1955 Jaguar D-Type

[mrobsessive]

This is an oldie but goodie!

I built this during the end of 2000 into early 2001. It started life as a Revell of Germany 1957 Jaguar XK-SS. The conversion back to a D-Type wasn't terribly difficult....'cept for the headrest which came from a Mercedes 300 SLR kit. The engine detail involve all the bells and whistles and the interior includes a scratchbuilt dash and real wood steering wheel.







Here's a link to the Fotki album if you'd like to see more......
public.fotki.com/MrObsessive/1955_jaguar_d_type/

Thanks for lookin'!

BILL

[kevlar86]

Thats one of the most beautiful cars ever built (IMHO). You did an awesome job Bill. The engine detail is amazing. Thanks for showing this one.

[crasher]

That's a great job you've done there Bill. I built the XKSS, based on pics of the prototype (http://martsmodels.photosite.com/Jag/), a few months ago so can appreciate how much work you've put in. I have another XKSS kit and intended to do this conversion too some time in the future but will use the back end from a Lindberg kit of the D-type - which is about the only decent piece in the box. Hope it comes out half as good as yours did!

Martin

[mrobsessive]

You did a great job on that one Martin! Yours is one of only a couple I have ever seen totally finished. Seems as though I have seen guys start this model but never finish it.

It's funny.............you want to do a D-Type.... but I recently bought 2 kits in order to do a stock XK-SS!

Heaven knows though when I'll get around to starting one though.......

Thanks again for the compliments!

BILL

[animal]

Droool! Fantastic finish and the detail is superb.

[crasher]

Bill - this in danger of being a 1:1. (!!)

You say.... 'Seems as though I have seen guys start this model but never finish it.' I wonder why?

Sure - it's not the best kit in the world - but why do we do it if there is no challenge?

My XKSS was actrually two kits - the first was bought from ebay and had been started, the front valance had been stuck on so badly that there was no way but to buy a minter and start again.

Even then it fought me every bit of the way and took about two weeks to get the chrome headlight surrounds, and the glass, to fit the apertures.

That was one of the aspects of your D-type that looks so right and made a big impression!

With that conversion you have obviously overcome most of the problems that the XKSS kit could throw at you - except the screen and surround.

These are really so variable that they can be 'rubbish' or' nearly fit' depending on at what stage of production the kit comes from.

I emailed Revell Germany on this point, as one of my kits was a re-issue, and was told that they could not afford to re-tool (and thus improve) old kits!!! It seems to me though that they are quite prepared to re-issue in a new fancy box, double or treble the price, and reap in the profits!!

Back to the screen - before I get on my 'high horse'. Mainly it needs a lot of adjusting to get it to fit the scuttle at the right angle (and also, at the same time the 'glass' needs to fit the surround). The sidescreens don't fit, and are too thick (so need re-making). I used Bison contact adhesive to fit the screen because there were no fitting points worth mentioning.

Any way - end of!!!

All you other Guys can wake up now!

Martin

p.s have poics of the XKSS prototype if you want them Bill.


.

[mrobsessive]

Martin,

You are sooooo right about the windscreen not fitting the frame properly. One I did see finished didn't even have it in the frame......he just got tired of trying to get it to fit. A friend of mine tried to build one several years ago..........he got as far as nearly completing it, only to find out much to his chagrin that the hood would not close the whole way!

He simply put it back in the box never to be seen again. I found out from his mistake that one has to shave down the engine firewall somewhat, as well as shave down the motor mounts. You also have to be careful that everything falls below the cowl line so the hood will shut.

I have a crazy idea for the second XK-SS I bought.....and that is to turn it into a 1952 Alfa Romeo Disco Volante.

In fact this car here...





It would take some work to be sure............... ;D But this is another one of my favourites from the fifties! Heaven knows where I would get the engine from. Guess I'll have to modify the existing Jag engine to get a reasonable fascimile of one.

And yes, I would LOVE the pics of the 1:1 Jag XK-SS if you can send them to me!

See ya!

BILL

[crasher]

Bill - have sent refs as email attachments to your comcast.net.

Martin

[Bluecorsair]

Very, very nice cars!!!! I love the oldies. Plzz keep building this type of car, LOL. Seriously, if I see a coupla more vintage autos like this I am going out to buy my first car kit! The engine as I am sure you know is OUTSTANDING!! All that came in the kit???

Amazing!

Bill

[mrobsessive]

Thanks so much for the compliments Bill!

No, everything you see there didn't all come in the kit................I scratchbuilt the carb stacks from aluminum tubing, the fuel lines are scratchbuilt as well as the other lines as such you see. The hinges were all scratchbuilt, as well as the windscreen which is made from acetate.

While the kit was not impossible to build, a lot of time has to be taken in test fitting everything to ensure you don't have a problem later down the road.

The aluminum paint you see is Alclad metallizers (my favorites) and was airbrushed on.

I'm glad you liked it....and yes I will be doing another vintage racer down the road. I have a '65 Shelby GT350R I can post pics of later.............It's a 10 year old build but still holds up pretty well today.

Regards,

BILL

[Bluecorsair]

What a BEAUTIFUL build!!