{"id":445,"date":"2009-10-15T05:21:16","date_gmt":"2009-10-15T13:21:16","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.rightonreplicas.com\/blog\/?page_id=445"},"modified":"2009-10-22T16:22:52","modified_gmt":"2009-10-23T00:22:52","slug":"ror-review-20091015-rommels-rod-85-4026","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.rightonreplicas.com\/blog\/?page_id=445","title":{"rendered":"Review 20091015 &#8211; Rommels Rod #85-4026"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"twttr_button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"http:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=http:\/\/www.rightonreplicas.com\/blog\/?page_id=445&text=Review 20091015 - Rommels Rod #85-4026\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Click here if you like this article.\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.rightonreplicas.com\/blog\/wp-content\/plugins\/twitter-plugin\/images\/twitt.gif\" alt=\"Twitt\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><p><script type=\"text\/javascript\">\/\/ <![CDATA[\n     var gaJsHost = ((\"https:\" == document.location.protocol) ? \"https:\/\/ssl.\" : \"http:\/\/www.\"); document.write(unescape(\"%3Cscript src='\" + gaJsHost + \"google-analytics.com\/ga.js' type='text\/javascript'%3E%3C\/script%3E\"));\n\/\/ ]]><\/script><br \/>\n<script type=\"text\/javascript\">\/\/ <![CDATA[\n     try { var pageTracker = _gat._getTracker(\"UA-7543364-1\"); pageTracker._trackPageview(); } catch(err) {}\n\/\/ ]]><\/script><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\"><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">RoR Review \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Rommel\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Rod<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u00c2\u00a0The Desert Fox is back!<br \/>\n<a title=\"Figure_01 by dougcole2000, on Flickr\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/29474631@N04\/4013228285\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm3.static.flickr.com\/2472\/4013228285_0012da168a.jpg\" alt=\"Figure_01\" width=\"500\" height=\"315\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n\u00c2\u00a0Figure 1<\/p>\n<p>\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Revell has re-released its classic kit, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Rommel\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Rod\u00e2\u20ac\u009d to the delight of modeling enthusiasts everywhere. I had a blast putting this kit together but the highlight is detailing the withered bones of \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Der General\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and his faithful driver.<\/p>\n<p>\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 This kit was first issued 40 years ago and since that time the original tooling was lost.\u00c2\u00a0 Kits were selling on the open market for upwards of $500 in recent years but this new version <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B0024FA7ES?ie=UTF8&amp;tag=wwwdreamwithg-20&amp;linkCode=as2&amp;camp=1789&amp;creative=9325&amp;creativeASIN=B0024FA7ES&quot;&gt;Revell 1:24 Rommel'S Rod&lt;\/a&gt;&lt;img src=&quot;http:\/\/www.assoc-amazon.com\/e\/ir?t=wwwdreamwithg-20&amp;l=as2&amp;o=1&amp;a=B0024FA7ES&quot; width=&quot;1&quot; height=&quot;1&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; alt=&quot;&quot; style=&quot;border:none !important; margin:0px !important;&quot; \/&gt;\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">(kit #85-4260)<\/span><\/a> sells for around $20. To make it even better this kit provides excellent part fit from the new tooling and easy to follow instructions. In addition you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll find yourself researching WWII history for things like accurate colors and you might even learn a few things about Erwin Rommel<a title=\"Figure_02 by dougcole2000, on Flickr\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/29474631@N04\/4013402517\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright\" src=\"http:\/\/farm4.static.flickr.com\/3069\/4013402517_0db1278046_o.jpg\" alt=\"Figure_02\" width=\"263\" height=\"164\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p align=\"right\">Figure 2<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u00c2\u00a0 I built this kit straight out of the box with no major variations and I was really impressed by the fit of the parts and sharp clean edges. There was very little trimming and even the sprue connectors required minimal work.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\u00c2\u00a0<a title=\"Figure_03 by dougcole2000, on Flickr\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/29474631@N04\/4014168386\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm3.static.flickr.com\/2616\/4014168386_3771057468.jpg\" alt=\"Figure_03\" width=\"500\" height=\"447\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Figure 3<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">After a little cleanup of the parting seems and sprue flash you\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re reading to spray the major body parts. I used Model Master FS-30266 \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Afrrika Mustard\u00e2\u20ac\u009d but even the molded color would come pretty close to that desert sand color with a coat of flat spray. The interior tub is just a medium flat gray<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><a title=\"Figure_04 by dougcole2000, on Flickr\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/29474631@N04\/4014168406\/\"><\/a><a title=\"Figure_05 by dougcole2000, on Flickr\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/29474631@N04\/4014168446\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm4.static.flickr.com\/3521\/4014168446_d02c36f62e.jpg\" alt=\"Figure_05\" width=\"500\" height=\"486\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n\u00c2\u00a0Figure 4<\/p>\n<p>\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Now you can start detailing the pieces like the track\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s bogey wheel insets.<br \/>\n<a title=\"Figure_06 by dougcole2000, on Flickr\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/29474631@N04\/4013402611\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm3.static.flickr.com\/2614\/4013402611_0c71b281a3.jpg\" alt=\"Figure_06\" width=\"500\" height=\"267\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n\u00c2\u00a0Figure 5<\/p>\n<p>\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 From the kit I chose to strip the chrome plating off of most of the parts by soaking them in bleach for a few minutes leaving only the gear shift, spare cover, radiator shell and the engine\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s valve cover as chrome. After stripping the plating off of the hand grenades I had to go find out what color they were. Some research showed that the WWII German \u00e2\u20ac\u0153potato masher\u00e2\u20ac\u009d was usually black at the ends with a wooden stick in-between.<br \/>\n<a title=\"Figure_07 by dougcole2000, on Flickr\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/29474631@N04\/4014168480\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm4.static.flickr.com\/3091\/4014168480_d4824edf21.jpg\" alt=\"Figure_07\" width=\"500\" height=\"460\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n\u00c2\u00a0Figure 6<\/p>\n<p>\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Assemble and paint the engine using some metallic colors for the transmission housing and oil pan. I chose a medium steel gray for the lower half of the engine and a medium blue metallic for the cylinder head area.\u00c2\u00a0 I used a fine point Sharpie to highlight the spark plug wires.<br \/>\n<a title=\"Figure_08 by dougcole2000, on Flickr\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/29474631@N04\/4014168496\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm4.static.flickr.com\/3195\/4014168496_c002435674.jpg\" alt=\"Figure_08\" width=\"500\" height=\"285\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n\u00c2\u00a0Figure 7<\/p>\n<p>\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 The completed engine assembly looks pretty good for the number of parts involved. With a little paint this is a pretty good replica of the old Mercedes motor in the original version.<br \/>\n<a title=\"Figure_09 by dougcole2000, on Flickr\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/29474631@N04\/4013402671\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm3.static.flickr.com\/2443\/4013402671_98ee2a502d.jpg\" alt=\"Figure_09\" width=\"500\" height=\"322\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n\u00c2\u00a0Figure 8<\/p>\n<p>\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Continue adding detail to the various parts like the general\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s chair. In this case I used a reddish base coat then applied a darker brown dry brush to the raised area to give it that \u00e2\u20ac\u0153used\u00e2\u20ac\u009d look. This will all get followed up with a dull coat spray when assembled.<br \/>\n<a title=\"Figure_10 by dougcole2000, on Flickr\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/29474631@N04\/4013402695\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm4.static.flickr.com\/3443\/4013402695_7322bafd04.jpg\" alt=\"Figure_10\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n\u00c2\u00a0Figure 9<\/p>\n<p>\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Before I assembled the skeletons I had to patch some minor sink holes and irregularities with some plastic filler and sand them off, then just glue the bones together with some 5-minute epoxy.<br \/>\n<a title=\"Figure_10 by dougcole2000, on Flickr\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/29474631@N04\/4013402695\/\"><\/a><a title=\"Figure_11 by dougcole2000, on Flickr\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/29474631@N04\/4014168548\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm3.static.flickr.com\/2431\/4014168548_de059efbae.jpg\" alt=\"Figure_11\" width=\"500\" height=\"399\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n\u00c2\u00a0Figure 10<\/p>\n<p>\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 I generally followed the suggested paint color guide in the instructions for the kit and I think they were pretty accurate. I used a Sharpie to color the skull sockets and a dry brush with some white paint on the protruding parts of each skeletal bone.<br \/>\n<a title=\"Figure_12 by dougcole2000, on Flickr\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/29474631@N04\/4014168568\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm4.static.flickr.com\/3458\/4014168568_52372043c3.jpg\" alt=\"Figure_12\" width=\"500\" height=\"413\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n\u00c2\u00a0Figure 11<\/p>\n<p>\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Add the major interior pieces to the tub and some detail paint like the driver seat pads. The convertible bonnet is painted a flat dark gray as well.<br \/>\n<a title=\"Figure_13 by dougcole2000, on Flickr\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/29474631@N04\/4013402739\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm3.static.flickr.com\/2640\/4013402739_2d594755ec.jpg\" alt=\"Figure_13\" width=\"500\" height=\"291\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n\u00c2\u00a0Figure 12<\/p>\n<p>\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 The chassis rails are also painted along with the body in Afrika Mustard and the front stabilizer bar and rear axle housing are done in steel with the rear axles and drive shaft in flat black. Glue the interior bucket to the body shell and then glue that assembly onto the frame rails with some super glue.<br \/>\n<a title=\"Figure_14 by dougcole2000, on Flickr\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/29474631@N04\/4013402757\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm3.static.flickr.com\/2542\/4013402757_e67d3ed840.jpg\" alt=\"Figure_14\" width=\"500\" height=\"335\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n\u00c2\u00a0Figure 13<\/p>\n<p>\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 In the entire kit there was only one serious flaw and that was the shape of the radiator shell. In kits released after mid-October 2009 this should be corrected but if you got a kit before that you may have this issue. The radiator shell has a \u00e2\u20ac\u0153V\u00e2\u20ac\u009d shape to it at the top where a corresponding hood line would match but this hood is flat across the face so I had to modify the radiator shell.<br \/>\n<a title=\"Figure_15 by dougcole2000, on Flickr\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/29474631@N04\/4013402785\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm4.static.flickr.com\/3085\/4013402785_e8f55b4c56.jpg\" alt=\"Figure_15\" width=\"500\" height=\"321\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n\u00c2\u00a0Figure 14<\/p>\n<p>\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 I made the modifications by tracing around the radiator shell\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s outline then cutting out a matching shape from plastic sheet. I also placed a small piece at the top by tracing the top of the shell on to some plastic stock and gluing it to the upper inside of the radiator shell. Remember that you have to scrape off the plating before you glue parts to it. You\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll also have to cut out a relief area for the engine crankshaft\/pulley at the bottom of the backing plate. I used a paper punch to get a nice clean trim ring.<br \/>\n<a title=\"Figure_16 by dougcole2000, on Flickr\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/29474631@N04\/4013402815\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm3.static.flickr.com\/2674\/4013402815_a0cdebee32.jpg\" alt=\"Figure_16\" width=\"500\" height=\"396\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n\u00c2\u00a0Figure 15<\/p>\n<p>\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Next apply some putty or body filler to the top of the radiator shell in the same general shape to the plastic stock you glued to the back.<br \/>\n<a title=\"Figure_17 by dougcole2000, on Flickr\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/29474631@N04\/4013402831\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm3.static.flickr.com\/2502\/4013402831_2386134db3.jpg\" alt=\"Figure_17\" width=\"500\" height=\"289\" \/><\/a><br \/>\nFigure 16<\/p>\n<p>\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 After it hardens sand it off to shape and then cover it with foil or paint it with some chrome paint.<br \/>\n<a title=\"Figure_18 by dougcole2000, on Flickr\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/29474631@N04\/4014168696\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm4.static.flickr.com\/3527\/4014168696_81c98e6e3c.jpg\" alt=\"Figure_18\" width=\"500\" height=\"271\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n\u00c2\u00a0Figure 17<\/p>\n<p>\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 With the grill now available you can start adding the other detail pieces and decals to the body shell.<br \/>\n<a title=\"Figure_19 by dougcole2000, on Flickr\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/29474631@N04\/4014168728\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm3.static.flickr.com\/2460\/4014168728_cc271f75ff.jpg\" alt=\"Figure_19\" width=\"500\" height=\"333\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n\u00c2\u00a0Figure 18<\/p>\n<p>\u00c2\u00a0 A few pieces benefit greatly by applying a black wash to them. This is done by mixing up equal parts of black acrylic paint, water and liquid dish soap and brush painting it on the parts you want to highlight. After the wash dries you just rub it off of the areas you don\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t want to leave it on. One caveat though \u00e2\u20ac\u201c spray dull parts with a gloss coat first or the wash tends to stick to the entire piece.<br \/>\n<a title=\"Figure_20 by dougcole2000, on Flickr\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/29474631@N04\/4014168780\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm4.static.flickr.com\/3530\/4014168780_73b9b01103.jpg\" alt=\"Figure_20\" width=\"500\" height=\"267\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n\u00c2\u00a0Figure 19<\/p>\n<p>\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 You will be close to finished at this point and the results are sure to delight. Follow up the decals with a dull coat and finish assembling the rest of the details.<br \/>\n<a title=\"Figure_21 by dougcole2000, on Flickr\" href=\"http:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/29474631@N04\/4014168760\/\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/farm3.static.flickr.com\/2537\/4014168760_a100b37f6a.jpg\" alt=\"Figure_21\" width=\"500\" height=\"365\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n\u00c2\u00a0Figure 20<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>RoR Review \u00e2\u20ac\u201c Rommel\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Rod \u00c2\u00a0The Desert Fox is back! \u00c2\u00a0Figure 1 \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Revell has re-released its classic kit, \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Rommel\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s Rod\u00e2\u20ac\u009d to the delight of modeling enthusiasts everywhere. I had a blast putting this kit together but the highlight is detailing the withered bones of \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Der General\u00e2\u20ac\u009d and his faithful driver. \u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 This kit was [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":374,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-445","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.rightonreplicas.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/445","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.rightonreplicas.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.rightonreplicas.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.rightonreplicas.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.rightonreplicas.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=445"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"http:\/\/www.rightonreplicas.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/445\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":447,"href":"http:\/\/www.rightonreplicas.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/445\/revisions\/447"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.rightonreplicas.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/374"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.rightonreplicas.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=445"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}