BRAEMERE 1:32 Land Rover Defender Hard Top Conversion Model Kit Installation Guide
- June 16, 2024
- BRAEMERE
Table of Contents
BRAEMERE 1:32 Land Rover Defender Hard Top Conversion Model Kit
Specifications
- Product: 1:32 Land Rover Britains Defender Hard Top Kit
- Components: 1x Hard Top front, 1x Hard Top Rear, 2x Hard TopSides, Glazing Sheet
- Additional Accessories: Wheels and Offroad Detailing Pack (sold separately)
Product Usage Instructions
Remove Truck Cab:
To remove the truck cab, follow these steps:
- Cutaway or drill the melted plastic in the tip of the cab that holds the truck cab to the main diecast body.
- The truck cab should simply lift off.
Cut the Door Cavity:
To cut the door cavity, follow these steps:
- Using the door as a template, draw out the cut lines for the door. Refer to the provided illustration for guidance on where to cut.
- To cut the space, use a hacksaw to cut down the sides of the tailgate.
- Then, slit the bottom with a Dremel and snap the tailgate out.
- Finally, fill the cut-out square, checking until the door is well received and checking the height by placing the roof on and making sure it sits flat.
Roof Assembly:
To assemble the roof, follow these steps:
- Glue the front and back of the roof together.
- Some sanding/filler may be needed to get the two parts to fit together seamlessly.
Add the Roof:
To add the roof, follow these steps:
- Sand or cut away the slight lip left over from printing on the inside of the door cut out in the cab. This ensures the door fits correctly.
- Glue the door into the cut-out in the roof.
- Glue the two sides onto the door and roof. Note that the sides slope away with a camber, which should slope inwards on both sides.
- Gently sand the sides to make them smooth for painting.
Paint the Body:
We recommend painting the body at this stage to achieve the best finish. Follow these steps:
- Apply Halfords Grey Primer as a base coat.
- Follow with an automotive spray paint top coat for the desired color.
- The front windscreen will require separate painting. Either mask the windscreen or decant spray paint into a tub and brush paint around the window.
Reassemble:
To reassemble the model, follow these steps:
- Add any additional glazing (sheet included) by cutting it to size and gluing it in place with Deluxe Materials Glue ānā Glaze. Avoid using superglue for glazing, as it may fog and ruin the glazing and paint.
- Place the windscreen back in its slot.
- Glue the roof pod onto the roof and the bed, locking the windscreen in place.
- Put the interior back in and screw the chassis back onto the body.
Fitting New Wheels:
If fitting new wheels, follow these steps:
- Paint the wheels.
- Push-fit the wheels onto the provided axles.
- Thread the axles onto the chassis.
- Ensure the small stub axle fits into the rear door wheel mount hole.
- Paint any details lost during the initial painting, such as lights and number plate brackets.
Sit back and enjoy the model you have created!
FAQ:
Q: Can I purchase additional accessories for this kit?
A: Yes, you can purchase Wheels and Offroad Detailing Pack separately to
enhance the kit.
PACKAGE CONTENT
1:32 Land Rover Britains Defender Hard Top Kit
- 1x Hard Top front
- 1x Hard Top Rear
- 2x Hard Top Sides
- Glazing Sheet
This is a rough guide to using the kit. Care should be taken at each stage to make sure the model is going together correctly and any alterations that are not in the instructions should be carried out.
- Paint: Components can be painted at any time in the build, it is a case of what suits the builder. Modelling paints or automotive spray paints can be used.
- Glue: Recommended glue is contact adhesive or super glue. We used Gorilla Super Glue (Blue Lid)
Separate the chassis
The first step is to remove the body from the chassis. Simply unscrew the two Phillips screws at the front and rear of the chassis. The chassis should now lift away from the body. If adding new wheels then they will need removing. To do this place the chassis in a bowl of boiling water, allow it to warm up, CAREFULLY remove from the water and twist and pull the wheels until they pop off the axles as shown. This will take considerable effort/force.
Remove truck cab
Cut away or drill the melted plastic in the tip of the cab that holds the truck cab to the main diecast body. The truck cab should simply lift off.
Cut the door cavity
Using the door as a template draw out the cut lines for the door. See the illustration for where to cut. To actually cut the space we used a hacksaw to cut down the sides of the tailgate, then slit the bottom with a Dremel and snapped the tailgate out. Finally we filed the cut out square checking all the time until the door was well received checking the height by placing the roof on and making sure it sits flat.
Roof
Glue the front and back of the roof together. Some sanding/filler is needed to get the two parts to fit together seamlessly
Add the roof
There is a slight lip left over from printing on the inside of the door cut out in the cab. This needs sanding or cutting away so the door fits correctly. Simply glue the door into the cut out in the roof, then glue the two sides onto the door and roof. Note the sides slope away with a camber. This should slope inwards on both sides. Give the sides a quick sand to make them smooth for paint.
Paint the body
For the best finish we recommend painting the body at this stage. We have used Halfords Grey Primer followed by an automotive spray paint top coat. The front windscreen will require painting separately, either by masking the windscreen or decanting spray paint into a tub and brush painting around the window.
Reassemble
The model can now go back together. Before assembling add any additional glazing (sheet included). We have cut the glazing to size then glued it inplace with Deluxe Materials Glue ānā Glaze. DO NOT use superglue for glazing, it will fog and ruin the glazing and paint. To reassemble place the windscreen back in its slot, then glue the roof pod onto the roof and the bed locking the windscreen in place. Put the interior back in and screw the chassis back onto the body.
If fitting new wheels simply paint the wheels then push fit onto the provided axles and thread the axles onto the chassis, the small stub axle fits into the rear door wheel mount hole. Paint any of the details lost through the initial painting such as lights and number plate brackets
Hardtop kit with addition of wheels and off-road detailing pack
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Read User Manual Online (PDF format) >>