1930 Bentley 4.5 Litre Supercharged

Villiers de Vos
My oldest shelf queen. She has been languishing for nearly 30 years. She has survived South Africa's heat and two address changes. I hope that all the parts are still here, as well as being able to do justice to this gem.

Michael Kohl
That´s gonna be fun.

Villiers de Vos
The partially assembled engine block and supercharger was found. Using bleach I am stripping the paint before detailing and priming the sub-assemblies. So far so good.

gorby
Looking forward to see this built.

yeon sung Jung
1930 벤틀리, 나는 이 자동차를 꼭 만들고 싶습니다👍😍

Villiers de Vos
Gorby: You are welcome.
Yeon Sung Jung: 이 모델을 제작하는 것이 좋습니다. 또한 1975년에 생산된 이 모델을 손에 넣을 수 있었던 것은 매우 행운이었습니다.

This project was started before the introduction of Tamiya Extra Thin Cement. I seem to have used a combination of Tamiya Cement and Super glue. I have been busy checking what is in the box and assess what I have done. I cleaned the parts from dust, assessed damage, paint parts with a primer, removing chrome, fill ejector pin marks, do some repair work and try to determine if there are parts lost. So far, the only part missing is the backing for the back seat. There has also been close to no damage.
This kit is part of the Connoisseurs' Series, which mean that the kit has the potential to be motorised. The kit comes with two sets of instructions: 1) One set for the Connoisseurs' Series, and 2) The standard kit. The only difference that I could identify is that the Connoisseurs allows for inserting gears to accommodate an electric motor. I will not be installing a motor nor the gears.
Fortunately, there are many reference photographs. I do not plan to do a lot of scratch building. What my skills allow and to enhance the exterior of the model. My research indicate that the coachwork/ body was a wood frame covered in green leather.
My plan is to: 1) Start with the chassis, including painting and detailed painting; 2) Engine, drivetrain; 3) Fuel tank and exhaust; 4) Body, firewall, interior; 5) Nose; 6) Wheels.

yeon sung Jung
Thank you for your kind additional explanation!!👍😍

Villiers de Vos
Thank you Yeon Sung Jung for the compliment.
The search for an accurate colour match is under way. Two objectives: 1) A highly gloss for the chassis, mudguards and fuel tank, and; 2) A similar colour that will show minuscule differences between the metal surface and the leather surface.

David Taylor
In on this one.

Villiers de Vos
You are welcome David.

Humbrol 003 Brunswick Green represents the real colour best. I am very satisfied how the Humbrol paints are laying down.

Nicolas
Following

Sy Bar
Following with great interest 🍿

Isaac Kite
Yea, folks knock humbrol enamels (rightly so for the pricing) but just spend three minutes mixing the stuff and do it well. Some of my 1990s batch are still very good when thoroughly stirred up. (WEM also). Still dislike acrylics.

Watching as usual with awe...

David Taylor
Ditto Isaac.

Villiers de Vos
Thank you mates for visiting and your kind comments.

I am not an expert on paint. I use a variety of manufacturers and is very much still in the experimental phase. That being said, there is a lot of nostalgia in using the little tins on a British classic. 🙂

Villiers de Vos
A lot of time was spent on finding the desired colours, contemplating levels of detailing and stripping back paint just to be painted again. Despite the kit's age and shortcomings, I thoroughly enjoy the model.

Rando
Definitely enjoying your paint selection process, and very cool that you're getting around to building it after so many years. Excited to see how it turns out!

Villiers de Vos
Painting and assembling the drivetrain has been completed.

David Taylor
Die hard Humbrol and hairy stick guy.This kit has always been a curiosity to me.Always fancied having a go but knowing I would not do it justice.

Villiers de Vos
Progress on the drivetrain was made.
David. Thank you for your kind words. I am sure you will do it justice.

Michael Kohl
Unreachable dream kit of my early youth. Special to see it coming together. Keep us posted.

Villiers de Vos
Michael. I am also happy to eventually working on the Bentley. It has been 30 years languishing in an open box. 🙂

Chris
As a child, about 45 years ago, I built that big Bentley, but after 4 times changing the houses it is gone. Luckily I found my tiny little 1:32 Bentley I built this year after 23 years of absence. But now I will lean back and enjoy the building of the/your big Bentley while watching your work 😄 Thanks
Btw.: All that is left from my childhood is the instruction book.

Jorge Rumayor Banda
On my ebay list, following the build.

Casey Beckett
Watching - the green looks spot on to this Colonial, BTW.

Villiers de Vos
Chris, Jorge and Casey, welcome aboard. The project will pick up pace as soon as the fuel tank has been completed.

I am wishing to each and everyone all the best for 2024.

Villiers de Vos
A small update on the fuel tank.

David Goodchild
This really looks excellent, and it's more impressive having sat unfinished in the box for so long! Very much looking forward to seeing the end result...

DuperScale
Crazy what you are getting out of this old kit. Looking great.

Jv
Butiful work

CaptGPF
Love how you step us through your method of madness in restoring the details! Looking forward to seeing this gem all done up after the long wait on the shelf! 😀

Mick Burdett
Good work V. I believe it was the first British car to be built using metric measurements, but I could be wrong

David Orr
Love the old Airfix Bentley. I built my father's kit last year after it had languished in a closet for nearly 50 years. Unfortunately the tyres had been left loos in the box and melted a few parts, mainly on the engine valve cover and the gearbox, but I was able to rebuild them. I used SMS British Racing Green for the shiny parts of the body. I think it looks similar to the colour you used. I used BRG mixed with Schwarzgrun and a bit of white for the passenger compartment and a BRG/white mix for the leather. You are a braver man than me stripping all that detail off the fuel tank. It's looking good though.

Paul Shearer
Hope you are able to finish this one. One of my all time favorite cars and looking at your other projects there's no doubt it will turn out amazing 👍

gorby
Nice work so far. The mesh is a big improvement.

Villiers de Vos
Indeed a beautiful subject. This model has been sucking the energy out of me. There is still some wiring issues as well as a scratch build cradle for the brake lights to do. I am nearly finished with the 1936 Mercedes 540K Maharaja Sport Roadster and hope to have the Bentley across the finishing line before January 2025!

Mr D
Your at that intense stage of the build.....lots going on, l think alot of builders have a by new year target for a fresh project for new year.
Your doing fantastic job ...will all come together nicely like your other projects.
Nice subject by the way 😃👍👍

Jennifer Franklin
This has a lot of potential, very curious to see where you go with it.