Aston Martin Ulster
Finally finished something. This is the type of build I will work on while building more involved kits. It is a 1/32nd scale Matchbox kit circa 1975.
The Ulster was developed by Augustus Bertilli . It had a 2 year racing history as a factory entry dominating the British Tourist Trophy Race & placing 3rd overall at Lemans in 1935. Being a superstitious man Bertilli would not paint his cars green so the factory entries were red. These cars ran prior to M-B & Auto Union coming on the scene.
The kit is relatively involved for !/32nd but went together well if you took your time. The only issue with the kit was the full belly pan was warped @ would not put all four corners on the ground. Luckily there was room between the pan & the floorboard to put a !/4" bar a Plastruc in there to pull it back to true.
There is a basic engine but it has no front belts, pulleys or radiator so I elected not to spend much time with it.
Paints used were Model Master Italian Red enamel & Tamiya Red/brown acrylic with a light overlay of oil paint to try to give it a leather look to the seats.
Hope you enjoy it.
12 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Rick Wilkes said on March 31, 2014
Beautiful Al, I know if seen it a couple of times in mid build, but seeing it completed, well the whole is clearly greater than the sum of the parts. Or however that saying goes.
One small issue...The steering wheel is on the wrong side... ;-p
AL HOFFMAN said on April 1, 2014
Thanks for the comment. I know you know the steering wheel is on the correct side but if it actually was a mistake, in days past, I could just say the negative got reversed.
Mark Housley said on March 31, 2014
Nice Build AL, i remember building this one when i was kid.
Well Done Mate,
Regards
Mark
AL HOFFMAN said on April 1, 2014
Thanks Mark. It was a relaxing build.
Robert Bausch said on March 31, 2014
Al, what a beauty! Neat that you still have the box with that great art. I had a couple of those Matchbox kits that I wish I still had (Auto Union Type D, Porsche 917}. And the steering wheel on your Aston IS on the right side!
AL HOFFMAN said on April 1, 2014
Thank you Robert. I think I have the complete series of these cars & hope to get them built.
Joe Caputo said on March 31, 2014
I love it Al ! You did a great job. I'd love to see it on my slot car track. I don't remember it or the Auto Union, but I think the 917 is still available. Someday i'll dust mine off.
AL HOFFMAN said on April 1, 2014
Thanks Joe. The kits can be picked up here in the States pretty cheaply at model swap meets. 1/32nd is not a popular auto scale here so there is not a lot of demand for them.
Gregor d said on April 1, 2014
A real blast from the past Al. Very nice work on an old classic.
AL HOFFMAN said on April 1, 2014
Thanks Gregor. At my age this is a relatively fresh kit.
George Williams said on April 1, 2014
You've done wonders with that kit, Al, really smart looking, and I agree with Robert, the steering wheel is definitely on the correct (right) side!
AL HOFFMAN said on April 1, 2014
Thanks George. When you start with a decent kit it's not to hard to make something presentable.
Bryan W. Bernart said on April 1, 2014
What a classic, and a great build.
.25" warp had to be a disappointment.
AL HOFFMAN said on April 1, 2014
Thanks Bryan. Thankfully it was not a .25" warp but a .25" plastic bar glued to the belly pan to correct the warp. Luckily I caught it early in the game.
Rick Wilkes said on April 1, 2014
I always knew that the steering wheel on AL's Aston Martin is on the correct side. I was making an inside joke about contest judges with him and I didn't make it that clear that my comment wasn't meant to be taken seriously.
I apologize to anyone that thought I was making malicious comment to Al.
AL HOFFMAN said on April 1, 2014
No offense taken. I understood the joke.
Rick Wilkes said on April 1, 2014
I knew you got the joke. Just wanted to make sure everybody else knew it was a joke too...:-)
Simon Whitney said on April 1, 2014
I can remember buying Matchbox kits years ago, in their 2/3 colour plastic and trench like panel lines but I never built one of their cars.
And as for the steering wheel, well everybody should know that they belong on the right side... Joking
Nice job there Al
AL HOFFMAN said on April 1, 2014
Thank you Simon. These also came in multi-colored plastic but the molding is pretty restrained. This one had two colored sprues, a chrome & a clear.
Frank Cronin said on April 1, 2014
Al,
All I am going to say is that this absolutely beautiful and I like it. The more I see of your work the more I am impressed with your skills.
AL HOFFMAN said on April 1, 2014
Thank you much Frank. These days I'm just happy to get something done.
Mike Maynard said on April 1, 2014
Nice clean build of an "eye catcher" classic. I wonder if the Ulster had Lucas electrical system in it like my MG Midget? Hit the horn and the headlights turn off...
Great job on this classic!
AL HOFFMAN said on April 1, 2014
Thanks Mike. Once upon a time I also owned a car in which "The Prince of Darkness" dwelled.