Dave Ruther’s Maximum Security Vehicle part 2

Start with Part 1

Next the model was rubbed down with wet and dry sand paper until a smooth finish was obtained. Also any fibreglass air pockets were opened up and filled. I decided early in the project to not build operating gull wing doors. And rather than just draw lines on the model to indicate their presence, I fitted thin strips of tape in position prior to the final 3 coats of primer. Thus when the tape was removed, I was left with grooves where the doors should be.

At first I couldn’t decide on the correct colour for the vehicle. The “Dinky Toys” version was white, whilst the one in my annual appeared to be metallic silver! However, the one in the series was light grey. I used Ford Dove Grey, which I got from my local car accessory shop and gave the model several coats.

With the wheel covers painted silver, they were glued onto the wheels. The base plate was screwed into place and pieces of foam were fitted above the swing arms. The result was very realistic suspension! I understand that this was the method employed on the studio miniatures in the Gerry Anderson shows.

The “Spectrum” roundels were from the annual that I mentioned earlier. I scanned them into the computer and then printed them off onto photographic paper. These were fixed to the model using spray adhesive.

The black and red stripes are self adhesive “Trimline” stripes and the chrome stripes are self adhesive aluminium tape cut into strips. The lights were fitted with aluminium mesh covered with clear Perspex.

The model is not quite finished as of yet. There is an absence of weathering, the rear lights have not been fitted and neither have the windows. Also, the foam will be painted black and secured better inside the model.

All in all, this model only took me about 3 weeks to complete, working only in my spare time and I’m more than satisfied with the result.

Dave Ruther

Next is part 3