywork helping alleviate any possible gaps.


Make the mounting brackets from ¼ angle plastic section.


Glue the brackets as shown.


The front and centre bracket should be set back 1mm from the edge of the wing to allow for the recess in the side body panel.


The rear bracket should be fixed level with the wing edge.


When the glue is dry, drill a 1.5mm hole through the bracket.


Hold one of the wings against the car body in the correct position so that the inner edge of the wing sits on the ridge on the side panel.


From underneath the wing, push a fine screwdriver through the hole in the centre bracket to mark the side panel paint.


Remove the wing and drill a 1mm hole through the side panel, where the screwdriver mark is.


Using a small 1.5mm screw, attach the wing to the car. Do not tighten the screw yet.


With the wing held in place, make two more marks through the other brackets onto the car body.


Remove the centre screw and put the wing aside.


Drill two more holes in the car body to align with the bracket holes.


Replace the wing using the centre screw first. Do not tighten it yet.


Fit the other two screws and finally tighten all three.


Do not over tighten the screws or you may strip the thread in the plastic.


Fit the other wing in the same way.


Adhesive can now be run around the underside of the wing/body join if required.


.....................I actually have FAR more annotated pictures and info in my build diary.


More to come...


Hope some of you find it useful.


Roy.


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[flyjoe180]

That is already looking like it is in a museum and life like, nice work so far Roy.

[Marc Stock]

Every time I look at the build pictures it amazes my what a genuine work of top art this is.

[Snowman]

Impressive!!

[Guest]

The ol' beastie is coming along...


I took it into the garden today and played around with the Sepia settings on my camera.


Roy.


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[Ian M]

Love it.

[flyjoe180]

Yep me too, looks great

[Guest]

For those interested...


The build and build CD are all sorted.


Pictures shortly.


I'm not sure if I can post this here, but if you want a CD....


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/181777828972?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p39 84.m1555.l2649


Roy.