Ragtag Posted April 21, 2019 Share Posted April 21, 2019 (edited) Hi all, thought this little project might be of interest for those wanting new vans or minibuses for their layouts. It's a converted Matchbox TV news van which needed a little surgery, primarily to the roof, to get it looking more model-like. However, given that everything above the bumpers is plastic anyway this wasn't too onerous. All in all I think it's starting to look like a decent model. Still to do: -flush glaze the side windows. Tempting to simply fill them and use a transfer so it matches the rest of the side. -Roof detail -Better wheels The starting point on the left. All of the gubbins on the roof was cut off with a sharp scalpel. Conversion to a van would be rather easy but I wanted a minibus so out came the custom transfers: I had printed a decal to give the grille more detail but forgot to leave it painted white: The rear door was filled and again a transfer used, negating the need to detail the interior for just one window. I was also wary of removing the large pillar (visible on the left) having hacked about the roof so much already. The model scales rather nicely against the Oxford Transit The plan is now to produce another two L3H2 versions in the same way, along with an L2H2 which will require shortening the chassis and an L4H3 which will require a longer and higher body. Edited April 21, 2019 by Ragtag 10 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted April 21, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 21, 2019 I have a couple of these, I intend to make them high roof versions so out with the Milliput. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragtag Posted April 21, 2019 Author Share Posted April 21, 2019 I'm looking to see whether the long and high roof can be done with 2 of the donor models, splicing and filling. We shall see! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RANGERS Posted April 21, 2019 Share Posted April 21, 2019 4 hours ago, Ragtag said: Hi all, thought this little project might be of interest for those wanting new vans or minibuses for their layouts. It's a converted Matchbox TV news van which needed a little surgery, primarily to the roof, to get it looking more model-like. However, given that everything above the bumpers is plastic anyway this wasn't too onerous. All in all I think it's starting to look like a decent model. Still to do: -flush glaze the side windows. Tempting to simply fill them and use a transfer so it matches the rest of the side. -Roof detail -Better wheels The starting point on the left. All of the gubbins on the roof was cut off with a sharp scalpel. Conversion to a van would be rather easy but I wanted a minibus so out came the custom transfers: I had printed a decal to give the grille more detail but forgot to leave it painted white: The rear door was filled and again a transfer used, negating the need to detail the interior for just one window. I was also wary of removing the large pillar (visible on the left) having hacked about the roof so much already. The model scales rather nicely against the Oxford Transit The plan is now to produce another two L3H2 versions in the same way, along with an L2H2 which will require shortening the chassis and an L4H3 which will require a longer and higher body. What’s the origin of the MkIV Plaxton Supreme in the background? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
stewartingram Posted April 21, 2019 Share Posted April 21, 2019 4 hours ago, Ragtag said: . Typical Ford driver, parking on the pavement.... Stewart 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragtag Posted April 21, 2019 Author Share Posted April 21, 2019 4 hours ago, RANGERS said: What’s the origin of the MkIV Plaxton Supreme in the background? That particular Supreme is converted from the ABS Supreme III (of which I have another boxed which will become a Supreme V). I also have a Mark Hughes Supreme IV under construction (on the left) 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragtag Posted April 21, 2019 Author Share Posted April 21, 2019 We also have this Supreme V from a time when minicoach really meant a mini coach. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vanguard 5374 Posted May 15, 2020 Share Posted May 15, 2020 Had my own stab at doing one of these, few more vehicles on the way so will have a fleet. Wish Matchbox would do a reissue of these vans. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ragtag Posted May 16, 2020 Author Share Posted May 16, 2020 (edited) The van is looking good - I found they benefit from new wheels the Matchbox ones seem a tad overscale. If you're after more you might try contacting Ryan Birch (Crossways) - @birch4 - I believe he might be considering a rerun of a resin bodyshell version which fit the Oxford LWB chassis. Edited May 16, 2020 by Ragtag 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
quicksilvercoaches Posted May 22, 2020 Share Posted May 22, 2020 Quicksilver have one converted to a minibus with Cararama wheels and Northcord Sprinter seats. I also have three of Ryan's resin shells to do sometime. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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