[bwaminispeed]

Finally back to work on my conversion of an Airfix Bugeye Sprite into one of John Sprinzel's very rapid Sebring Sprites.

I have had the nose done for over a year now,and have just started to attack the Hardtop portion.

I started the hardtop on a different shell,because I was afraid if it didn't turn out right,I would have wasted an awfull lot of work on the front end.I think I got the nose pretty much spot on from the various pics I have seen.

 

[Eno Dog]

I haven't seen the cars in question so I'm not in a space to comment on accuracy.

I am in a place to be able to say that is absolutely beautiful work however. It's a pretty radical change & I can't really pick where one bit stops & the new bit starts. I think i need more practice! Well done!

 

[howmet tx]

Radical- right!
Lovely work, Al. What sort of body putty do you use? I imagine all that reworked nose section COULD be very fragile. How did you build it up?
If you still have the headlight cowls you sawed off, there might be a Xylon on the production line next.....

 

[JohnP]

...when it's ajar? (oops, sorry Al wrong joke)

That Sprite certainly looks like a radical piece of re-sculpting - great job

 

[BEEJAY7]

Here's a picture for you Al

I took it at the UK Austin Healley National Meeting at Prescott in 2003.

Regards

Alan

 

[David Lawson]

The reworking of the shell looks superb. Here's another Frogeye pretending to be something else - I took this photo of a Speedwell Sprite at the Goodwood Revival Meeting last year, a very pretty little car - unlke the Xylon!?

David

 

[bwaminispeed]

Thanks guys.This is destined to be my first attempt at a complete slot car kit.

It will be a Resin chassis front motored with full interior.

For the nose section,I first added plastic tubes where the headlights would need to be,and then added some putty over them to fill out the fender lines.The grill opening is a couple of pieces of Popsical stick(sorry,I can't help myself sometimes) laminated together and carved to shape with a bit more putty to blend it all in.Lots of coats of high build auto primer and lots of sanding later,you end up looking like the above pics.

Sorry,but for the life of me I can't remember what I used for putty.The stuff on the Hardtop is just Backing soda and Crazy glue.It builds up quickly and sets instantly.It is a bit hard to carve,but can be filed with a good clean new single cut file,and sands well too.

That speedwell looks awfully tempting doesn't it.Although,I think if I was going to do a Speedwell,it might be the Mini.Another gorgeous looking car.

 

[mesac#8]

Hi, Al; Great looking job on the Sprinzel.
Do beware of using baking soda and superglue for filler for permanent work. After several years, there will be a brownish, foul-smelling goop exuding from those areas, even if sealed with primer and paint. We used a lot of that combination on plastic static models in the late 80s, and now are paying the price. It doesn't always happen, or maybe I still have more models to regurgitate on me at some later point. The point is, don't delay finishing this project!!! (trouble with all of these forums is the distraction caused...)
dan
ps
An alternative is to use "micro-balloons", usually sold in hobby shops that feature r/c aircraft stuff, and used to thicken epoxies for filling gaps, etc. It also makes the resultant plastic MUCH easier to sand. They are glass spheres, and should not be able to cause any delayed reactions with the superglue. Used with superglue, there will be more tiny voids after sanding the hardened mixture, but these should fill with primer easily.

 

[David Lawson]

An Ecurie Ecosse Sprite was at the Goodwood Revival in September but this was as near as I could get to it as it seemed to spend the weekend up there.

David

 

[JEXY1]

When it's a Lenham Midget?

This is the car i teamed up with to compete in the 1999 Le Jog Historic Rally (Lands End to John O Groats)

Andrew and Richard who own the car spent ages doing it up for the event and it did well we dropped out after landing the diff on a rock/brick kindly placed in the middle of the road by some kids!

Great looking conversion - really want one!!

Gareth

 

[JEXY1]

For more details see

http://www.mgcars.org.uk/cgi-bin/gen5?runp...emg/lejogpa.htm

Ah happy days!

If you ever want to make another Midget/Spiget conversion let me know i'd love one to convert into my Midget Rally Car.

I have heard that Traffic models are considering making an MG midget in the future.

I have recently bought a Midget Monogram/Lindberg kit, but have heard it's well out of scale.

Gareth

 

[BEEJAY7]

QUOTE I have recently bought a Midget Monogram/Lindberg kit, but have heard it's well out of scale.

It will be Gareth, but they do make nice models in a Vanquishy sort of way!.

Regards

Alan

 

[alfetta]

Al probably when it's a Frogeye!!
Alfetta