This is my first attempt to build automobiles in the 1:24 scale, originally I broke open the box during the lock down years, and hence it ended up being laid up in the kit stash untouched for a couple of years.
I wanted to build the Volvo 760GLE as it was my Mum’s runabout nearly 40 years ago, as Volvo was always regarded as sturdy, tough as a tank and felt safe and secure for women drivers. I enjoyed the roomy interior during school runs before I left for boarding school and it was eventually sold off.
Back on the kit itself, the age of the Italeri Volvo 760 is obviously as old as the car itself, and the tooling and molding is not as sharp as contemporary Japanese brands, and also the kit only comes with Left Hand Steering, which doesn’t fit the RHS version we had, I thought about converting the steering option, but decided against it as it’s my first attempt on cars and also it’s much more complicated than cutting out the driver’s section and swapping it with the front passenger seat.
Anyhow, as this is the only Volvo 760 available in the market, I made do to build it as it is.
Construction is fairly simple compared with armour/aviation kits, and interior detail is rather spartan, I painted the seats and interior in a dark grey colour out of my memory of what the actual car was like. The exterior was champagne gold.
Painting was a more challenging part for me as I’ve not done outside shell of car kits before, I don’t know how to achieve the “showroom shine” on the car body even after spraying a gloss coat on top.
I’ll probably make other cars or truck kits in the near future, this build is marginally satisfactory for me and I’ll stick with my normal genre for the time being.
I can’t tell for sure but I believe you have the hood/engine bonnet on backwards. You’ll also want to install a license plate holder to hide the holes on the trunk lid. Otherwise looks like a fine job!
Hi Stewart, noted your advice, the bonnet is mounted correctly, the gaps between the body is due to me over cutting/filing the bonnet when cutting it off the sprue.
Regarding the number plate, I’m trying to remember what my Mum had, but as it’s a surprise gift destined for her birthday, I dunno wanna let the kitty out of the bag. The lack of photos and most importantly smart phones in those days is making it difficult.
If you’re not looking for a sports car or a muscle car the picking get slim.
I built a model of the black Nissan Pathfinder my wife’s aunt and uncle loaned us as our “limo” to our wedding reception back in 1994. In fact, I built another two years ago and made that into a diorama of the sidewalk alongside the church yard with my wife and myself as a Pez bride and groom dispenser (My wife has an extensive Pez collection). That Pathfinder kit was a short run kit so it really took me nearly 30 years to find another.
I’d love to build the Volvos my wife owned but as you’ve found there not many options. Her first was a 1971 P1800, followed by a 1988 740. Her last was a 1992 740 estate. No kits for those. Now she drives a 2015 Toyota Camry. Again – no kits. My first car, a 1969 VW Type 2 7-seater walk-through – no kit.
