RoR Step-by-Step Review * Vandal with Minibike 1:24 Scale Monogram Kit Review

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1 RoR Step-by-Step Review * Vandal with Minibike 1:24 Scale Monogram Kit Review In the 1970s, custom vans were all the rage. Tom Daniel couldn t resist the opportunity to exercise his design skills and create the ultimate custom van. It s not only hip, it s fast, too! With a blown big block motor perched right next to the driver and big slicks in black, this Vandal is more than cool. Check out the custom interior, a perfect place to relax after a speed run. While many of Tom s designs were ultra-wild creations, the Vandal could actually be practical. The swing open side doors provide easy entry into the cool interior just right for hanging out. The interior is tricked out with swag lamp and 70s era posters. For the Modeler: This kit is not very clean, it has a lot of flashing on the trees, but individual parts fit together quite well for the most part. It requires a little bit of model assembly knowledge because it needs tools to clean the parts. Glue is also required for assembly. The parts are unpainted. If you would like a colorful model, you will need to paint all of the un-chromed pieces. The instruction sheet does a good job suggesting colors for painting, or you can go on your own as I have done on this build.

2 Picture 0a shows the model kit appears before any model work is begun. Paints used in this build were Krylon High Gloss Grape, Krylon Satin Red, Testors Gold, Testors Satin Black, Testors Flat Black, Testors Wood, Boyd Grape Pearl, and Avon Brilliant Red Fingernail Polish. The glue used for this build is Model Master Liquid Cement. I washed and dried all the unchromed parts. Then I painted all the parts I wanted to have color and let them dry thoroughly. [3,4] Engine assembly is straight forward. The directions are very clear and precise. The engine fits together well. Block halves 21 and 22 I glued together with Model Masters Liquid Cement which I used on the entire engine. I then glued the heads, parts 23 (there are 2). I painted the block and heads Krylon Satin Red. The exhaust manifolds, parts 41 and 40 are installed the same time as the head because the heads pin the manifolds to the engine block. I glued the oil filter, part 55 into place. I then glued on the chrome parts; the valve covers, part 42 (there are 2) and breathers, part 64 (there are 2). Assemble the blower, parts 44, 45, 46, 50, and 51. The blower then gets glued to the intake, part 24. The timing cover [43] is glued to the engine block. I then painted the belt, part 13 Testors Flat Black. Then I removed the kit distributor and installed a handmade one with wires and onto the motor.

3 [5] Glue the front suspension consisting of the tie rod, part number 52, and the axel, part 54 to the floor pan, part 12. The floor pan is painted Testors Satin Black. Assemble the small front tires both inner rim, part 31, and the outer rim, part 36. Glue to the front axle. [8] I now painted the rear springs, part number 28, Krylon Satin Red. Then assemble the rear suspension: the rear axle, part numbers 53 and 38; the rear springs, part number 28 (there are 2); and the shocks, part 39 (there are two) and glue to the rear floor pan, part 12. At this time, assemble the rear wheels the outer wheel, part 32; the inner wheel, part 37. Glue to the rear axle.

4 [11] Then I painted the body, part 1, Krylon High Gloss Grape. [10] I painted the interior panel, part 4, Krylon Satin Red and highlighted the curtain and fixtures with Boyd Grape Pearl. From the decal sheet, I used decal numbers 5,6,7,8, and 9 on the inside walls of the van. The swag light chain, part 7, is painted Testors Gold. The light globe, part 8, is painted Krylon Satin Red.

5 [13] Next I painted the interior of the pod, part 2, Krylon Satin Red. The exterior of the pod, part 2, is painted Testors Satin Black. The seat, parts 19 and 20, glue together and paint Krylon Satin Red. [14] At this time, glue the motor assembly and the transfer case, parts 47 and 48, together and glue to the floor pan, part 12 inserting drive shaft, part 56, between the rear axle and the transfer case.

6 [12] Next glue the pod to the floor pan making sure that the pod is completely positioned to the rear of the floor pan. There is a bit of play so make sure it is completely to the rear or the body will not fit. Take the floor pan assembly and insert it into the body. There is a bit of difficulty in getting the body pod past the interior panel, part 4. Glue the seat into place.

7 [17] Assemble rear door: outer door, part 18; glass, part 67; and the inner door, part 17 after painting them. I painted the inner door Krylon Satin Red and the outer door Krylon High Gloss Grape. Insert the assembled door into the pins on the bottom rear of the body. [19] Next I put the remainder of the back end together. The bumper support, part 26, (painted Testors Satin Black) glue into holes in the floor pan, part 12. Glue the bumper, part 25, (painted Testors Wood) to the bumper bracket, part 26. Glue the license plate, part 9, into the holes on the body. Next I painted the openings in the body which hold the taillights Avon Red Nail Polish and then inserted the taillights, part 68 (there are 2), into the wet nail polish. Then I glued on the lower left and right rocker panels, part 58 (there are 2) onto the body.

8 [22] The next step is to assemble the front body panel, part 3. I painted the front body panel Krylon High Gloss Grape. First glue the highlights, part 69 (there are 2), and the parking lights, part 70 (there are 2) to the grill, part 57. Glue that to the front body panel, part 3. Now glue the front bumpers, part 27 (there are 2) to the front body panel. I painted the bumpers Testors Wood. Glue the front body panel assembly to the body making sure the bottom part lines up with the fenders smoothly. Glue the exhaust, part 49, into the holes in the body behind the motor. The side doors will need some assembly at this point. The outer door, part 5, is painted Krylon High Gloss Grape. The inner door, part 6, is painted Krylon Satin Red. Glue these parts together. Add decal number 4 to the inside part of the door. Put the notch in the door into the pins in the body they just snap in without any glue. Apply decal 3 (there are 2) to each side of the van s body as shown in the photo. After the driver s side body decal dries, cut it along the door panel lines and use some decal setting solution to help the decal settle in around the edges. Now glue the steering wheel, part 30, to the steering column, part 29. I painted both Krylon Satin Red. Glue the steering column, part 29, into the whole in the front of the interior. Apply decal number 2 above the steering column. Apply decal number 1 to the rectangular raised panel on the motor side of the interior. Finally, glue the windshield, part 66, into place.

9 [26] Now we assemble the mini bike. The right frame side, part 14, and the left frame side, part 15, I painted Krylon Satin Red. I painted the seat and the spring portion Testors Flat Black. The motor halves, parts 59 and 60, are now glued together. The chain drive, part 61, is glued to the motor. Insert this assembly into the left frame half, part 15, aligning the spindle on the rear into the center of the chain drive, part 61. Glue the motor to the left frame side, part 15. Paint the tires, part 34 (there are 2), Testors Satin Black. Set the tires onto the front and rear spindles do not glue. If you glue the spindles, the wheels will not turn. Glue the right and left frame sides together making sure not to glue the spindles. Glue the handle bars, part 62, to this assembly. I painted the hand grips Testors Satin Black. Glue the kick stand, part 63, into place on the left frame side, part 15.

10 [29a] Now set the motorcycle into the slots on the rear bumper brackets. In conclusion of this build, I liked putting together this kit. It was simple and straight forward. The only issues I had were putting the body onto the floor pan assembly and the difficulty of working the interior panel past the interior pod so the pod can slide in front of it. As mentioned earlier, I was very disappointed with the amount of flashing.