Peter Cross
Western Thunderer
I do believe the bottom of the doors were different shapes too. Early were rounded both corners at bottom and later ones only the rear bottom corners.
They were - as I understand it the MkI and MkII with the external hinges were rounded at the front corner. On the MkIII when they swapped to the internal hinges the front lower corner of the door became square.I do believe the bottom of the doors were different shapes too. Early were rounded both corners at bottom and later ones only the rear bottom corners.
Hi Dave , i can see the three guys at the back talking " lets see him get it back in without taking it to pieces ".Rather than finish the other projects on the bench I started this for my proposed 1967-1969 LT layout with the state of play thus far.
View attachment 106920
It's a French styrene kit of a Mk III Mini introduced in 1969 and naturally the steering wheel and instrument panel are on the wrong side.
View attachment 106921
A bit of surgery and the steering column and instrument panel are now corrected for the UK. I also cut out the nearside door as it is intended to have the car parked with the door open. As part of the building process I flattened the wheels slightly and rounded the bottom of the tyres slightly to give the impression of weight - and under under inflated by the looks of things. I could not manage the slight tyre bulge though.
View attachment 106922
And the state of play so far.
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Very nice mouldings. Could the front wheel go higher up into the guard?
(Have owned three Minis in past years. One (Minivan) got as far as crossing the Hindu Kush mountains to reach Bamiyan in Afghanistan, then on to Kashmir and down to the southern tip of India. Suspension ball joints broke at three wheels, and new balls and stems were turned by myself from mild steel using a file, whilst an Indian chap treadle powered the lathe. Those new joints got us back to London, having worn nine tyres right through to puncturing the inner tubes. The last two new tyres were acquired in Tehran by trading some spare parts carried.)
I am SO glad my first vehicle was a pedigree ex Gas Board Minivan .........
I am no Mini expert but it looks like the kit has later 12" wheels instead of 10" which the earlier Minis had. Ian's wheels look like they might be wider than the originals. I think the 12" wheels were first developed for the Moke then later used on the Mini.
The kit is already looking better than a diecast one.
The MKI mini's have the round clusters. The MkII and MKIII have a square rear cluster but just 3 elements indicators, rear light combined with brake and red reflector i.e. no reversing light which I don't think was a legal requirement at the time. The MKIV rear light cluster is 4 element as it now has a clear lens for the reversing light.Early cars had rounded clusters. I think this kit has the facelift squared clusters.
Not sure when wing mounted mirrors were fitted but if fitted (not always the case) on MKII's then many on the doors in various locations.Wing mounted mirrors, about 4” diameter (not door mirrors).
The "hydrospension" a.k.a. wet suspension was fitted to the MkI from 1964 onwards and the MKII. The MKIII onwards reverted back to the dry rubber cone suspension.I think the “hydrospension” was fitted to Minis but Clubman era, I believe.
oval centre mounted speedo with temperature gauge and ammeter either side
I think the early ones were badged Austin or Morris. But just round badge after BMC.
Fun cars to drive and easy to service requiring very few special tools and no electronic diagnostic equipment.