Southeastern Finecast Rover/Morgan/MG V8 Engine Kit

[jbwelda]

some people in a thread in another subforum expressed an interest in a UK spec Buick aluminum block motor that was licensed to Morgan/Rover/MG and put into some production cars over there.

here is the thread it was referred to in, which is actually about a Buick nailhead motor which was a distant predecessor for the lightweight motor licensed to the british. (anyone who knows way more than me on the subject please feel free to hold forth).

http://www.modelcarsmag.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=78886

it so happens that a company in England, Southeastern Finecast, makes a white metal model of this motor and it is pretty impressive. There are multiple intake setups depending on the model you are recreating, and the white metal is well cast with minimal cleanup, and is great to polish to a very high tone finish. Delicate details everywhere including a dipstick and dual SU carburetors . Very nice piece and just the thing to put into one of those Revell Simple Simon Thames panel vans to re-britishize it.

so here is a look at the parts. I have an unopened on still which I show but the details are of one I have open and I think I may have robbed a couple parts from it, so what you are seeing isn't really 100% all there is. for instance I think I spy a missing piece of exhaust header and I believe I remember using it on something else!

unassuming packaging:

basically two bags of parts, one is still stapled here so I wont show it out of the bag, but you can see its the transmission and a lot more little parts, all very sturdy for white metal and take a nice polish.:

here are the major motor parts spread out to see better. as I mentioned very nice castings with not much prep needed at all and the metal takes paint really well too.

a close up of the other bag of parts, lots of little stuff in there too

complete blow up drawing showing the build options etc:

pretty impressive parts list:

hows it look all together? well here is one I built and I consider it about medium effort and looks pretty nice especially if it were stuffed under the hood of an MGBGT! others will probably be able to a lot better. its not a hard material to work with and was surprisingly accurate as far as locating tabs etc went.

I am not even sure if Southeastern Finecast is still an operating concern but you can see their address on the instructions there or probably locate them on the web if they are still up for it. Everything I have bought from them has been first rate quality, and that ranges from parts like this up to complete white metal kits of cars, many otherwise unavailable MGs in particular.

Edited August 31, 2013 by jbwelda

[jbwelda]

just to add, see that little laid back radiator shell and housing labeled 1 in the parts blowup? remember this is white metal. that thing totally polishes up like chrome and makes a super nice low cut down radiator for street rod projects or track noses or something, in fact I used it in one streamliner and it looks killer.

that's it here behind the moon tank:

[fumi]

I am not even sure if Southeastern Finecast is still an operating concern but you can see their address on the instructions there or probably locate them on the web if they are still up for it. Everything I have bought from them has been first rate quality, and that ranges from parts like this up to complete white metal kits of cars, many otherwise unavailable MGs in particular.

They have a web site.

http://www.sefinecast.co.uk/

Just wonder did you order from them direct? I am planning to order the Rover V8, not sure if I will go direct or from other model shops.

Edited September 14, 2013 by fumi

[Chuck Most]

so here is a look at the parts. I have an unopened on still which I show but the details are of one I have open and I think I may have robbed a couple parts from it, so what you are seeing isn't really 100% all there is. for instance I think I spy a missing piece of exhaust header and I believe I remember using it on something else!

Didn't it go into a little orange tracknose T roadster featured in the mag a couple of years back?

Anyway, thanks for the write-up on this. Looks like a pretty slick little piece. One more for the wish list!

[zenrat]

Ah yes, the 1/24 Austin 7 people. My parents live down the road from there. I keep meaning to send them the link as suggested xmas presents...

[martinfan5]

That is really cool

[jbwelda]

ok glad someone appreciates it, this post sort of sunk like a stone and I had a feeling no one noticed it, because this kit offers a great deal to one wanting to build aluminum buick V8 as well as the british cousins.

[bigphoto]

Might even look cool in a Thames panel street rod or an Anglia!

[Dave Ambrose]

That is a very nice motor. Thanks for the review. Now, if I could just get a 1:1 for a reasonable price, my MGB would be totally thrilled. :-)

[jbwelda]

>Might even look cool in a Thames panel street rod or an Anglia!

which if I recall correctly, was exactly the context it came up in originally!

to fumi: I don't recall exactly where I got them, but I do think I ordered them direct from the factory. This was in the days before the general public used the internet so much and I believe I wrote away for a catalog and then ordered from that, by mail. probably a whole lot easier nowadays!

[randx0]

I don't know why but I thought this stuff wasn't available anymore. Has anyone purchased anything recently? There is some unique subject matter there and the price list doesn't seem to prohibitive.

[jbwelda]

>I don't know why but I thought this stuff wasn't available anymore.

just checked their site cited above, looks like all their cars are still there, 1/24 in two lines and 1/43 in one, but I don't see the engine kits or any other stuff (just occurred to me, there is a wheels category that I didn't look in and there might at least be their very excellent photo etch wire wheel/tires in there and just possibly that's where the engine is hiding). could well be they are out of production now. well you know where you might be able to get one at least!

at any rate they are only still half a foot dipped into the internet pond, because all ordering must be done by phone or mail. no telling what might happen when you try to call or mail...may or may not get an answer.

I saw that Austin seven there, no detail to the explanation but the photo looked kool. you do know you can get a kit of a bmw 3/15 I think it is, the Dixi, which was the Austin seven licensed to bmw in Germany? its a revell of Germany kit and is much more detailed than that SEF one could be. I have the MGTF and its pretty rough though by no means terrible or anything, and to its credit it looks after the flash is removed that they really captured the swept back lines of that car perfectly.

[zenrat]

The Revell BMW Dixie is the old Heller mould.

It's not too bad but isn't an Austin 7 Chummy (which is what i'm wanting to build as that is what my godfather has along with a Ruby and the remains of a Swallow Sidecars coupe body).

I'd kitbash the 2 together using the best parts of both kits.

[lordairgtar]

I've got to have two of those engines.

[fumi]

It's still in their catalog.

They don't show the engine in the car kits/auto kits pages. You need to click the full price list to find it.

[Jaguar man 21]

I want one of these kits so bad his is my favorite engine ever made

[lordairgtar]

Well I emailed the good chaps at Southeast Finecast and I got a prompt answer. I emailed again for payment instructions and am awaiting that. Cost will be about 73 bucks for two engine kits and post. It's a lot of money but I really want these to finish out my ZZR show rod.

[jbwelda]

I am going to be interested in seeing you build those Gregg, like I said they pretty much went together without fuss when I built the one I showed. about what level of detail are you going to do, ignition wires and fuel lines, or more than that? note there is a dipstick that comes with the motor kit, so there is an excellent level of detail right out of the package.

jb

[lordairgtar]

Awesome, JB. I just purchased the engines. Nice quick response from SEF too. Now we wait. The ZZR is a go. Well maybe, I have to replace the front axle tube as mine was kind of week and I broke it....ol butterfingers here.

[iBorg]

the RIGHT choice for an MG C. That by the way is one of the scariest cars I've ever rode in. A poor man's Shelby 427.

[Greg Myers]

Ah yes, the 1/24 Austin 7 people. My parents live down the road from there. I keep meaning to send them the link as suggested xmas presents...

[jbwelda]

fyi a lotus seven has little or nothing to do with an Austin seven

jb

[Greg Myers]

Actually it does, very much so. This was the humble beginnings of Colin Chapman's Lotus motor works.

[jbwelda]

well yes you are right if you take it back that far. I meant as far as the L7 in kit form having much in common with a standard A7. thanks for the correx though

jb

[Greg Myers]

I just thought that ol Buick 215 would look good in a super 7