Stabliofarmer

Nice to see Jan, certainly a good use of the printer to develop the turntable

I didn't realise how big those chaser bins are Chris! Looking good

That's a gorgeous set up

Simply exquisite so far John

Looking good Martin, love the weathering

Progress has been slow but had a good weekend on the S Series. Marge Lowloader stripped and resprayed, a horrid job to do. Not overly happy with the finish of the paint either. Then some more work to the S Series itself, will hopefully get that built up with glazing and interior this week. Marge Sprinter also now on the go. 

Looking forward to seeing this progress Martin, I see where the wheels are off now! We used a few trailers in similar nic last year 

Great to see some progress Jan, certainly an unusual bit of kit

Lovely build of an interesting subject!

Impressive work as ever John, I can sympathise with the curse, I always find after time away from building it takes a build or two to get back into the swing of it! and sometimes there's a model that just fights you the entire way.

Loving the weathering on that Sean

Lovely scenes John, you've built up quite the fleet!

The virtual workbench for now but the next kit is starting to come together, 1:32 KTwo Compact and Push Trailer

4 hours ago, fordmajor said:

Great topic . No new Ray ones. Im a died in the wool britains fan ha ha!

 

Hahaha, sadly Newray really haven't kept up with the quality of everyone else

4 hours ago, justy 46 said:

Liking the Landcrusier and Mitsubishi. Any chance off a Ford Ranger and Hi-Lux. 

I think the Pajero looks like the best option for a farm run about. Another pick up would be great, there's the vintage Hilux but that would be abit too aged for any modern diorama these days.

5 hours ago, Tractorman810 said:

having done 70k in a  fiat ducato, couldn't even bring my self to buy a 1/32 one 😀😀 

great topic though, could do with some older ones as well in 32nd , have a second mk2 transit sat waiting to be added though, 

Hahaha, sadly I don't think theres too many classics, particularly towards to the commercial side. Saico are probably the only brand I can think of with anything classic in their range.

I've just seen this on Facebook built by a guy called Joel and couldn't not share it here, quite possibly the best 1:32 truck model I've ever seen.

Analysing the photos I think this is built on a stretched Marge Volvo chassis, converted to 6x4. The cab I'm assuming is modified from a 3D print from Germany, the crane is a 3D print by CDM models, the chipper I think is either another 3D print from CDM or was built by Sjonne at Forestry Models.

Absolutely in awe.

Logged onto Facebook to see my pondering about the VW being turned into a panel van answered. This nicely finished Jenz service van was on there

I hope this proves useful to people at some stage. Please feel free to add any of your own spots or buys to the topic. I'm currently eyeing up the BMW X5, Mitsubishi Pajero and Toyota Land Cruisers, there's also a new shape high roof Transit, a Merc Sprinter camper van, and Fiat Ducato Ambulance (Which would be great for a horsebox) I've had my eye on but I'm fairly certain they'll all be under scaled.

Moving away from the British marque to its European competitors.

Kicking off with the VW Amarok. These were a well welcomed model when released as the first pickup model you'd actually see in the UK. However the marketing varies from 1:32 to 1:30 and they're definitely closer to 1:30th scale. I'm tempted to say they're stamped 1:30 underneath too. Opening bonnet, front doors and boot are a nice touch, nice printed details too when you don't slap orange paint over it!

 As you can see it's closer to the New Defender although the Defender is still bigger.

An Audi Q7, this is much more of a 1:36 scale model and I imagine its marketed as such most of the time. Looks more like one of these new RS Q3's scale wise. A nicely detailed model though with opening front doors, boot and bonnet. Just a bit too small.

The Jackiekim Volvo XC60, now this is probably the best Chinese model I've had, good details, sturdy, all doors and bonnet and boot open. The panel gaps aren't half as bad as the photos make it look either. Nicely sized, maybe slightly on the small side but sat on it's own it looks great.

A very strong competitor for best is the recent release, a VW T6 van/minbus. Great scale wise, opening front doors, bonnet and boot as well as a working sliding side door, a nice touch. Available in all black and all white it would make a great service vehicle. I think this one will get a repaint including the rear windows to see whether making it look like a panel van is that easy.

Finally the Aoshima Jimny. Supplied as a snap together model kit it goes together easily and means it benefits from better defined details than the diecast models. Small and light being made from plastic I think it's quite close scale wise, maybe a little small. A coat of automotive paint over the coloured plastic would enhance the look greatly.

Moving onto the rest of the JLR range.

One of the oldest models in my collection is this Range Rover, it's stamped as 1:38 scale and even as a young child I recognised that it was abit on the small side, it did once have an interior too but was one of the first models to be sacrificed as part of the learning curve that is model making.

Britains Discovery 2, a lovely model that sits nicely next to the Defender both scale and detail wise, from photos online this is a much better finished model than Britains Discovery 1, it is also better scaled than a cheap Chinese Disco 1 I had as a child, a Newray model I think.

A Jackiekim Discovery 4 next, ever so slightly undersized next to the Defender. but sits nicely. Opening front doors and bonnet along with lights and sound (Tayumo Defender also has lights and sound which I forgot to mention, it's fairly standard on the Chinese diecast stuff). Good panel lines on the doors, helped by being a black model. Would be nice to sit it next to a Britains Disco 3 but the price of those has been a bit to high recently to acquire one.

Finally the New Defender marketed as 1:32 scale. Now I know the real thing isn't small but this thing is huge, definitely 1:30th scale if not 1:28/1:29. Not a bad model with all the features of the release edition vehicle, lower half of the doors open along with the bonnet and boot, the panel gaps are noticeable in the silver colour. I think this will be converted to a commercial spec one and sat in the corner of a truck diorama as it doesn't sit well next to cars.

The new defender next to the largest other defender offering, still dwarfs it.

One or two last bits on the Defenders, some wheelbase comparison.

From left to right: Bburago, my own conversion of a Britains to a 110 wheelbase, Tayumo

My conversion will have the scaled down wheelbase from a catalogue so take what you will from that.

The Tayumo next to the early Britains LWB model, a little bit more than the scale 1 inch difference there should be.

Profile wise they're a nice match.

I thought this might prove a useful topic to those looking to add modern cars/4x4's to their dioramas or collections. There seems to be new diecast models appearing on eBay daily of vehicles from China, and if you're prepared to wait a few weeks on delivery there are some great models to be hand at good prices. I'll kick this off with models I've had and hope others will add anything they've had through. 

I'll provide the basics that you don't get from the eBay ads which is the real scale, as we know they'll badge anything up as 1:32 in the hope of shifting a few. To do this I'll compare with what I have always seen as the benchmark for model farm 4x4's, the Britains Defender Model. I've never measured it up but think scale wise it sits well with other farm models.

To kick things off I'll go through the Defender options that are out there, remember everything here is marketed as 1:32.

First the modern Defender vs the old three series. 

Removing the rose tinted spectacles of childhood the modern Defender is clearly the better scale model representation, much more crisp details and finer items regardless of any inaccuracies Defender nuts may notice. The modern defender is also a slightly smaller model shorter, narrower and not as high. Play wise the old model is that bit better with its sprung suspension and more tactile features.

Moving onto the Bburago offering. This model actually comes out cheaper than most of the vaguely branded Chinese diecasts. The detail is good although slightly below the Britains model lacking separate wing mirrors, mud flaps or windscreen wipers. Its also smaller than the Britains model, considerably narrower and while a 110 not a 90 it feels short. Until recently this was the best option for a 110 far exceeding the rather expensive to acquire Siku pickup version.

The Bburago has been knocked off its post recently by the Tayumo offering. These come in at the same price as a Britains model, as you can see they are a little bit bigger than the Britains, this is a combination of the wheel size and the actual castings. Sat next to the Britains they feel closer in scale than with the Bburago. The Tayumo is a nicely finished model very close to the Britains, as a kid I'd have been over the moon with the roof rack and snorkel, kitting out for a diorama these would be relatively easy to remove, the blacked out privacy glass would be a less easy cure. This is the first model in this selection that features opening doors with all four doors, the boot and the bonnet opening. While the panel gaps are noticeable they're not excessive and don't distract from the model overall. This is the current Defender model I'd go for.

Certainly an unusual machine, think it's taken a few years for the university to get hold of one