THE MUMMY MACHINE

UPDATED
01/02/05




This is one of the few kits that I have actually completed. I left a few parts off of this one. The 2 extra pieces of wrap that go on his head. I didn't like they way that they looked. This
was a fun kit to build. Glow kits always add an extra bit of challenge. Trying to decide what to leave as glow and what not to. I left the steering wheel and snakes partially glow. I used a clear gold wash on them so that they are goldish, but still glow. The head still glows, but isn't as noticable because I used a clear grey on the wrapping. By clear gray, I mean that I mixed some gray with varnish (not too much, just enough to tint it a little). The first coat gave it a grayish cast and still let it glow pretty good, but I wanted a little more color, so I did a second coat. Came out pretty good, but doesn't glow nearly as brightly. Originaly, I had had hopes of leaving the raised detail on the sides of the passenger area glow. But, unfortunately they weren't raised enough. I had a hard enough time just trying to drybrush them. The overall fit is pretty good on this model, but there are some trouble spots. The front axle piece doesn't connect very well. It is supposed to be edge glued into a very shallow groove on the frame. I didn't like it at all, since it was going to be supporting a lot of weight. So I carved out that groove so it was almost all the way through the frame. It gave at least twice as much surface area for gluing. Putting the engine assembly in was another  major pain. The only way I could get it in the model after the exhaust pipes were on was to squeexe it up through the bottom of the frame. Then there wasn't much in the way of anything to help locate the engine in place for gluing. I'm not a car guy, so I don't know if things like this is common with most car type kits. This model wasn't real difficult though. I wouldn't recomend this for a first kit, but a third or fourth, sure. Some small parts, but everything is pretty straightforward.



 
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