Beginning work on the Citroën DS19 in 1/16 scale. As I mentioned previously, there’s a modeler who built one to completion with excellent results so I am following those instructions as well as those from the kit. The main change made is putting the doors on now and not bothering with function. These models can be so delicate and unless you are lucky, the doors never sit right. So, I will go with aesthetic over function.
I’ve decided to work on the body first, so if I throw my hands up with this model, I won’t have wasted time on the unseen details. I am not at all confident this model will work.
A huge thank you to Nancy Enge for recommending these pliers. Having the proper tool is key, and it works unbelievably well in removing parts from the sprue. (As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.)
I had to repair two small areas where the main body mold had broken during shipment as well, but the breaks were in inconspicuous places. Unfortunately, these remain delicate joins and can cause issues later. Additionally, the body panels were not uniform in thickness, so gluing them end to end resulted in different depths. Real cars are streamlined, so that was something I needed to address. I used Squadron Products White Putty to build up and fill. Yes, it stinks to high heaven but it’s a great filler for plastic models.
This can take a few tries to get it to look right.
At this point, it’s hard to tell the depth with a light patch on a dark base, so I need to give it a uniform primer coat to see where further adjustments need to be made.
Even with careful planning, there’s still a rough fit to the hood when viewed from the side. I am considering gluing the hood in place, too, since I am going more for aesthetic and I could live without opening the hood…ever. Gluing it in place would save on fine engine detailing, though I would still add all weight to the engine bay for stability.
Here’s the other side.
I have the basic body assembled and prepped for the next good day of spray painting weather. Not throwing in the towel just yet, but I have already accepted that it’s a 50-50 chance this car will turn out looking newish.
