I’ve acquired a few small Fords in the last week, all in 1:76th scale. First up is the Corgi Trackside Ford Transit which I found in the model shop on Saturday. It comes with a ticket declaring it to be number 3406 of 4000, which makes me think twice about doing anything to it. However, I also bought a tub of the MIG Productions Standard Rust pigment and this seems like a perfect candidate for rusting and weathering.

Next up are the Ford Model Y and Pop from John Day. They’re cast whitemetal kits intended for model railways, but my plans are to customise them. The bodies are clean with minor flash around the windows and mould lines on the lower edges that will only need a little cleaning up. The close up shots make the surface look pitted, but this will disappear with a coat of primer and a bit of buffing. Sprayed with car paint and with a few details picked out, these would look good on a 30-40s (Y) or 50s (Pop) layout.

Interior detail is minimal and the underbodies are a bit plain. The Y has a driver figure but, well, he looks like the elephant man. For my customs I’m going to try to build new chassis for them and fit new seats, steering wheels etc. but for their intended use these are minor quibbles.

I’d recommend these models for the period railway modeller. How they’ll suit my slightly mad hot-rodding plans remains to be seen.

You can get a list of John Day’s products by sending a stamped addressed envelope to John Day, 104 St. Peter’s Close, Moreton-on-Lugg, Hereford, HR4 8DW. Mention that you read about him on spinneyhead.co.uk/Scale

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