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  • The 1/12 Airfix Bentley returns...or does it?

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      1. Kit: , by
        sjordan
        (VIP/Sponsor) sjordan is offline
        Builder Last Online: May 2019 Show Printable Version Email this Page
        Model Scale: 1/8 Rating:  Thanks: 2
        Started: 08-02-12 Build Revisions: Never  
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        I was at HobbyTown USA the other day and saw they had a new boxing of the Airfix 1/12 Blower Bentley ($140.00 USD).

        At least two things I could see are different. Can you find it? I have no idea if there are more differences in the box, and I'm not going to spend $140 to find out.

        [CAUTION: spoiler and answer in my next post]

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    1. protarguy
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      Hello sjordan!
      Except for the new numberplate and racing number I guess it is the same old kit since 30(?) years.
      The parts have the same amount (278) as in the old edition with starting number 8 and UR6571 number plate.

      Greetings Uli
      08-02-12, 03:35 PM QUOTE QUOTE #2
    2. sjordan
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      Quote Originally Posted by protarguy View Post
      Hello sjordan!
      Except for the new numberplate and racing number I guess it is the same old kit since 30(?) years.
      The parts have the same amount (278) as in the old edition with starting number 8 and UR6571 number plate.

      Greetings Uli
      I'm sure it's the same old kit (issued originally in 1971). The original kit, through all its different boxings, was as you said - #8 with a UR 6571 registration number, which is now in the collection of Ralph Lauren. I'll make a not-so-wild guess and propose that there is an intellectual property licensing issue with Lauren and his barracuda legal team, and that's why the change in designations.

      Here's a description from a Norwegian site about the new kit. Sounds like an Airfix PR release. Hey, we now have two Birkin Blower Bentley Team cars - pay Airfix $700 and build all five!

      The number 9 car featured in this kit, UU5872, is the original Birkin Team Car known as ‘Birkin Blower No.2’. This is the car that made a dramatic appearance at the 1930 Le Mans 24 Hour Race. In 1929, Bentley replaced the 4.5 litre and opted to race the higher capacity Speed 6. Three ‘Birkin Blowers’ were entered to compete alongside the Bentley Speed 6s at the 1930 Le Mans. In the event, only one ‘Blower’, Birkin’s own number 2 car, started the race. Under Walter Owen Bentley’s, tactical team management, Birkin’s role was to draw the Mercedes of Carraciola and Werner into a high speed duel which he successfully achieved. The Blower lead from the start, swapping the lead with the Mercedes throughout the night, until eventually the German car withdrew with a blown engine. Birkin’s success came at a cost, as he had to retire after 20 hours with a bent valve, leaving the two Speed 6s to take first and second place.

      The total production of the 4.5 Litre was 720 between 1927 and 1931. Of these, 55 were fitted with superchargers.

      Specification
      Model Scale 1:12
      Number of Parts 278
      Dimensions (mm)L365 x W135
      Skill Level 4
      Flying Hours 4
      Requires Painting Yes
      Default Decal The 1/12 Airfix Bentley returns...or does it? Paints and the Associated Accessories for this Product





      The 1/12 Airfix Bentley returns...or does it?
      Last edited by sjordan; 08-02-12 at 04:30 PM.
      08-02-12, 04:27 PM QUOTE QUOTE #3
    3. protarguy
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      With a little effort it makes a fine model.
      Here is my example:





      08-03-12, 01:54 PM QUOTE QUOTE #4
    4. sjordan
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      Yes, it's my favorite model. I built mine 40 years ago with only five pages from a book for reference. There's so much more information available now. Even then, I did my best to replace all the molded plastic mesh with flyscreen mesh.

      It looks like you made substantial improvements to the dash.


      The 1/12 Airfix Bentley returns...or does it?
      Last edited by sjordan; 08-04-12 at 11:30 AM.
      08-04-12, 10:48 AM QUOTE QUOTE #5
    5. Big John
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      Very Nice Build, I know how difficult it is to get a good engine turning on the dash.

      If the box art does show the actual model then I would say that the wheel spokes are much thinner The 1/12 Airfix Bentley returns...or does it? than the original model, however we all know how deceptive the box art prototypes can be.

      $140.00? How come model prices keep out pacing my budget? Awww for the good old days and the $2.00 model car, still it was about two months allowance to make that investment.
      08-04-12, 05:37 PM QUOTE QUOTE #6
    6. sjordan
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      Protarguy, the closer I look at your model, the more I see. You've added real mesh (including the carburetor stone guard omitted from the kit), wrapped the leaf springs, wrapped the steering wheel, added brake linkage, created a new engine-turned dash, made a full tonneau cover (I made mine from a Glad leaf bag and dull-coated it) and I'm sure there's a lot more. Very impressive.

      Can we see engine shots and a rear view (do you have an online album for this?)? And how did you do the dash?


      The 1/12 Airfix Bentley returns...or does it?
      Last edited by sjordan; 08-05-12 at 02:26 PM.
      08-05-12, 02:22 PM QUOTE QUOTE #7
    7. sjordan
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      Here are a couple of shots of the #9 car - supposedly the subject of the new kit. The radiator and shell look different to me, more smoothly arched. I have no idea about the fog lights on the second shot. No cord wrapping on the steering wheel. Cycle fenders seem to mount differently. Headlights look larger and all chrome, and I overlooked the degree of camber that these old racers had.






      The 1/12 Airfix Bentley returns...or does it?
      Last edited by sjordan; 08-05-12 at 03:30 PM.
      08-05-12, 03:21 PM QUOTE QUOTE #8
    8. MiataTexan
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      Bentley was the featured Marque at Pebble Beach in 2001 and I was fortunate to have a friend that attended because I couldn't make it. He took tons of pics for me of the real No. 8 so I could build my '90s reissue of the kit. Protarguy puts me to shame but I'm still proud of it after 11 years. I modified the kit to hinge the bonnet, detailed the shocks, plumbing The 1/12 Airfix Bentley returns...or does it? , hoses, wire mesh, etc. Here are some pics. The markings were crudely done because that's how they appeared, at least in 2001
      08-05-12, 05:39 PM QUOTE QUOTE #9
    9. MiataTexan
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      The pictures I posted were at various stages of assembly. Here are a few more.
      08-05-12, 05:51 PM QUOTE QUOTE #10
    10. MiataTexan
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      The pics were taken at different points during assembly. Here's a few more.
      08-05-12, 06:06 PM QUOTE QUOTE #11
    11. sjordan
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      Looks like you have some great reference for an excellent build.

      By the way, I've had my model sitting on the shelf (in various homes) for 40 years, yet your tires look a bit flat and mine don't. I wonder why.


      The 1/12 Airfix Bentley returns...or does it?
      08-05-12, 06:54 PM QUOTE QUOTE #12
    12. MiataTexan
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      I think it's an optical illusion, possibly a result of the foam/cardboard and camera angle. They don't look flat on the glass shelf in my display case. These were taken with an HP 3.2 MP camera with a really crummy wide angle lens. Digital cameras have come a long way since then.
      08-06-12, 09:35 AM QUOTE QUOTE #13
    13. protarguy
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      Quote Originally Posted by sjordan View Post
      Protarguy, the closer I look at your model, the more I see. You've added real mesh (including the carburetor stone guard omitted from the kit), wrapped the leaf springs, wrapped the steering wheel, added brake linkage, created a new engine-turned dash, made a full tonneau cover (I made mine from a Glad leaf bag and dull-coated it) and I'm sure there's a lot more. Very impressive.

      Can we see engine shots and a rear view (do you have an online album for this?)? And how did you do the dash?
      Yes! You can!
      Right engine side:



      Copper wires for oil, added ingition linkage, guitar string for the temperature gauge etc.

      Left side:



      "Asbestos"- covered ingition cables, added oil lines and other details added.

      Rear view:


      Stone guard on tank made of real wire mesh, fuel lines made from copper wire, added wooden handles on fuel tank cap,
      drilled out rear lights with added lenses punched out of clear sheet, electric wires made of guitar strings, new holding bracket for exhaust end made of aluminium sheet.

      The chassis:



      Scratchbuilt batteries and braking mechanism.

      Rear of dashboard:



      Instrumens wired as far as possible, scratchbuilt brackets for dashboard.
      The dashboard itself is made of aluminium sheet. The "billest-style" pattern was done with this tool:



      I glued some sanding The 1/12 Airfix Bentley returns...or does it? paper on top of this grinder, chucked it in my drilling machine and made half- overlapping circles with it on dte dashboard.
      I used a work in progress The 1/12 Airfix Bentley returns...or does it? story from Gerald Wingrove as a reference for my model togehter with a book about the Blower Bentley. Still there are some details made by "best guess".

      Cheers!
      Uli
      Last edited by protarguy; 10-19-12 at 03:45 PM.
      08-06-12, 03:20 PM QUOTE QUOTE #14
    14. 3.Star
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      Very nice job on the Bentley, Uli. It is out of my 1/8 scale collection, but your pictures are tempting me to have a try on this one.

      Cheers
      Michael
      08-06-12, 04:13 PM QUOTE QUOTE #15
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