The making of a gold DB5
To celebrate the 60th anniversary of Goldfinger, we wanted to create something extra special. At Agora Models we're pretty expert in producing model cars and the movie of course is all about gold, so putting the two together to create a 24 carat gold car was not too much stretch of the imagination!
From the outset we chose to make only seven of these kits so as to retain the exclusivity and rarity - probably the most exclusive model kit in the world! Keeping the quantity to only seven also enables us to keep the process of gold-plating to individual craftsmen - no mass-production here!
Even if the idea of gold-plating a model is simple, the actual process to do it is far from simple! We have completed several stages of development including plating several bonnets and one complete prototype. Before we make the final seven, we will also test two 'art samples' which is somewhere between the prototype and final item (These two art samples will be retained by EON Productions in their vaults!)
Preparation
The first stage of the process is to identify which parts of the kit are to be gold plated. I did not want to end up with a lump of gold, but instead envisioned a model where the gold body would highlight the detailing of the Aston Martin badges and show off the gorgeous chrome bumpers, door handles and trims.
We therefore planned to plate the core base of the body in gold but leave all the chrome in its original finish so as to have a gold/silver two-tone effect.
Building on this foundation, further parts of the body were isolated prior to any primer or paint being applied. In this raw form we can then remove any blemishes and polish smooth the surface. I have learned that gold-plating is quite an unforgiving process and that any surface irregularities will in fact be highlighted by the gold due to its reflective and ultra-smooth finish.
In a similar way that paint needs a primer on the metal surface, we also need to go through a priming process for gold.
Following preparation of the base metal, two further metallic coats are applied – one nickel and one copper. These two coats act as barriers to prevent any leaching from the base metal and provide excellent adhesion for the gold, ensuring the best possible aesthetic appearance of the finished model.
Before each layer is added the surface must be deep cleaned and any specs of dust removed as any imperfections will show under close scrutiny. This cleaning process also removes any oils and cleaning-chemical residue.
First Inspection
Following the gold plating process, the prototype parts are ready for inspection.
Our precious metals partner, St Paul's Mint, are more accustomed to working with coins and medals than something this large so the test-run with the prototype was a very necessary stage; and I am happy to report that the expert craftsmen who have been working with gold for many years were very impressed with the final outcome!
The gold is so shiny it is actually very difficult to take photos without reflections from the surrounding room. It really is like photographing a mirror!
It is worth pointing out, because it is not obvious looking at the finished model, that all the parts are totally gold-plated all-over. That is, both the inside and outside faces of the bodywork reveal this amazing finish.
We leave it up to each modeller to decide how much of the gold to cover with the internal trim components!
Constructing the Driver-side Door
At Agora Models we try to replicate the build of the 'real' car as much as possible, and you can see here some images of the construction of the driver's side door, which show that even parts of the car that you eventually won't see are still gold plated. The gallery below shows the window being attached to the inside face of the door panel. At this point the whole of the door panel can be seen to be plated in gold.
After construction of the interior door panel, the final parts of the door trim are attached. The particular grey colour used in the Goldfinger DB5 is 'Elephant Grey'.
Note the extra compartment in the door which will be used to hold Bond's secret telephone. In 1964, having a phone in your car was the preserve of top secret agents!
On the outside, the door handle and window trim retain their chrome finish, contrasting beautifully with the gold and accentuating the meticulous details.
Why Blue Gloves?
You may have been expecting to see me wear a pair of white cotton gloves for the photos. When handling gold with such a shiny reflective surface, it is easy for oils from our hands to transfer to the surface, causing blemishes that will then need to be polished off. The answer, whilst constructing the model, is to wear a pair of rubber surgical gloves. Unlike traditional white cotton gloves, the surgical gloves create a complete barrier against oils - and they also need to be powder-free!
Some of our publicity photos do indeed show me wearing a pair of white cotton gloves, but rest-assured, below those more photogenic gloves are a pair of the trusty blue powder-frees – just to be safe!
On Display
During Fall 2024 and up to Christmas, the prototype model will be on display in the window of The 007 Bar & Boutique, so if you're in London why not drop by and take a look, and maybe even indulge in a Vodka Martini... shaken not stirred of course!
You can find The 007 in:
The Burlington Arcade, 51 Piccadilly, London, W1J 0QJ
