Monogram Packard Boattail Speedster - 1/24 scale

[Steve Jones]

Looks a nice kit Jim. Looking forward to seeing how it turns out. Nice start on the engine

[yak face]

Love this Jim , I remember these when they were first released and drooling over them in ads in the airfix magazine . I did get one of the classic monogram cars back then but it was the Cord 812 , a beautiful machine , wish i could get one for reasonable money now . The Packard boat tail is a fantastic looking car , even better is the Auburn boat tail speedster ( another kit thats like rocking horse s**t !) . A few years ago I came across a full size one inside a small shopping centre at Rubicon marina , Playa blanca Lanzarote , just sitting there . It wasnt exactly concourse condition but it looked sensational .It must have been a replica as it would have been way too valuable to be left in the middle of a shopping centre for anyone to climb all over !

[Guest]

Looking good already Jim.

[JR]

I'm in, looks like I shall have to sit in the hall as your modelling room is overflowing.
Strong tea and cake please.
I fear the idea of not having to do any weathering, mind your with your neatness you will be ok.
That shot of the plugs , is the lower part a hex plastic rod ? Looks really neat.

[Mini Me]

Get in line JR, the cake goes first to those who have been here the longest.............mind you, there might be a crumb or two left over.:tongue-out3:
Rick H.

[SimonT]

off to a good start Jim

[rtfoe]

How do you get the cake past the mask?:tongue-out3: My dates are make eyes with the walnut...cream all over the place.:smiling2:

Cheers,
Richard

[Jim R]

Hi all
Thanks for all your comments. Many brought a smile to my face. Progress has been slow due to having to bake more cake!!
The plugs are hex shapes punched from thin card with a short length of rod on top.
Main engine block primed with Stynylrez grey and other parts with Vallejo black gloss.




I then decided to work on the front cross piece and axles. I don't understand why but this part has many problems. The moulding looks to have slipped or been misaligned :sad:




Much sanding and scraping needed but had to be careful not to destroy the shape as so much work was needed.


The other problem was the part had lots of areas where the plastic seemed to have shrunk. Don't know why - maybe someone can explain how or why these sunken marks occur.










Anyway I filled the holes and replaced some bolt heads and used some PE from the spares.






Looks a bit rough in the photos but it is mostly hidden and should be ok under paint.

If anyone can explain either the misalignment issue and/or those sunken areas I would be most interested.

Right I'm off as there's only a stale bun and some crumbs left in the cake tin so a baking session is needed as the gannets are gathering.
Jim

[stillp]

The misalignment is probably due to some parts of the mould tool being hotter than others, so the mould has expanded unevenly. The sinkage is caused by the operator releasing the feed pressure on the plastic too soon, before the plastic in the mould has finished shrinking as it cools, or possibly by faulty mould design that doesn't allow that pressure to keep feeding plastic to that area as it cools and solidifies.
Pete

Edit: I've never worked in injection moulding but as a development engineer I've had to investigate faulty moulding.

[Dave Ward]

A lot of problems occur, due to the old moulds - not only wear and tear - which probably account for the mismatch, but the old dies being used on newer injection moulding equipment, which may have different parameters in pressures, flows and injection points. Add to that operator error, and you have all sorts of problems. it can be said 'they still have the original moulds/dies', but modifying old equipment to fit on new can be problematic.
My area was more gravity die/sand casting - aluminium & cast iron mainly - but even with those comparatively crude methods, you could run into all sorts of failures when trying to recommission old moulds!
Dave

[Mini Me]

Jim, if it's any consolation....I think you have recovered beautifully. That front axle will certainly do the job and you will have peace of mind that you gave it a good go. All else is coming along nicely........look forward to your next update.
Rick H.

[SimonT]

Those bits are looking decidedly ropey Jim - well rescued

[Jim R]

Hi all
Peter and David - thanks for your explanations. I understand better now :thumb2:
Rick and Simon - appreciate your kind comments.

I have been working on the chassis. Two long side members with cross pieces and springs. The fit was quite good although the springs took a lot of cleaning up and the two side members are slightly warped but should pull into shape.



All clamped together. The front axle piece is only glued on one side because the long chassis members will need to be opened up to allow the engine to fit in.


Primed with stynylrez black and then Tamiya semi-gloss black.


You can see where the right side in the picture is not glued.


I have started painting up the engine block.


Thanks for looking in :tongue-out3:
Jim

[Wouter]

Something different for a change ey. I'm in Jim. Looking at it, some parts are really awful, brave man you persevere. Chassis and engine are looking good!

Cheers

[Mini Me]

I agree with Wouter, looking good there Jim.
Rick H.