A bouquet of Valiants

Following on from my previous Chrysler Valiant blog posts 1 2, one of my aims in getting the Valiant VH model made in 3D is to add car loads to the Auscision BKX car carriers in order to correctly period date my load.  Below is the finished load, however, after loading a couple of the cars on the carriers, I discovered that I will need more model cars to fill the load. 

Above: My inspiration for the load was this photo I found on the internet.

Completing the Load

I ordered another four more of the Shapeway Valiants and decided I needed to make a couple of more versions. Besides the basic Valiant Ranger, I decided to add a couple of more modifications and paint schemes to my Valiants. I did this by comparing the various models to give the load some variety by colour and specifications. 

Above: A Bouquet of Valiants

Detailing the variants

Chrysler by Chrysler

The luxury version of the VH Chrysler Valiant is the CH Chrysler by Chrysler 4 door sedan. 

Without extending the wheelbase or length of model, I used filler to modify the front and rear end of my 3D print in order to represent it. This included changing the look of the grill with dual round headlights and a different rear end look. 

The texture of masking tape on the roof was used to represent a vinyl roof option that was popular in the 1970s. I also punch holes in styrene to represent the hubcaps which were overlaid on top of the Busch sports wheels to give it the executive look. 

I used a Molotow Liquid pen to highlight the chrome on bumpers, headlights and window surrounds. 

Above: Two version of the Chrysler by Chrysler - One in Plum Crazy the other in Gold.

Sports version

Apart from the Chrysler Valiant 2 door Charger, there was also a 4 door sports version for those who wanted a family car with speed and power. The VH Valiant Pacer had mag wheels and a black decal. The colour I used was plain acrylic orange and then overlaid with Humbrol fluorescent Fire orange #209 to give it the gloss look. The hardest bit was the side stripping decals on the side, rear and bonnet. This was achieved using masking tape. to hide the places I didn't need to paint. 

Suitable aftermarket wheels were found to represent the factory fitted mag wheels. 

Photos obtained to make this model were contributed from members of the Facebook Valiant VH-CM appreciation Group.

Above: Completed VH Pacer 4 door sedan

My Dad, His Car and I

As I write up this blog, Greater Sydney is in its seventh week of its 2nd lockdown of the Covid-19 Pandemic and, the first lockdown for 2021. Sydney is feeling the loss of many freedoms, for me, I reflect on the fact that 2021 has been a significant year of loss, with the death of my father in February. The death was unexpected. 

Despite the fact that he had many health issues in his life since his mid 40s, he always seemed to be positive and somehow he was able to bounce back. He never showed fear of forthcoming operations and once he turned his life to the Lord, he had more faith and peace with the situation. He gained strength and encouragement with his faith, thanking God for being able to experience and enjoy another day of life on earth. Notwithstanding his death, he died when he was still mobile and fairly independent , enjoying time in his garden and I am grateful for that. He was a man who I could not see withering away in a nursing home. Rest in Peace Dad, you no longer need to deal with anymore health issues.  

Revelation 21:4 

"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” 

My dad was not a modeller but he influenced me in making the most of what you have despite limited skills or abilities. He migrated to Australia after meeting my mother and knew little English. He built me a wooden service station for my Matchbox cars (whereas most parents would have bought them a wooden one). He also built a raised baseboard in the lounge room for my Lego town and Lego train set.  He was the one in the family advocating adventures for the family whether that will be holidaying, going on outings or moving house. 

Above: Me and my dad and his first car, Toyota Corona. The second photo is pictured with my mum. My dad learnt to drive when he came to Australia in 1966. 

A Tribute through modelling

I wanted to give a tribute to him in my modelling and found this a couple of years ago when I found a 1/87 scale model kit of my dad's, first car, a 1966 Toyota Corona made by a small scale manufacturer 87RPM. The death of my dad gave me motivation to finally build the car.

 

I added further details to the model by getting number plates decals made and adding an aerial and aftermarket photo etched windscreen wipers. The model didn't come with wheels or tyres so I had source appropriate ones that would fit this model that were not too large.

Memories of the Toyota Corona

My dad didn't own a car until he came to Australia. Whilst everyone was buying Holdens, Fords and Chryslers and English brands, he took the opportunity to buy one of  the few Toyotas that were available for sale in the Australian market. He knew the quality was excellent from his previous travels as a seaman to Japan. My dad learnt to drive in this car and as we lived in the suburbs of Sydney we drove everywhere instead of taking public transport. My 1970s layout is based on many of these memories of the suburbs around my childhood home: trips to Roselands, my nan's place in Narwee and travelling up and down Canterbury road. Below is a photo of my memory of a trip to Hartees in Canterbury in the early 1970s. 

Have ya got a Ciggy?

In the 1970s and early 1980s, the majority of people (including my dad)  smoked despite the long term damage to one's health. Smoking was promoted by advertising cigarettes with celebrities endorsing the product. Paul Hogan made TV commercials for Winfield cigarettes. I also remember the large billboards along Moore Park road where the Sydney Showground use to be located where smoking was seen as cool, sexy and for the sophisticated. Nowadays it is unfashionable. 

But since my layout is set in the 1970s I needed at least a few billboards of cigarette brands. I definitely wanted a billboard with the renowned Hoges but also wanted to include some other not so well known. brands. 

 

Above: Completed infamous Winfield billboard with repurpose generic street lamp leds from Ebay

The Build

I purchased and used the Walthers plain billboard as the basis for the Australian billboards for my streets. I used two of these on West Wardell. One on the "Parramatta Road" and kept in green and the other I painted white and placed it on top of the building. I also had some other spare simple billboards lying around and used them too.

Sourcing advertisements

I had to research the internet for photos of buildings and posters of cigarette brands. Many photos sourced were graffitied as a result of the BUGAUP campaign in the early 1980s1. 

As a result I had to photoshop to clean them up to look more like 1970s era. 

Above: More Billboards of Escort Cigarettes and Winfield blues. 

Adding lighting

I wasn't intending to add lighting but had a surplus leftover of generic street lamps that I used on the West Wardell layout and were too modern for my 1950s section of the layout and decided to re-purpose them. 1000K resistors were added to each of the positive side of the leds to ensure that they would not be too bright and also not blow with the 15 volt power supply. 

After adding the Lighting to the billboards it looks like I was also need to add lights for the advertising on the Arnotts bridge as well as car lights to give the section of the layout more balance.

. 1. https://www.bugaup.org/

A Little Ray of Sunshine

O ne of the major drawbacks of the location of West Wardell in the model railway room was the lighting. There was currently no lighting over West Wardell to showcase that section of the layout. Furthermore the room was lite by three bays of old fluorescent lights. I decided to upgrade the lighting to LED battens with a dimmer and also have add a set of LED battens over West Wardell.

The outcome has been remarkable to say the least. 

After Shot

Before shot

Locomotive running on West Wardell

After a long absence of running trains on West Wardell, the Stay at Home restrictions across Australia since late March 2020 have meant that I have been able to repair some of the trackwork where it crossed adjoining baseboards and didn't align. I used track pins instead of glue as it gave some flexibility and also has the ability to remove if the trackwork needs replacing just like the prototype.

Here are two view of  42 Class hauling a military load through West Wardell

Enjoy!!

Christmas 2019

Merry Christmas to all and best wishes for 2020. Hope to get more work done on Wardell 1950s section of the layout. Here is a typical Aussie scene. It Looks like dad got a new Aussie Charger for Christmas.

Juicing the Frog

Powering the Frog

I had heard all this talk about powering the frog and it wasn't until I started to retest the West Wardell section of the layout that at the points the locomotives would sometimes just stopped. 

An Internet search found these Frog Juicers from Tam Valley Depot I bought a pair of Dual Frog Juicers to power my four points on this section of the layout. One of the key reasons for using them as that I still wanted to hand-throw the points and still have power in the frog. . 

Whilst I had thought they were fairly expensive, I found them easy to install and faultless in design in ensuring no short occurs when using DCC electrofrog points. 

Above: Unopened Dual Frog Juicer

Road testing the Frog Juicer 

Here is a video of the test loco going through the points

Bottom view of Frog Juicer 

View of the frog juicer in action with the lights changing.

 

Buy a Chrysler Valiant. For All the Right Reasons

Recap of the Valiant Cars

Following on my previous post in June 2018 in getting some 3D prints of Chrysler Valiants, I finally made a model of my local Chrysler Dealership which was Boyded Chrysler Lakemba. It was situated on 804 Canterbury road. The building is still there but the dealership is long gone.

Above: My complete version of Boyded Chrysler on my layout.

Building the Model
Walthers has a Car Dealership Kit called the Wayne Bros. Ford Dealership and I used this as the basis for the Chrysler Dealership. Like all Walthers kits the footprint is far too large for my layout so I did not include the rear workshop building and used styrene to add the missing rear wall. 

Above:Unopened kit of the Wayne Bros. Ford Dealership Kit by Walthers

Above: Commencement of the build as per the kit 

Change to Australianise the kit
I decided to detail the interior with period advertising, furniture and available scale model Chrysler cars.
I also change the Ford emblem, add streamers across the car yard and replaced the Ford signage with a custom built a Chrysler/Dodge/Valiant signage both based on vintage photos available on the internet.

Above: Pictured left to right : Road Ragers Chrysler Valiant VH, Road Ragers Valiant VG Pacer,  Reel Rides Plymouth Fury convertible 1967 GTX , Masterpiece Plymouth Fury 1968 aka Dodge Phoenix and  Ricko Plymouth Hemi Cuda

Adding further realism

To give the finishing touches, I included period sale advertising on the windows of the showroom with the "Hey Charger" and sticker price. Car salesmen and customers were added and their clothes were painted in 1970s brown colours. 

To coincide with the street lighting, I used 2 x Faller white light interior lights for the interior of the showroom and also added LED to the signage and used LED Street lamps purchased from EBAY.

Final Remarks

Whilst the slogan to flog Valiant sedans and wagons with "For all the Right Reasons"did not appear to work and they were never as popular as the Kingswood or Falcons,  what did sell well for Chrysler Australia was the masculine image car, the Valiant Charger. With its catchy slogan  "Hey Charger"1 , the unbelievable can happen to you it kept Chrysler sales buoyant throughout the 1970s. 

Above: Evening Shot

Blast into Coles New World

Concept

I saw a  model of the first Coles New World Supermarket located in the Melbourne suburbs at an exhibition of retailing at the State library of Victoria in Melbourne a couple about a decade ago. 

Supermarkets were starting to take hold in the late 1950s and by the 1960s they were sprouted in many suburbs in Australia.  The space race and the first landing of the moon in the late 1960s encouraged Coles to include the rocket ship on the front of the supermarkets with the New World Supermarket theme. 

I wanted to include one of these supermarket on my layout. 

Here is a photo of the Geelong Coles sourced from http://han dle.slv.vic.gov.au/10381/359701

Researching a suitable model

I search the internet to find a suitable model that could be used to represent the mid-century architecture of the Coles supermarket and found a possible use of the Santa Fe Station by Walthers for a kitbash to use in the required space on my layout. I used most of the window sections of the kit.

Above: Modern brick Santa Fe Station from Walthers Cornerstone Part # 933-4064

 Sourcing parts

Apart from the the main supermarket building, I also used the Faller shop interior fitting set to give the model some interior features. 

I made my own signs and decals including period grocery prices from Supermarket ads from the early 1970s as this is the period when the layout is set. 

By far the hardest part to source was the 3D lettering on the front of the Coles Building. I used Times Roman Font and was able to make a coloured decal sign but wanted it to be 3D lasercut. I found a supplier on Ebay that could produce this at a height of 20mm high but found that this was too large to fit the words across the building.

I contacted two local suppliers and found that modelsnmore could do it and I received the laser cut lettering in a week. I am pleased with their work and highly recommend them. Below is the finished painted signage .

 Completed Model

 I added a backdrop, period figurines, period cars to the carpark as well as a fence, Below is the completed model I have yet to include the space rocket which I had sourced but misplaced it

Christmas 2018

Happy Christmas to all the blog followers and all the best in 2019. Thanks for your support and 

remember to blast into Coles New World and get your Christmas hamper.

With the progress done this year the 1970s section  West Wardell (I have yet to confirm that this will be the name) has all the buildings completed with only minor scenery to finish. 

Hope to be back at Wardell in the 1950s in 2019. 

Quarter acre block

Growing up in the suburbs of south western Sydney, I remember it was dotted with rows and rows of fibro houses. These were sitting on a quatter acre block representing the Australian dream. I wanted to model this but found many Australian model houses were based on country prototypes  and did represent the L shape floor plan fibro houses I remember.

Above: The completed fibro house in its natural setting in the western suburbs of Sydney

Research

I bought a book a couple of years ago called Fibro Frontier this was fascinating reading of the humble fibro house. I also did a bit of research found various pictures of the quaint fibro houses. A company that was found making fibro houses was Vandyke brothers who had a factory in Punchbowl in the 1940s and 1950s. I was able to source a product brochure from the Caroline Simpson l.ibrary which also provided details of various variations of the L shape fibro for me to base a model.

Above: Vandyke Brothers Product Brochure extract

The model builds

After a search I only found one kit that would be suitable this was a cardboard kit found on Ebay.

The kit was easy to build with the garage the most enjoyable. I decided to reinforce the walls with balsa wood and foam board and substitute the cardboard tile roof with a plastic roof tiles from Kibri.

Once I built the model I was disappointed that the house was overscalled and appeared to be scaled as 1/76 OO gauge instead of 1/87.

,

Above: Kit open and ready to build

Scaling down

In order to scale it down i had to trim the floor and walls about one third. I also shrank the floorprint by about one third. Additional details such as porch, guttering and scenery were put in place to make the scene.

Below you can see the difference in scale of the garage against a Hanovale made 1/87 garage. 

Serving Golden Service

One of the things I remember as a child are Australian brands that are no longer seen one of these is Golden Fleece. Golden Fleece was a brand of petrol with service station dotted along the major highways and small country towns. I always yearned to stop there to get food: a hamburger, fish and chips or a pie before the spread of the American Fast Food giants. 

I wanted to model this brand on my layout by including a Golden Fleece Oil siding. 

Starting point

Many of the oil sidings have now been decommissioned and demolished. However, whilst at the Canberra Railway Museum in Fyshwick a couple of years I noticed the old Shell Oil terminal whilst riding on the Diesel railcar. After the visit to the museum, I was able to locate the address where it was an took additional photos through the closed gates.

Above: Photo of the Shell terminal rail siding at Fyshwick (Taken 27 July 2014)

Modelling Options

I had a corner area of my layout that was going to be the site of the oil siding. I searched the internet for a number of options for a depot that would be suitable and found the Walthers Interstate Fuel and Oil Depot.  

Above: Kit opened and ready to build

Measuring the site

I made a number of changes to not only ensure that the kit could fit in the space but to Australianise it.  I made the depot building as a low relief and removed the roof to not look like a quonset hut. Various tries were made to determine how it could fit in the space. 

Above: Oil depot area to be modelled

The tanks were also painted and weathered to give it a used look and coloured white as in the prototype. 

Adding Scenery

The final touches to give it some realism was to make Golden Fleece decals for the tanks, adding a concrete slab, appropriate warning signage, adding trees and then used the LJ model factory fencing which are no longer produced. 

For the first time I purchased one of the Haskell Australian backdrops to give the area more depth. Although I did feel it gave a too much a rural feeling.

Another view of the oil siding with the low relief shed and appropriate Golden Fleece livery vehicles which were built separately.

Valiant by Shapeways

Modelling the 1970s requires 1970s model Aussie cars.

 One of the difficulties of modelling the early 1970s section of my layout is the lack of 1970s Australian cars. Weico which are now no longer produced manufactured a Holden Kingswood HQ sedan, one tonner, ute and Monaro in white metal. Road Ragers have also just started to produce some of the muscle cars of the 1970s including the Valiant Charger RT, Ford Falcon GTO, Ford Falcon Coupe Cobra however, most of these are not family cars such as sedans and station wagons that were on numerous on the streets of Sydney. 

After discussing with a friend I decided I might as well get the model make up myself .

I decided on the Valiant VH Sedan.

Above: finished Shapeway Valiant models made into a Valiant VH Regal and Valiant VH Regal 770

 The underdog , the Wog Chariot

One brand which I had a stigma whilst I was growing up in the 1970s was the Chrysler Valiant. It was referred to as "Wog Chariot" or "Greek Mercedes" because wit as perceived to have a following by Australians of Italian or Greek descent. 

If you were a true Australian, you had a Ford or a Holden. We had a Holden Kingswood and were proud of it. However, now an Adult I remember the Chrysler dealership near my house in Belmore and wanted to have Valiant VHs for my layout and on for my car carriers.

If you don't find it make it yourself
So I either had to wait until a manufacturer makes Valiants I wanted or substitute some of the other American prototype cars to simulate the valiants. After chatting to a friend who was able to get some a locomotive made in 3D printing by using a 3D software drawer in India, I decided to seek this option.

Sourcing photos
Although I found photos on the internet of the Valiant VH, I needed good straight side, rear and front photos. I joined a Chrysler Valiant appreciation group on Facebook to seek an owner who would share their to take photos of these views of the car.

Above: Valiant VH Pacer one of the many variants of the Valiant VH when released

3D file to Shapeways production
With the aid of my friend who sent the photos to a 3D drawer in
India he was able to prepare a file that I would be able to upload to a 3D printer to produce. I checked out Shapways created a shop to get it produced but also share it so others could buy it

Link to page on Shapew
http://shpws.me/Q9i6


I initially bought 6 cars one made from Frosted Ultra Details and the other of Transparent material.
Here are photos of the 6 cars in various stage of painting and finishing.

Conclusion
After seeing the 3D model the only thing I didnt like about it was the wheels and tires. I cut most of these off the model in order to use aftermarket wheels from Busch and Wiking etc.
I hope to be able to get other car models made such as the Valiant VH Station Wagon and Chrysler by Chrysler CH Hardtop just need to find owners who will provide photos.

Fifty years of Finger lickin' good

Today 27th April 2018 marks the 50th anniversary that KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) opened its first store in Australia in Guildford Sydney's western suburbs. I was only just over a year old and wouldn't remember it. However, I had fond memories of going to KFC as a young child in the early 1970s and always wanted to have a KFC outlet on my layout.

My KFC diorama as a tribute to 50 years in Australia today

Opening of Guildford store - Source: https://www.9news.com.au/national/2018/04/26/14/00/kfc-australia-50-years-anniversary

Childhood memories

Most times we would visit  KFC on a Sunday or Saturday late afternoon as we lived during the weekdays at Bondi Beach where my parents had a restaurant and then go back to our family home at Belmore over the weekend. There was no M5 motorway in the early 1970s so my dad would drive to Bondi via Homer St Earlwood, where we would ask if we could go there to pick up KFC and we would eat in our light blue Holden Kingswood station wagon as there were no tables and chairs  back then. 

My favourite  menu item was the snack box with potato and gravy as well as the coleslaw. I remember they also had roasted BBQ chicken but we were never fans and enjoyed the original KFC with 11 herbs and spices a time before the hot and spicy. 

Modelling my memories

If you go around most train shows you will bound to see the Life Like KFC kit built on a layout. Whilst the kit is great as the first version of the KFC store and is still widely available, the one thing I did not like was the carpark and footprint which did not resemble anything in Australia.

Above: Opened kit ready for building and kit bashing.

Modifications

Instead of building the kit as is I had reduce the size of the back kitchen in order to fit in the space I had on my layout.

I also added both interior and external LED lights. The carpark was enlarged to what I remembered it at Earlwood and I also made the bucket rotate. 

The rotating bucket is a source of trial and error and I have installed one motor but the rpm appears to fast. I have tried to slow it down with resistors but it did not help. I have ordered a 3rpm motor so hopefully that would look more realistic. 

Above is the finished model with all lights lite next a competing fast food outlet that never last. 

See my previous post. http://innerwesthoscale.blogspot.com.au/2017/04/hurry-on-down-to-hartees-where-burgers.htm

Attached is the bucket finally rotating

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bib3OnynlhC/

50 years on KFC is not the same as I remembered it the servings are smaller.  I still like the mashed potato and gravy and the coleslaw but feel disappointed after having it. I just have to yearn for those good old times. For those wanting to live the past here are some old KFC commercials on You Tube

 First Australia KFC TV AD
Mid 1970s KFC ad