Aston Martin DB5

[Pierre Rivard]

Going for an easy curbside build (resting and gaining courage for the next one which will be a challenge) so a Revell Aston DB5 it will be.

I thought I'd skip the WIP on this easy one but then... why not. I've wanted to do a DB4/5 for a while but could not find a decently priced Airfix DB5 and the Doyusha DB5 and Monogram DB4 have their issues.

This new kit form Revell opens that door. It's a simple easy click kit so a simple build it will be. I want to do a "gentleman's weekend club racer" so the Bond features will be removed. I plan to upgrade the wheels to printed units and want to improve the roofline which does not look quite right to my eye.

Here we go, this will be a WIP light!

 

[stavanzer]

It looks very sharp, so far!

I like green cars, so this one is right in my wheelhouse.

 

[1959scudetto]

Pierre, I knew that you would not leave that body untouched!

To me, it first looked like it had undergone a top-chop. But now - with your roof alterations - it looks quite ok to me. Are you going to you use again Jason's outlaced spoke wheels?

[TransAmMike]

Great work, and wow, brush painted!!?   Looks darn smooth.

[Gramps46]

4 hours ago, 1959scudetto said:

Pierre, I knew that you would not leave that body untouched!

To me, it first looked like it had undergone a top-chop. But now - with your roof alterations - it looks quite ok to me. Are you going to you use again Jason's outlaced spoke wheels?

There the two of you go again with your shape analysis.  Wish I had a just a bit of what you share but do continue to keep the rest of use informed. 

[Dave B]

Looking good Pierre, looking forward to getting my 3D printed DB4 Zagato.  Phil should have the file by now.

Dave B

[Pierre Rivard]

20 hours ago, stavanzer said:

It looks very sharp, so far!

I like green cars, so this one is right in my wheelhouse.

 

Thank you Alan, I had to try something other than Silver Birch.

16 hours ago, 1959scudetto said:

Pierre, I knew that you would not leave that body untouched!

To me, it first looked like it had undergone a top-chop. But now - with your roof alterations - it looks quite ok to me. Are you going to you use again Jason's outlaced spoke wheels?

I did not go forward until I could see that the roof was fixable. It's not perfect but much improved IMO, and the fix was easy to do. The main reason I decided to do this WIP. If you look at the body and it does not look right, then here's my suggestion for an easy fix. Wheels on this ride need to be 72 spokes 2 rows, giving USCP a try.

16 hours ago, TransAmMike said:

Great work, and wow, brush painted!!?   Looks darn smooth.

Thanks Mike. It was a long journey but I got this brush painting stuff nailed down pretty good. Gotta do what you gotta do as condo life prevents me from spraying paint.

11 hours ago, Gramps46 said:

There the two of you go again with your shape analysis.  Wish I had a just a bit of what you share but do continue to keep the rest of use informed. 

Hi Gary. I just try to fix the most obvious. Wait til ACE chimes in, I'll bet he has spotted a lot more that needs to be addressed.

9 hours ago, Dave B said:

Looking good Pierre, looking forward to getting my 3D printed DB4 Zagato.  Phil should have the file by now.

Dave B

Man... I need a mate like Phil. Does he print and sell these. I'd be first in line.

[jaymcminn]

Unbelievable, the finishes you achieve with a humble paintbrush. I guess talent always finds a way around adversity!

Edited August 11, 2024 by jaymcminn

[kensar]

Your mods do improve the look of the roof lines.  Very nice paint results, too.

Based on my experience with USCP, you won't be disappointed with their wheels.

[MarkJ]

So glad your back at it Pierre and this promises to be another Awesome build. Is this the same type of car James Bond used in the early movies like Goldfinger?

[Bugatti Fan]

Nice development into a 'gentleman's' weekend racer.

The roofline looks better having been fettled a bit.

Good to know that the plastic is thick enough to shape the roof without having to resort to any building up and filling.

[Pierre Rivard]

18 hours ago, MarkJ said:

So glad your back at it Pierre and this promises to be another Awesome build. Is this the same type of car James Bond used in the early movies like Goldfinger?

Yes, the kit represents the Aston Martin first seen in Goldfinger. Of course I took all the Bond gimmicks out. It's a new kit from Revell designed as a snap fit to attract new customers I hear, so it is very simple and looks more toy than kit but I'm trying to infuse a bit of realism into it.

[Pierre Rivard]

17 hours ago, Bugatti Fan said:

Nice development into a 'gentleman's' weekend racer.

The roofline looks better having been fettled a bit.

Good to know that the plastic is thick enough to shape the roof without having to resort to any building up and filling.

I have not been able to capture on camera well enough what the change brings but I would say I have helped it sufficiently. What I can't understand is how Revell would tool something so poorly with today's measurement and design technology. Fits the whole kit that is cheap looking (the chrome parts look like they came off 60 year old tooling). I actually enjoy fixing old kits that need TLC, but having to it on a newly designed and tooled kit... really? Doing it because I really really love the DB5...

[MarkJ]

27 minutes ago, Pierre Rivard said:

Yes, the kit represents the Aston Martin first seen in Goldfinger. Of course I took all the Bond gimmicks out. It's a new kit from Revell designed as a snap fit to attract new customers I hear, so it is very simple and looks more toy than kit but I'm trying to infuse a bit of realism into it.

Pierre, that's your greatest asset. Taking a simple kit and making it look advanced and more like the real car. 

[Bainford]

Pierre, I am glad you decided to do a WIP on this build. This is my first look at the Revell DB5, a kit I've been quite curious about. Your subtle re-profiling of the roof makes an amazing improvement. Looking great so far.

On 8/10/2024 at 12:39 PM, Pierre Rivard said:

I've wanted to do a DB4/5 for a while but could not find a decently priced Airfix DB5 and the Doyusha DB5 and Monogram DB4 have their issues.

I am curious about the issues with the Monogram (Aurora) DB4. I recently purchased an original issue Aroura DB4 which I do plan to build. I haven't made any assessments regarding the shape of the body. Are the issues significant or glaring?

[Bugatti Fan]

Revell's Jaguar E Type Coupe roof looks a bit odd to me around the windscreen area too, but their roadster however looks about right.

[Pierre Rivard]

1 hour ago, Bainford said:

Pierre, I am glad you decided to do a WIP on this build. This is my first look at the Revell DB5, a kit I've been quite curious about. Your subtle re-profiling of the roof makes an amazing improvement. Looking great so far.

I am curious about the issues with the Monogram (Aurora) DB4. I recently purchased an original issue Aroura DB4 which I do plan to build. I haven't made any assessments regarding the shape of the body. Are the issues significant or glaring?

Hi Trevor, I tried to purchase a Aurora/Monogram DB4 but one I was chasing on eBay just slipped through my fingers. So I was willing to buy one but knowing it needs some fixing. Most glaring is the top side glass profile that dips down when approaching the A pillar, the body side is flat but should curve in at the rocker panel area and all the opening panels make body fits a challenge. And of course I would also go with printed wire wheels. I also have read that glass fit requires some work. Call me crazy but I'd love to give it a try.

[Pierre Rivard]

1 hour ago, Bugatti Fan said:

Revell's Jaguar E Type Coupe roof looks a bit odd to me around the windscreen area too, but their roadster however looks about right.

I agree Noel. See the one I built below with picture of the real car in the background. Pretty obvious right.  Revell chose tot to tool the taller coupe windshield and used the shorter roadster windshield and the roof line had to be altered to fit. Too bad cause otherwise it's a pretty good kit.

[Dave B]

On 8/11/2024 at 10:32 PM, Pierre Rivard said:

Man... I need a mate like Phil. Does he print and sell these. I'd be first in line.

Sorry Pierre, no he doesn't sell them, I'm just lucky he's been my mate for 60 years!!

What does that tell you.

Dave B

[Bugatti Fan]

Pierre, a company named Motobitz in the UK makes 3D printed wire wheels for the Revell E Type. They might now do a set for the DB5.  Have a look at their website as they do lots of other interesting things too.     Hope this helps.

The Revell E Type model against the picture of the real car really does show that windscreen not looking right.

Apparently the old Heller E Type has the body proportionally correct from what I have read, but I have read mixed reviews about it overall as a kit.

Edited August 15, 2024 by Bugatti Fan

[1959scudetto]

Motobitz' E-type wheels look great - but unfortunately wheels and tires are printed as ONE piece:  

 

[MarkJ]

Helmut, still pretty amazing how they can do this 3d printing stuff. Those still look much better than the ones that come in the kit. I'm sure Pierre could work his magic on those, and they would look excellent on the build.

[Bainford]

22 hours ago, Pierre Rivard said:

Hi Trevor, I tried to purchase a Aurora/Monogram DB4 but one I was chasing on eBay just slipped through my fingers. So I was willing to buy one but knowing it needs some fixing. Most glaring is the top side glass profile that dips down when approaching the A pillar, the body side is flat but should curve in at the rocker panel area and all the opening panels make body fits a challenge. And of course I would also go with printed wire wheels. I also have read that glass fit requires some work. Call me crazy but I'd love to give it a try.

Thanks for your insights, Pierre. Very helpful indeed. I may attempt the corrections. As my model building matures and I strive for ever-finer scale fidelity, I now find that shortcomings in the kits themselves are sticking out like a sore thumb. As you mentioned earlier, it is disappointing the errors that continue to creep into newly designed kits (especially an issue with Revell). The E-Type coupe is an excellent example, and I'm still trying to figure out what to do with that one. The DB4 is one I want to get right. I will be gluing the doors shut, which should help with body corrections. I have a laptop next to my model bench with 2000 car photos from the web which play on a slideshow, and there is a DB4 photo that calls to me every time it rolls around. I think I have to build it.

 

[absmiami]

i got some nice pix of the interior of the racing DB5 that I took at the old [now gone] Palm Beach Speedway bout five years ago 

I'll post them if you want

the racing DB5s and 6s  had stripped out interior shells - alot like a sixties stock car office ...

 

 

 

 

[Brudda]

On 8/10/2024 at 8:39 AM, Pierre Rivard said:

Going for an easy curbside build (resting and gaining courage for the next one which will be a challenge) so a Revell Aston DB5 it will be.

I thought I'd skip the WIP on this easy one but then... why not. I've wanted to do a DB4/5 for a while but could not find a decently priced Airfix DB5 and the Doyusha DB5 and Monogram DB4 have their issues.

This new kit form Revell opens that door. It's a simple easy click kit so a simple build it will be. I want to do a "gentleman's weekend club racer" so the Bond features will be removed. I plan to upgrade the wheels to printed units and want to improve the roofline which does not look quite right to my eye.

Here we go, this will be a WIP light!

 

It looks fantastic!