Tinkering with a PE SPV

**Bishop** · 26-09-2007, 04:27 AM

I have decided to adjust a few things which displeased me about my PE SPV. I remember waiting all year for the thing and being very disappointed with it when it arrived. I couldn't believe there were no panel lines scribed on it, just black lines... and these didn't even match either side... nor did the placement of the roundels. Enough whinging.

What I have done is to fix the shape of the front area around the two main intakes, the angle of the roof intake as it tapers into the roof, and the tops of the side intakes behind the doors. Sadly I couldn't get in to adjust the bottom of these. I have also scribed panel lines into the body ( though these will need to be adjusted once the body is primed) and I have enlarged the wheels by enlarging the rims. The rubber tires are actually soft rubber and have happily stretched the extra distance. The improvement, though not noticeable on a photo, is quite remarkable. I would love to change the wheels for ones slightly less balloon like, but these will suffice for the moment. The bumper has also been reshapes with filler to make it look more like the "real" thing.

Pulling the thing apart I have discovered that there's a lot more metal in this than I first thought. Only at the very end did I start to file through the rear roof vent tunnel. The one thing I have not been able to deal with is the inward sweep of the cowl which covers the rear tracks. This is a little too square on the model, but there isn't enough meat to file away.

I'm already starting to like this SPV, and I look forward to painting it and putting some JBot decals on to replace the unfortunate PE ones.

These photos show the areas I've worked on. I shall post one when I've finished.

**Bishop** · 26-09-2007, 07:41 AM

Its new coat is on, and I'm glad I did it. With the adjustments the basic shape is very nice... scribing lines into it is rather boring and frustrating, but worth the effort. I do love the SPV.

Roundels ordered. Thanks Jim.

A Study in Scarlet · 26-09-2007, 08:08 AM

So do i Tony.Along with FAB 1 and Fireflash it s a Meddings masterpiece.Looks good from any angle and an interesting development blog(developed from 2065 Zeus combat tank-does anyone know who wrote that stuff?)with 1968 annual modifications making it capable of 250 MPH same as a Bugatti Veyron today and that superb mountain climbing position.Along with the fact that in the very first story in TV 21 it s hurtling along the A30 near Lands End containing an atomic bomb scheduled for London.I ve been fortunate in my life to drive that particular stretch of road myself a few times and everytime i ve thought of Scarlet making the same trip and wondered if he would enjoy the superb scenery as much as i did.

Still remember my first encounter with it in model form which was the Century 21 Toys version i was lucky enough to receive at Christmas 1970 when i was just 5.And the disappointment at the sheer wrongness of the Vivid "playset" version in 1994!

Theres talk of IR making one.That ll be Steve Walkers last chance saloon for me.Anything other than dual-door opening,fully detailed interior will be disregarded.Some miniature removable figures would be nice as well,seated versions of Scarlet and Blue and standing figures with SPV Power packs and helmets.Id go ££££ for that!!

Oh,and your model looks good Tony!!

saturnapollo · 26-09-2007, 11:55 AM

I'm at the office now and I can't see the photos you posted so I will check them out tonight. But I'm really interested in your upgrade as I started on mine but only got as far as dismantling the thing, redoing the the detail on the small wheels and extending the axles to the correct length.

The SPV is also one of my favourites and and after seeing Hans' collection which included the Konami Spectrum vehicles I ordered them from eBay which arrived this morning. Very good detail on them all, but it is a pity PE didn't scale up the Konami SPV as it would have turned out more accurate!!!

Keith

hwels · 26-09-2007, 12:12 PM

Glad you like the Konami versions of the Spectrum vehicles, they are great little models.

And if PE/IR would ever produce a BIG angel interceptor ...

Hans

**Bishop** · 26-09-2007, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hwels

Glad you like the Konami versions of the Spectrum vehicles, they are great little models.

And if PE/IR would ever produce a BIG angel interceptor ...

Hans

Ive decided to leave the small wheels. I wanted to give the larger ones some extra size so I worked on that instead.

26-09-2007, 04:27 AM	#1
Bishop Chief Science Officer Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Australia Posts: 11,796	Tinkering with a PE SPV I have decided to adjust a few things which displeased me about my PE SPV. I remember waiting all year for the thing and being very disappointed with it when it arrived. I couldn't believe there were no panel lines scribed on it, just black lines... and these didn't even match either side... nor did the placement of the roundels. Enough whinging. What I have done is to fix the shape of the front area around the two main intakes, the angle of the roof intake as it tapers into the roof, and the tops of the side intakes behind the doors. Sadly I couldn't get in to adjust the bottom of these. I have also scribed panel lines into the body ( though these will need to be adjusted once the body is primed) and I have enlarged the wheels by enlarging the rims. The rubber tires are actually soft rubber and have happily stretched the extra distance. The improvement, though not noticeable on a photo, is quite remarkable. I would love to change the wheels for ones slightly less balloon like, but these will suffice for the moment. The bumper has also been reshapes with filler to make it look more like the "real" thing. Pulling the thing apart I have discovered that there's a lot more metal in this than I first thought. Only at the very end did I start to file through the rear roof vent tunnel. The one thing I have not been able to deal with is the inward sweep of the cowl which covers the rear tracks. This is a little too square on the model, but there isn't enough meat to file away. I'm already starting to like this SPV, and I look forward to painting it and putting some JBot decals on to replace the unfortunate PE ones. These photos show the areas I've worked on. I shall post one when I've finished. __________________ "I saw Avatar last weekend, it was so awesome, I wish the whole world was in 3D"

26-09-2007, 07:41 AM	#2
Bishop Chief Science Officer Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Australia Posts: 11,796	Its new coat is on, and I'm glad I did it. With the adjustments the basic shape is very nice... scribing lines into it is rather boring and frustrating, but worth the effort. I do love the SPV. Roundels ordered. Thanks Jim. __________________ "I saw Avatar last weekend, it was so awesome, I wish the whole world was in 3D"

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26-09-2007, 08:08 AM	#3
A Study in Scarlet Medical Technician Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Hertfordshire Posts: 198	So do i Tony.Along with FAB 1 and Fireflash it s a Meddings masterpiece.Looks good from any angle and an interesting development blog(developed from 2065 Zeus combat tank-does anyone know who wrote that stuff?)with 1968 annual modifications making it capable of 250 MPH same as a Bugatti Veyron today and that superb mountain climbing position.Along with the fact that in the very first story in TV 21 it s hurtling along the A30 near Lands End containing an atomic bomb scheduled for London.I ve been fortunate in my life to drive that particular stretch of road myself a few times and everytime i ve thought of Scarlet making the same trip and wondered if he would enjoy the superb scenery as much as i did. Still remember my first encounter with it in model form which was the Century 21 Toys version i was lucky enough to receive at Christmas 1970 when i was just 5.And the disappointment at the sheer wrongness of the Vivid "playset" version in 1994! Theres talk of IR making one.That ll be Steve Walkers last chance saloon for me.Anything other than dual-door opening,fully detailed interior will be disregarded.Some miniature removable figures would be nice as well,seated versions of Scarlet and Blue and standing figures with SPV Power packs and helmets.Id go ££££ for that!! Oh,and your model looks good Tony!!

26-09-2007, 11:55 AM	#4
saturnapollo Medical Officer Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Edinburgh, UK Posts: 2,626	I'm at the office now and I can't see the photos you posted so I will check them out tonight. But I'm really interested in your upgrade as I started on mine but only got as far as dismantling the thing, redoing the the detail on the small wheels and extending the axles to the correct length. The SPV is also one of my favourites and and after seeing Hans' collection which included the Konami Spectrum vehicles I ordered them from eBay which arrived this morning. Very good detail on them all, but it is a pity PE didn't scale up the Konami SPV as it would have turned out more accurate!!! Keith

26-09-2007, 12:12 PM	#5
hwels Eagle Pilot Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Amersfoort, the Netherlands Posts: 717	Glad you like the Konami versions of the Spectrum vehicles, they are great little models. And if PE/IR would ever produce a BIG angel interceptor ... Hans